MBB: Landmark Conference

[Matt Letourneau]

Uhh--D-Mac--SUS beat CUA last weekend.  And they looked really, really good doing it.   I came away really impressed and wondering how they had laid such a stink bomb the night before.  I think the comparison to Marymount back in the day is apt.  Same kind of team--lots of talent.  Just have to bring it night after night.

I just have to chuckle at this because I was at Marymount in those "back in the day" days. Maybe it's me. 

Well, what I mean is that teams that I think have very good talent and just consistently underachieve.  Mentally can't keep it together during a whole season.  And play with a bit of an edge---which personally isn't my style because I think it can get out of control.  I don't think SU really qualifies as THAT yet, but Marymount certainly did.  

In the case of SU--the coach seems to want that and eggs it on.  We'll see if that pays dividends.  I've been able to watch coaches with very different styles at Catholic---of course the makeup of the team matters--but its been interesting.

[TheGrove]

As for SU's best conference record... tough to brag about considering they don't win when they have to. You can have the best record in the country, but when the must-win game is in front of you and you keep faltering, your record no longer means much (i.e. Dallas Cowboys). SU hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament in the two years of the Landmark Conference because they lost both times in the first round. Winning a lot helps... but winning when it matters means more when talking about success.

Dave, I'm sorry, but you're incorrect again. SU lost the championship to Scranton last year. That's the second round of the playoffs.

(They lost in the first round the first year of the Landmark, and in the first round of the Commonwealth playoffs the year before that - both to Juniata - so maybe that's why you're confused).

Matt, I know where you're coming from on the SU/MU comparison, and so far I have to say I agree. Consistency counts.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

TheGrove - I researched that and found they lost in the first round... so I will have to triple-check my source. And susiddad - no one is knocking the coach.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

From the "duh!" department... I forgot the playoffs weren't on the same weekend... and were mid-week... so when I saw the Susquehanna loss days after a win... I just took that to be the first round... just wasn't thinking... again. It has been a rough week... guess I need to go back and think more nationally instead of just this conference .

Again... I am just trying to say... I want to see Susquehanna play more consistently before I jump on their bandwagon... that's all.

[hoopit123]

i am assuming this silence from the scranton front is a sign of giving up hope?i know the past few weeks they went on and on about disappointment...after 0-2 weekend, maybe they are right?

after watching the US vs SU game this weekend, i kind of got the feeling they were expressing...scratching my head, wondering: what happened???   i honestly feel as though scranton is out of the playoff picture for this season.  they had no spark against SU, have no forwards besides londo (but he needs others to create for him and is not true scoring threat), and it even appeared as though danzig was giggling and laughing in disgust at times.

they are a FAR inferior team than they were last year. for the first time, i finally understand what all the gripe was for by nepa and co.

what DID happen??

[hoopit123]

matt---i believe this is not a case of marcinek egging on the bit of flare and foolery that goes on at times.  he cannot control his players personalities and demeanor.  i think more than controlling it, the coach can only ADAPT to it...if he does not, it will be a long season and he would just yell at his players nonstop--that achieves nothing.  he has a bunch of young, inexpereinced, players this year that never learned the calm, cool demeanor of the seniors of 07, 08 09.  consequently, this team appears to have a much different personality.  is it bad? NOT AT ALL!  it appears to be working, and with so many young players, i feel marcinek has no choice than to accept what is working. if nothing else, maybe it intimidates some teams to see the confidence this young SU team displays.

[ronk]

  Too early to write off the Royals; after all, they were winning 41-30 Sat and in the process of stealing the ball at midcourt when SS reclaimed the muff and hit a big 3 in a string of 9. Disappointed-yes, but there are plusses- 6 of 9 games left at home, +1(road wins - home losses, nobody is better), and, hopefully a return to last year's form of Luke Hawk from injury.
  A few years ago in the Mac-Freedom, there was the possibility of 5 teams tying for 1st with 9-5 recs going into final game of season; this season may be similar.

