MBB: Landmark Conference

[cold_case]

Why in York. Why not in Wilkes-Barre at First Union Arena? Or just a little further south, say, at Lehigh's Stabler Arena?

[kitchenrat]

The idea is consistency of non-conference scheduling. As a school in Central PA we (York) play a few of the new Landmark schools almost every year. But we also play one-off's against schools we have no particular connection to, which is true of all schools. The only way to have a tradition is to establish one, I'm not saying it has to be CAC vs Landmark, but that's as good a place to start as any.

Plus, the original point of my post was if we are going to argue who is better, the Landmark or the CAC one way to solve that is to play head to head.

As for where, the ACC/Big 10 just plays half at ACC schools and the other half at Big 10 schools.

[NEPAFAN]

The idea is consistency of non-conference scheduling. As a school in Central PA we (York) play a few of the new Landmark schools almost every year. But we also play one-off's against schools we have no particular connection to, which is true of all schools. The only way to have a tradition is to establish one, I'm not saying it has to be CAC vs Landmark, but that's as good a place to start as any.

Plus, the original point of my post was if we are going to argue who is better, the Landmark or the CAC one way to solve that is to play head to head.

As for where, the ACC/Big 10 just plays half at ACC schools and the other half at Big 10 schools.

Sounds good, but it would have to be on the weekend. Landmark schools reserve the week for studying....

[cold_case]

I understand your post but when you look at the geographics, the schools that will be inconvenienced the most (travel-wise) are from the Freedom, Commonwealth and King's Point.
You're also forgetting the costs involved such as hotel and meals. The Landmark schools already will be travelling distances and staying overnight during the season.
It's an expensive idea you have without considering what will go into it.

[kitchenrat]

In playing a non-conference schedule there is always travel involved. The idea is to use 1 of those non-conference games to play a school from the other league. Wesley can go to Kings Point, and Salisbury to Drew. Those are drives that can be done in one day with out an overnights stay.

I'm not talking about a win and advance tournament, it is a challenge involving one CAC school playing one Landmark school. Or one CAC school playing one ODAC school

[Matt Letourneau]

Ok, well I don't know that we have to argue about logistics since this isn't going to happen, at least next year.  But I do like the fact that people are excited about games and talking about the new league already.  There is nothing wrong with a little rivarly to spice things up and generate interest, and there is a natural connection between the CAC and Landmark because so many of those teams already show up on each other's schedules and one of the most dominant programs in the East coast is switching over.

I think the biggest question mark going forward is what region Landmark will be in--that is what should dictate non-conference scheduling for all these teams.  Catholic went undefeated outside of the conference this year, and every single game was in region.  That had a major impact on the Cardinals getting a top seed and thus hosting a regional in the tournament.

[cold_case]

kitchenrat, if that's the case, put Scranton vs York together.

[kitchenrat]

kitchenrat, if that's the case, put Scranton vs York together.

That would be great. That would be a quality opponent for York, and not a gimmie for Scranton by any means. 

[Pat Coleman]

I was there Sept. 20, 1998.. the night Cal sat.

I'll never forget the disbelief that spread amongst my group in the stands: *poke* "Hey, who's that at third?" "That's not an 8, it's a 10... it's Ryan Minor...." "Did they move Cal back to short?" *looks* "um....no."

And then after the first at-bat, all the Yankmes came out of the dugout and started applauding.

I was driving back to D.C. that night after watching Mark McGwire hit homer No. 65 in Milwaukee. Aghast in the car listening on ESPN Radio.

[NEPAFAN]

For a Scranton fan, I wouldn't talk. The only reason Scranton is in the Landmark, and I've heard this from quite a few legit sources, is because the Elizabethtown's athletic facilities were archaic.

You obviously haven't seen Scranton's world class facilities. Although I did hear Elizabethtown was in the mix...

[Salem, VA]

York has the nicest facility

Stabler is nothing special and old...

Matt- this could happen its not an actual tourney, its an event since there is much into this

[Matt Letourneau]

Obviously we cant pick who would win these games right now with out knowing what kind of off season recruiting each team will have but it would be a great way to kick off the season. You could have a game at 4 CAC schools and 4 Landmark schools or a pod system where 4 games would be played at one CAC School and the other 4 at a Landmark school.

I know Scranton and Susquehanna each lose a key reserve but have all their starters returning. I also know Catholic got D.J. Johnston, a 6-4 G/F from Germantown Academy in Philly. How they got a committment from a player of his caliber this early is anyone's guess, unless he wasn't highly recruited? I don't know.
I have no clue about the remainder of the schools in the Landmark.

Uhh--yeah, DJ Johnston was/is highly recruited!!!  Actually one of the top D3 recruits on the East Coast.

Catholic will need him, as they are graduated 6 seniors, five of whom get big minutes.  Basically, when Mike Lonergan left to go to be an assistant at Maryland (and btw, his Vermont team just clinched the America East regular season championship in his second year with no upperclassmen!), Catholic didn't hire Coach Howes until late summer.  Catholic lost its recruiting class in the process.

Now, they have a huge freshman class and from what I can tell, a bunch of these guys can really play, but they didn't get big minutes thanks to the seniors.  They will have two starting junior guards, Stolzethaler and Olivero, and I anticipate big minutes and success from Fazzini, Quinn and Jones, all big guys (Fazzini more of a 3/4 who can shoot), who will be sophomores.

This tournament experience will be great for them.

Obviously, freshman class will be key, but

[cold_case]

Let me make a prediction.
I predict by the end of this weekend, the newly born Landmark will surpass the Commonwealth is posts.

[kitchenrat]

I was there Sept. 20, 1998.. the night Cal sat.

I'll never forget the disbelief that spread amongst my group in the stands: *poke* "Hey, who's that at third?" "That's not an 8, it's a 10... it's Ryan Minor...." "Did they move Cal back to short?" *looks* "um....no."

And then after the first at-bat, all the Yankmes came out of the dugout and started applauding.

I was driving back to D.C. that night after watching Mark McGwire hit homer No. 65 in Milwaukee. Aghast in the car listening on ESPN Radio.

Pat, I did my internship with the Redsox that summer and was upset to find out that Cal sat out the last game at home, because my boss with the Sox got me tickets to the last game of the year (O's at Sox) which I thought was going to be the day he did it. Of course he did the right thing by doing it at home. I sat in the WABU skybox and watched the game with one eye as I wateched Big Mac his #69 and #70 with the other.

[NEPAFAN]

Uhh--yeah, DJ Johnston was/is highly recruited!!!  Actually one of the top D3 recruits on the East Coast.

Catholic has no problem getting kids into their program. Sets the bar in the Landmark. Haven't heard anything about any Scranton recruits.