MBB: Colonial States Athletic Conference

[WolfPAC]

For example, Jon,  look at Jack McCloskey (forgive me if I spelled his name wrong).   He left, and the torch was passed right in stride with Alvernia recruiting and playing accordingly never skipping a beat.

Compare this situation to Cabrini...... no loyalty or what?  The team with talent now wearing the same color sneakers to keep them together and switching benches to make a statement?  This is pure nonsense or turning the page over to cover a legacy impossible to repeat in the new environment in the PAC for Cabrini with their attitude and institutional neglect.  Alvernia on the otherhand has my respect for how they made a move despite any circumstances regarding their coach I may not be aware of with good planning and continuity.  There was no destruction of tradition.

Seems to me almost all the schools in the PAC are moving on while Cabrini is standing still regardless of the new staff.  Taking the handicaps of the new staff into consideration, it is as if the whole basketball and athletic program at Cabrini has taken a step backwards while the PAC although weak as a whole is stepping forward.   It is discouraging to me.  The newspaper a year a ago in Delaware County had headlines almost everyday about Cabrini winning and the Dzik mess which mounted up to free publicity. Now a days there is not even a mention except for a score.  The image of the school must be suffering when this is their backyard.  Enrollment must be affected negatively.

Oh well, I stop dwelling on it but Alvernia is good but not great. The Cavs at one time had their number despite their talent. However today, everyone is gunning for Alvernia.

If the Crusaders do make it to the sweet 16 I will give credit where it is due.  But watch out for Wesley! Arcadia, Eastern, and even Neuman.  Home field advantage will help you guys a little bit though and with your record if you make the NcAA rounds you will most likely get some home games.  Maybe I will make a trip up there even though I am not rooting for you !

---- To a good PAC tournament---- the WolfPAC

[Jon]

WolfPAC,

Congrats on nailing the spelling with no research.

First, I just want to make it clear that there were no "circumstances" surrounding the recent coaching change at Alvernia.  Quite simply, a worthy candidate for retirement choosing to spend his winter days reclining on a comfy beach chair.

Secondly, your comparison of the Alvernia situation to Cabrini is a bit apples-to-oranges.  Alvernia simply made a promotion to fill an opening caused by retirement.  As we know due to its high level of publicity, the Cabrini situation was quite different.

Thirdly, I would say the Cavs had everyone's number in the PAC's early years as evidenced by six straight PAC Titles in the mid 90's.

Here's to hoping you have plenty of chances in the next few weeks to catch a game in the PEC.

Enjoy the games!

[WolfPAC]

Jon,

Cabrini's only competition in the early years was Alvernia which is why I did not include the other schools.  The level of competition seems to have risen while Cabrini has not enjoyed success at recruiting the best of the best.  Cabrini just simply worked very hard with incredible leadership.

I know the Crusaders made the final 4 as well but did not go through Cabrini directly for the PAC championship.

Hope to see the Crusaders in the NCAA tournament if they end up winning the PAC.  If they go all the way I will be proud but until then ..... beat Alvernia.

[Jon]

Love the fact that every WolfPAC post ends with "beat Alvernia."  I'm not sure losers ever have haters.

Alvernia and Cabrini certainly have a storied history in the PAC Championships.  My first experience was the '01 final that made SporstCenter's Top 10.  The '02 semi wasn't kind to Alvernia either, but since then the Crusaders have notched semifinal wins over the Cavs in two of the past three years.

Time will tell if another school steps up to form a new rivalry or if the Cavs can make a return to the top...well, not quite all the way to the top.

[Coach C]

Umm well gosh.  Allentown was pretty good back then.  Miseri had some legendary players.  I seem to remember GMC improving and Neumann improving into serious squads at the end of Cabrini's 6 year run.

It wasn't just 2 teams.

C

[Jon]

In terms of Champions, GMC was the first non-Cabrini PAC Champion, but it was Wesley who put an end to the Cabrini run with a #7 over #2 quarterfinal win over the Cavs in '99.  The floodgates briefly opened that season with GMC and Alvernia sneaking in for PAC Titles in '99 and 2000.  The Cavs were back on top for two straight years and the Badou Gaye led Griffins won twice after Alvernia took its second Title in '03.

There has been better parody in recent years.  I think next on the table for me will be a table of overall PAC Championship records for all PAC schools.

[Coach C]

i think that if you look at the runners up in each of those 6 years, other names than just Alvernia will appear.

