MBB: Commonwealth Conference

[sleeprcell]

Etown is not on the same level as Widener. NBA to D3 comparison

Shreiber vs. Clarkson = Raef lafrenz vs. Garnett
Weaker Shreiber vs. Michael = Scott Pollard vs. Kenyon Martin
Brezec vs. Ford =  Gordon Giricek vs. Ben Gordon
Adams vs Blakely = Steve Blake vs. Speedy Claxton
Piersol vs. Thomas = Scalabrine vs. Ricky Davis

Say what you want, but Widener is the team with the Bright ones.....

Is Shreiber guarding Clarkson?
Other Shreiber guarding Michael
Piersol running with Thomas

Just don't see it....

Smarter?  Smarter would be to take the team that is light years better at each position.  If Etown plays there best and Widener doesn't respect them they could steal one, but the matchups are soooo bad...

[Coach C]

WT -

WITH the points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

C

[rollingthunda]

Sleepyhead:

I dont know if you have been following the conference for the last, oh 5 years or so, but the matchups are always that way when Etown plays Widener.  Every year Widener is faster, more athletic, taller, etc, etc.  The one problem with your NBA comparison....this ain't the NBA homie.  This is D3 where kids play hard every night and leave it on the floor, so anything can happen.  Thats the beauty of college bball (at any level) as opposed to those spoiled babies in the pros.  Over the last 5 years, depsite being smaller and less athletic and all that garbage Etown OWNS the series 9-4.  Point being....Etown outsmarts Widener on a regular basis.  Widener has always had a rough time stopping the flex and always ends up fighting amoungst themselves.

The key to that game will be the Schriebers.  If they are physical enough with Clarkson and Ron Mike the game will go to Etown.  If they let those two bounce all over the gym Widener will take it.

Darren Dafin:

Good point on Horsewater.  Bossman must have exciled him from the message boards last year.  I'm still awaiting the brilliant opinions of the Bossman to return.

[hoopsdafin203]

Mr. Sandman,

First of all your assessment of Clarkson as a mid-level d1 player is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. He had 12 and 8 points respectively in last years meetings with Etown, much to do with the defense of graduated center Dan Keane, but also with the defensive system used by Coach Schlosser. Keane was 6'4" playing against 6'7" and both the Schreibers are 6'6". Keane was a lot more physical than eith Schreiber, but Clarkson is a lot more finesse than power so that shouldn't be an issue. He would get eaten alive by D-1 big men, even in the Patriot League which is a low D-1 conference.  Put him at a St. Joe's or Temple (mid D-1's) and he doesn't leave the bench. This is a lot of talk coming from a team who has the weakest non-conference schedule by far in the in the commonwealth and didn't even make the playoffs last year when they were a better team (Schaeffer, Stitzle).

Can we please get horsewater and bossman back here for some insightful comments? I mean sleepercell sounds like he types what Duda tells him to.

[sleeprcell]

Fine, you guys are right.... Widener is not all that.  Iv'e been rooting for Albright from day one. 

Clarkson would not play at Temple or St. Joe's.  However, I think he could have showed up at a mac school last year (D1) and developed into a contributing jr. (unless 4man was all conference). 

The kid is solid. anyway you break it down.....He has to be the most talented in the league.  Blame anyone you want on the poor start we are off to... (oops, were 14-1)....Etown  is what? Not 14-1 and we are going to shock people in the NCAA tournament.......

[hoopsdafin203]

Etown got a big win today against Moravian. They didn't play their best game of the year, but they played well enough to win and thats what matters. The referees were about an hour late which caused a delay in the start of the game and a slow start for both teams. The Jays were paced by Greg Brizek's 15 points along with Luke Ledyard's career high 14 point, 7 rebound performance. Mike Schatzman chipped in with 11 off the bench even through a lackluster performance from his fan club.

The unsung hero of this team so far has been senior point guard Greg Adams. Coming into the season it was assumed he was going to have to score for this team to be successful. However, he has put his personal stats aside and has done an excellent job running the show and giving opposing PG's fits on defense. He can fill up a stat sheet as he did today (13 points, 7 assists, 3 steals, 0 turnovers), but his best performances have been in some of the games where he's scored 2 or 4 points. If he is not the first team all conference point guard this year that would be a travesty.  He is definitely the best true point guard in the conference.

Big week for the Jays coming up, Wed vs Widener, Sat vs Albright. I'm predicting two wins. How bout you rolling thunda?

