MBB: Landmark Conference

[Matt Letourneau]

Catholic 58
Drew 48 (held scoreless for 11 minutes in the 2nd half)

Should we all be impressed? What did Catholic's defense do that every MAC team hasn't done to Drew over the years??

Drew was held scoreless for 11 minutes in the 2nd half... and Catholic is a rather young team this season, so some growing pains should be expected.

That being said... CUA lost to Merchant Marine today... who have now won five straight. After what I saw last night, they have certainly found thier shooting touch from outside... and made sure to convert three-point opportunites when fouled inside on a shot.

They did lose, but they were down 10 very late and put together a run to tie it.  Had they hit a FT at the end and converted the three point play on their final posession, they would have won it.  McGrew had 22 today...watch out.  He's getting going.  Of course, just as soon as it I call him a good FT shooter, he has a bad day, but...

Game didn't go their way in OT.  Like I said, though, show me a more talented group of freshman--this many of them--on one team.  Its just going to be a roller coaster season this year.  But I'd rather be Catholic and up and down with a ridiculously young team than perhaps a certain veteran team in the conference that's been inconsistent this year (ahem...)

[Pat Coleman]

Birmingham-Southern has a more talented group of freshmen, but that's ok, I know the question was rhetorical.

[HopeConvert]

Catholic 58
Drew 48 (held scoreless for 11 minutes in the 2nd half)

Should we all be impressed? What did Catholic's defense do that every MAC team hasn't done to Drew over the years??

Drew was held scoreless for 11 minutes in the 2nd half... and Catholic is a rather young team this season, so some growing pains should be expected.

That being said... CUA lost to Merchant Marine today... who have now won five straight. After what I saw last night, they have certainly found thier shooting touch from outside... and made sure to convert three-point opportunites when fouled inside on a shot.

They did lose, but they were down 10 very late and put together a run to tie it.  Had they hit a FT at the end and converted the three point play on their final posession, they would have won it.  McGrew had 22 today...watch out.  He's getting going.  Of course, just as soon as it I call him a good FT shooter, he has a bad day, but...

Game didn't go their way in OT.  Like I said, though, show me a more talented group of freshman--this many of them--on one team.  Its just going to be a roller coaster season this year.  But I'd rather be Catholic and up and down with a ridiculously young team than perhaps a certain veteran team in the conference that's been inconsistent this year (ahem...)

I doubt anyone has more freshmen (9, by my count). And they have size, and I think play hard (I'm going on the basis of one game I've seen in person - Friday night against Drew). But, good Lord, the shooting was cover-your-eyes ugly, for both teams. I hope D-Mac was referring to CUA when he noted the improved shooting. On the basis of this one game, I'd have to say Hope's freshmen are quite a bit further along, but there's half again as many. I'll be seeing more games, and am eager to see how CU improves over the course of the year.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I was refering to USMMA... if you look at the stats for their games in the winning streak... they are shooting the ball very well from beyond the arc and from the line. Jumpers and inside... they are ok, but when you can hit well from outside and then you are picking up the easy points from the line... it goes a LONG way to winning.

In the game against Goucher, the Gophers shot 8-18 from the line and they were 6-16 from 3 point land, but only 1-7 in the second half.
Merchant Marine shot 10-14 from the free throw line and 6-14 from the beyond the arc, including 4-6 in the 2nd half.
Mariners won by 4. Thanks to those stats primarily!

[NEPAFAN]

Catholic 58
Drew 48 (held scoreless for 11 minutes in the 2nd half)

Should we all be impressed? What did Catholic's defense do that every MAC team hasn't done to Drew over the years??

Drew was held scoreless for 11 minutes in the 2nd half... and Catholic is a rather young team this season, so some growing pains should be expected.

That being said... CUA lost to Merchant Marine today... who have now won five straight. After what I saw last night, they have certainly found thier shooting touch from outside... and made sure to convert three-point opportunites when fouled inside on a shot.

They did lose, but they were down 10 very late and put together a run to tie it.  Had they hit a FT at the end and converted the three point play on their final posession, they would have won it.  McGrew had 22 today...watch out.  He's getting going.  Of course, just as soon as it I call him a good FT shooter, he has a bad day, but...

Game didn't go their way in OT.  Like I said, though, show me a more talented group of freshman--this many of them--on one team.  Its just going to be a roller coaster season this year.  But I'd rather be Catholic and up and down with a ridiculously young team than perhaps a certain veteran team in the conference that's been inconsistent this year (ahem...)

