MBB: Landmark Conference

NEPAFAN · February 10, 2013, 09:19:14 AM

Quote from: ronk on February 10, 2013, 02:22:49 AM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on February 10, 2013, 12:57:28 AM
Does Scranton know it can marry up its live stats with its Ustream video? That puts it all in one place for times that there isn't audio.

Pat,
I don't know; hopefully the SIDs can resolve it.

Gordon,
Just listened to ur post-game interview with Coach Danzig and Travis Farrell. Nice job and glad you went the extra effort to take in the proceedings in person, especially with the big storm or did ur wife drive the car? . I thought, going in to the game, that the student body would be a positive factor with the 1st home game in 2 months. Intersession is a bummer, bball-wise, but that's the reality-it's not ur father's schedule, in a manner of speaking.
I've always found Travis' dad to be knowledgeable and enthusiastic when I'd meet him at various road games. Hope we have a few more meetings b4 Travis' career comes to an end.

I had no audio problems last night, other than it not being available on the ustream feed. Where can I find the interviews Gordon did

ronk · February 10, 2013, 10:31:15 AM

on the front page of d3hoops under sat nite men's bball; a picture shows up to click start on.

gordonmann · February 10, 2013, 04:58:17 PM

Thanks, Ronk.

She usually sees one Division III game per year, so I try to pick one where the atmosphere is good. Scranton did not disappoint.

Made for a late night getting home though.

NEPAFAN · February 10, 2013, 05:55:02 PM

Well done Gordon, and much appreciated.

gordonmann · February 10, 2013, 08:18:58 PM

My pleasure. Here's our video recap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I1LieyQJVs

NEPAFAN · February 13, 2013, 12:34:29 PM

Gordon,

What is your take on the Scranton and Catholic squads this year?

NEPAFAN · February 17, 2013, 08:37:16 AM

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/d-iii-players-kicked-off-team-following-harlem-174844769--ncaaf.html

Grove can you comment on this? What a joke!!!

I took in the game at Goucher last night and was treated to a good game at a nice facility. But no cheerleaders?

Playoffs are set... Catholic is a lock for pool c if they lose but what about the Royals?

saratoga · February 17, 2013, 10:14:02 AM

NEPA:
One month ago I had the Royals dead in the water due to some losses that truly should have been wins...especially home game losses vs. MMA, Keystone, St. Joseph's & Drew.
The reality is, they were all close games that could have went either way.
I certainly believe that any team that wants to be in the post season better take care of business at home, however the Royals didn't fold after those losses, in fact, they then went on the road & defeated both conference members Drew & MMA a few weeks later.
I actually believe that should Scranton win their first playoff game on Wed's. evening, it will give them 20 wins on the season & with everyone back pretty much at full strength, they have as much of a claim to a Pool C bid as anyone...(providing there are not too many conference championship upsets).
Just give them a shot, send them to the Amherst bracket & we'll go from there.
However, before getting too far down the road...all focus has to be on Juniata.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 17, 2013, 11:00:53 AM

NEPAFAN and ronk - it was good to see you guys last night at Goucher, I am sorry I didn't have time to chat with you guys more as I was busier than expected and some alumni were on hand that I hadn't seen in quite some time.

It certainly was a good game to be sure. I thought Goucher might get the win, but some untimely turnovers cost them in the end of a good shot at the victory. However, that shot to beat the shot clock in the first half has got to be one of the best shots I have seen ever. We have heard of buzzer beaters at the half or end of regulation, but that is the longest made shot to beat a shot clock buzzer (which sounded as the shot went in) I have ever seen. Coach Danzig's reaction was priceless.

As for Scranton's chances, as I said to Dean on the radio tonight, those ranked behind Scranton in the regional rankings are all "must win" teams with no Pool C chances. Those ahead of them are safer, but depending on how many teams that are locks to get in lose in their conference tournaments will be a major factor. Scranton has a decent SOS, but 6 losses has always been bubble territory and seven is a rare to get into the NCAA Tournament. If the Royals get to the championship game, I think they have given themselves a fighting chance, but if they lose in the semis I think they are done.

Another factor, they will have probably three teams ahead of them in the rankings when it comes to selecting teams (granted, I may adjust that thought after this week's rankings are released). That is a lot of teams to get into the tournament BEFORE Scranton even comes up in conversation. That means the Royals will probably not enter the conversation until at least 12, maybe 14, of the 19 teams have been selected... leaving very little cushion.

