MBB: Landmark Conference

[Matt Letourneau]

Good luck.  Hopefully coming in from the north (MD side) will be okay--the Potomac River crossings from VA are a disaster and literally taking an hour+ just to cross one of the bridges.

[NEPAFAN]

Scranton 63
Catholic 56


The two teams do it again in about a week in the first round of the playoffs, this time in Scranton. Huge road win for the Royals who were down 16-6 at one point and looked like they were going to be rolled out of the gym!

[ronk]

   It was even worse than 6-16 @ 3-15 and with the Royals not showing any indication that things were going to change. They missed at least 5 layups(admittedly contested) in this half, but Catholic wasn't shooting any better and let Scranton creep back into the game. Neither seemed to be playing intensely enough to avoid that 8-hr bus trip that's coming next week to the loser.
   Despite 15 points and 10 rebounds, Jason B. seemed to be defended adequately by the Royals as was Zach Ashworth by the Cardinals so that each had minimal touches for 2 POY candidates. Eventually, the Royals hit more big 3s to build a lead, got into the bonus FT well before the Cards, and got the ball into the hands of their best foul shooters to hang on despite missing the front ends of a couple of FTs. Eli seemed to have at least 5 blocks but was only credited with 2.
  Passed on talking with Coach Howes after the game, figuring he wouldn't be in a good spirits after the loss. Did get to reminisce during the 2 games tonite with the radio voice of the Georgetown Hoyas, Rich Chvotkin, who did the broadcasts of the Royals' games when we were classmates way back then.     

[Matt Letourneau]

Suffice to say I was not too pleased with this effort.  I think Catholic gave this game away.  You shoot 9-20 free throws and 3-16 from 3 (and 36 percent overall) and only lose by 7?  That should tell you something.

Save for the first and last 5 minutes of the game, the intensity was not there--I don't get it.  Ronk is right--neither team played like anything was on the line.  Frankly neither of them looked very good either.  After Catholic let Scranton back into it, Scranton had a chance to totally bury Catholic and didn't and then missed a bunch of free throws at the end--probably because their guys were tired since they don't have much depth.

And I hate to say it--but I have a hard time believing the Conference POY was on the floor at the DuFour center last night.  Neither of them played like it.  Banzhaf's numbers were actually deceptively good--he didn't play as well as the boxscore indicates.  Ashworth made two memorable plays---a nice fade away 3 and a 3 point play on a block/charge call that could have gone either way. 

Hopefully the Cardinals play better tonight and Saturday.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I have now seen Ashworth play a few times... once in person and other times on video feeds... and I am just not impressed enough to say he is a POY candidate. He gets the job done, sure... but he also baits refs into calls to get him to the line... producing points and forcing different defensive match-ups due to foul trouble. Sure, that gets his team an advantage, but I wouldn't give a player the POY based on that.

Against Goucher, he suffered a concusion, I am sure, in a couple of rough-house moments inside. But Goucher I thought did a very good job making him pretty much a non-factor... since Goucher's inside presence is a bit more athletic then Ashworth.

As for Banzhaf... I lean towards not giving him the nod either. He just hasn't produced or had moments where he put the team on his shoulders and gotten the job done, especially recently. I will hold all judgement until after Saturday's game against Goucher... but so far I haven't been impressed with him, either.

Honestly, I think the POY comes from Merchant Marine this season. Ryan Samuel has certainly impressed this season... though there is also Jon Snead and even Matt Hueber (though his points are lower then a POY usually gets).

Granted... my choices are in the middle of the pack when it comes to PPG in the conference. Ashworth, Spencer, and Banzhof are the top three. I have already stated my points about Ashworth and Banzhof... Spencer on the other hand has been very streaky and inconsistent. And has even sat at least a game and a half this season in conference play (more? less?). Not sure he should get the POY if his coach is benching him during games and when he didn't even show up for a games either.