[BCannon]

To add to your response ronk I could be wrong, but I believe Scranton in the 1st yr of the Landmark had the same conference record at this pt in the season

[saratoga]

Brian, you are exactly right about the Royals similar record however, two years ago the Royals had a point guard (Randy Arnold), a post presence in Tom Bicknell, a one man zone in Paul Hawk & a wing threat in Matt FitzPatrick. This year, they are batting .000.
Eli gets in early foul trouble because he's trying to do the work of 3 people & obviously he has no supporting cast around him. Scranton is by far way too one dimensional...when the 3's are falling they'll be in the game & when they're not, since they haven't learned that offensive rebounds are allowed, they get clobbered. Ashworth is putting up nice numbers but he too is getting frustrated & firing away 3's from 30' well before a play even has a chance to be run. This team has leadership issues, talent issues & recruiting issues.
Right now based on what I've seen, Scranton is the 5th. team in a 4 team race. There is little to no improvement weekend to weekend, minimal passion & hustle on the floor, minimal enthusiasm generated from the bench for team mates & just an overall lack of toughness both mentally & physically.
This weekend I see them losing at home to Catholic & defeating Goucher (maybe). The following weekend I can see them losing at home to MMA & defeating Drew & then the last full weekend losing on the road to both Catholic & Goucher. To add insult to injury, I wouldn't be surprised if Moravian knocked them off in the regular season final. I'm not real sure what Coach Danzig has done with his recruiting budget the past 4 years but it seems a few tanks of gas & some actual visits might be in order.
I hope I'm very wrong on this team but, I think the fat lady has sung on this season. It may not be much longer & the mens team will be playing the first game at Scranton.

[susiddad]

Definite talent decline in Royal nation over the past year. 
I happen to think it is ok to knock a coach here or there if deserved or even a joke.
Probably the most underrated program in the league is the Juniata Eagles.  Cannon, can we get some comments on Curley and the job he does there as a former player.  All of the SU Juniata games are hard fought and probably split over the past few years, yet all the talent is on the SU side imo. With the exception of yourself and maybe SU coaching legend Ferko.  Curley should get some notice here as they overachieve often.

[NEPAFAN]

There is nothing new to be said. Royals need to keep their heads up and keep playing every weekend.


As an aside, Susq puts on the best internet video broadcast I have seen.

[susiddad]

The video feed is normally great, however they keep switching up the film guys and the best ones sometimes put their head down and are not ready to film to their potential when called on.  Like 3 out of every 4 films are great. 

[BCannon]

Toga-I totally agree with everything you said. I was in no way trying to compare this yrs team with that 08 team talent wise, just wanted to point out the records as reason to not totally write them off yet. As you said they get to play a lot of games at home now..it'll be interesting to see how things play out at the Long Center.

susid-w/ regards to Curley he would problly prefer the job he does to go under the radar but since you asked for my opinion I feel confident in saying he is the best coach & runs the best program in this conference. Not necessarily W's and L's wise yet (although 1st yr was in Landmark Finals and was more deserving of COY with all we lost from the previous season then Coach Walker imo) but in other ways that are not as easily seen from the outside. I find your take on the talent disparity between JC and SU a little comical, but I will digress and say that from top to bottom SU has the more talented individuals.

[susiddad]

"On a side note, and in no reference to Coach Marcinek. A coach can make average players good... good players great... and great players dominating ones. But those individual efforts don't automatically create a better a team.. just better players."

-Dave -

I am not so sure I would be the best here to answer, but I kind of disagree with the above statement.  A coach can make average TEAMS good, good TEAMS  great, and great TEAMS dominant. 

The players are responsible for making themselves better.  The better the players are the more potential the teams have.  Making sure the team reaches that potential is the coaches job amongst many other things like finding the talent.

That is kind of why I wanted to recognize Juniata's coach for the job he does.  They always play hard and seem to reach their potential as a team.  Player wise, outside of Cannon has anyone made it to a top 1st or 2nd team in the last 2 or 3 years?  SU has had at least 2 every year.  Yet the difference in talent doesnt reach the difference in record. 

[BCannon]

Susi-agree with all of that. I just feel its inaccurate to say all the talent resides on the SU side. I don't think that's a fair/accurate assessment is all. From top to bottom does more talent reside on the SU bench in the last 3 yrs in the Lmark? absolutely. As far as All Conf 08-09 1 on 2nd team, 07-08 1 on 1st 1 on 2nd, 06-07 1 on 1st 1 on 2nd