MBB: Colonial States Athletic Conference

[mailsy]

Hey Mailsy, you better watchout your Cabrini team is heading for a head on collision against Wesley....should be interesting to see what your team can do at home against this team, I do realize the last time you faced them you did not have your star player and got blown out but kept it close.

That game is January 2, right? Well in the mean time in 2013. Cavs have to face Widener at Neumann, Gwynedd at home, Marywood on the road, Baptist Bible and then Randolph Macon at home before they even see Wesley. So I'll enjoy these games and my holidays before I worry about any collision with Wesley. 

[mailsy]

Some thoughts on last nights game. Scranton held tough. Didn't think they would ever miss any threes. What surprised me though. When Cavs big man picked up his 4th foul with 14 + minutes the Royals didn't seem to attack the basket.  They outsized Cabrini. So what gives? Cavs went into a zone defense, out hustled Scranton and basically put the clamps on Scranton defensively. What hurt Scranton was they just had way to many turnovers. Cabrini's quickness had a lot to do with that though. Thought it would be a much tighter contest throughout the game, just like the first half. But Cavs changed that.

BTW AWM is pretty good! 

[Clutch]

Hey Mailsy, you aint seen nothing yet from your AWM, he can do even more trust me, not to mention if your team gels he may just take you to the promised land if you get some nice bigs over there.

[mailsy]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Be safe and enjoy the day!!! 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Some thoughts on last nights game. Scranton held tough. Didn't think they would ever miss any threes. What surprised me though. When Cavs big man picked up his 4th foul with 14 + minutes the Royals didn't seem to attack the basket.  They outsized Cabrini. So what gives? Cavs went into a zone defense, out hustled Scranton and basically put the clamps on Scranton defensively. What hurt Scranton was they just had way to many turnovers. Cabrini's quickness had a lot to do with that though. Thought it would be a much tighter contest throughout the game, just like the first half. But Cavs changed that.

BTW AWM is pretty good! 

I have seen size not being a factor in a number of games this season. Middlebury lost to both SMC and Cabrini despite having the size and struggled to control the boards accordingly. Size is great if you know how to take advantage of it, but some schools seem to be struggling with not having their bigs inside actually make a difference - and THAT is a major difference in games.

[Clutch]

interesting Dave...would have thought the bigs could out rebound anyone with basketball logic 101 but seems not to be the case, if Cabrini could get another guy like Miller with a thick body and a guy who could fly on the wing for a dish and a dunk, they could be unstoppable ! ! !   As you say Dave, size is not a difference unless you use it, I find it truly amazing that a team like Scranton with shooters and bigs cannot execute their game better against a team like Cabrini.  Middlebury as well.   
Again, thinking the style of play in different conferences seems to be part of the equation, a team built with a little of both that is fast seems to do well against a team with bigs and just one or two shooters.  Teams like Wesley and VW, the Wisconson teams all seem to have this combo of speed, length and size which can be a formula for success, of course free throws and coaching decisions come into the mix.  Having said the above it seems like it will be a great season for the ODAC or a team like a Hobart with a veteran coach and some quicker athletic players.  Alvernia seems to have that combo but not deep enough if they get tired or injured. St Marys on the other hand fits the profile well as does a team like Stevenson.  In the meantime, is it just me or is the MidAtlantic on the rise?  I don't know enough about the south teams but the West in Illinois , Minnesota, wisconson etc....always seems to have those kind of teams in mix, and we all know the Northeast ( Amherst, etc...) is strong with the bigs and all Americans.  The intangible asset of being smart with the ball and having point guard who knows how to set up plays and draw out the defense for exploiting the assets of the team on offense helps too.  Really thinking the level of play of D3 is getting better and better.

[Clutch]

Hey Mailsy, I see your Cabrini team won today against Widener, even though AWM scored 40 he also turned the ball over a few times today.  Looks like team is going to have to score a lot of points when going up against a team with a real offensive threat especially when they don't play great defense and take care of the ball.  Without a big man they are going to have a hard time against Wesley.  I am marking that game on my calendar.   Wesley is on a roll, beating a team ranked 8th today.   I may try to make it if both these teams continue on a collision course.  AWM is a difficult player to stop and if your team had another man he could dump it off to inside they could go a long way.....he seems to make your other guys look bad even though your Rafferty, and Picard are offensive threats.  I don't think St Mary's was as good as they have been but Wesley looks like a better test for Cabrini.