So... POY is tough... just don't think the top three point leaders in this conference are actually deserving. But I don't vote...

[ronk]

I have now seen Ashworth play a few times... once in person and other times on video feeds... and I am just not impressed enough to say he is a POY candidate. He gets the job done, sure... but he also baits refs into calls to get him to the line... producing points and forcing different defensive match-ups due to foul trouble. Sure, that gets his team an advantage, but I wouldn't give a player the POY based on that.

when he Against Goucher, he suffered a concusion, I am sure, in a couple of rough-house moments inside. But Goucher I thought did a very good job making him pretty much a non-factor... since Goucher's inside presence is a bit more athletic then Ashworth.



So... POY is tough... just don't think the top three point leaders in this conference are actually deserving. But I don't vote...

Dmac,
  I think you're confusing Ashworth  with Matt Swaback, who was knocked woozy twice against Goucher. Ashworth had a great game(7-11 from the field, 4-5 on 3s,9-10 FTs, 8 rebounds)

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Man... I did... I am terribly sorry for that. I completely jumbled up my numbers and faces in my head this morning.

So... let me retract and now say that I actually liked how Ashworth has been playing (though, didn't see much of the CUA game from my PA seat - though the game was on my laptop in front of me). All my points about "Ashworth"... are about Swaback... and apparently his head injury... caused some memory problems of my own!!!

[NEPAFAN]

Dan Oconnell w/ his career high of 16 points certainly played like something was on the line. So did Zach Ashworth. CUA had 15 points with 10 minutes left in the first half they finished the half with 21.

[cold_case]

Suffice to say I was not too pleased with this effort.  I think Catholic gave this game away.  You shoot 9-20 free throws and 3-16 from 3 (and 36 percent overall) and only lose by 7?  That should tell you something.
Save for the first and last 5 minutes of the game, the intensity was not there--I don't get it.  Ronk is right--neither team played like anything was on the line.  Frankly neither of them looked very good either.  After Catholic let Scranton back into it, Scranton had a chance to totally bury Catholic and didn't and then missed a bunch of free throws at the end--probably because their guys were tired since they don't have much depth.
And I hate to say it--but I have a hard time believing the Conference POY was on the floor at the DuFour center last night.  Neither of them played like it.  Banzhaf's numbers were actually deceptively good--he didn't play as well as the boxscore indicates.  Ashworth made two memorable plays---a nice fade away 3 and a 3 point play on a block/charge call that could have gone either way. 
Hopefully the Cardinals play better tonight and Saturday.

A loss, is a loss, is a loss and Scranton did bury them. They went up by 15 with about 4-5 minutes left then laid back.
This is the third season for the conference and the third revamped lineup Scranton had to work with in those same years due to heavy graduation losses. I give them credit for continuing to win.
Catholic is not young anymore so I really don't want to hear any of that excuse either.

Enjoyed watching the live stream on CU's website last night. It was refreshing and easily able to follow the game with no loudmouth announcers yelling into the microphone.
Maybe ESPN (the world leader in Muckraking Journalism and Pretend) should take a cue from this and do it the same way.

[saratoga]

Two road wins in a row for the Royals. Still a big game to play on Sat. against an improving Moravian squad & then we'll know where everything washes out.
It would seem the 1-4 we currently have will remain in that order but, crazy things do happen.
Obviously a great win for Scranton any time you beat Catholic in DC. although, the Royals still need to be able to finish stronger (especially on the road) by hitting the free throws & taking care of the ball in the waning minutes. Thank God Catholic was just as tight at the free throw line the last 5 minutes or it could have become very interesting.
  Nice to see Dan O'Connell now getting the senior minutes & chipping in big time. At this point in time, I think the Royals have stopped the guessing game at the point & are getting the minutes on the floor to their best athletes.
Rest the legs for a few days & then get ready for a strong finish on Sat.

