MBB: Landmark Conference

[Matt Letourneau]

Great day at DuFour today.  Nice to see former Cardinals and particulary the 2001 team reunited.  Once again, the school was smart and by having the celebration today ensured a great home crowd that had plenty to cheer about.

The team I saw today bears no resemblance whatsoever to the team I saw take the court at Scranton.  This team played stifling defense from the get-go, was extremely active on the offensive end, took advantage of transition and played a much, much better half court game with outstanding ball movement. That's exactly what's been happening ever since that Scranton lost.  We're still only 3 games into the post-Scranton stretch, but I think that game was a wakeup call.

For one thing, Kearney is back starting and it does make a huge difference. He got in foul trouble early today and only played 14 minutes--largely because they didn't need him--but he had monster dunk and 2 huge blocks--officially--and affected a whole bunch of plays inside defensively.  They are a much more solid team with him in there.  Also, Banzhaf's numbers are actually down, but that's not a bad thing--there are simply more guys doing things other than him.  When JB is their only offensive option, he'll put up big numbers and get his points, but they aren't better for it.  Dixon is continuing to play at a very high level, but now the bench guys are really contributing and they're super deep so that can be a strength.  By the way, Drew ended up shooting 17 percent for the game--obviously some of that is just Juanita not being able to do much, but the overall defensive effort had a lot to do with that.

The kid you want to watch next week is Gabriel Estrada, a D2 transfer out of Merrimack who is just getting back in the swing of things.  You won't notice it from the box score, but this kid is a huge talent at the 3 which they badly need.  He did two things today that made me sit up straight--hit a turnaround without much space around him that was silky smooth, and then nailed a transition 3 by beating everybody down the court.  I have not seen much of that in a D3 gym--not from a 6'5 kid with a D1ish body.  (It wasn't just that he hit it--it was HOW he hit it--if you were there at that game you know what I mean-it was like at once the whole gym was saying "who is THIS kid?"  Just one of those moments.)  So as his minutes continue to increase, we'll see how that impacts things.

As far as Scranton---this is proving to be a tough league and obviously Drew is a different team with Caspers (I think its time to take a look at that situation, I'll get to that later this week perhaps).  I got hit a little bit for saying it, though, and honestly I meant no disrespect--but Scranton just didn't look that good to me.  They really lack depth and have no size.   I can't say I'm shocked.  I'm not saying they're not going to win the league or that Catholic is going to go up there and beat them--we'll see--but they didn't look the least bit like a top 25 team to me even while beating Catholic on the road and I think my impression was validated.

Well, anyway, homecourt held this weekend and CUA doesn't get any extra credit for margin of victory, impressive as it was.  Now we'll see what kind of carryover there is.  Man I wish they didn't have to wait a week to get back out there.  So hard to get any kind of momentum in this schedule--as Scranton can probably attest to as well.  They have a great weekend last weekend with big road wins, and then have to sit around a week and do nothing and come out flat against a MMA team they probably should have beaten.

[BCannon]

It's J-U-N-I-A-T-A not Juanita

[Matt Letourneau]

It's J-U-N-I-A-T-A not Juanita

Well at least I say it right.   I'm going to return your smite by giving you a karma point for reading that far.

[Pat Coleman]

It's J-U-N-I-A-T-A not Juanita

Well at least I say it right.   I'm going to return your smite by giving you a karma point for reading that far.

He doesn't have enough posts to smite you.

[Matt Letourneau]

Oh well, somebody did.

He got my applause anyway. 

[saratoga]

Hey Matt: Mr. Sunshine here. Looks like a great judge of talent such as yourself finds the Royals to be "just not that good", yet when someone that has followed them for a few years essentially says the same thing they are "getting down" on them??? I guess that means either you never say anything truthful about your team (blind allegiance) or you are hypocritical...you can't say that but I can. Which one of those is most near & dear to you? Actually, now that I think of it...I see a little of you in both.
Normally I'm so accustomed to you complaining about how Catholic was so abused by the refs on the road that I've not really noticed the secret weapons you've been stockpiling from D-2 as you get ready for the stretch run. I really hope the Royals have played a small part in the resurgence of Catholic basketball by knocking them off at home. With the way the Royals are now playing (as expected & not that well) I'm pretty sure that with Jason finally figuring it out (just in the nick of time), the improved play of your center & the bench being enhanced by the physical greatness of a recent addition, the program is once again ready for prime time.
The Royals on the other hand...not to get down on them (only you are allowed that privilege) are hitting their typical late season swoon. Simply blown out at MMA after only being down 4 at the half & then losing yesterday in a game they led by 11 with 4 minutes left.
I've said it all year...they'll go as far as any one dimensional team can when that one aspect of their game is firing on all fronts. Take that away & there will be problems. Yesterday vs. Drew was an absolutely winnable game on the road & may very well be the one that does them in when all is said & done. That said, this is the most athletic team Drew has ever had & their coach has brought in some nice kids to compliment those he kept from 2 years ago.
It looks like it's going down to the wire yet again & I'm sure the Royals will be in the mix. Whether or not a very bland one dimensional group will be ready to take on the resurgent men of D.C. remains to be seen at this point. I guess we'll get to know even more about these respective teams by this time next week. In the meantime, the Royals have much work to do should they have any real hope of being taken seriously not only on the national scene but in the Landmark itself. Not getting down on them...just the way I see it.

