MBB: Landmark Conference

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

So this isn't Landmark related, but I was watching Hoopsville last night and the closing segment on little Green Mountain College in Vermont may be the most unintentionally hilarious thing I've heard related to D3 sports. Congrats D-Mac. You got me to find the Vice Sports article and read it (I felt like I needed a shower afterwards).

If anyone cares I just Googled: Vice news Green Mountain. The article is titled "Win Anyways." If you ever wanted to know how someone who was recruited by Gary Williams to play at Univ. of Maryland ends up at an agricultural school of just over 500 students in Vermont this is the read for you.

Tempting but I think I'll go to bed, instead.

You might want to read it.  They had a guy playing first semester who had already graduated from Shenandoah - well, I'm not sure he graduated, but he had a senior day for basketball.  He did only play three years, which might've been what they were trying to pull off, but he was clearly not eligible.

It is a pretty poorly written article, though, especially for vice standards.

[NEPAFAN]

     23 Jan 2016 Dirt

I can confirm that Anthony Leonelli is out as the head coach at DIII Green Mountain College (VT).  He has been replaced by assistant coach Chris Pagentine on an interim basis.  According to a great source, Leonelli was dismissed for "unsatisfactory performance and insubordination."  At the time of his dismissal, Leonelli's squad was 10 and 4 – a great start to the season considering the program had won 20 total games in the previous five years combined. My source tells me that the "insubordination" was standing up for his players against the administration. It has been a crazy time up at GMC recently, as the AD was also released a few weeks ago.  I have heard that Green Mountain has also been having compliance issues but Leonelli had previously been cleared in those matters.  More on this when it becomes official.


http://hoopdirt.com/diii-dirt-leonelli-out-at-green-mountain/

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

For the record, I believe that HoopDirt info comes directly from Anthony Leonelli who is trying, despite admitting to insubordination, to cover up why he was truly fired. He has pointed to that article as his "defense" on Twitter where he is bragging about the program they had put together and why he was unfairly fired. It is taking everything in me not to Tweet back at him and have at it. I started to, sent the tweet, and then later deleted it before he could respond. However, Pat has been a little more kind with his gloves with the guy.

Yes, it makes you want to take a shower. There is no room in this division for crap like that. By the way, I am not so sure many of his claims are true, either. Recruited to play for Gary Williams? Then you would think he would have played somewhere and yet, some of us can't find any stats for him.

[CardsFan]

For the record, I believe that HoopDirt info comes directly from Anthony Leonelli who is trying, despite admitting to insubordination, to cover up why he was truly fired. He has pointed to that article as his "defense" on Twitter where he is bragging about the program they had put together and why he was unfairly fired. It is taking everything in me not to Tweet back at him and have at it. I started to, sent the tweet, and then later deleted it before he could respond. However, Pat has been a little more kind with his gloves with the guy.

Yes, it makes you want to take a shower. There is no room in this division for crap like that. By the way, I am not so sure many of his claims are true, either. Recruited to play for Gary Williams? Then you would think he would have played somewhere and yet, some of us can't find any stats for him.

I obviously can't comment on the quality of the writing in the Vice article, but I found it amusing that the tone of the article seems to just be describing what it's like trying to recruit players to a small college and try to win games. I didn't read it like the author thought anything suspect was going on.

As for the guy who was recruited to Maryland, he played for them for 2 seasons (2010-11, 2011-12) and then transferred to a NAIA school in Kentucky. I did see his stats from his time at Maryland.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I think I am confusing two people then...

[CardsFan]

I think I am confusing two people then...

I just focused in on the guy from Maryland. He isn't one of the ineligible ones. This may be a too broad a statement, but personally I'm always very wary of these tiny little schools with no basketball history to speak of who pop up out of nowhere. I think certain kinds of young coaches who want to move up quickly see schools like that as a testing ground.

[Pat Coleman]

For the record, I believe that HoopDirt info comes directly from Anthony Leonelli who is trying, despite admitting to insubordination, to cover up why he was truly fired. He has pointed to that article as his "defense" on Twitter where he is bragging about the program they had put together and why he was unfairly fired. It is taking everything in me not to Tweet back at him and have at it. I started to, sent the tweet, and then later deleted it before he could respond. However, Pat has been a little more kind with his gloves with the guy.

Well, he clearly has HoopDirt on his side so it's not a good idea to have the argument because HD has a big audience and is willing to parrot his side of the story. Makes sense considering HD was started by a D3 New England coach.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I learned today that he may not be the direct source for HD... but I will leave it at that. Learned a lot more behind the scenes today that I am still processing.

[ronk]

After today's action: Susquehanna joins Catholic and Scranton to clinch conference playoff spots; 4th spot 1 of                         Drew, Juniata, and MMA

My personal standings for playoff contention:

Catholic        -  +2
Susquehanna - +2
Scranton          - 0
Juniata            - -2
MMA               - -3
Drew               - -3

Big games next week:

Jun-Catholic     Sat     
Scr-Catholic     Sat      Bye: Drew  Winner MAY avoid the 4-hour bus trip for the semifinal playoff between them

Projected final standings

Sus              13-3
Catholic        13-3
Scr                11-5
Jun                 9-7
MMA               8-8
Drew              8-8

[San Juan]

Reality check for Goucher in Scranton today bottom line.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Reality check? Do you really think Goucher has been full of themselves or doing something well above expectations? They are 9-14 overall and 5-9 in the Landmark. They have won more than eight games for the second time since 2005 and that was the last time they had a winning record! Reality check? It is a new coach with a team that doesn't know how to win. I really don't understand why a comment like that - and yes, I am wearing my alma mater hat, partially, here. The only thing yesterday did was officially knock them out of the playoffs, but they are in seventh. Not sure what reality you thought they were living in that was checked yesterday.

[NEPAFAN]

No purple tux for Bess, but sounds like a nice day all around for the Royals. Hopefully a few recruits were in the building to see what a winning program looks like.

[San Juan]

Dave we could agree to disagree!!!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Dave we could agree to disagree!!!

Did you have high expectations?!

[San Juan]

Why would I have high hopes about Goucher?I had high hopes for Scranton women and you came on here and made your voice heard how they screwed it up from the beginning.I was just stating facts just like you did bottom line.