MBB: Landmark Conference

[NEPAFAN]

First day of Landmark Playoffs kick off tonight  and the 3rd regional rankings will be released. Will SUS hang on to the 2 spot in the region? while they have the misfortune of playing a road first round playoff game

Jay Howard will be making his first appearance in uniform at the Long Center tonight, will be interesting to see how that game plays out. 

Predictions:
Scranton by 7
Sus by 4 on the road, due to playoff experience and strong road record over past 2 seasons. Moravian could absolutely win this game with the way they shoot the 3, especially in Behtlehem.

Enjoy what should be 2 well played games.

Thank you. Didn't realize that Sus was on the road. The staggered starts ( 7/730) should allow us crazies to see the ending of each game.

[NEPAFAN]

4 of the 8 regional ranked are like minded institutions.

Sus (3 Seed in Conference Tourn)
Scranton (1 Seed)
Catholic (4 Seed)
Moravian (2 Seed)

[saratoga]

Here's wishing the Royals all the best this afternoon as they play for yet another championship.

Once again...nothing flashy, nobody truly dominant, just a bunch of inter-changeable kids that can score & who are now playing some pretty decent defense.

They can still get a little lazy on the perimeter but overall, they have really improved defensively since the last Moravian game at the Long Center.

Big question...does the loser of this game get overlooked by the NCAA in favor of Susquehanna?

That would be a hard pill for the Royals to swallow since they've already beat the ex Crusaders twice.

Could the Landmark actually get 3 teams in if Moravian were to win (Scranton & Susquehanna)?

Should be a good game if the Royals slow the game down & limit Moravian from crashing the boards for second chance shots.

Royals will also need to shoot around 70 plus % from the line...& Danzig needs to hit a few early shots from deep to open things up for the big guys underneath.

All in all, pretty remarkable job the new coach at Moravian has done in just a few short years.

His kids are not playing like they are just happy to finally win a few...they are playing like there is no doubt in their minds that they belong in this game.

Only complaint...whatever happened to evening games on the weekend?

The Royals have always drawn far better at 7 or 8 o'clock than these mid afternoon affairs.

Hopefully the students show up today, the kids deserve that support.

[NEPAFAN]

Here's wishing the Royals all the best this afternoon as they play for yet another championship.

Once again...nothing flashy, nobody truly dominant, just a bunch of inter-changeable kids that can score & who are now playing some pretty decent defense.

They can still get a little lazy on the perimeter but overall, they have really improved defensively since the last Moravian game at the Long Center.

Big question...does the loser of this game get overlooked by the NCAA in favor of Susquehanna?

That would be a hard pill for the Royals to swallow since they've already beat the ex Crusaders twice.

Could the Landmark actually get 3 teams in if Moravian were to win (Scranton & Susquehanna)?

Should be a good game if the Royals slow the game down & limit Moravian from crashing the boards for second chance shots.

Royals will also need to shoot around 70 plus % from the line...& Danzig needs to hit a few early shots from deep to open things up for the big guys underneath.

All in all, pretty remarkable job the new coach at Moravian has done in just a few short years.

His kids are not playing like they are just happy to finally win a few...they are playing like there is no doubt in their minds that they belong in this game.

Only complaint...whatever happened to evening games on the weekend?

The Royals have always drawn far better at 7 or 8 o'clock than these mid afternoon affairs.

Hopefully the students show up today, the kids deserve that support.

Toga

Not sure if you were in DC and thus unable to watch the Men's game. Good student turnout, a little thin with the "regular" fans. Rain, thunder and lightening outside and Dean was commenting about how hot the gym was. Happy for John Vitkus, career high in points, and a couple rim rockers. Only negative, no storming of the court I wonder if that is a new policy.

Congrats to the Royals let's see how the NCAA screws us on Monday!

[saratoga]

NEPA:

Probably a first round matchup at Babson! 

[ronk]

 Of the possibilities, it looks like Neumann would be the closest host for me to travel to.

[sp0rtsfan]

Took most the fam to the Long Center on Saturday. It was worth wading through the multiple rivers from the parking garage to the gym. Thankfully, it was so hot in the building that shoes & clothing dried quickly. Vitkus was a beast on the court and the energy was great from fans !  Agree, let's hope the 1st round is somewhere commutable for NJ, PA, & NY. 

