MBB: Landmark Conference

[NEPAFAN]

Go through Scranton's schedule this year and show me a single win that deserves Top 25 attention.

There are at least 7 teams in the top 25 w/o a single win over a top 25 opponent. Doesn't appear to be a requirement for inclusion.

These are not the same thing. You don't have to have a win vs. a Top 25 team to have a win worthy of Top 25 attention.

As a voter, I generally like to see one win against a team receiving votes to balance out every bad loss. Scranton does have that, but it's a long, long time since that Randolph-Macon game.

Scranton has lost at home to Juniata and Merchant Marine. Neither of those teams have votes so Scranton having six votes seems pretty reasonable.

We could consider 6 votes reasonable but, on the other hand, R-M was ranked 16th at the time of the victory and there are 2 wins over ORVs(at sometime this year-Catholic, Ithaca).

I think you mean Muhlenberg vice Ithaca?

[Pat Coleman]

Go through Scranton's schedule this year and show me a single win that deserves Top 25 attention.

There are at least 7 teams in the top 25 w/o a single win over a top 25 opponent. Doesn't appear to be a requirement for inclusion.

These are not the same thing. You don't have to have a win vs. a Top 25 team to have a win worthy of Top 25 attention.

As a voter, I generally like to see one win against a team receiving votes to balance out every bad loss. Scranton does have that, but it's a long, long time since that Randolph-Macon game.

Scranton has lost at home to Juniata and Merchant Marine. Neither of those teams have votes so Scranton having six votes seems pretty reasonable.

We could consider 6 votes reasonable but, on the other hand, R-M was ranked 16th at the time of the victory and there are 2 wins over ORVs(at sometime this year-Catholic, Ithaca).

True. But they aren't now. And if someone is supposed to discount the Merchant Marine loss for being some time ago, then it has to be noted that Randolph-Macon was even further back.

"at sometime this year" is so misleading it's laughable. Ithaca got 22 votes in the preseason poll but was already 4-8 when it came to the Long Center.

[NEPAFAN]

Go through Scranton's schedule this year and show me a single win that deserves Top 25 attention.

There are at least 7 teams in the top 25 w/o a single win over a top 25 opponent. Doesn't appear to be a requirement for inclusion.

These are not the same thing. You don't have to have a win vs. a Top 25 team to have a win worthy of Top 25 attention.

As a voter, I generally like to see one win against a team receiving votes to balance out every bad loss. Scranton does have that, but it's a long, long time since that Randolph-Macon game.

Scranton has lost at home to Juniata and Merchant Marine. Neither of those teams have votes so Scranton having six votes seems pretty reasonable.

We could consider 6 votes reasonable but, on the other hand, R-M was ranked 16th at the time of the victory and there are 2 wins over ORVs(at sometime this year-Catholic, Ithaca).

True. But they aren't now. And if someone is supposed to discount the Merchant Marine loss for being some time ago, then it has to be noted that Randolph-Macon was even further back.

"at sometime this year" is so misleading it's laughable. Ithaca got 22 votes in the preseason poll but was already 4-8 when it came to the Long Center.

You dismissed the RMC victory so I went there with the MM loss. 

[Pat Coleman]

Well, you can't have it both ways -- either both are in or both are out. And to try to pass off Ithaca as a win of consequence for the Top 25 is something even a coach wouldn't try to do.

[ronk]

Well, you can't have it both ways -- either both are in or both are out. And to try to pass off Ithaca as a win of consequence for the Top 25 is something even a coach wouldn't try to do.

Didn't say it was a win of consequence-just stating that it fulfilled your wish of being over a team that had received ORVs. 

[NEPAFAN]

Well, you can't have it both ways -- either both are in or both are out. And to try to pass off Ithaca as a win of consequence for the Top 25 is something even a coach wouldn't try to do.

You brought the timing into this not me!!!!

[Pat Coleman]

Well, you can't have it both ways -- either both are in or both are out. And to try to pass off Ithaca as a win of consequence for the Top 25 is something even a coach wouldn't try to do.

Didn't say it was a win of consequence-just stating that it fulfilled your wish of being over a team that had received ORVs. 

Clearly the statute of limitations on a preseason ORV does not survive going 4-8, or their current 5-14. When I'm talking about wins over teams ranked or receiving votes, I'm talking about wins over teams currently ranked or ORV. It's not once-ranked, always-ranked!

