MBB: Landmark Conference

[Matt Letourneau]

Go Goucher!  With their win over Merchant Marine today, Catholic actually has a shot at the #2 seed and a home game.  Goucher upsetting Drew would certainly help the cause.

After a no-show for the week, Matt makes an appearance and that only means one thing: Catholic must have won Friday.

What are you insinuating?  I don't duck the board when Catholic loses--I posted at least twice after the Scranton game.  You WILL see a correlation between, you know, actual games and posts.  Another reason to change the schedule.  There's no activity on this board during the week because they are no games and there is nothing to say unless somebody wants to start a POY argument or something.  I'm happy to discuss the fall of the Egyptian dictatorship or handicap the 2012 Presidential race if you really need to read something from me but I doubt anyone else does.  And probably not this week, either, since my week included a night in the Emergency Room for myself and 2 sick children and a sick pregnant wife.

In any event, Goucher DID get the upset over Drew and now we're set up for one heck of a wild finish--a 3-way tie between Catholic, Drew and Merchant Marine.   The Landmark website is currently listing Catholic in second, but I don't know how the tiebreaker plays out.  If anyone does, by all means I'd love to hear it.

Next week, Catholic is at home vs Goucher, Drew travels to Merchant Marine.  So assuming Catholic wins (which I'm not, by the way, given how well Goucher is playing), there would be a 2-way tie because either Drew or MM will have a loss. 

[saratoga]

NEPA: As far as Tommy Morgan, all I know is what I heard via the Royals broadcast today. He was still at Geisinger Hospital in Danville for observation & his parents got there late last night from Long Island. According to Dean, and this is not official..."he is probably done for the year". He did not elaborate if that news was an assumption or medical fact. I guess we'll know soon enough.
As far as the Landmark tie breaker system, from what I remember Matt, it starts with the head to head record then goes to the record vs. the team above. In other words, if Catholic & Drew split but Catholic lost both games to the Royals yet Drew defeated Scranton once, then Drew gets the tie-breaker.
After what transpired today, I'd say the upcoming tournament, regardless of order, is wide open without a clear & convincing favorite.
May the best team win...cause we're only getting that one.

[cugrad]

Saratoga is on the money!  Catholic would win a three team tie, however, Drew and MMA play next week.  For Catholic to get a home game, they must beat Goucher and pray that MMA beats Drew.  Catholic would obviously win a tie-breaker with MMA.  Drew holds their own destination in their hands!  Go Cards!

[cold_case]

Go Goucher!  With their win over Merchant Marine today, Catholic actually has a shot at the #2 seed and a home game.  Goucher upsetting Drew would certainly help the cause.

After a no-show for the week, Matt makes an appearance and that only means one thing: Catholic must have won Friday.

What are you insinuating?  I don't duck the board when Catholic loses--I posted at least twice after the Scranton game.  You WILL see a correlation between, you know, actual games and posts.  Another reason to change the schedule.  There's no activity on this board during the week because they are no games and there is nothing to say unless somebody wants to start a POY argument or something.  I'm happy to discuss the fall of the Egyptian dictatorship or handicap the 2012 Presidential race if you really need to read something from me but I doubt anyone else does.  And probably not this week, either, since my week included a night in the Emergency Room for myself and 2 sick children and a sick pregnant wife.

Oh, here we go. Excuses, excuses.
Anyway, since I'm not a hoidy-toidy and get involved with who's running the country, why not handicap this years Derby?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Matt - sorry we couldn't help with the Merchant Marine game... MMA played extremely well and Goucher played its worse game of the season, IMHO.

That being said, they then played extremely well last night against Drew and while it was tight the entire game, they didn't back down. They also played some of their seniors like Brandon and Kosh far more then usual and their intensity and desire was 180-degrees from Friday night.

Also, congrats to Goucher's Trae Linsday. Last night he had 3 block to break the Goucher record for career blocks (now has 77) previously held by Goucher Athletics and Men's Basketball Hall of Famer Predrag Djurkovic. He already broke the season block record (has 46 - old record was) and already shares the blocks per game record of five with Djurkovic. BTW, Linsday is a sophomore!

If Goucher can keep it's young players improving, can find a solid point guard, and solve some mental lapses on defense they are going to be a factor in the next couple of seasons.

[NEPAFAN]

NEPA: As far as Tommy Morgan, all I know is what I heard via the Royals broadcast today. He was still at Geisinger Hospital in Danville for observation & his parents got there late last night from Long Island. According to Dean, and this is not official..."he is probably done for the year". He did not elaborate if that news was an assumption or medical fact. I guess we'll know soon enough.
As far as the Landmark tie breaker system, from what I remember Matt, it starts with the head to head record then goes to the record vs. the team above. In other words, if Catholic & Drew split but Catholic lost both games to the Royals yet Drew defeated Scranton once, then Drew gets the tie-breaker.
After what transpired today, I'd say the upcoming tournament, regardless of order, is wide open without a clear & convincing favorite.
May the best team win...cause we're only getting that one.

Can you remind me of your pre-season expectations for Scranton this year?

[cold_case]

NEPA: As far as Tommy Morgan, all I know is what I heard via the Royals broadcast today. He was still at Geisinger Hospital in Danville for observation & his parents got there late last night from Long Island. According to Dean, and this is not official..."he is probably done for the year". He did not elaborate if that news was an assumption or medical fact. I guess we'll know soon enough.
As far as the Landmark tie breaker system, from what I remember Matt, it starts with the head to head record then goes to the record vs. the team above. In other words, if Catholic & Drew split but Catholic lost both games to the Royals yet Drew defeated Scranton once, then Drew gets the tie-breaker.
After what transpired today, I'd say the upcoming tournament, regardless of order, is wide open without a clear & convincing favorite.
May the best team win...cause we're only getting that one.