[Reserved Seat]

Saint Mary's didn't have much at F&M today.  F&M's poor ball control was the difference in the game--too many unforced turnovers.  With up to 3 freshmen on the court at the same time, F&M seemed to lack knowledge of where their players were.  F&M blew the chance for a victory(upset) when they forced a shot with Saint Mary's up by one with 22 seconds to go.  Saint Mary's was able to take advantage of F&M lackadaisical ball control.  Saint Mary's, Alvernia, and Keystone all have trouble with F&M's defense, not their offense which is still looking for an identity.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

interesting Dave...would have thought the bigs could out rebound anyone with basketball logic 101 but seems not to be the case, if Cabrini could get another guy like Miller with a thick body and a guy who could fly on the wing for a dish and a dunk, they could be unstoppable ! ! !   As you say Dave, size is not a difference unless you use it, I find it truly amazing that a team like Scranton with shooters and bigs cannot execute their game better against a team like Cabrini.  Middlebury as well. 

THIS has been my biggest question about Scranton for years... they have the tools but never seem to put it together especially for 25 games... always has me scratching my head.

[Clutch]

Read you loud and clear DAVE !  but Amherst seems to do have the right formula consistently, with all due respect to every team out there that works hard night in and night out, no matter how small or large your school ,  I can only say it must come down to the communication between the coaches and players and whether or not the players have the basketball IQ to execute.   The tempo of the game controlled by the coaches does not matter unless the players execute the plan, (unless of course you are facing a dominant team who is just more talented and they dictate the play) some players just don't get it no matter how talented they are while some players without talent have the ability to listen to the coach keep their team in the game until crunch time and give their team a chance to win every night.   I also believe the toughness (mental toughness) of the player come into play as well.  Taking the charge, running the play called by the coach whether one agrees or not, setting the screens where the coach wants them set, not worrying about your own stats, and naturally fundamentals. Despite the fact one cannot teach "height" there are other variables to overcome the disadvantage on paper, although if the players on the court do not or are unable to execute it is all for naught making the "height" variable  seem more valuable.  I personally notice after the Sweet 16 round, it almost seems as the teams get to a level of calmness in their play.  The play seems to become smooth, less choppy, execution is like a well oiled machine.  What the coach says the team does.  The scores seem to be lower unless of course both teams are offensive machines with no defense although rare deep in the tourney to have no defense.  The tempo seems like a couple of boxers trading jabs gradually increasing the strength of the punch the first half when deep in the tourney, then the strengths of each team or lack of strengths are exploited such as number of fouls due to lack of size or speed etc.....yet the fundamentals like making a free throw, shooting smart shots, shooting as a team over 50%, setting a screen, securing a rebound, and not forcing a shot up which causes a point swing always seem to be part of the game no matter how big or small a team.  Blaming the officials is always part of the disgruntled fan base, on occasion a ref blows a call but usually a make up call follows. Difficult to blame the intelligence of a player or lack of basketball IQ on an official.  The ability of a coach to have his team fight hard for the entire 39 minutes and 59 seconds always helps as well.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Clutch... I don't disagree... I am indicating that Scranton seems to have the tools to execute a great inside/outside game but never seem to succeed at it. I am agreeing with you.

Where the problem is? I don't know... their coach is a good guy who does a great job (since I sit practically next to him at least once a year)... the players are pretty smart as well. I wonder sometimes if maybe they over-scout the opposing team?

Anyway... Scranton is in the Landmark, so I won't bore the CSAC board any more with chat about them .

[Clutch]

thx for your opinion, coach Danzig is a great guy and so is his son.  Their team works very hard as you say maybe too hard on the analyzing thanks Dave.

[Clutch]

GMC & Cabrini.....a display of sloppy basketball Cabrini needs to get focused quick if they really want to make a run.  Cabrini was up handily, until Moss sat then their lead evaporated.  Not so sure this team is deep enough off their bench on defense nor offense. 

[Clutch]

If they are shooting well they win, if not when Moss cannot penetrate as was the case later in game they do not have many options.  Having said that they always seem to find a way to win.  It is difficult to assess this team.  Historically they have beaten some strong teams on the road in the playoffs, yet this year it seems a little more difficult early for them especially when they are undermanned without players like Knowles, Williams, and their other big guy they had last year. In spite of this it now seems this team is ranked 6th in D3 now.  Somehow this coach and team get it done.

[Clutch]

Just another observation with Cabrini, they cannot seem to rebound with the exception of Moss, when this happens the shooting of Rafferty and Picard have to pick it up for the lack of defense and rebounding. To be fair the height of GMC did cause some problems.