[Matt Letourneau]

That's really not what I said.  Either you can't take a joke or this isn't the right medium for it.  Although, behind every joke I suppose there is some truth, and that's even when things are going really well for Scranton--which they usually are--you don't seem to be terribly happy about it.  Like the guy who just has to complain to be happy.  But I don't know you, that just could be your schtick.  Besides which, usually my ribbing is in reference to stuff that has nothing to do with what's happening on the court.

Anybody who reads what I say can't accuse me of being either of those things.  I call it like I see it, too.  I'm very careful to couch what I say about Catholic, and yes, I do tend to stay more even keeled than some others.  The season wasn't over when we went on a bad stetch and lost a couple of games we shouldn't have, and now its not made because we're on a good stretch.  What I try to have is some perspective--what's the overall state of the program? What kind of kids are in there, what kind of coaches?  Are they graduating?  Is team chemistry a problem, are they representing themselves well on the court?  And yes, in that mix, are they competitive/winning?  From where I sit, Scranton has a hell of a lot to be happy about judging against that criteria.  They are well coached, they are a solid program every year, although I have limited basis to judge, it would appear to an outsider that they have high character kids who go on and do good things in life.  And so if I was a Scranton fan, there's just a limit to how much I would trash them, which doesn't mean I'd pretend the play on the court was something to write home about when it wasn't.

I think I was pretty critical about both teams when Catholic and Scranton played together.  I expected more out of CUA in general this year, and I expected more from Scranton based on their performance this year. 

BTW--I never said anything about Jason "figuring it out", it is not that there is improved play from Catholic's center--its that he's actually playing, period, since he missed a bunch of games with an injury (which just so happened to be when they took a nosedive), and I didn't say that the transfer was "physically great."  And I have no idea if the program is ready for "prime time."  Since I have enough things in life to worry about it, I generally choose to be optimistic about the things I can be, so yeah, I think things are looking up.  But we'll see.

[Matt Letourneau]

Looks like the Long Center will be packed tomorrow for basketball. Unfortunately, the Royals will not be playing there. A high school game between Scranton & West Scranton will be held there & the old house should be rocking.
Probably more dunks & fast break points in this game than the Long Center has seen since the days of Irv, Phil, Miernicki, Maher & Connelly.

Mr. Sunshine strikes again!

Like this.  This is what I rib you for.  That has nothing to do with anything on the court.  This is not an analysis of how Scranton is playing, strengths and weaknesses, so on--you want to be down on them, be my guest.  I'm never going to open my mouth.  Its this stuff that I get a kick out of it.  I guess it bothers you so I'll stop.

[saratoga]

Matt: again, I dare to disagree. The fact that the Long Center has had no fan interest (as in zero) in the past 7-8 years speaks volumes. My point is that not so long ago it was the Royals packing that place each & every game...now if 400 show up it's a great crowd.
I went there Matt & to see high school games packing the place while the Royals play in front of a crowd you can count means there is a serious disconnect somewhere. The high school game attracted over 2,000 on Sat. whereas the Royals haven't seen a crowd like that in far too long. Therein lies the point I was making with that statement...it certainly does have quite a bit to do with the state of the program.
Of course we all accept the fact that kids playing for these schools in the Landmark are going to class & will graduate & will continue to be great kids long after they leave school. Those have never been issues of mine or anyone else I know that follows Scranton basketball. The issue continues to be one of getting Scranton back to where Bessoir had it virtually every year...the NCAA tournament.
The loss on Sat. was not due to the ref's., an unfair proportion of fouls or anything else other than the Drew kids kicking it in down the stretch & essentially refusing to lose. The Royals did help them along the way in the last 4 minutes by going from being a one dimensional team to a one player team. Shot selection went from questionable to unnecessary & the door was opened for Drew & they took complete advantage.
Anyone that follows Royals basketball knows they have no inside game & no point. They get the best out of their talent most games yet coaches are known to make adjustments from time to time & that's what's happening now.
Some schools are happy just to have a team, some are thrilled to play .500 & others have a history of success on & off the court. The off the court stuff is being done perfectly...the frustrating aspect is when the same personel issues are there year after year & the framework for moving to the next level is just not happening.
If Scranton were to finish the season in first or second place, get eliminated in the Landmark playoffs & not get a bid to the tourney, would that be a good year? For some schools it would probably be a great year & one to remember...I just think Royals fans have seen enough of that & would like a bit more, hence the crowds of 250/400.
I really hope the students turn out this weekend & get behind them. The Royals are undermanned & undersized yet bust each game against kids bigger, stronger & faster...just wish that wasn't always the case.

[Pat Coleman]

You guys aren't the only ones talking about the Landmark Conference schedule. Coaches are speaking out publicly. Story in What We're Reading.

You can find Landmark-specific stories on any Landmark team's page, under the ads in the third column of the page:
http://www.d3hoops.com/teams/Scranton/men/2010-11/index

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

And don't forget that Coach Danzig was rather open about the conference scheduling on Hoopsville a few weeks back.

The archive is here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/12139251
His interview I think was in the last 45 minutes of the show (I can't remember where, to be honest).

[Matt Letourneau]

And don't forget that Coach Danzig was rather open about the conference scheduling on Hoopsville a few weeks back.

The archive is here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/12139251
His interview I think was in the last 45 minutes of the show (I can't remember where, to be honest).

First 30, D-Mac!  He was VERY candid.

[augie]

I can not wait to see this stud Jason Banzhaf that Matt has been talking about for the last 4 years when they come to the Long center this weekend!

[ronk]

  I don't think you'll be disappointed; if he were 6'6" instead of 6'3 1/2'', he'd be a D1 player.

[cold_case]

Yo Matt, there is a new Orioles post on my facebook. Can't wait to read your latest reply.