MBB: Colonial States Athletic Conference

[BRCE4]

Not much action here. Cabrini playing very well, Centenery has become a scoring machine putting up huge numbers, Keystone a couple of tough losses but looks dangerous in the conference, Gwyned is Gwyned and how about Rosemont at 2-0. Should be an interesting year in the CSAC.

[tonymnm]

The Cyclones have started pretty good this year. After a bad opening game they lost to John Carroll who is number 2 in the country 120-106, but I was at that game they actually cut the lead to 4 before Carroll pulled away. Than they beat a Bard team by 30 getting 100 points again, and tonight they opened up with a nice win against Baptist Bible, putting up 96 points. So, the coach has them going strong, Im looking forward to the year, because they have played a few  freshman, so hopefully its all up from here!!!!!

[tonymnm]

Congrats to the Cyclones, who just beat the College of New Jersey 97-88!!! Great game to watch, and the fans were really into it. Its good to see a few people coming to the games, and really enjoying the great effort this team is giving. The coaches really have them playing hard, and New Jersey beat Desalles last week!!! So, again great job to the staff, and cant wait for the next game!!! It's quiet out here anymore, is anyone on?

[BRCE4]

I'm surprised that more people aren't on this board. There are some early season points of interest that you would think would have posters talking. Cabrini is off to a terrific start having beat Leb Val pretty decisively on the road and Leb Val then beat a top 10 F&M team. Cetenery is averaging over 100 points over it's last 3 against good competition and Rosemont started 2-0. These are interesting early season topics for the conference.

[mailsy]

I'm surprised that more people aren't on this board. There are some early season points of interest that you would think would have posters talking. Cabrini is off to a terrific start having beat Leb Val pretty decisively on the road and Leb Val then beat a top 10 F&M team. Cetenery is averaging over 100 points over it's last 3 against good competition and Rosemont started 2-0. These are interesting early season topics for the conference.

There seem to be people who visit in as guests but not a lot of people who comment.  Part of it is, I hate to say it, is that many people don't think highly of the CSAC in general.  I for one am a huge fan of Cabrini. I  have only seen one game so far for Cabrini against a 2009 ECAC playoff team in Penn State Altoona.   Cabrini came out tentative(I think first game at home could have had something to do with it) but eventually pulled it out in the end.  I have not seen any other games but have followed the conference.  Intrigued about the victory of LVC over F&M who beat GMC at the end of last week.  Centenary is now averaging 100 points in last 4, but overall are 3-2.  Rosemont.. yeah it's great that they're 2-0.  But really no competition. Penn State-Brandywine and a tough battle against Drew.  This is good for a new program it can give the team some confidence.  Remember Cabrini blasted Drew by 32. (Just saying) and RC hasn't gotten to conference play yet when you can't schedule patsies. We'll see how good they are, or aren't, when they take on Keystone.  GMC and Keystone are both a surprising 1-2 to start the season.  I don't think that will last. This week coming up I think we'll have a better idea of how good or bad teams are.  I think that GMC is still the team to beat, but Cabrini or Keystone could derail that.  The other playoff teams I think will be Centenary, Marywood and Immaculata.  But I don't have a crystal ball and we are only into the early part of the season. 

So maybe this will get some people talking.  On the CSAC as a conference until we have some teams consistently moving through the NCAA's and or winning a NC it will probably remain that way.  The Centennial and the MAC will get more attention. 

[BRCE4]

Mailsy
     Not predicting that Rosemont will be a playoff team just find it interesting that they are 2-0. When you talk about scheduling patsies, I'm sure that is what PS Brandywine and Drew had in mind when they scheduled Rosemont. Centenery is only 3-2 but one of those losses was to number 2 John Carroll in a shootout. There is no denying Cabrini's early success and Gwyned will be fine. Neumann had a 15 point lead at Widener before bowing. All in all, the CSAC is off to a pretty good start and I'm simply surprised that more people aren't posting about their schools. Only a couple of Cabrini fans post, one from Cetenery and as far as I can tell no one from a historically strong Gwyned. I realize these schools don't have large fan bases but I am disappointed that there isn't more interest.

