MBB: Coast 2 Coast Athletic Conference

[smcmhawk]

SMCM is for real.  Any thoughts on the upcoming game with Marymount?

[harrishoop]

Marymount 84 Gallaudet 79

Exciting game to watch.  Both teams are pretty athletic which is why Gallaudet was in the game.  However, I see that Gallaudet live and die with the 3s.  Their 3s kept them in the game.  They cannot afford to have any mental collapses.  One thing I can say is Gallaudet is definitely better than last year.  With Sekoe White coming back and the new additional of Tony Tatum, I don't see them finishing last in the CAC. They can win.

They need to work on the game situations when they're down 3-4 with less 5 min left to play.  I'm pointing to their mental mistakes when they continue to rebound from their own misses and continue to shoot 3s. Hope they can improve that area.  Good luck on the next game...

[bisonpride]

Definately congratulations to Galluadett for winning the tournament, and their 4-0 start. Congrats to Sekoe too, he is having a great season and really helping galluadett. Only thing is they may be 4-0, but the combianed records of the 4 teams are 4-16. 3 wins coming from Christiendem. Definately great confidence builder to start 4-0, but i really want to see how they handle Marymount...if they do...then I'm close to being a believer.

I'm with you. They almost never had a 4-0 start in years and congrats to them. I'm quite surprised how they set their tournament with Penn State-Berk, MD Bible knowing for a fact they had a big fat chance to win it all.  I remember Coach DeStefano setting up tougher opponents likes of Widener, Averett, Philly Pharmacy,  some of the NY teams to get them prepared for the CAC. I'll be at the Gally/Marymount game this Wednesday and bringing a recruit w/ me to watch. 

I got to agree with harrishoop with this comment upward. Coach DeStefano tend to setting up tough schedule compare to this year's cupcake schedule. Also, to be honest with you... CAC was much more competitive and stronger conference in past with Catholic and Goucher in the league.

I predicted that Gallaudet would go 4-0 head start this year then lose to Marymount. But for whatever reasons the team set the schedule this year... maybe was because they need some morale and build team's confidence for the future. Maybe Coach Barber is different from Coach D.

I recalled that Coach DeStefano had those guts to schedule against then nation ranked #6 Nebraska Wesleyan and actually upset them at Field House in one of those old glory days.

All I could say is different coach and different era... Go Bison!

[HoopsontheHill]

[/quote]
I got to agree with harrishoop with this comment upward. Coach DeStefano tend to setting up tough schedule compare to this year's cupcake schedule. Also, to be honest with you... CAC was much more competitive and stronger conference in past with Catholic and Goucher in the league.

I predicted that Gallaudet would go 4-0 head start this year then lose to Marymount. But for whatever reasons the team set the schedule this year... maybe was because they need some morale and build team's confidence for the future. Maybe Coach Barber is different from Coach D.

I recalled that Coach DeStefano had those guts to schedule against then nation ranked #6 Nebraska Wesleyan and actually upset them at Field House in one of those old glory days.

All I could say is different coach and different era... Go Bison!
[/quote]

The "cupcakes" on Gallaudet's schedule have been there before Coach Barber got there.. Look at their schedules in the archives of D3hoops.. They go back to 2002, where Maryland Bible appears. To 2003 where Christendom appears. Coach Destefano started those relationships, Coach Barber just continued them. Also, the CAC isn't less competitive. St. Mary's may be the favorite right now, but everyone on here has been saying anything can happen. We have arguably 2 All-American guys in Griffin(St. Mary's) and Johnson(Wesley). Thats not less competition. Thats more competitive balance.

Yes its obvious that DeStefano and Barber are different. The theory that scheduling upper echelon teams prepared the Bison proved to be untrue. Seeing as how they went 1-13, 1-13,    1-13, 7-7, and 1-15 in conference play since 02-03. And maybe the confidence will serve them well as evidenced by that near comeback at Marymount. However they have a LONG way to go to be considered a top team in the CAC, or even to be in the middle of the pack.

[harrishoop]

The "cupcakes" on Gallaudet's schedule have been there before Coach Barber got there.. Look at their schedules in the archives of D3hoops.. They go back to 2002, where Maryland Bible appears. To 2003 where Christendom appears. Coach Destefano started those relationships, Coach Barber just continued them. Also, the CAC isn't less competitive. St. Mary's may be the favorite right now, but everyone on here has been saying anything can happen. We have arguably 2 All-American guys in Griffin(St. Mary's) and Johnson(Wesley). Thats not less competition. Thats more competitive balance.

