MBB: Coast 2 Coast Athletic Conference

[John Rusnak]

How do I post on here?  You know, when you go away to prison they should write a little manual that tells you about all of the technological changes that take place while you're away.  Thank goodness it's only 7 1/2 years and not 50!

Now that the season is approaching, I've been given computer access through March.

I don't even know where to begin, so let me just say that the top 25 is a little misconfigured.  York is not #6 for starters and CUA isn't 25, although I'd give the latter a little more of a shot at being realistic.

York had a nice run last year, but there's no way they will get the draw they had again...not with the additional teams in the tournament.  If...IF they can make it to the Sweet 16, I'd say be extremely happy and call it a day.

[John Rusnak]

By the way, I hear this guy Scooter is going to join me in my cell.  It's been lonely since Martha left.  Who is this guy and what did he do?

[Matt Letourneau]

No.  I already told you that the ODAC is a stronger conference, top to bottom, anyway.  I'm not trying to make that argument.

But I was curious.  It has to say something that the CAC has produced two teams that have been able to get to the Final Four, doesn't it?  Certainly, the NJAC and NESAC are good compnay.

Catholic and York didn't get good enough to get there just by playing out of conference games.  Their league games clearly must have contributed to their success--if it was a lousy league, the level of competition wouldn't have been particularly good.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Matt - You told us the ODAC was stronger???!!! Hmm... I must have forgotten my post and read yours instead.

Secondly, the interesting thing about the NESCAC, they had the two teams in the Final Four in the same year!!! They also had a representative in the Final Four I think three straight years (but at least two years in a row). And don't equate York's representation in the Final Four on the same level as getting two conference teams in there compared to the WIAC and others.

CUA and YCP got some luck on their side (as do many teams in the tournament). League games helped, but certainly did not set them up for the tournament completely.

First off, York had a pretty easy run to the Final Four. Not to take anything away from the accomplishment, but that was the easiest bracket I have seen since I started covering Division III Basketball.

Secondly (again), the WIAC, NESCAC, NJAC, and CCIW (among others) have much tougher roads and usually have to eliminate conference opponents to get to the Final Four... thus much harder brackets and less chance of another team moving on. York never faced a conference opponent... and CUA didn't in their marches to the Final Four.

Thirdly, if you think YCP was prepared to play the Final Four by playing Gallaudet, SMC, SAL, MMT, and GOU last year... your dreaming... or drinking ! Or it completely explains why they lost both games in Salem by extremely large margins (though, they represented the conference very well and no one thought they didn't deserve to be there).

This league is in the bottom half... across the country in a region that is second-to-last ... last year copared to all the regions in the nation.

allfirst - good to see you back... though they have upgraded things recently here. No longer is this run with a hampster and a wheel. Where have you been? And York deserves a Top-10 placement right now... no question. They return EVERYONE. CUA as a Top-25... debatable right now.

[Pat Coleman]

I can't say there's no question that York merits its Top 10 slot. They reached the final four but only because there was nobody in the bracket. It's pretty telling that York was ranked only #21 in the final Massey last year. The teams York beat on the road to Salem last year were #26 (VWC), #90 (WPI) and #42 (King's). Then they lost to the top two teams in the country. That doesn't prove much. They joined the list of 50-plus losses inflicted by Calvin and UWSP. Not very unique.

I think York's ascension is a matter of the fact that they have everyone back, and voters love that. They are more of a known quantity than schools who lost tons of points, rebounds, etc., from last year.

[Matt Letourneau]

Matt - You told us the ODAC was stronger???!!! Hmm... I must have forgotten my post and read yours instead.

Uh yeah, actually, I did.  Post #96, repeated below:


"There is no question that ODAC is stronger than the CAC, top to bottom..."


I think I agreed with you after your first post, too. 

Lets not start this already.

And d-mac, I'm sorry, luck only goes so far.  You shouldn't loop Catholic's and York's runs together.  Catholic beat an Ohio Northern Team that I believe was considered to be the best, or one of the top 3, teams in the country in the semis and a William Patterson team with the best player in the entire division in the finale. Good draws can only go so far--winning the thing answers those questions.

[mlb]

Well, I understand that the CUA boys got destroyed by Navy in their scrimmage last night.  It sounded bad.  I don't have any details and the scrimmage was closed.  I heard nothing good about the team as a result of scrimmaging the D-1 team.  I guess we will get to see how they are prepared for the season when they face American U. this week.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Matt... uh... post #88 is as follows:

"Honestly... based on each conference on a whole... the ODAC on a bad day is better than the CAC on a good day."

But thanks for taking the credit!

[Matt Letourneau]

Well I certainly wouldn't want to take credit for that!  (And I wasn't aware I did.)

Well, for the record, you clearly were first to say that the ODAC was stronger!

Next time I'll try not to be so vocal about agreeing with you, lest anyone on here be fooled into thinking I'm some sort an expert.

[want2b]

in regards to the cua/navy game, i heard that the team had numerous turn overs which killed them. besides that the team played pretty good. the inside game dominated with spierenberg, wheeler, dwyer, a new transfer student, and sowden showing very well. the guard had time where they were as good as any one and the outside shooting is coming around. as you said we will see how they do against another d-1 school american on wednesday night.

[Pat Coleman]

YPSI:

RESEARCH.

YOUR INFO IS ON THE SITE.

LOOK AT IT BEFORE YOU POST NEXT TIME.

ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS, EXCEPT EUROPA ... oh wait, different all-caps messages

[cugrad]

Go Cards!!!

[Matt Letourneau]

American 71 Catholic 63

Great, great effort by the Cardinals.  They were extremely impressive, and really outplayed American in a number of areas.  They outshot American, outrebounded American, shot more free throws and had more assists.  The big difference in the game was 3 point shooting--that was really it.

The level of competition between the two teams was pretty close to even.  Certainly, it didn't appear that AU was in a different division than Catholic.  Considering their size and athleticism, it was remarkable how well CUA hung with AU--I kept waiting for AU to pull away and it never happened. In fact, Catholic actually closed to 64-60 with 90 seconds left.

Shane Sowden led Catholic with 21 points, including a number of pretty dunks, and 10 rebounds.  He's clearly at the Division I level at this point in his career and is going to have a huge year.  CUA did struggle to find shots, at times offense was erratic, and they didn't get very many open looks at the basket.  They turned the ball over 23 times and were a bit sloppy at times too.

But anytime you can outrebound and get to the line so much against a Division I team, its very good news. 

Still, its impossible not to be very optimistic about the depth and talent of Catholic after a game like that.

[Mr. Ypsi]

YPSI:

RESEARCH.

YOUR INFO IS ON THE SITE.

LOOK AT IT BEFORE YOU POST NEXT TIME.

ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS, EXCEPT EUROPA ... oh wait, different all-caps messages

Pat, as far as I can find scrolling through the board, the last time I posted here was, approximately, never.  SO WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME?

[bbald eagle]

Congrats to Brandon Bushey of York on preseason All-American selection