[Reserved Seat]

Intrigued about the victory of LVC over F&M who beat GMC at the end of last week.

F&M played flat against both GMC and LVC.
F&M was able to gather themselves for the second half against GMC, but couldn't regain the momentum against LVC after making up the half-time deficit.  F&M has had a history of struggling at LVC.  F&M has a tough game against St. Mary's tomorrow.

[tonymnm]

I think the conference should get some more recognition, because of some good play versus non conference oponents. I only follow Centenary, but have read the coments on Cabrini and others starting out well. As far as the Cyclones they had a bad first game, but since than have played real well. They lost to number 2 John Carroll in a shootout, but had the game within 4 points under ten minutes left in the game. Than they beat a good College of New Jersey team, who had beat number 7 Desalles ,also they are supposed to be  from the top league in New Jersey, and were 4-1 on the year. So, I'm looking for an interesting year from the CSAC!!!

[mailsy]

I like the conference.  Still wish there were some of the old teams back that left.  Like the Vern and Eastern.  Could get to those games easier than to go to the nether regions of Pennsyltucky But that's the nature of things in this conference.  Still a competive conference for the most part.  I still would like to see more wins out of conference against some of the ""better"" conferences.  Overall still like the makeup of the CSAC.  At Cabrini game.  They looked a lot better than last game.  Cabrini dominated with its height advantage to start the game.  Not much of a game though.  Unfortunately PBU still not up to par.  Game was over at halftime and starters out after 8 minutes in to second half.  Score could have been much worse.

Curious, are there any Keystone fans that would like to give their version of the game against Rosemont?  Was RU better than expected or was the game not as close as the final score?

[Wolfpac]

Hey you guys?  Be honest, after following these teams for 26 years the conference is weak at the moment due to the reshuffling.   Eastern, Alvernia, Misercordia, Marywood, GMC,Wesley, Arcadia, Allentown (desalles),Lincoln, Neumann were all nightly venues.

There was not a Rosemont, Pbible, IU, Centenary....  I really think this conference took a big hit.  Not to take anything away from the new teams but be honest.  Until someone steps up to the elite 8 or final 4 this conference will never become a national powerhouse.  

It is up to the administrations and missions of the colleges within the scope of the d3 compliance how far the athletic department wants to go to win.  Unfortunately we all know too well how that goes.  The Cavs look good but lots of work for them to do yet.  GMC is not worried, Centenary always works their tails off every game but if they cannot play defense well..........     Keystone always surprises people.   CSAC is not a crap conference but not a powerhouse in the region by far.

[BRCE4]

While the conference was stronger overall when some of those other teams were members, I am curious as to why they left. With the exception of DeSales, I would n't say that those schools really benefitted by leaving the PAC now CSAC.  Is there really a benefit for the schools that left to be playing some of the same schools under a different conference banner. If for example Eastern is recruiting a kid and Alvernia, Arcadia and other former PAC schools are on the schedule is it really significant to say we belong to the MAC instead of the CSAC. I find it difficult to figure out how they benefitted from leaving for the MAC. Anybody have an explanation?

[Wolfpac]

While the conference was stronger overall when some of those other teams were members, I am curious as to why they left. With the exception of DeSales, I would n't say that those schools really benefitted by leaving the PAC now CSAC.  Is there really a benefit for the schools that left to be playing some of the same schools under a different conference banner. If for example Eastern is recruiting a kid and Alvernia, Arcadia and other former PAC schools are on the schedule is it really significant to say we belong to the MAC instead of the CSAC. I find it difficult to figure out how they benefitted from leaving for the MAC. Anybody have an explanation?

