MBB: Landmark Conference

[NEPAFAN]

They scrimmaged with Haverford and the other school was?

My source says Montclair State earlier in the pre-season.

[saratoga]

It would be nice if the Scranton SID or his assistant or the assistant's designated get things done person would list on the Royal's schedule who the other 2 teams are that are playing in the Hilton tournament.
I've heard that Marywood  is playing Farmingdale St. but are they playing before the Royal's idiotic 5:00 start or primetime?
What a beaut for an opening tournament. 

[NEPAFAN]

It would be nice if the Scranton SID or his assistant or the assistant's designated get things done person would list on the Royal's schedule who the other 2 teams are that are playing in the Hilton tournament.
I've heard that Marywood  is playing Farmingdale St. but are they playing before the Royal's idiotic 5:00 start or primetime?
What a beaut for an opening tournament. 

Game times on saturday would be nice too...

[ronk]

It would be nice if the Scranton SID or his assistant or the assistant's designated get things done person would list on the Royal's schedule who the other 2 teams are that are playing in the Hilton tournament.
I've heard that Marywood  is playing Farmingdale St. but are they playing before the Royal's idiotic 5:00 start or primetime?
What a beaut for an opening tournament. 

Marywood's game time is 7:30 PM.

[saratoga]

Thanks Ronk.
That's fantastic...the home team gives the primetime slot to the other 2 teams.
Unbefrickinleavable.
What would Bess do??

[ronk]

 I suspect they're giving the farthest traveling team(Farmingdale) 2 1/2 more hours to get some morning classes in before making the trip.

[Great Day to be a Royal]

I am going to sound like Toby here, but, who cares what Bess would think about the game time start. He is a legend, 100%, but it is now well over 20 seasons since he left the sideline. They are not packing the Long Center for this tournament, so prime time means nothing anymore.

It could be a distance thing, but it could also be a coaching staff decision to play first. Gives time to scout the entire game 2, and in playing back to back days, gives a few extra hours to recover.

I see no problem in the teams coming in to play in your tip-off tournament. It is a tune-up for the season. You expect to walk through FU, and then play an NCAA team in game two. I see nothing wrong with playing two winnable games at home, especially when you are seeing who you have to fill 2 key players gone.

And, 3 days later you welcome the number 5 team in the nation to the Long Center.

[saratoga]

Bess & Gary Wodder accomplished more in 10 years than the referenced person could in a lifetime.
Want to play at 5:00 in front of 300 fans, have at it.
That time isn't reasonable for fans who work or students that may have even minimal interest but hey, who cares, it's just where Scranton men's basketball is right now.

[Great Day to be a Royal]

I can certainly see that argument. And you are correct. I was just playing devil's advocate. I don't like the start time. It will be near impossible to get there on time.

[saratoga]

It's all good.
Just wish the Royal braintrust gave deference to the parents & families of the Royal players as opposed to Frabblewobble St.
If you can't make it in for a 5:00 start in the tournament...don't schedule it....find one closer to home.
Other than that, play ball.

[NEPAFAN]

Bring back the Laurel Line Tournament and the likes of Baptist Bible and Marywood!

[saratoga]

You got 1/2 your wish...Marywood is there.
Bard & Sarah Lawrence never had difficulty playing at 5:00. 

[Great Day to be a Royal]

Who do you want in the tournament?! You clamor for years gone by. The Laurel Line was simply a local affair. I'm not saying this is impressive,  but you have an NCAA tournament team in FSU coming. Just a few years ago you had Swarthmore. Yes, there is and will always be a tune-up game, but many teams do that. I see nothing wrong with that. You have what should be a walk through game, followed by a good game Saturday!

[ronk]

 One needs a strong SOS to compete for the at-large spots in the NCAA field and, with the reduced # of nonconference games(from 11 to 7 this season), a good way to do it is to invite 2 quality opponents to the tipoff tourney. Farmingdale is an NCAA team only in the sense of having won the AQ of a weaker conference.

[Great Day to be a Royal]

I do see your point, but I think some self-reflection being done here as well by the staff. This is a team that lost two top scorers and a lot of question marks. Their path to an NCAA bid is through winning the conference. Their SOS is going to be brought down by the conference having 4 extra games now.

So, to have two confidence building games under their belt heading into a "see how good you are" match up with the #5 team in the country is okay in my eyes.

I'd also love to see Marywood beat FSU, and set up a crosstown game we haven't seen in 20 years. And trust me, I understand why we don't see that game anymore.