MBB: Landmark Conference

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Matt... it isn't impossible to go that long without a foul being called. It is in your mind, because you and most Catholic fans think a foul should be called on every possession and every time a player is breathed on when the Cardinals are on offense. Though, that isn't the case when they are on defense. 

As for my comment... I'm not complaining about the officiating, I am simply stating there were some horrible calls. Anyone there would admit that, but not complaining about it. There was one call where one of Goucher's guard last night hooked his defender so badly with his free-arm that he actually placed his hand on the defenders "buttocks" keeping him from following the guard. He did it three or so times and everyone in gym knew he had done it. Twice, no calls. Third time, defender was called for blocking. Horrible call - fact. However, not complaining about it. Just pointing it out. It had nothing to do with the outcome of the game .

Now, with all that being stated, I have actually been impressed with the officiating in the Mid-Atlantic Region this year. There are still some refs out there that either need to go or need to reevaluate how they call a game. However, there are several new refs who are younger and seem to have a better idea of how the game is played and should be called. They also seem less likely to be intimidated by the older refs and don't tend to change their styles.

As for the games, I was only some-what impressed with Moravian. They certainly have a talented team, but they really struggled with Goucher's pressure defense, especially when it was at its full-court best. Moravian, like many teams that haven't faced Goucher ever, or in a long time, aren't used to the type of defense the Gophers play, or some other teams in the CAC. That will take some getting used to - especially how to prepare for it.

Moravian hit some huge three's at the beginning of the first half to get out to a big lead. But Goucher turned up the pressure and clawed back into the game. It was a tight game at the half and Moravian decided to come out shooting three's in the second half, including trying to hit the shots just after breaking the press with essentially a 3-on-2 situation. It worked early on and then fell apart. Three's allowed them to keep the lead or get the lead back several times, but they weren't back-breakers.

Also, Moravian was lousy on the boards. At the half, Goucher was beating thing 22-16. I haven't seen Goucher beat teams on the boards all season, since the Gophers are usually sizeably smaller. But the Greyhounds just didn't do a good job on the boards and seemed to be out hussled on more than a few occasions.

Nothing against the Greyhounds, but if they make the NCAA tournament, depending on who they face up against, it may be an early exit. I think Susquehanna is a better team, but they have a tougher resume to prove to the NCAA they deserve a Pool B bid.

Heading to the SRC in a few hours to catch some of the women's game and then the men's against Scranton. Looking forward to it.

[Pat Coleman]

Matt... it isn't impossible to go that long without a foul being called. It is in your mind, because you and most Catholic fans think a foul should be called on every possession and every time a player is breathed on when the Cardinals are on offense. Though, that isn't the case when they are on defense. 

Perhaps it's time to let 1999 go and stop painting people with a broad brush.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Pat... not refering to 1999. I listen to most CUA fans at games I attend that they play at. Heck, at the SRC they are yelling directly behind me! Also... I did add a  !

[Pat Coleman]

"you and most Catholic fans" is a blatantly biased comment, Dave. You should know better than to paint any fan base with one overarching statement.

Especially since, at the games I've been at this year (95% of which did not involve Catholic), other fan bases behave the exact same way. So why single out one group?

[ronk]

Matt,
  Like I said before, my friend did the game last night, so  i'll take your description(unremarkable) as praise for the job. I was at the Scranton end line in the 2nd half and there wasn't anything questionable down there. I didn't have a good view of the CU end, but he told the Scranton staff that they were holding on the in bounds plays and after 2 calls, they stopped. Some of the hard-core are irritated with a 9-2 deficit in fouls on the road, but in this case, it looked legit to me.                                                                 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Pat, don't disagree with the fact that lots of fans in many places are similar. Heck, Moravians fans last night were irate at a game I thought was fairly officiated, though not perfect. Heck, I ever heard them commenting/heckling my comment "team is over the limit" when both teams had more than 10 fouls in the half!

One of my biggest pet-peeves is fans who complain during games about officiating when it isn't warranted. It makes it seems like fans have no idea the actual rules of a game. Also, it doesn't represent the school very well.