Brce4........the geographics provide travel and economic benefits to some due to the realignment,  after the shuffle if the conference does not maintain the necessary number of members the automatic qualifier for winning the conference would not apply for the NCAA's.  I agree it sounds like some may not have benefitted by leaving but exposure in different areas is good.  Does seem like in terms of recruits to be a dum move. I thought the PAC was cooked so thank you to these new schools who came in but the commissioners are not making sense for the realignment.     

[IUuKno]

Wolf I know it probably was unintentional, but I think that was a slight for you to group IU in with those other schools.  Lets not forget out of the teams in this conference only IU and GMC have been to the NCAA tourny in the last 5 years at least.  I'm not saying that deserves national pub, bc this conference is weak.  All I am saying is if you are going to shift some blame to why this conference is considered second rate, by pointing out some weak programs thats fine, but IU isnt one of those and they have already shown that in their short history.  Congrats to the Macs for a solid win against Marywood, hopefully looking for a nice bounce back year while they rebuild with a lot of new faces.

[mailsy]

Wolf I know it probably was unintentional, but I think that was a slight for you to group IU in with those other schools.  Lets not forget out of the teams in this conference only IU and GMC have been to the NCAA tourny in the last 5 years at least.  I'm not saying that deserves national pub, bc this conference is weak.  All I am saying is if you are going to shift some blame to why this conference is considered second rate, by pointing out some weak programs thats fine, but IU isnt one of those and they have already shown that in their short history.  Congrats to the Macs for a solid win against Marywood, hopefully looking for a nice bounce back year while they rebuild with a lot of new faces.

Now we're cooking.  A few conference games and the peasants are getting restless.  

IUuKno you are correct about the last five years. Good Point +1.  I don't think, however, it was a slight against IU as it was to the other schools. As you know five years ago IU didn't have men going to the school(during day) much less a men's basketball team.  I believe that's what he was getting at and not that you have a team that is lumped in with the PBU's. (I could be wrong.  Sometimes he means it.)  But the conference was much different five years ago than it is today.  I think IU benefits from the new set up of the league, just as much as I think Cabrini benefits from it.  It was just a different conference years ago with much different rivalries then there are today.  There are still some good rivalries ie. GMC/Cabrini, Cabrini/Neumann GMC/Neumann, IU/GMC.  (Keystone/BBC from their days in the NEAC brought to the CSAC)   Not an offense to any other teams in the conference, but I circle GMC, Neumann and believe it or not, Keystone on the schedule.  Maybe it is just that they are teams from the past (even though with Keystone there are other reasons).  The other teams have been around for a few years now but there isn't that rivalry among schools for me.  That will certainly change as the students graduate from the prospective schools.  The players will remember the game they played in against such and such that did xyz in the game, etc.  When I was going to school(yes, way back in the 20th Century) the rivalries were Eastern, Allentown(DeSalles), Coppin State, St Thomas.  Once in Division 3, the rivalry added Alvernia and other schools and eliminated Coppin State and St Thomas.  It changes as teams leave and get added. 

I understand that these current schools are going to add to the rivalries.  Currently the way the conference is constructed now, I think could go along way in getting the conference stronger and more recognizable if all the schools are committed to making their own programs stronger. 

[Wolfpac]

No offense to IU but your program is still too new for me.   I do agree IU had a good stretch and it is becoming a local rivalry but it takes time.  Mailsy said it well.
Hey Mailsy, I think you must be talking about a certain player not with Keystone anymore that did not enjoy visiting the Dixon center.

There were games that were blood for blood back in the days and when I was a student it was more passionate.  So IUuuKno..... from your perspective assuming you are young I complement you for being vested in your school as a fan or student.   When you are part of the scene as you are or were if you graduated it does feel different than remembering and reliving certain games in your mind.

No offense! !   IU is a great thing for the conference.  I rooted for them many times in the playoffs.   If new teams come in I am sure IU would not be part of any negative memories, they are just new to a veteran fan who lived before the PAC.