C

and jon -

parody is what jon stewart does. parity is what pet rozelle wanted the nfl to have

[Jon]

Coach,

Thanks for the clarity on parity.  I meant to look that up before posting, but got distracted by lunch.

Of course there were other teams to appear in the final opposite Cabrini.  Beaver had two and Allentown the other.  The Crusaders were the lucky loser thrice.

Beaver continued to make the playoffs with limited success, but now appear to be back in contention.  Allentown took its show on the road, and has been fairly consistent in making Freedom playoff appearances.  Misericordia made back-to-back finals before three straight semifinal loses.

I'm excited to see what tomorrow holds.  Can Eastern make it's second semifinal appearance?  Can GMC three-peat [(C) Pat Riley] without Gaye?  How dangerous is Neumann? Is Arcadia back to early PAC form?  Who wins the battle of the Knights?

[Jon]

As earlier promised, here is a recap of the first 13 years of the PAC Championships.

      App.   Titles   Finals   Record
Cabrini       13   8   8   20-5
GMC       9   3   3   7-6
Alvernia       13   2   8   16-11
Misericordia  12   2   10-12
Arcadia   9      2   4-9
Allentown   3      1   3-3
Eastern   6         1-6
Neumann   8      2   5-8
Wesley   4         1-4
Marywood   3         0-3

[WolfPAC]

thx Jon.  Very informative.

noticed every time Cabrini made the finals they won.

beat Alvernia---- unless they are the best team.

[Coach C]

Nice job Jon!

C

[Jon]

This should look a little cleaner.  I'm still learning how to use all the toys.  The table is updated through Saturday's quarterfinals.

Schools	App.	Titles	Finals	Record
Cabrini	13	8	8	20-5
GMC	10	3	3	7-7
Alvernia	14	2	8	16-11
Misericordia	12		2	10-2
Neumann	9		2	5-9
Arcadia	10		2	5-9
Allentown	3		1	3-3
Eastern	7			1-7
Wesley	5			1-4
Marywood	3			0-3

PAC Championships continue Tuesday.
7:00 p.m. - #3 Arcadia at #2 Wesley
8:00 p.m. - #5 Gwynedd-Mercy at #1 Alvernia

[WolfPAC]

Managed to attend a couple of high school basketball games this week.

Except for the size of the gyms, the level of play in the PAC almost seems like glorified boys high school basketball compared to other conferences. This would not be true to me 3 years ago.

Even the speed of the kids in high school was quicker if there were not so many fouls.  Did not realize how D111  PAC basketball has deteriorated. Getting nervous. 

Cardinal Ohara could beat most PAC schools. Including their women's teams.  Really sad that D111 (PAC) is college level.    Thinking the NAIA is a more formidable organization with better quality and if Dzik did not take Cabrini to the D111 the schools in the PAC might not be able to hang in the NAIA.   (Even with rule changes in 1992) The best thing Dzik did was to take basketball at Cabrini to the d3 level to establish the PAC as a conference.

Looking at other conferences in D111,  this is embarassing.  What and who is going to do something to change things in the PAC.  Seems like all these SID people take their job seriously but most coaches are not committed due to "institutional neglect" so the PAC is suffering with members leaving the bottom of the barrell in the PAC.  What high school kid is going to go to a D3 school unless they are afraid to play at a higher level?  Academically and confidence wise kids who want to be in a small school are not the best for the PAC.   There are exceptions but few!    Why would Chandler come here unless he wanted to be an American Idol and rot on a bench somewhere else?     At least St. Joes gave Jameer a chance.

The Pac is becoming dilluted even though the people with "tunnel vision" are only focusing on the PAC playoffs because their teams are directly involved.   If you put things in perspective,  there will be trouble ahead for the PAC.   Does one think that as time goes on the better teams in the PAC will join other conferences since the PAC is weaker than ever?   

[WolfPAC]

OH yeah,  the last time Cabrini played AC in the playoffs ( Iknow ancient  History)  I think they beat them at Sacred Heart Hall before beating Baptist Bible.  The  Cavs were only toying with them and beat them by almost 30 points.

John Drummond, Billy Carr, and the boys played real PAC basketball.
This basketball stuff today is becoming garbage real quick.  They would destroy these teams.

Not sure most of you understand how it was back then.  The statistics don't tell the whole story unless you were there ! !

A disgruntled Pac fan !     No hard feelings.  Really do care but nobody else does I am sure.

[Pat Coleman]

Seems like all these SID people take their job seriously but most coaches are not committed due to "institutional neglect" so the PAC is suffering with members leaving the bottom of the barrell in the PAC.

I wouldn't say this is true.