MBB: Landmark Conference

[lefty2]

"The Rotary Club of Salem, Va., annually honors the most outstanding Division III men's and women's basketball players of the year with the Jostens Trophy. The award takes into account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess and community service."

Pardon me, I saw a reference to King's and Wilkes and I thought this was the Freedom room.

Kudos to the Rotary Club of Salem for presenting this award, but I've always thought the Player of the Year title was misleading.

While I encourage academic prowess and community service, I don't see how they relate to the Player of the Year.

Perhaps the Josten's Person of the Year?

[Matt Letourneau]

I obviously have no idea what happened...but I bet it can be summed it very simply:  young team vs. veteran team.

Congrats, Royals. 

[TheGrove]

Sounds like there was a heck of a game in Scranton tonight. As for SU, it's off to the Long Center on Saturday. Don't worry Royals fans, you'll outdraw the visiting crowd - SU students are on spring break starting Friday.

Congrats to Merchant Marine, they played a tough game - one of those where the scoreboard doesn't tell the whole story.

[NEPAFAN]

I leave the details to Saratoga , but:


Royals dead and buried  down by 9 with 3 minutes left. Hawk brothers with back to back  3 pointers, Royals make some stops and Biagoli almost wins it with 1 second left.


OT- Catholic scores first, they trade some 3s... then Paul Hawk causes a jump ball on a block on Banzhaf and drains another 3 and Scranton takes it from there. He held Banzhaf to 5 points.


Unreal.

[Reserved Seat]

Been following the banter all year about Banzhaf and Patch, 5 points in a key game should kill talk of POY.

[Matt Letourneau]

Okay---I should take full credit for this loss since I obviously jinxed Banzhaf to hell and back.  He apparently had an epically bad night.  (As far as POY--they may already have voted, actually...usually that's the way it works because players on non-playoff teams are obviously eligible).  And of course Patch had a great night.

Frankly, with Banzhaf having that kind of night its kind of a miracle Catholic was in position to win in the first place.  

Tough way for the seniors to go out (losing a lead).  Hold your heads up high--you represented the program well.

As for the rest of the guys: let yourself feel the pain right now.  Don't forget it--use it.  You've got a chance to make it right--very few times in life do you get that chance, but you've got it.   Work hard this season and come back committed to finishing games.  The legendary Catholic teams in the past all had that in common--they knew how to finish.  You guys can do it too.

[ronk]

Congrats to Merchant Marine, they played a tough game - one of those where the scoreboard doesn't tell the whole story.

The Grove,
   How'd you rate the officiating? A friend did the game and I've seen one of the others ref and he was good; should have been a strong veteran crew.

[TheGrove]

Congrats to Merchant Marine, they played a tough game - one of those where the scoreboard doesn't tell the whole story.

The Grove,
   How'd you rate the officiating? A friend did the game and I've seen one of the others ref and he was good; should have been a strong veteran crew.

The crowd jawed at them a few times but I didn't see anything horrible. Pretty consistent.

[BCannon]

POY and all conf should all be in already. im actually surprised it hasn't been announced yet.

[Matt Letourneau]

Yeah--its a regular season award---but I think they wait until after the season to announce it.

Obviously Jason had a lousy night tonight--but plenty of MVPs, etc, have a lousy postseason game or series...(ARod!)  Doesn't change the fact that player x was the best player during the regular season.

[trumbul]

Matt get over Banzhaf, everyone is sick and tired of hearing about him, I think he should be the player of the year in the Landmark as well as the Big East and ACC  because he scored 5 more ppg than Joel Patch (Who will most likely be participating in the NCAA tournament and surely the Landmark Championship game) Catholic would have most certaintly been able to finish Scranton off tonite if Banzhaf would have scored his usual 5 more ppg than Patch (which would have been 34 tonite). Patch as POY and to the NCAA tournament and hopefully a Landmark conference championship!

[Matt Letourneau]

Welcome the board, trumbul...maybe I'd put a little more stock into your thoughts if you've been with us all season though.

Look--I advocated for my guy, he either wins the award or he doesn't, and that's the end of it.   I've been nothing but complimentary of the other contender, and I haven't disparaged any other team on here.  First thing I did when I saw the result tonight is congratulate the Royals for a hard fought win.  Their veteran leadership came through right when they needed it and that's what you need to be a champion. 

I know first hand that MMA was a tough team--seems like they sort of peak a little early, but I'm sure Susquehanna had their hands full.  I wish them luck too and I think both teams have a great shot at the NCAA tournament.

If people want to villify me for advocating for a guy I think is a special player (bad night tonight or not), then so be it.  The way I see it, there's no reason to be nasty about it, so I'm not going to be.

[saratoga]

To answer my earlier questions...YES, Paul Hawk turned in one unbelievable performance against a future NBA first round draft choice & held him to five, that's 5 points in their biggest game of the year. And, YES...the Royals men's team outdrew their female counterparts for the first time in recent history.
  NEPA summed it up pretty well...the Royals were down 9 with just over 3 minutes left & simply found a way to get it done. Congrats to Ryan FitzPatrick who scored his 1.000 point tonight & to Paul & Luke Hawk who were not to be denied as well as the steady play of Paul Biagioli who was a one man shot adjuster underneath.
  A serious Thank You also goes out to the Scranton student section that actually found where the Long Center is located prior to graduation. Seems like they had a fun time, perhaps if scheduling allows for it...they may appear again on Sat.
  Scranton/Susquehanna on Sat. night...regardless of the outcome, both should be getting invited to the tournement.
  The TPM4286 Player of the Year will be awarded at halftime.

[TheGrove]

Matt get over Banzhaf, everyone is sick and tired of hearing about him, I think he should be the player of the year in the Landmark as well as the Big East and ACC  because he scored 5 more ppg than Joel Patch (Who will most likely be participating in the NCAA tournament and surely the Landmark Championship game) Catholic would have most certaintly been able to finish Scranton off tonite if Banzhaf would have scored his usual 5 more ppg than Patch (which would have been 34 tonite). Patch as POY and to the NCAA tournament and hopefully a Landmark conference championship!

trumbul, I'm all for Patch as POY (obviously), but I see no need to crucify Banzhaf, or Matt for sticking up for him. Spirited debate is one thing, but this is getting out of hand. Matt has been completely respectful of Patch while advocating for his guy, let's show him the same courtesy. Besides, it's in the hands of the coaches and conference office, not we message board dwellers.

Otherwise, go SU! 

[NEPAFAN]

I was about 5 seconds away from turning off the game and getting ready to accept a major Landmark upset. Glad I didn't turn off the game.


Official Line on Banzhaf

Banzhaf Jason 2-15 1-1 5


Scranton shot horribly, Catholic came out flying and it sounded like an epic battle. Must have been a long bus ride back to DC from the Pocono Mountains.

Landmark Conference Championship rematch Saturday Night....do both teams earn Pool B bids?


EDIT: Don't know where I got the rematch thing from..