MBB: Coast 2 Coast Athletic Conference

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Is Catholic leaving the CAC? I haven't read anything about that.

Ah... YES!!! Where have you been? Goucher and Catholic are leaving the CAC for the new Landmark Conference... thus the reason Hood is in the CAC this year (women will join next season) and Wesley and Villa Julie enter the CAC next season. By the way... I am hearing word the CAC is not down shifting things around... could be more changes in the near future.

As for the constant Marymount talk... MU fans need to stop looking through the rose-colored glasses. 10-15, 10-16, 10-16 is not something to be proud of. Just as Goucher fans will tell you (and I am), 3-21 is not something we enjoy at all. The difference... Goucher has doubled that win total this season with more wins expected... that shows improvement. Marymount never shows improvement. One game in the CAC Tournament does not make up for the past five seasons.

UMW doesn't win 20 games a season every year... but they are one of the most competitive teams in the CAC.
York has won 20 games or more at least twice in the last five seasons... but this year they are struggling (as everyone thought they would). However, they are certainly competitive because they find away to make the talent they have work with the team... and get those with less talent to contribute.
CUA... do I need to make an arguement for their competitiveness?

Marymount can't seem to win more than 10 games a season... they can't get their talent (and we know they have talent every season) to play as a unit... the only thing teams are worried about at the phone booth is that they don't leave with a headache... and they can't seem to play well during the SEASON to set themselves up well for the conference tourney. Sure... the tournament is where you can make a nice run and maybe win a title... but tell me the last time a seed lower than #4 has won a conference title? I can't think of one off the top of my head... because you have to travel all three games! Marymount needs to play well during a season so they can be in a position to win a conference title.

Yes... CUA leaving the conference may give Marymount one or two less losses each season!

Interestingly, Marymount is fifth overall in the conference in overall winning percentage since the 2002-2003 season (.451) and tied for fourth for conference record (.446 - with Goucher). Overall is Goucher at .467... and that includes a 3-21 season (2-12 conference).

[ycp]

Just a heads up to the rest of the league...Salisbury has Manakya and Gerald back.

What a suprise. We all knew they would be back sometime.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

So... I am watching the stats on the SU/YCP game... and noticed Ozi Menakaya is playing (though didn't start) and has five points and six rebounds.

So I ask anyone... especially the SU posters we have had in the past... what is up with Ozi. On the team, off the team, starting, not starting! Anyone know?!

[cac]

d-mac: Menakaya decided to leave the team after the St. Marys game.  I believe he asked to come back prior to Catholic but Coach Holmes decided not to allow him. Prior to the Hood game he apologized to the team and asked to return. He was on the bench for Hood but did not play. Frank Gerald needed to work on school during winter term which just ended. He did not practice during this time so hard to say what type of shape he will be in.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

cac - thank you very much for the udpate. I hope whatever the reasons Ozi left are cleared up... and SU can recover.

However, tough loss at York today... 84-74... five straight losses and seven of the last eight.

[cac]

I guess SU may be one of those teams that no one will want to play in first round since they probably won't recieve a home game. Hopefully they will get everthing straight prior to CAC playoffs. They are talented enough to make a run.

[mwcsid]

Hood 91, UMW 90 (ot)

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Wonder if there are any more Hood doubters.

[MuMu]

The Marymount men's basketball team won its fourth straight game on the strength of Mike Gray's game-high 35 points and 11 boards, with an 89-80 CAC win over St. Mary's College in the Verizon Sports Arena.

Hood might be ok. haha, I'm always wrong. Mu 4 in a row.

[bbald eagle]

Jess Gutekunst dominated the middle and the game for Hood. He blocked shots, altered them, and scored almost at will. Fittingly he hit two free throws to win it in OT.  UMW missed its two last free throws that would have given it a three point lead. It was also hurt by unforced turnovers in OT.

[MuMu]

Baldeagle,
Who missed the free throws for you guys?

[bbald eagle]

A.J. Fitzgerald, in the last 20 seconds or so.     UMW was up by one at the time.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Update from the SRC... CUA 61 Goucher 43 with 9:30 remaining in the 2nd half.

Catholic is playing very well... Goucher is actually trying to see what they have for underclassman... so a lot of players are seeing time... who are usually on the bench.

Refs... well this is not my favorite crew by a long shot... espcially the lead ref... who is horrible. But these guys are not the reason Catho0lic is winning or Goucher is losing... just a disappointment.

[hoodfan]

Awesome game in Frederick today as Hood pulled out a 91-90 OT victory.
Both teams played their hearts out.  Mary Washington made 19 3's and had about a 12 point lead in the second half. Hood has played from behind before and battled back to force the overtime. Gutekunst had 31 points and 17 boards, and all 5 of Hoods starters reached double figures. Darnell Edmonds was huge for Hood today as he hit a 3 with little time left in regulation to send the game to OT, and hit some big FT's down the stretch.
MW was up 91-89 with about 24 seconds left, and missed 2 FT's to give Hood the ball. Hood got the ball to Gutekunst inside and MW had to foul him or he had a layup, he made both FT's with 2.7 seconds left. After MW inbounded the ball went out of bounds and left 2/10ths of a second on the clock. which is only enough time for a tip in. Jesse knoced the ball away,as time expired.

[hoodfan]

The Hood -MW was very well officiated today. I have seen a lot of Hood games both at home and on the road, and I thought this crew did a great job. Very tough game to work, but they kept control, and were pretty consistent all night long.