[gordonmann]

I had the opportunity to watch Messiah-Widener tonight, so here are some thoughts.

- Clarkson is very good.   He's got one of the smoothest mid-range jumpers I've seen at this level in a while and is quick enough to create his own shot.  He took over down the stretch, getting a bucket with under 3 minutes...then another...then another...then a steal and 1 of 2 for free throws.

He did looked gased at the 7 minute mark and four fouls with a few minutes left.  But he gutted it out and stayed away from the fifth foul.

- Messiah is a decent, disciplined team but Widener really shut them down inside.  It seemed like the Falcons were resigned to just shooting threes.

- Fun environment at Brubaker.  A good band...energetic crowd...even an amusing looking mascot.  Good stuff.  At one point, the Messiah students sang a Kelly Clarkson son in unison to taunt Widener's star.  He had the last laught though.

[rollingthunda]

2-2 on Saturdays picks.  The Albright game came as a shocker.  Coach C woulda had that pick right without the points afterall Warren.  Anybody get the story on what happened there?  Glad to see the Jays get back on the winning side of things.

Definitely agreed that Greggy Adams should get the First-Team All Conference PG love.  The kid is a quiet storm because he usually doesnt fill up the points category.  Hoops, while you and I agree upon this, I believe our friends in Chester would probably like to argue with us, so I did a little research.

This year Adams ranks 2nd overall in the Conference in Assists at 4.13 a game (Blakey 3rd).  Adams ranks 7th in Steals with 1.60 a game (Blakey 8th).  And possibly the most important stat when looking at PG's, Adams has a 2.21 Assist/Turnover Ratio that ranks him 3rd overall in the Conference (its worth mentioning that the two ahead of him have 14 and 8 assists respectively while Adams has 62 and Blakey ranks 6th).  I'm not knocking Blakey at all.  The kid defines the meaning of a true PG, but my vote would go to Adams.  And not that it matters, but last year Adams ranked 1st in Assist/Turnover Ration, 3rd in Assists, and 5th in Steals.  Hopefully he gets the credit he is due this year.

A two win week would be incredible for the Jays.  My opinion is already on the record that I believe the Jays can play with Widener and win.  Albright has caused Etown a bit of trouble the last couple seasons though.  Deeter always gives them problems and somehow that Bolesbury kid always has his biggest games against Etown.  I'll be at Thompson for the Albright game so hopefully they can pull that one out.

[FalconFan]

Not the result I was hoping for in the Messiah-Widener game, but a good game none the less..

Messiah looked good in the first half, and held the lead for the entire half.  Messiah shot terribly in the second half (28%), and Widener took over the game.  Yoder got into foul trouble and did not play as many minutes as he has been.

On Widener's end, Clarkson struggled from the freethrow line but more that made up for it with his 14 of 22 from the field.  I was also impressed with Thomas as a quality player.


Up nexty for Messiah is Moravian on the road Wed followed by LVC at home Sat.

[alert]

I think it is time to seriously consider Juniata to sneak into the playoffs.  Big back to back wins against Messiah and at Albright.  A couple more road victories and I think they get in.  Definitely cannot take them lightly like in years past especially at home.

On a side note, how old and long has clarkson been at widener?  He seems like the Carl Krauser of the MAC

[Coach C]

IIRC, Clarkson is a 5th year senior.  I would say he is about 22 or so.

C

[hoopsdafin203]

Alert,

Were you at the game vs Albright? Fill us in on some details if you were. I don't know if they will be a threat to get in the playoffs this year, but they certainly have a nice team and Messiah and Albright are quality wins for them.

Coach C,

Did Clarkson transfer to Widener? I know redshirts are not allowed at the D3 level so I'm not sue how he is able to play as a 5th year senior. Just wondering.

[rollingthunda]

Juniata has never been an expected win at home.  That is a tough place to play.  I think a lot has to do with the long ride up there, but the student section is always right on the court and they get pretty nasty with the players.  They are definitely in the running for that 4th spot.  I think it will come down to them and Etown in a fight for the last spot.

[Pat Coleman]

I know redshirts are not allowed at the D3 level so I'm not sue how he is able to play as a 5th year senior. Just wondering.

That regulation only went in before the 2004-05 season. Before that it was legal to redshirt.

Also, it is still permitted to have a medical redshirt year.

[Coach C]

Clarkson was not a transfer.  He enrolled as a freshman.  I don't know for sure, but I think he had a medical issue and missed a year. 

C