[saratoga]

My point...these polls generate discussion (as we've just seen), & not much in the way of consensus.
I could care less if the Royals had 6 votes in this poll yet were ranked 3rd. in the Regional Rankings.

Today is a huge game for Scranton & perhaps, even more so for Juniata.
Can't remember the last time a veteran Juniata squad lost 3 conference games at home & if they lose today, that makes 4.

The Royals can get out to big leads on teams but seem to always relax defensively & let teams back in the game.
Wednesday night vs. Moravian they had a 17 point lead with a little over 4 minutes left & let the Greyhounds bring it down to 4 with the ball.
Simply not putting complete games together.

Turnovers will also play an important role in todays game.
The Royals have kids playing out of their natural positions & with no true point, the turnovers continue to haunt them.
I can foresee Juniata going all out defensively today and pressuring Scranton from start to finish to set the tone & pace of the game they want.


Free throw shooting...once a hallmark of Scranton teams, their percentage has slipped dramatically this season.
The difference between simply competing & actually winning on the road often comes down to connecting on your free throws.
Factor in that Juniata will generally have at least +8 at home in attempts, and it becomes evident that every chance at the line for the Royal's will be big.


This Scranton team is hard to figure out...just when you think they've got it going, a home loss to MMA.
A number of sloppy games in between & yet, they are standing at 15-3.
They seem to be living the adage "an ugly win is better than a pretty loss".

Today should be a great test for what may lie ahead.
Can the Royals handle the pressure I expect them to get?
Can they stay poised and stay within their strengths & game plan?
Will they cut down on the turnovers?
Will they make their free throws?
Can they keep Boken out of foul trouble?
Can they ever beat Juniata again???

My fear...the Royal's are walking into a hornet's nest today & when that happens, you just might get stung.

[NEPAFAN]

Big win for the Royals , but still can't hit a FT. First place tie as CUA got run out of the Gym. Look for Scranton to have 7 votes this week.

[CCHoopster]

Scranton is not a top 5 regionally ranked team as of now. No chance their above Cabrini, Wesley, Mary Wash, Messiah or St. Mary's. They may be behind Dickinson as well depending on voters thoughts. They will need to win the Landmark. Although plenty of games left for the aforementioned teams to slip up, Scranton to keep winning and get in the top 3-4 regionally. Votes should be the least of Scranton's or their fans worries. Winning the LC tourney should be the only concern.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Unfortunately... this conference is only going to get one bid to the NCAA tournament. I just don't see an at-large bid even for Scranton if they got to the championship game and lost (though, certainly a possibility). Too many good teams in the Mid-Atlantic will be slotted ahead of them so by the time they get to the table - if they get to the table - the at-large hopeful from this conference may be too late to enter the conversation.

[NEPAFAN]

Rest of the conference needs to pick up their game!

[saratoga]

E-Town will be a nice addition next year for both the men & women as far as giving the top teams an actual game.
For the bottom 3 teams, just 2 more losses.
Hopefully, there will be another addition coming to the Landmark from the Empire State.

[ronk]

Unfortunately... this conference is only going to get one bid to the NCAA tournament. I just don't see an at-large bid even for Scranton if they got to the championship game and lost (though, certainly a possibility). Too many good teams in the Mid-Atlantic will be slotted ahead of them so by the time they get to the table - if they get to the table - the at-large hopeful from this conference may be too late to enter the conversation.

We'll see; at the end of the conference tourneys, the CAC runner-up may be the only Mid-Atlantic team(barring other conference tourney upsets) with a better record than Scranton for Pool C.

[CCHoopster]

Unfortunately... this conference is only going to get one bid to the NCAA tournament. I just don't see an at-large bid even for Scranton if they got to the championship game and lost (though, certainly a possibility). Too many good teams in the Mid-Atlantic will be slotted ahead of them so by the time they get to the table - if they get to the table - the at-large hopeful from this conference may be too late to enter the conversation.

We'll see; at the end of the conference tourneys, the CAC runner-up may be the only Mid-Atlantic team(barring other conference tourney upsets) with a better record than Scranton for Pool C.

But it's more than just record. SOS favors a Messiah and CAC runner up as well as St. Mary's. Could see Messiah not winning the MAC CWealth tourney leaving CAC runner up, Messiah and maybe even another CAC team at the table for Pool C before a Landmark team.