MBB: Coast 2 Coast Athletic Conference

[ycp]

Matt,

First, Brian Singer doesn't get away with a quarter of what Dwyer and Sowden did tonight. Dwyer was as physical in getting position or going for rebounds as anyone on the floor and got away with alot. The next screen that Sowden sets without moving will be his first. York should have been ahead more at the half but the physical play put McGowan on the bench with two fouls with about seven minutes left.

I don't think any reasonable fan thinks York is 27 points better than Catholic. York played well at home against a team that beat them earlier in the year. They play well at home and the enviroment was great for Division III basketball.

Maybe one of the reasons that "NOTHING" was going in for Catholic was because York played really well defensively.

"York had guards charging in totally unobstructed for offensive rebounds!"...Maybe that's why York leads the league in rebounding margin. The guards do an outstanding job of rebounding especially Kenny Fass who had three put backs off offensive rebounds. He does that to everyone so don't feel like your team is the only one it has happened to.

And bringing up the officials, are you kidding me? You continue to lose credibility when you lose by 27 and then comment about the officials. The Cardinals shot 24 free throws to just 11 for York. If there was a team to complain about the officiating it was York (which actually wasn't that bad as CAC crews go). Sowden gets away with an unbelievable amount of contact without getting called (at least tonight). He got to the line 14 times, three more than the Spartans did as a team. I would be interested to hear, other than Singer's physical play, what you believed was so bad about the officials.

"So, anyway, I suppose some of the York fans think they're team is really THAT good and Catholic is THAT bad, which doesn't make a lot of sense..."
I don't think any York fan with a brain in their head feels that way. To assume that is ridiculous. The Spartans, and those around the program, have nothing but respect for the Cardinals and what they have accomplished as a program. Catholic has long been the gold standard for the CAC and their history is one to be respected. 

And I know it may kill you but how about giving York a little bit of credit other than "Sure, York played a great second half, ran some nice plays, etc.  But "

By the way, Lee had nine assists in the game. He doesn't always look pretty doing what he does but there is no arguement that he makes plays for YCP.

[Matt Letourneau]

Scott,

For one thing, where did I ever say the officials called a bad game which hurt Catholic??? It was 2 prior York fans who said the officials were horrible, I agree.  I didn't say they were BIASED, I didn't say they favored anybody, I just said they were bad.  Do you disagree with me?  Otherwise get off my back. I'm not making any excuses, don't act like I am.  The officials had absolutely NOTHING to do with the outcome of this game, can I be more clear for you than that?  I thought, given that it was a 27 point game, that was obvious.

And I'm sorry, there's no question that York played great defense which obviously contributed to Catholic's offensive struggles, but last time I checked nobody is playing defense on free throws (50%).  That's 12 points Catholic left on the board right there, 7 if you're talking about their average.  Catholic had open looks at the basket, particularly 3's and just flat out missed.  Stolz had 2 wide open looks, for instance, and missed then both badly.

That happens to teams, they have off nights.  If there are two quality teams playing each other, you don't get blown out by 27 points without having a bad night, and some of it has to be your own doing.  Maybe you're saying York's defense was that good, I don't know.  I think it was good, but for God's sake they had help.

As for the rebounding, if you don't box out, you're going to give up offensive rebounds.  We've got all kinds of size in there, but if nobody boxes out, guess what's going to happen? Good teams box out. York did, Catholic didn't tonight.  There's never an excuse for a guard to come in untouched on a rebound.  The York guards fight for rebounds, but half the time tonight they didn't even have to, they were the only ones fighting.  That's why I'm bothered by this game so much.

You can be an outstanding passer and make your teammates look good like Lee does without being a good ballhandler. 

I don't think we're disagreeing as much as you think we are here, you're just posting from a York point of view which is that 'my guys played a great game', and I'm posting from a Catholic point of view which is that MY guys played a horrible game.

But its not a mutually exclusive position.  I didn't detail how well York played because that was pretty well covered.  I highly doubt you're going to get another Catholc poster on here willing to talk about this performance tonight. 

[Pat Coleman]

Matt,

This is how your previous years of posts hurt you. Everyone thinks you're blaming something on the refs when it's plainly clear you didn't say anything like that.

[mwcsid]

On another topic...
Congrats to Mike "Mad Dog" Mattson with 10 points last night for UMW. He's really had to step up his minutes after AJ went down with injury, and has done a great job for UMW, playing a lot more minutes and doing a good job off the bench. Way to go senior!!!

[x33ycp]

thoughts from last night......

First of all, great environment to play a basketball game, and that's why YCP has been so tough at home over the last 2 years....

Refs were not very good, but bad for both sides....

CUA's guard play was horrible...Satalin, Olivero, Fumai--3-13, 7pts....1 shot for Satalin? I really think it had alot to do with the halfcourt defense of YCP.....CUA didnt have enough playmakers, other than Sowden, (Dwyer at times) to really make a big run....Bench...CUA- 3-13, 7pts....YCP-8-16, 20 pts.....put that to rest.

I took 2 things away from the game last night...

1. CUA doesnt have the firepower to come into to Wolf Gym and win....its that simple. York has too many weapons, and CUA doesnt have enough weapons to beat YCP in York. I really think that place is worth 10-12 points.