[gordonmann]

Royals go to Williams, Mass to play Oswego State. Good matchup there in a cool gym if you can make the trip.

[ronk]

Royals go to Williams, Mass to play Oswego State. Good matchup there in a cool gym if you can make the trip.

I think the Royals and Becker gathered @ Williams a few years ago for a regional weekend.

[saratoga]

Just a little tidbit of info regarding Scranton/Williams should they play on Saturday....

Bobby Casey from Scranton & a grad of my daughters alma mater, Scranton Prep is a starting guard for the Ephs.

I can still smell the burnt popcorn choking the air at Chandler from the last time we were up there in 2011 against Becker (the 4th. team in this pod).

And...Oswego is now coached by the former coach at Keystone College which is located right outside of Scranton so I'm sure both coaches are pretty familiar with each others philosophy's.

Scary quote of the day...Coach Danzig likes the draw and his bracket...each year he says that there has been a real quick exit.
Hopefully, this year is the charm.

[Hooper42]

Landmark Post Season awards
COY- Justin Potts and staff are very deserving of this award, taking the Greyhounds to the title game in just year two at the helm. I think recruits will want to play in his up tempo style, and Bethlehem is a short car ride from some bball hotbeds.
POY- Steve Weidlich I was a little surprised when I first read this, while Weidlich does fill up the stat sheet and can defend opponents best scoring guard, I thought Vitkus, McGuire, or even Jay Howard were more likely to take home POY honors
DOY- Vitkus very good choice an athletic big who can move his feet defensively. There is a younger Vitkus on The Royals roster, the rest of the conference should hope he doesn't turn out like his big brother.
ROY- Riley Collins didn't see much of Collins this year but plays similar to former Drew guard Mike Klinger

NCAA tournament: Medaille at Susquehanna - should be a winnable game for the Hawks who havent played in 9 days
Scranton v Oswego St - The Royals will have to slow down All-American guard 6-2 Brian Sortino 22ppg who does a bit of everything for the Lakers.

If Scranton and Sus were to win both friday and Saturday they would meet in the sweet 16, in what would be a good thing for the Landmark in regards to national attention and a guaranteed Elite 8 squad. However, in order to play both teams would need to combine for 4 tournament wins, which Im guessing would be a Landmark record.

Congrats to the All Conference selections and Good Luck  to Scranton and Susquehanna this weekend. I hope the trend of early exits for Landmark squads is broken. Survive and Advance!!

[CardsFan]

Landmark Post Season awards
COY- Justin Potts and staff are very deserving of this award, taking the Greyhounds to the title game in just year two at the helm. I think recruits will want to play in his up tempo style, and Bethlehem is a short car ride from some bball hotbeds.
POY- Steve Weidlich I was a little surprised when I first read this, while Weidlich does fill up the stat sheet and can defend opponents best scoring guard, I thought Vitkus, McGuire, or even Jay Howard were more likely to take home POY honors
DOY- Vitkus very good choice an athletic big who can move his feet defensively. There is a younger Vitkus on The Royals roster, the rest of the conference should hope he doesn't turn out like his big brother.
ROY- Riley Collins didn't see much of Collins this year but plays similar to former Drew guard Mike Klinger

NCAA tournament: Medaille at Susquehanna - should be a winnable game for the Hawks who havent played in 9 days
Scranton v Oswego St - The Royals will have to slow down All-American guard 6-2 Brian Sortino 22ppg who does a bit of everything for the Lakers.

If Scranton and Sus were to win both friday and Saturday they would meet in the sweet 16, in what would be a good thing for the Landmark in regards to national attention and a guaranteed Elite 8 squad. However, in order to play both teams would need to combine for 4 tournament wins, which Im guessing would be a Landmark record.

Congrats to the All Conference selections and Good Luck  to Scranton and Susquehanna this weekend. I hope the trend of early exits for Landmark squads is broken. Survive and Advance!!

POY was always going to be Weidlich. He seemed like the odds-on favorite for most of the season. Vitkus and McGuire both had excellent seasons, but Weidlich didn't do anything to lose it.