Can you remind me of your pre-season expectations for Scranton this year?

'toga will ante up. He admits when he's wrong.


d mac's post is sort of funny. Especially since sports history teaches us that the law of averages eventually rewards the bottom teams.
On the other hand, we've gone from being the future of the league to using "wait 'til next year refrains." 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Goucher has flat out under-performed and not played to expectations for a number of years. The biggest problem has to do with the fact talent coming in wasn't as good as expected. I'll be the first to tell you this... and it has been hard to sit there an announce games.

This year's squad hasn't been great record wise, but except for Friday night's performance, I have enjoyed watching them play. They have the ability to do something.

Again, they need a point guard that will be a team leader. Donte Brandon has done this recently, but he is graduating and I wish he could have stepped up earlier in his career (I think everyone thought that would have been his role). They also lose Tim Alexander who showed signs of that leadership on the floor. They need a point who can take over, read a defense well, and even call out plays when needed.

They also need a 4 so Shane Yambor can be a primary 3. Yambor has the touch from inside and can hit from outside when needed. However, there is a lot of pressure on Yambor to perform in a 3 / 4 hybrid role and I don't think it fits him.

Colby G. will be a great 2 considering when he settles into the college game (he was a transfer mid season), he might become one of Goucher's best outside shooting threats in years.

And that leaves Lindsay. I would argue there isn't a coach in the league that isn't worried about him, especially on defense. That being said, he needs to bulk up more and get more physical - or at least be more prepared for physical play - so he can handle posting up a bit better. He can already jump out of the gym and has a smart head on defense... he just needs to become a major threat on offense.

I can't remember the last time I was actually comfortable about this program in future years. Yes, I thought a number of years back they were going to be the future, but players that had potential ended up being duds, in my opinion, and others left or didn't pan out for other reasons. The last time Goucher was a threat in this region was at the beginning of the century.

I really hope that 2011-2012 will reveal a squad that is more mature and possibly a threat in the conference and the region... but that is 8 months away!

[saratoga]

My "pre-season expectations" I honestly don't remember.
I think there are only 2 choices every year with the Royals.
One is they finish in the top 4 & make the playoffs but don't win the Landmark tournament and do not get a Pool C bid.
The other is they win the Landmark, get an NCAA bid & lose in the first round rather soundly.
Was it one of those?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Well, we know one thing... it will be one of those!

[NEPAFAN]

My "pre-season expectations" I honestly don't remember.
I think there are only 2 choices every year with the Royals.
One is they finish in the top 4 & make the playoffs but don't win the Landmark tournament and do not get a Pool C bid.
The other is they win the Landmark, get an NCAA bid & lose in the first round rather soundly.
Was it one of those?

I recall a bottom of the Landmark finish because they didn't recruit anyone , and the whole team is combo-guards, but I could be misremembering! My point is they are overachieving a bit..


Hopefully Morgan is out of the hospital by now...

[ronk]

  If Catholic beats Goucher, they'll play the winner of MMA/Drew and Scranton hosts the loser. If Catholic loses, they'll play Drew if Drew wins and @Scranton if MMA wins.

[saratoga]

NEPA: all kidding aside, you are correct. In a post dated 10/28/10 after the coaches poll came out, I did state that I found it somewhat hard to believe the Royals were ranked as high as 3rd. & Susquehanna as low as 4th.
The coaches got things a little backwards as well with Catholic coming in 1st.& MMA 2nd.
Two surprises besides the Royals ending up first in the regular season with breathing room...1. Susquehanna not making the cut & 2. The emergence of Drew. Obviously the Rutgers transfer has really given their back court some athleticism that has not been seen in that block of Madison in quite some time (if ever) & their up-tempo game, when clicking, will present some problems.
I really thought the Crusaders had some really nice kids coming back that gave them depth & talent at some key positions. Spencer-Spencer, Pannell, Wilson, the senior transfer from Hobart & a really good freshman center plus a group that got minutes last year seemed ready to finally return to the hunt. Oh well, that's why you play the game.
So Far- So Good Award: Scranton. Will they recover from the massacre in Huntingdon? Can they pull 2 more wins out in the Landmark? Can they ever again win an NCAA game? Good questions... but the bottom line, Danzig really has done a nice job of blending 8 guards into a pretty cohesive team.
Not So Good Award: Susquehanna. Too much talent to not even end up where the coaches picked them.
Out of Nowhere Award: Drew. I mean this usual collection of nice kids that let you beat them by 30 at your place & 20 at theirs have left the campus. This group is talented (at times), quick, big when they want to be & play with a little chip on their shoulder & they are well coached. This may be their learning curve year but, I think Drew may no longer accept the given role of dweller of the cellar any longer.

[cold_case]

So Far- So Good Award: Scranton. Will they recover from the massacre in Huntingdon? Can they pull 2 more wins out in the Landmark? Can they ever again win an NCAA game? Good questions... but the bottom line, Danzig really has done a nice job of blending 8 guards into a pretty cohesive team.

Speaking of NCAA wins, word has it that the sons on Mickey Banas, Irv and Phil Johnson, Paul Meirenicki, Billy Bessoir and Jack Maher are headed to Scranton.
That might get them off the snide.

[Matt Letourneau]

Well, saratoga, when you get a kid drop in who should have graduated 2 years ago, and ended up at Drew via Rutgers, Idaho State, and a community college...its amazing what can happen.

This didn't receive a lot of scrutiny on the board this year and I've been meaning to do a post on it--it certainly has changed the complexion of the league.