Even if Scranton losses in the conference title game, the bubble is going to be a very fragile one.

gordonmann · February 17, 2013, 05:13:44 PM

QuoteGordon,

What is your take on the Scranton and Catholic squads this year?

NEPAFan:

Despite Catholic's loss to Scranton eight days ago, I think the Cardinals have a chance to make a deep NCAA tournament run. I'd set the bar at an Elite 8 appearance and not rule out a Final Four if they get the right draw. Holmes strikes me as the difference between Catholic being a really good team and an outstanding one. If he can play well and balance out Kearney down low, Cardinal is Salem worthy.

Scranton is a nice team with a good array of guards. When I put together the highlights after the game, I was surprised how many key plays where Tim Lavelle was involved. Danzig is a stud and Boken has a lot of promise. That's a great one-two punch to have for two more years. The Royals are good on the outside and raw on the inside, but so are a lot of other Division III teams.

Given some of Scranton's losses, it's too much of a reach to predict any kind of NCAA tournament run. I spoke to some people around the program about the Royals' at-large chances and they had the same read as Dave -- If they make the final, maybe they have a chance, but they aren't expecting a Pool C bid. But if they do get in the tournament, there's no reason they can't win a couple games. They've already shown they can beat the best team in the Mid-Atlantic/Atlantic regions.

NEPAFAN · February 18, 2013, 11:11:12 AM

Wesley losing to Salisbury certainly helps.

Understood that they won't get in nor deserve to if they don't take care of business on Weds.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 18, 2013, 11:23:33 AM

Wesley probably still stays ahead of Scranton in the regional rankings... less regional losses (now three) despite their SOS being a .505 compared to a .535 (as of last week's numbers). Also, if we go to secondary criteria, a number of games Wesley played (i.e. Christopher Newport, Hampden-Sydney) come into play and that might give Wesley the edge... because it is results versus regionally ranked opponents, not winning percentage or wins

. Also, those games and others could really boost Wesley's SOS...

That all being said, I wouldn't be surprised if Wesley ends up behind Scranton in this week's regional rankings (hedging my bets here

)... but I really think Wesley stays ahead at this point.

TheGrove · February 18, 2013, 02:14:59 PM

Quote from: NEPAFAN on February 17, 2013, 08:37:16 AM
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/d-iii-players-kicked-off-team-following-harlem-174844769--ncaaf.html

Grove can you comment on this? What a joke!!!

I took in the game at Goucher last night and was treated to a good game at a nice facility. But no cheerleaders?

Playoffs are set... Catholic is a lock for pool c if they lose but what about the Royals?

Whatcha want to know?

From what I understand, this was the "last straw" in a pattern of behavior that the department has been trying to curb since the fall. I didn't get to any games this year, but if the basketball "rowdies" are still acting the same as last year, I can sort of see why.

On the other hand, the communications geek side of me wonders if there weren't a better way to handle it rather than skip straight to dismissal, as that is what made this thing blow up. It's not a case of "any PR is good PR."

(BTW, not that you asked me to comment on your second part, but Goucher's never had cheerleaders. Last I heard, they had a dance team and that was it.)

NEPAFAN · February 20, 2013, 11:57:38 AM

I am very grateful that the university has video, especially after the debacle with D3hoops a few years ago.

But why do you send your radio guy on the road? Let Moravian call the game, provide video, etc.

I would rather have the complete package at home.

Just a thought.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 20, 2013, 12:01:11 PM

Quote from: NEPAFAN on February 20, 2013, 11:57:38 AM
I am very grateful that the university has video, especially after the debacle with D3hoops a few years ago.

But why do you send your radio guy on the road? Let Moravian call the game, provide video, etc.

I would rather have the complete package at home.

Just a thought.

NEPAFAN... makes sense to me, though I am familiar with a number of schools that grapple with this. I think it comes down to one thing: your school and fans are more likely to be at the home game and not the road game, so they at least want their guys calling the road game than wasted on the home game. That being said, if I want to watch video, I am not turning on the radio side as well.

Again, I have been part of conversations that revolve around this... so I know how challenging these decisions can be on how you want to showcase your team.