While I can't argue , I think I liked the board when it was dead.

[saratoga]

Scranton pulls out a huge win on the road at 10-2 Albright to stop the slide. Freshman Zach Ashworth drives the length of the floor with 5 seconds left in OT & lays one in with .09 second left to win it after Albright just tied it up. Randy Arnold's consecutive games started streak is over...he's started every game since his freshman year...the shoulder injury is just not allowing him any mobility. Another double/double for Tom Bicknell. Defense wins games...Scranton keeps teams under 70 they win...over 70 they lose. Hard to head into the conference schedule without your 4 year point guard but, it is what it is so keep making the best out of a tough situation. Should be a nice ride home tonight...finally!

[NEPAFAN]

Scranton pulls out a huge win on the road at 10-2 Albright to stop the slide. Freshman Zach Ashworth drives the length of the floor with 5 seconds left in OT & lays one in with .09 second left to win it after Albright just tied it up. Randy Arnold's consecutive games started streak is over...he's started every game since his freshman year...the shoulder injury is just not allowing him any mobility. Another double/double for Tom Bicknell. Defense wins games...Scranton keeps teams under 70 they win...over 70 they lose. Hard to head into the conference schedule without your 4 year point guard but, it is what it is so keep making the best out of a tough situation. Should be a nice ride home tonight...finally!

Great effort from the Freshman  Ashworth and the rest of the Royals. Must be something in the water at Central Bucks High School.
Although, it sounded like they were still being beaten on the boards. I thought another Freshman Bogovich was going to be a monster on the boards, but he has been MIA.


Saratoga any word on how long Arnold and O'Connell are out? 

[TheGrove]

Susquehanna now stands at 5-0 in the Landmark after sweeping Drew and Merchant Marine this weekend.

Now I bet you wish there were no Susquehanna posters, eh? 

[Pat Coleman]

I don't. I wish there were more.

[cold_case]

[But I'd rather be Catholic and up and down with a ridiculously young team than perhaps a certain veteran team in the conference that's been inconsistent this year (ahem...)

Judging by Saturday's debacle, perhaps they're not inconsistent enough? (ahem).
Youth is no excuse and from what I witnessed, the inconsistent team played without two of its top three starters. (ahem II).
It was the first game I saw this year since coming home for the weekend. I haven't missed much.

[Matt Letourneau]

[But I'd rather be Catholic and up and down with a ridiculously young team than perhaps a certain veteran team in the conference that's been inconsistent this year (ahem...)

Judging by Saturday's debacle, perhaps they're not inconsistent enough? (ahem).
Youth is no excuse and from what I witnessed, the inconsistent team played without two of its top three starters. (ahem II).
It was the first game I saw this year since coming home for the weekend. I haven't missed much.

Well, when you shoot 28%, you aren't going to score much.

I don't think one game erases my point.  In fact, that was the first game all season that they weren't in.  Take a look at their losses...by 4 to Moravian, 5 to Merchant Marine in OT, by 3 to CMU, 4 to Piedmont, 4 to Case Western...etc.  With the exception of that one game to Scranton, in the first back to back away trip for them, they've come up just short.  It stands to reason that next season when these players are more mature and know what they're facing, some of those close losses will be close wins. 

Basically, this season is prepartion for next year.  At 10-6, Scranton is still a long shot for a Pool B (maybe they'll make a run, they certainly have the talent and coaching to do so), but if they don't make it, than I don't really see why I wouldn't rather be in Catholic's position.

[cold_case]

(.....they certainly have the talent and coaching to do so)

Matt, you got the first part right.

[Matt Letourneau]

Well I look forward to seeing for myself when they come down to Washington.  Hopefully it will be a better game. 

[NEPAFAN]

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19215201&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=422129&rfi=6


Donnie Collins commentary on the Landmark Conference and Scranton.

Highlights...

-Playing back to back days may be the biggest challenge.
-Danzig believes the level of play may be higher in the Landmark compared to the Freedom.

[kate]

Nepa Fan, thanks for highlighting that very interesting Landmark article.  In this morning's Allentown Morning Call, sport's section, i see that four of the top Men's Landmark teams ARE former MAC.  It makes one wonder why Coach Danzig would say the level of competition is "better".   Coach Strong was brutally honest - thank you again for posting that piece.