2. Chad McGowan was the best player on the floor last night...if he's not the front-runner for POY I dont know who is!! 18pts. in 25 minutes....he took good shots all night and would have scored 20+ easy if he hadnt been in foul trouble....I know people will disagree about him being POY, but he's the best player on the best team in the CAC. I remember Matt Hilleary having very similiar numbers and winning the award, when Andy O' Brien was putting up 23 a game for a second place YCP team a couple years ago....and the argument was that he won the award because of the success of his team....anybody agree?? disagree??

[mwgoonie]

Looking forward to FEb 18 at teh Goolrick!
Hopefully, the Eagles can run with the Sparts.....
Could you A.J back in the lineup...we'll see how his ankle progresses....

Peace!

[kitchenrat]

And I'm sorry, there's no question that York played great defense which obviously contributed to Catholic's offensive struggles, but last time I checked nobody is playing defense on free throws (50%). 

I think the student Section had that covered.


33-

I would throw my vote for Chad for POY into the ring. Check my old posts going all the way back to the end of last season and I have been saying he was going to end up as one  the best players in the CAC. (I know you dont have to be a baskeball guru to have seen that) Here are a few things I think Chad has in his favor for POY, and that I also think make him a shoe in for 1st team all CAC.

   17.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG. 30 BLk (1.36 PG) 21 STLS (Almost 1 PG) 2 Asts PG and 42 Off Reb (1.9 PG)

Also Chad has lead the team in points 12 out of 22 games (all wins) and Boards 11 times. All of this on a team that focuses on team play and no one player being a star. Brandon was First team last year at 16PPG so i think that is covered.

I think Justin Baker will get a look as well as The big two at Goucher, and Haney,  but I agree with Steve that what you do to help your team win should play the biggest role. If it were to go to Garritt, Russo or Haney I think total career would play a larger role than what they did to help their team win this year. I would like to hear from D-Mac, the UMW folks and Gally and SAL what they think would put their guys up front.

[Matt Letourneau]

Rat,
How can we have a discussion about POY and leave out the leading scorer in the league? I'm not exactly on record as being a fan of Tyson Lesense, but he's averaging 22.5 ppg and 4.8 rpg.  He takes a lot of shots but he's shooting in the 46% range.

I don't know who should win yet. But you have to give Lesense serious consideration.

[mwgoonie]

I think UMW Baker should desrve metion along with Mike Lee. Mike Lee has done alot to help/hurt UMW's offensive schemes. He draws so many sets of eyes on him everytime he touches the ball, makes a cut, etc. This has opened up the inside for Baker, Pierce, the Whitworth kids....However, they shoot way too many three's. They have a ton of hustle players but no dominant inside guys...I'd like to see what Coach Wood could do with Dwyer inside.....

There are tons fo kids in the league that can really play.

Dweyer
Lee
Baker
Garrit
Haney
Bushey
McGowan


etc....

[Matt Letourneau]

Geez...Lesense can play, too guys...

[kitchenrat]

Mea Culpa. (Latin for My Bad, you may have noticed I love the dead language) I did my list based on the guys I have seen this year who impressed me and I didn't see Tyson because he didn't play at the kitchen. Had I looked at the leader board I would have put him in there for sure. I'm sure after Saturday I will be more than aware of his scoring ability as I listen to the game on the radio. He has to go into the discussion as well, his numbers are solid and I can attest to what St. Marys looks like with out him on the floor and it wasn't pretty. Again My Bad.

[bisonpride]

Geez.. Lesesne didn't impress me a lot last night, he is just a good player on a bad team. But I know that he carry the whole load of the team this year for St. Mary's but his performance was stuffed by the Bison D last night.

[mwcsid]

I'll be Justin Baker's PR guy now...
He was leading the CAC in rebounding and was second in scoring when our point guard was injured over three weeks ago. In the last nine games, he has switched to point guard from small forward, continued to score, and led the league in assists in that period (eight more last night). And we have stayed one game back of first place with basically five players since then.
He has improved so much in one year... More in one year than anyone I've seen in the CAC in the last ten years that I can recall. I agree McGowan is awesome, and don't want to take anything away from any of the other guys mentioned, but Justin can barely walk after every game, he puts forth so much and gets every ounce out of his ability in every game. Plus he is usually hounding the opposition's best player on defense, whether they be 6-7 (McGowan) or a point guard (Lesesne).

[ycp]

I think the whole thing with all conference comes down to two philosophies.

One, is the All-CAC team a reward for a great individual season regardless of the teams finish or
two, is the All-CAC team the best players from the best team.

Having been privy to counting the votes for seven years when I did the CAC stuff, I can tell you most coaches go with the first option but there are a few who view it as the second option. There are few new coaches in the league since I left so it is really hard to judge. There are also a one or two coaches who try to manipulate the vote to try to help their players which is as unethical as it gets (and it doesn't just happen in basketball, it's an across the board problem).

I also think if you look at the history of the All-CAC teams, the successful individual players on bad teams have gotten recognized over players with slightly less statistical numbers on good teams.

I guess its all in how you look at it.

[Matt Letourneau]

I don't really agree with the prevailing philosophy, either--I'm not pushing Lesense, I'm just saying he belongs in the discussion.

Nothing against the Gally duo--great players, both--but the upper echelon of the league was underepresented in the All CAC's last year.  This year, of course, Gally is much better, so I'd personally weigh their perfomance a little more favorably.

Of course, there's still has to be a place for a guy like Jonathan Garritt, too.