Riley Collins was the only possible choice for Newcomer of the Year. I didn't see any freshmen making a real contribution this season other than him.

Coach Potts and his staff were the no-brainer choice for Coaching Staff of the Year. I'm really looking forward to see if Moravian can push on next season.

Very happy that Louis Khouri was honored. I would have liked for him to make 1st Team as he was completely deserving. He had a terrific senior season and he will be a huge miss next year.

[ronk]

Landmark Post Season awards
COY- Justin Potts and staff are very deserving of this award, taking the Greyhounds to the title game in just year two at the helm. I think recruits will want to play in his up tempo style, and Bethlehem is a short car ride from some bball hotbeds.
POY- Steve Weidlich I was a little surprised when I first read this, while Weidlich does fill up the stat sheet and can defend opponents best scoring guard, I thought Vitkus, McGuire, or even Jay Howard were more likely to take home POY honors
DOY- Vitkus very good choice an athletic big who can move his feet defensively. There is a younger Vitkus on The Royals roster, the rest of the conference should hope he doesn't turn out like his big brother.
ROY- Riley Collins didn't see much of Collins this year but plays similar to former Drew guard Mike Klinger

NCAA tournament: Medaille at Susquehanna - should be a winnable game for the Hawks who havent played in 9 days
Scranton v Oswego St - The Royals will have to slow down All-American guard 6-2 Brian Sortino 22ppg who does a bit of everything for the Lakers.

If Scranton and Sus were to win both friday and Saturday they would meet in the sweet 16, in what would be a good thing for the Landmark in regards to national attention and a guaranteed Elite 8 squad. However, in order to play both teams would need to combine for 4 tournament wins, which Im guessing would be a Landmark record.

Congrats to the All Conference selections and Good Luck  to Scranton and Susquehanna this weekend. I hope the trend of early exits for Landmark squads is broken. Survive and Advance!!

POY was always going to be Weidlich. He seemed like the odds-on favorite for most of the season. Vitkus and McGuire both had excellent seasons, but Weidlich didn't do anything to lose it.

Riley Collins was the only possible choice for Newcomer of the Year. I didn't see any freshmen making a real contribution this season other than him.

Coach Potts and his staff were the no-brainer choice for Coaching Staff of the Year. I'm really looking forward to see if Moravian can push on next season.

Very happy that Louis Khouri was honored. I would have liked for him to make 1st Team as he was completely deserving. He had a terrific senior season and he will be a huge miss next year.

I feel that the conference as a whole has had 2 consecutive down years wrt to attracting quality players; it doesn't bode well for postseason success.

[saratoga]

Getting defeated yet again is one thing...just try & stay away from the outright embarrassments like last year.

As Hooper points out...survive & advance.

Oswego has some bodies that can make life tough for JV underneath so the other kids better bring at least their B game.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

It is nearly time to tip up the ball on the NCAA Division III Basketball Tournaments. Who will end up in Grand Rapids and Salem with a chance at a national title?

On Thursday's nights Hoopsville, Dave McHugh gives his preview of the two tournaments and who may be the surprises, who can pull off an upset, who are the favorites to make a run, and who just might walk away with the walnut and bronze.

Hoopsville is presented by D3hoops.com and airs LIVE starting at 7:00 PM ET from the WBCA/NABC Studio. You can watch the show here: http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2016-17/mar2 --- or via the simulcast on Facebook Live. If you miss the show live, you can watch it On Demand or listen to the podcasts.

The show is jammed packed with guests, but Dave will also have time for your questions. Make sure to email them to hoopsville@d3hoops.com. You can also tweet them to us.

And please consider helping Hoopsville stay on the air like you might help your public television station. The annual fundraising campaign was extended a few days because we had only raised 52% of our goal. Click the following link for more information and to make a donation: Hoopsville Fundraising Page

Guests scheduled (in order of appearance):
- Carl Danzig, Scranton men's coach
- Abby Pyzik Smith, Lynchburg women's coach
- Brad Fischer, No. 13 UW-Oshkosh women's coach
- Michael Blaine, Medialle men's coach
- Jeff Brown, No. 6 Middlbury men's coach
- Cameron Hill, No. 7 Trinity (Texas) women's coach

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