I got to disagree with ya. Not only Gallaudet played MD Bible and Christendom.  Mary Washington played Christendom several times and Goucher played MD Bible during Coach D's coaching career...  Bisonpride was referring to this year's schedule compared to the past.  This year, they got Christendom twice, played MD Bible in Gally Holiday tournament and will play them again.  Johnson Bible, Medgar Evers, CCNY.  Coach D faced tougher non-conference teams than this year's cupcake teams.  Personally, it's nice to see a record 4-1 at this point with a loss by only 5 points.

As for CAC, it's always the same regardless with or without Catholic and Goucher.  There'll always be a CAC team ranked in the top 25 every year or so.  York is one of the most consistent winning teams. I just hope others follow in their steps since Catholic and Goucher left.  Would like to see at least 2 CAC teams in the NCAA Div 3 tournament every year.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

As for CAC, it's always the same regardless with or without Catholic and Goucher.  There'll always be a CAC team ranked in the top 25 every year or so.  York is one of the most consistent winning teams. I just hope others follow in their steps since Catholic and Goucher left.  Would like to see at least 2 CAC teams in the NCAA Div 3 tournament every year.

Not so sure about this. I think the CAC is certainly competitive, but it lost a lot with CUA and GOU leaving. The one thing that CUA brought to the table was a compliment to York and UMW. And back in the 90's and early in the century, Goucher did the same thing. Right now the CAC is very top heavy with YCP, UMW, and now SMC leading the way, but never more than two teams at a time. You can't look at the entire league and say more than one team deserves to be in the Top 25 and sometimes no team deserves to be there - for an entire season. And this isn't a yearly thing at all. I have actually been disappointed in the CAC the last few seasons. YCP's run to the final four didn't trickle down to everyone else. CUA's national title I think brought the conference up and made it better, but YCP seriously looks like a random occurence when looking at the CAC.

It is tough. This conference has the capabilities of being a very respected conference nationally and certainly help lead the Mid-Atlantic Region back up from the bottom. But they lost their best chance. The Centennial until last year was a conference that had slipped. F&M was no longer on the radar, JHU struggled until two years ago, and no one else was stepping up. But instead of replacing the Centennial, the CAC stumbled. They had the chance and I think losing CUA and GOU was the reason. CUA's last season with Hood in the conference was one of the more exciting seasons in the CAC since the late 90's. CUA, Hood, YCP, UMW with GOU, SAL, MMT, SMC right behind them made it a great season. Two teams made it easily to the tournament, but didn't represent. Since then, nothing to brag about. VJC (now Stevenson), YCP, and SMC still carried the CAC banner, but there is no one else doing the same. There was a lot of hope for UMW year in and year out, but they usually fall apart at some point and never materialize in the CAC tournament. And now the Centennial has returned to prominence in the region. Ursinus and Gettysburg are leading the way eith F&M, JHU, and even McDaniel raising their programs as well.

Despite CUA and GOU leaving the conference, I am still a fan and a supporter of the CAC... but I am also realistic. This conference needs more than one team every year to be playing well. SMC is the team right now, but can YCP, UMW, or anyone else actually going to come along with them? Until then, SMC maybe a bit lucky to be in the Top 25 - thanks to an undefeated season, so far, and many losses in the Top 25. They stumble once, they probably come out. Is there another team that is going to bring a spotlight to the conference? I don't see it, right now. For that reason, I think the conference has suffered without GOU and CUA. (Granted, these two teams aren't doing all that well in the Landmark right now!)

[Virtu]

If you ask me, talking about scheduling differences will get us nowhere. Different coaches have different philosophies in this regard. Given Gallaudet's unique, specialized student pool, I don't necessarily see anything overly wrong with scheduling similar opponents, including Christendom and Maryland Bible. Personally, I'd like to see more specialized universities that share near-identical recruiting challenges on Gallaudet's schedule, such as Yeshiva. 

Bottom line: is the Gallaudet basketball program getting better?

Without doubt.

WIth one of the best recruiting classes in a long time, Coach Barber has an exciting, athletic, and young team on his hands. What's most impressive for me, however, is how his recruits embody academic standards that reflect the new Gallaudet. While I remain unconvinced whether we have enough size to contend in the CAC, I am comforted that we will properly represent Gallaudet and the deaf community on and off the hardwood.

[HoopsontheHill]

Congrats are in order to Coach Brett Adams and his Stevenson Mustangs for taking down York in a Quadruple OT game... Stevenson had three guys playing 55+ minutes, with Greg Woody being the high point man with 30.

The St. Mary's game vs Marymount was a lot closer than I thought it would be. And that was with Ingram going 1-11 from the 3.

Wesley clearly frustrated Gallaudet and blew them out in the second half, never looking back. Looks like Coach Kobasa played Johnson until there was about a minute left in the game..

You stay classy San Diego..

