MBB: Landmark Conference

Matt Letourneau · March 05, 2015, 10:11:53 PM

Landmark POY Bryson Fonville led Catholic with 38 points tonight as the Cardinals defeated Alvernia 87-80. Alvernia started the game 9-0 but CUA responded with a 15-2 run and controlled most of the game. Alvernia made a late run with a bunch of 3's and missed Catholic free throws, but Fonville was 20-21 from the FT line and put the game away.

Catholic shot 56% and largely controlled Alvernia's outside game for most of the night.

Obviously, an extremely uphill challenge for CUA to face RMC on Saturday. If nothing else, it will be a great experience for some of the younger players. They have nothing to lose and hopefully will relax and play their game.

CardsFan · March 05, 2015, 10:34:45 PM

Just back from the DuFour Center in DC and braving the rather treacherous roads in MD. Tremendous effort from all the players tonight. It took the Cards about 3 minutes to really wake up as the game started with 3 consecutive TO's from Bryson Fonville. From there, the Cards played by far their best game of the season considering the quality of the opponent and the stakes of the game.

The coaching staff seemed to put the handbrakes on with about 4 minutes left and decided to start running the clock out instead of continuing to attack and handed all initiative to Alvernia. A combination of CUA falling asleep on defense and Alvernia heating up from 3 got the score differential as low as 4 with about 30 seconds left. Thankfully, Fonville was fantastic from the FT line and clinched the victory.

Special recognition to Alvernia who are a fantastic team. Their post player, Harrison Deyo, should have been playing at a higher level. They're certainly one of, if not the best, team CUA has played all season. Saturday will present a much different challenge, but I'll enjoy traveling to watch the Cards play against the #1 team in the country.

Matt Letourneau · March 05, 2015, 11:52:17 PM

Well, that HIGHLY questionable foul called on the 3 point attempt at the end certainly contributed as well...along with leaving some points on the table at the FT lane by guys other than Fonville at the end.

Alvernia also hit a couple of deep 3's that they hadn't been making all game--they finally heated up a little bit. Catholic really wasn't running out the clock--they never had a chance to because Alvernia started fouling early and for a while it was working for them.

The thing that impressed me most was Catholic taking the initial pitch, getting down 9-0, but then getting back up and going on their own run. It seems ridiculous, but in some ways the most important moments of that game were in the first couple of minutes--in that kind of situation it can snowball quickly (pun intended a little bit) and pretty soon you are completely out of the game.

Its exciting to play #1...you don't get those kinds of opportunities too often.

ronk · March 06, 2015, 12:43:42 AM

It's a winnable game for the Cards even though @ their place. Scranton won a narrow home game with R-M last season and I don't consider either to be appreciably different this season from last. Good luck - let's have a Landmark run(s) in the tourney this year.

CardsFan · March 06, 2015, 02:16:31 AM

Quote from: ronk on March 06, 2015, 12:43:42 AM
It's a winnable game for the Cards even though @ their place. Scranton won a narrow home game with R-M last season and I don't consider either to be appreciably different this season from last. Good luck - let's have a Landmark run(s) in the tourney this year.

I hope so. Last season Macon really took it to the Cards and the game was essentially over at halftime. Their size and athleticism inside was a major problem.

Best of luck to the Royals against Baruch. I'm hoping for a prolonged run for Danzig and co.

saratoga · March 06, 2015, 08:08:30 AM

Nice job by the Card's last night...it was like watching several games within a game.
Nothing like an NCAA tournament bid to bring Matt out of retirement.

For what it's worth...I have no idea why the Susquehanna coaching staff got the nod over Catholic's.
Both have young teams, one was on a roll for virtually the entire season, the other, not so much.
One is in the tournament, one is not.
All things being equal, don't see it.

NEPAFAN · March 06, 2015, 08:28:41 AM

I also have to love when Scranton beats Alvernia early in the season they are nothing but at 12-12 team. When CUA beats them they are the best team they have played all season.

Just an observation and not a criticism of anyone per se.

Ronk,

Totally forgot about RMC defeat at the Long Center last year, great memory.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · March 06, 2015, 11:34:40 AM

Thanks because Alvernia early in the season is not even close to as good as the Alvernia team that finished the season... something Coach Miller will tell you in a heartbeat. Alvernia was still trying to find themselves with guys in new positions and having lost a bit from the previous year. They found themselves in the middle of conference play and became the hottest team in the conference to finish. They pretty much had two different seasons at Alvernia.

Matt Letourneau · March 06, 2015, 12:45:45 PM

Quote from: saratoga on March 06, 2015, 08:08:30 AM
Nice job by the Card's last night...it was like watching several games within a game.
Nothing like an NCAA tournament bid to bring Matt out of retirement.
For what it's worth...I have no idea why the Susquehanna coaching staff got the nod over Catholic's.
Both have young teams, one was on a roll for virtually the entire season, the other, not so much.
One is in the tournament, one is not.
All things being equal, don't see it.

Yeah, I didn't want to say it, but...I've been scratching my head over that. Catholic was picked 3rd if I recall...which is maybe 9-7, 10-6 at best...so they outperformed by 4-5 games in conference, and did so with only 1 senior who doesn't play a lot of minutes. Seems like a pretty good coaching job.

Ha, I still monitor things...tournament time is always exciting!

CardsFan · March 06, 2015, 02:55:53 PM

Quote from: saratoga on March 06, 2015, 08:08:30 AM
Nice job by the Card's last night...it was like watching several games within a game.
Nothing like an NCAA tournament bid to bring Matt out of retirement.
For what it's worth...I have no idea why the Susquehanna coaching staff got the nod over Catholic's.
Both have young teams, one was on a roll for virtually the entire season, the other, not so much.
One is in the tournament, one is not.
All things being equal, don't see it.

The conference has always used strange logic to determine coach of the year. That's how Coach Danzig only won for the first time last season. I don't remember exactly where Susquehanna was picked in preseason, but I would assume around 2nd or 3rd.

NEPAFAN · March 06, 2015, 10:29:14 PM

Congrats to the Royals in knocking off Baruch. Good video feed from up in Boston and the scranton radio feed is a little behind, makes for a nice combo.

CardsFan · March 06, 2015, 11:33:19 PM

Congrats to Scranton on a solid win vs. Baruch. Watched first half and parts of the 2nd. Scranton seemed to be in control for most of the game. Should be a good matchup tomorrow vs. Babson. Babson seems like a lot of #32 Flannery.

Pat Coleman · March 07, 2015, 01:40:43 AM

Has Catholic played a No. 1 team since Rowan in 1996? Not in the 2001 tournament ...

CardsFan · March 07, 2015, 01:47:48 AM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on March 07, 2015, 01:40:43 AM
Has Catholic played a No. 1 team since Rowan in 1996? Not in the 2001 tournament ...

It's been 14 years so I may be a bit hazy, but wasn't Ohio Northern #1 going into the Final Four? If they weren't then CUA hasn't played #1 since Rowan.

Pat Coleman · March 07, 2015, 01:50:38 AM

Quote from: CardsFan on March 07, 2015, 01:47:48 AM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on March 07, 2015, 01:40:43 AM
Has Catholic played a No. 1 team since Rowan in 1996? Not in the 2001 tournament ...

It's been 14 years so I may be a bit hazy, but wasn't Ohio Northern #1 going into the Final Four? If they weren't then CUA hasn't played #1 since Rowan.

No, I specifically checked, hence the "not in the 2001 tournament."

I mean, ONU might have been No. 1 in the coaches' poll or something but that poll was so bad they gave up doing it.