[Matt Letourneau]

Suffice to say I was not too pleased with this effort.  I think Catholic gave this game away.  You shoot 9-20 free throws and 3-16 from 3 (and 36 percent overall) and only lose by 7?  That should tell you something.
Save for the first and last 5 minutes of the game, the intensity was not there--I don't get it.  Ronk is right--neither team played like anything was on the line.  Frankly neither of them looked very good either.  After Catholic let Scranton back into it, Scranton had a chance to totally bury Catholic and didn't and then missed a bunch of free throws at the end--probably because their guys were tired since they don't have much depth.
And I hate to say it--but I have a hard time believing the Conference POY was on the floor at the DuFour center last night.  Neither of them played like it.  Banzhaf's numbers were actually deceptively good--he didn't play as well as the boxscore indicates.  Ashworth made two memorable plays---a nice fade away 3 and a 3 point play on a block/charge call that could have gone either way.  
Hopefully the Cardinals play better tonight and Saturday.

A loss, is a loss, is a loss and Scranton did bury them. They went up by 15 with about 4-5 minutes left then laid back.
This is the third season for the conference and the third revamped lineup Scranton had to work with in those same years due to heavy graduation losses. I give them credit for continuing to win.
Catholic is not young anymore so I really don't want to hear any of that excuse either.

Enjoyed watching the live stream on CU's website last night. It was refreshing and easily able to follow the game with no loudmouth announcers yelling into the microphone.
Maybe ESPN (the world leader in Muckraking Journalism and Pretend) should take a cue from this and do it the same way.

You are just an argumentative sort, aren't you?  Okay, its semantics, but the fact that they "laid back" is exactly what I meant.  Had Catholic actually been able to consistently hit some 3's they would have had a chance to win the game, even after being down by 15.  If you let a 15 point lead dwindle down to two posessions and you haven't pulled your starters--which they didn't--then you didn't bury your opponent.

Obviously a win's a win and I'm certainly not making an excuses for anybody.

Just for the heck of it, here are minutes played by class last night:

Catholic
Senior: 4
Junior: 105
Sophomore: 16
Freshman: 75

Scranton:
Senior: 58
Junior: 65
Sophomore: 46
Freshman: 31

Percentage of minutes played by upperclassman:
Catholic: 55%  Scranton: 62%

I don't think you can call Catholic "young" anymore either, but they're getting a lot of minutes from young players, especially freshman.  

[NEPAFAN]

By the way, Danzig is coach of the year.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

COY: Krikorian... nothing against Danzig, but it didn't start out well. Where as I don't think anyone thought Merchant Marine would be controlling this conference at any point in the season.

[cold_case]

You are just an argumentative sort, aren't you?  
Just for the heck of it, here are minutes played by class last night:
Catholic
Senior: 4
Junior: 105
Sophomore: 16
Freshman: 75

Scranton:
Senior: 58
Junior: 65
Sophomore: 46
Freshman: 31

Percentage of minutes played by upperclassman:
Catholic: 55%  Scranton: 62%

I don't think you can call Catholic "young" anymore either, but they're getting a lot of minutes from young players, especially freshman.  

Argumentative? When you post on a public forum, you should expect to draw fire from the opposition, right? It's not about arguing as much as it's s disagreeing with opinions.
In regards to those minutes you posted by class rank, does it really matter? No, not at all.
Scranton's s upperclassmen, mainly seniors, have logged the bulk of the minutes the past three seasons.
Fact is, the percentage of minutes played by Scranton's seniors this year is down from those other years. That's why I said a couple weeks back that Scranton actually has more returning next season then they have the past two.

[cold_case]

COY: Krikorian... nothing against Danzig, but it didn't start out well. Where as I don't think anyone thought Merchant Marine would be controlling this conference at any point in the season.

Yeah, who would of thought a team with four starters and 12 lettermen back from a year ago would be in their position.
You Mason-Dixon Twosome crack me up. Remind me to write a humorous column about this board when I'm hard pressed for copy.
Unbelievable!!!