[smcmhawk]

St. Marys vs Marymount is a rivalry, so it will be a close game most of the time.  St. Mary's, hands down is the better team and the #1 team in the CAC.  They will lose some CAC games due to the balance in the conference but at this rate might get an at large bid even if they do not win the conference.

[MUFAN15]

Hey guys..Im new on here..but Im a Marymount fan and I am honoring Mike Gray with the number 15 since hes a senior and a very good basketball player. I been to 3 Marymount games this year and I think they have more talent this year but last year's team was a better team. I was at the St.Mary's game I think Marymount could have won that game but they play ABSOLUTELY no defense. They shot a terrible percentage, but from the 3 games that I saw, I can see that they try and outscore people which they are going to have a hard time doing. This is what I seen from this team so far

Mike gray will avearge around 14 and 8 this year. I think he is a good basketball player but undersized. He will not get as much easy buckets this year without a pass first point guard and around a 20ppg wing playing with him to take some attention away from him ( Majors, Stanback) but I think he will make second team all conference.

Shaun Ingram is going to average around 12ppg this year..his Ballhandling has gotten better but it is still terrible. He is a one dimensional player that will live and die by the 3ball.

Chapmen Cannady is  ashoot first point guard. I really think he can takeover a game but the problem is that he does not know how to do it within the offense which is a big problem. I sit in the stands and it is very visible that he has a bad attitude everytime McClary takes him out the game. A great talent but I believe they will not win many games with him as the point guard.

Patrick Prewitt is a coach's dream....this kid plays so hard and can give the team 10ppg just off of hustle plays. I really think that he should play more from what I seen. He starts but McClary takes him out in the first 4 mins of the game and doesnt put him in until the end of the half. ( thats what he did in the games that I saw). Hopefully he will get more minutes as the year goes on

Sam Sens is the most out of shape college player I have ever seen. Looking at him just makes me think if they had a conditioning program in the off season. I can tell that he have skills but it doesn't matter if he have skills or not when you are fat. He played well against St. Mary's but still won't be a factor until he is 30 pounds lighter.

Tarek A. ( dont know how to spell his last name) Very very talnted player..he will give you 15 but the problem is that he will give up 25. Reminds me alot of Stanback by the way he rebounds and gets to the basket. He has to work on his jumpshot but he has a very bright future.

Davon Spieght is a Dennis Rodamn type of player..gvies the team alot of energy off the bench. His intelligence is not there but works very hard when is on the court. He gives the tram a little bit more depth in the front court.

Bryan Debruin is a solid player. He hasn't been making sot but the kid can rebound. Very limited player but brings 100 percent effort everytime he touches the floor. Will be around a 7ppg and 3reb guy.

What is going on with Elvis Ellis? I seen him on the bench a couple of times in regular clothes.. I don't know what the deal is but he has not been playing. I seen him in boxscores in the games that they had out of town but havent seen him since. I think he can help the team alot on the offensive side.

Redell Spinks is a very good defensive of player. I think he is a true point guard but can not make a jumpshot to save his life. His funky form will never allow him to make a shot but the kid can play on my team any day.

Overall I think this team will be around 16-11 or 17-10 with a 4th seed losing in the semi finals. From the games I seen, they have alot of trouble stopping teams and they really don;t have a go to guy like they did last year with Stanback. At times nobody on the team would make shots and they had nobody to go to when they were in need of a basket. I think the Cannady kid has the potential but he doesn't know how to take over a game. He thinks coming down and jacking up a shot is helping the team when its not. Last year Stanback would take over games but at the same time the team would still have the offensive flow. Maybe Cannady can have a conversation with Stanback about that. Hopefully this team will play some defense and get over the hump.

As for the rest of the conference I have only seen Galluadet and St.Marys. St mary's is good but not 18 in the country if you ask me. They are very athletic and will probably win it again this year. Galluadet this year is not the Galluadet from the past. They will win some games this year but they will still be a 7th 8th or 9th seed.

[smcmhawk]

MUFAN15 interesting post.  Are you a fan, student, alumni?

St Mary's 14th in the country!!

[MUFAN15]

I graduated from Marymount in 2002 and been a fan since I been a student

[smcmhawk]

MUFAN15 is the Marymount fan base happy with the coach?

[MUFAN15]

Its like 50/50...I think he is a ok coach..He makes some questionable decisions but all coaches make mistakes. I just don't know if they make as much as he does

[bisonpride]

Up next for Gallaudet Bison would be on December 27, at Medgar Evers College (0-7), and December 29, at City College of New York (0-8). Both teams are combinated for 0-15 record, so look for GU to win both cupcake games easily in the state of New York to improve it's record from 5-2 to 7-2.