I have been to several games this season where I left shaking my head about another teams fans (both at the SRC and other locations). It truely is embarrassing sometimes.

As for my comment... it was directed at a CUA fan and about a CUA fan. I am not off-based with my thought since I usually hear everything CUA fans say at a game because either I sit immediately in front of them at the SRC or next to them at the DuFour Center. Matt and I have had disagreements during games when sitting next to each other. Also, the "" was to indicate I was just having a little bit of fun with Matt and don't take me completely seriously. I still stand by my point that I was having some fun with a comment.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

By the way, to be "unbias"... there is one particular fan for Goucher that is notorious for thinking every call on offense should be called and nothing on defense for the Gophers should be called. Nothing I can do about that fan, unfortunetly. I have tried to indicate at times my thoughts on the officiating so that fan understands that I think the comments and yelling are off-based, but it doesn't seem to stick.

[cold_case]

Aren't all fans the same in regards to thinking their team(s) are getting a "home job" by the officials, albeit both road teams (Moravian and Scranton) won last night?
Dave, I was shocked to hear you say that the Moravian fans were "irate." In all honesty, when in God's name did Moravian ever have fans on a road trip before?
Colonel Matt, I read your post and many of us are starting to wonder if you're going to toss inuendos about officiating everytime Catholic loses? You sound like another Colonel from the Freeom board whenever his school drops a contest.
On a personal note, I commend kids at high-tech, academic D-III conference like the Landmark and others for the simple reason that they don't have to be out there, they want to be. This is not D-I and I don't really want to say anymore about the upper division(s).

[cold_case]

Pat, is the Wes Parker at CUA any relation to the Wes Parker that played for the Dodgers in the 1960's and early '70's???

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

cold case - yes... there were Moravian fans at the game, though the number certainly shrunk when the women's team left around halftime. There were quite a few sitting behind me and I think quite a number on the other side of the gym as well.

Though, Merchant Marine probably has the best turnout so far this season at the SRC. Susquehanna has a very large contingent and I would expect the same from CUA next weekend. Wonder how many may come from Scranton today (since it's right now I-81 to I-83 to I-695... ok, maybe not "right down", though the trip south is primarily right hand turns!)

[cold_case]

When I went to see the O's for a set of games, I remember getting off Exit 29A I believe. There was a Holiday Inn at the corner by the light on Joppa Road, which is where we stayed. Across the street was the Fabulous Bel Loc Diner (good food), and Pollock Johnny's was on Joppa. More good eats. I also remember the Colts practicing down the road a piece at, I think it was Goucher College. I remember the campus set off into the woods, nice and quiet. Perhaps it wasn't Goucher, but I'm pretty sure it was.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

cold case - that is old school!

The Bel Loc Diner remains and the Holiday Inn I think you are referencing is a bit around the corner on Crownville Bridge Road, but I suggest you NOT stay there if you come down - long story. There are plenty of other options.

As for where the Colts practiced, I believe you are right. I know the Colts trained at Goucher College once upon a time! Though, the campus and the facilities have changed since you were there .

[Pat Coleman]

Pat, is the Wes Parker at CUA any relation to the Wes Parker that played for the Dodgers in the 1960's and early '70's???

If so, his bio doesn't mention it.

[Matt Letourneau]

Colonel Matt, I read your post and many of us are starting to wonder if you're going to toss inuendos about officiating everytime Catholic loses? You sound like another Colonel from the Freeom board whenever his school drops a contest.

I'm confused.  What did I say about yesterday's contest that you consider innuendo?  If anything, I was defending the officiating.  I said it was "unremarkable," which ronk correctly interpreted as a good thing, because it is.  I'll say it again, more clearly if it helps: the officiating in yesterday's game was fair and played absolutely no role in the outcome.  There were a handful of calls that partisans from either side could probably complain about, but that is the case in every game I've ever seen. 

[NEPAFAN]

Half Time

Scranton  43
Goucher   35


Catholic   39
Moravian  36