MBB: Landmark Conference

cugrad · February 27, 2011, 02:03:53 AM

Scranton got a lot of help in the first half! Scranton, a three point shooting team, goes to the line 8 times in the first half. Catholic, a team that gets the ball in the paint, goes to the line 0 times in the first half. A little home cookin'? Catholic was playing well in the first half and deserved better. I think if that game is called evenly during the first half, Catholic is up by 10 or more at halftime!! It's a given that you're going to take it up the a$$ in scranton, however I thought they might get a fair shake in a confereence championship game. One foul called on Scranton during the first 17 minutes of the game, while scranton is in the bonus! You won't get that kind of officiating in the tournament!!! Catholic deserved much better in this game. Unbelievable!!!

ronk · February 27, 2011, 07:54:03 AM

And what about the 1st 17 minutes of the 2nd half?

cold_case · February 27, 2011, 09:27:58 AM

The three officials that called the game weren't local. I never heard of them before.
Scranton did hold an 8-0 FT edge in the first half but led by just one at the break.
Catholic was outshooting them from the line a majority of the second half, yet Scranton found a way to open up a sizeable lead until the final five minutes when the Cardinals were forced to foul.
Bottom line: Scranton found ways to gain a big lead despite Catholic making more trips to the line during the first 15 minutes of the second half. Catholic didn't do that in the opening session.

cugrad · February 27, 2011, 10:35:13 AM

You guys missed my point. The officials kept Scranton in the game during the first half. Instead of Catholic possibly carrying a 10 or more point lead into halftime, Scranton drains a three at the buzzer to lead by one. They leave the court with momentem. Catholic doesn't get what they earned on the court during the first half. Roell drains two threes early. Next thing you know, he's on the bench with two fouls. Can you imagine the outrage if Ashworth picked up two fouls in the first 5 minutes of any game, not to mention a championship game? Can you imagine the outrage by SU supporters if Catholic played this game at home and was in the bonus, with only one foul called on them in 17 minutes? The officials sent a message to Catholic early about how this game was going to go. Do you think that the Catholic players felt that they were getting a fair shake? That kind of officiating changes the way the game is played. What happened in the second half has no barring on my point. Additionally, it was easy to give some calls to Catholic in the second half because Scranton was able to build a six to ten point lead right out of the second half gates. BTW, doesn't matter if the officials are local or not! They took Catholic out of the game early!!

TheGrove · February 27, 2011, 12:45:13 PM

Quote from: cold_case on February 26, 2011, 08:35:37 PM
Quote from: Matt Letourneau on February 26, 2011, 08:28:51 PM
Mine went on and off...

Catholic is going to finish this season 19-4 against teams not named Scranton. Scranton finishes 16-5 against teams other than Catholic.

Not going to, did.
Ashworth drops 31 on the Cardinals.
Anyway Scranton could trade for announcer Jack Burns?

Susquehanna Hall of Famer Jack Burns? No way.

But it's nice to see him get some love from others.

NEPAFAN · February 27, 2011, 02:03:09 PM

So no credit to Scranton who beat the Cardinals but 10+ points three times this season? I can't comment on the calls, because I obviously didn't see them. But it comes off as sour grapes.

You are comparing Roell to 2 time player of the year, Ashworth? Really?

Matt Letourneau · February 27, 2011, 02:18:54 PM

I didn't either, so I can't comment. I wish I could have seen it via live video, though, since obviously Scranton is really something special. To go an entire half without commiting a single shooting foul is really something. Especially against a team that makes a point of pounding it inside as their strategy. Banzhaf had 9 attempts in the first half, Kearney had 4, and I don't have to see the game to know that most of those were inside. Yet they didn't get fouled, not once!

Maybe we can fly Danzig and the boys up to Boston to tutor my Celtics on that.

cold_case · February 27, 2011, 02:39:54 PM

Quote from: cugrad on February 27, 2011, 10:35:13 AM
You guys missed my point. The officials kept Scranton in the game during the first Catholic doesn't get what they earned on the court during the first half. Roell drains two threes early. Next thing you know, he's on the bench with two fouls. Can you imagine the outrage if Ashworth picked up two fouls in the first 5 minutes of any game, not to mention a championship game?

So, you're comparing Roell to Ashworth?

NEPAFAN · February 28, 2011, 09:19:16 AM

D3hoops has Scranton hosting, but playing Amherst (22-3 or thereabouts) in the first round.

2,000 in the house on Saturday night for the Landmark Final, by the way.

cold_case · February 28, 2011, 09:49:23 AM

Quote from: NEPAFAN on February 28, 2011, 09:19:16 AM
D3hoops has Scranton hosting, but playing Amherst (22-3 or thereabouts) in the first round.

2,000 in the house on Saturday night for the Landmark Final, by the way.

Which is about 2,000 short of what they drew in their hey dey.

Matt Letourneau · February 28, 2011, 10:00:54 AM

Still pretty good.

I know CUA had at least one busload of students--hopefully they made a little noise.

cold_case · February 28, 2011, 10:53:29 AM

Yo Matt, what do you think of my new look?

saratoga · February 28, 2011, 11:39:56 AM

First things first...congrats to the Royals on another very nice season. Certainly exceeded my expectations given the well documented fact they are essentially a total guard orientated team with minimal height, team speed or depth. Coach Danzig certainly has pushed this team to go about as far as the talent level can take them. Zach certainly deserved the award as he's put this team on his back for quite some time. One really classy move by him was during the tee-shirt handout by the Landmark representitives, he walked his over to Randy Arnold's dad & gave it to him.
As far as the foul situation...totally a non-issue. Yes, Catholic did have quite a few early ones but the bottom line was it was a 1 point Scranton lead until Farrell drains a 3 at the 1st. half buzzer. Catholic kept themselves out of the game by horrible shooting & never really getting their big guys into the flow.
The second half starts & now Scranton gets 6 quick fouls on them including Hawk's 3rd. At the end of the game Catholic had 5 more fouls & at least 3 came in the last 2 minutes when they had to foul to try & get the ball back.
The crowd. Certainly the largest since 8 years ago when that Royals team made it to the Sweet 16. The student section was packed, loud & into the game from start to finish. It was so nice to see the Long Center rocking again...just hope we don't get another 8 year hiatus between near sellouts. Hopefully, many of the first time attendee's, especially those that are students, liked & enjoyed what they saw & will want to return again & again. The atmosphere was electric as soon as you walked in & I'm thrilled this group of kids finally got to play in front of that type of crowd.
Not sure who'll we'll get or where it will be...still kind of enjoying this last one.

saratoga · February 28, 2011, 02:12:03 PM

I find it hard to believe that Scranton ends up losing a host site to Cabrini. That makes no sense at all. They played head to head & Scranton won. The facilities at Scranton not to mention the seating capacity are far greater, hotel accomodations...a new Hilton & the Raddison within walking distance.
Then they send Hartwick with 10 losses to Cabrini (4+ hours away) when they are only a few hours from Williams & Scranton heads into the Williams bracket.
If I'm Coach Danzig, I'd like a serious explanation.

NEPAFAN · February 28, 2011, 02:21:10 PM

The answer you are going to get is that 1 head to head game means nothing and that it is the team's body of work. But I am curious as to why Cabrini is ranked so high. Who have they beaten outside of their conference? A conference by the way that includes two bibles schools and Rosemont.