MBB: Landmark Conference

[saratoga]

NEPA: Thanks for the update. Many of us that knew Joe still find it hard to believe that after seemingly beating his cancer for years...it could come back on such a great guy with such vengeance. Thanks again.

[TheGrove]

NEPA, thanks for the post. Glad SU is part of the effort, if indirectly. Cancer sucks.

[NEPAFAN]

No problem guys, I think we all know someone who has been hit by cancer so it should be a cause close to everyone's heart.


They should rename the Scranton soccer field after Joe.

[tpm4286]

Looks like another exciting year is about to start. Practice has begun. Gophers have 23 man roster. Can they pull together a good group of 5 to be competative and win. I hope so.

[NEPAFAN]

TPM,


I'll still see 2008-2009 roster up.....you have inside information?

[NEPAFAN]

Any scrimmages to report? How about the fabled Wilkes-Scranton scrimmage?

[ronk]

  Catholic loses to NCAA tounament team American University 70-64 Saturday. Box score and play-by-play available on CU schedule. Cards make 6 more 3s and 5 more FGs but AU goes 32-38 from foul line including 10-10 in last 39 secs. 3 players not on last year's roster(presumably frosh) in game, 1(Kearney had 4 blocks in 19 mins; player from BCC who said he was going there didn't play; don't know if he 's there because roster is from last year.

[tpm4286]

Goucher played Millersville a DII school. Micah Perry had 35 points to lead the Gophers but everyone else had low numbers. Lost every quarter.

[G-manWU]

NEPAFAN,

I talked to several WIlkes players and coaches this past weekend at the Colonels home football win over Widener. Their only comments were that the scrimmage went well and both squads looked good. Since so many players on both sides are new since the last time the teams played, few could put names with faces that I would remember. But it was a productive experience from what I understand, and hopefully it is a step back to more sensable times for both programs that will see a regular-seaosn matchup betwene the programs, as well as between the Royals and King's.

On a related note, I saw the many comments above regaridng the "Red Card Cancer" events taking place in October. I have a link below to a story about that event and some others done by Adam Roberts, my fellow reporter at The Abington Journal. Check it out if you get a chance please.

http://www.timesleader.com/AbingtonJournal/sports/Suit_up_for_a_cause_10-14-2009.html 

[Matt Letourneau]

VERY exciting news from Cardinal-land announced today:

Catholic University Men's Basketball Team to Open at Notre Dame Next Year, Game Kicks off Cardinals' 100th Anniversary Season

11/12/09

WASHINGTON--The Catholic University of America men's basketball team will open its 100th anniversary season next year with an exhibition game at the University of Notre Dame. The contest between the two Catholic schools will be the first of many centennial activities being planned to celebrate CUA's storied basketball history.

The Cardinals and Fighting Irish will meet for the first time in South Bend, Ind., on Nov. 6, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Notre Dame Coach Mike Brey and Cardinal Coach Steve Howes worked out details of the game late last month.

"Playing against Notre Dame would be a privilege for any Division III school," Howes said. "For us it takes on added significance given the historic nature and Catholic mission of both universities. It's an honor to have this opportunity and I'm very grateful to Coach Brey for making it happen. I can't think of a better way to kick off our 100th year of basketball at Catholic University."

Brey and Howes have known each other for many years, and Brey is quite familiar with CUA, having played and coached locally at DeMatha Catholic High School and later playing at George Washington University.

[TheGrove]

Holy moley! Congrats on the scheduling coup, Cards!

[saratoga]

Congrats to CUA! That certainly won't hurt recruiting this year.
  I'm not sure it will pay off the way Scranton will benefit from scheduling Bard...but...

[NEPAFAN]

Thanks for the post GMan, good story and good cause.


Saw this is in the Scrantontimes:

Although the University of Scranton men's basketball team lost four seniors to graduation, this is not necessarily a rebuilding season for the Royals.

Twelve letterwinners are back for coach Carl Danzig. All many of them are lacking is experience.

"We've spent (the preseason) trying to stir the pot and see who's going to step up," Danzig said. "We've got some nice sophomores and juniors who have been waiting their opportunity to get on the floor and play."

Heading the list of returnees with experience for Scranton are juniors guards Zach Ashworth and Luke Hawk.

Ashworth led the Royals in scoring (13.7) and assists (102) last season to earn first-team Landmark Conference all-star honors. Hawk chipped in 11.1 points and 4.3 rebounds.

Fifth-year senior Eli Londo is also back. The North Pocono graduate, who missed his freshman season with an injury, averaged 6.6 points and 3.3 rebounds last season.

Senior guard Dan O'Connell, who averaged 5.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists off the bench, returns as well.

After that, Danzig will be looking for players to make the most of their chance, particularly along the frontline. Players such as juniors Andrew Wynne (6-foot-8), Anthony Carlino (6-foot-7) and sophomores Matt Swaback (6-foot-8) and Nick Jaskula (6-foot-8).

Danzig has also been impressed by freshman guard Travis Farrell, who could help fill the 3-point shooting void left by the departure of Ryan FitzPatrick.

"He's definitely going to factor in and get some quality minutes as a sixth man or a starter," Danzig said. "I think people are going to like watching him play. He's 6-3, got point-guard skills, can shoot it from NBA range and finish with both hands. He's going to be a real asset for us this year."

Three former Scranton Prep players should also contribute. Guards Pat Mineo and Tim Lavelle are both freshmen, while sophomore Matt FitzPatrick transferred from Ithaca College.

Besides its Landmark Conference schedule, the Royals will also play a daunting nonconference slate, which begins Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Kean College at the John Long Center.

Among the opponents includes a Dec. 12 trip to Elizabethtown College, which is favored to win the MAC Commonwealth title. There also is a potential matchup Nov. 22 in the Radisson Invitational final against John Carroll, which is ranked No. 2 in the d3hoops.com preseason Top 25.

"We know we have a challenge ahead of us because we lost so many talented players," Danzig said. "If the kids who have been waiting in the wings do what they're supposed to do, we hopefully should have another banner year."

[ronk]

VERY exciting news from Cardinal-land announced today:

Catholic University Men's Basketball Team to Open at Notre Dame Next Year, Game Kicks off Cardinals' 100th Anniversary Season

  I remember when Notre Dame inaugurated Kings' new gym back in the late '60s. That team featured 3 local DC stars: Colis Jones(St. John's), Sid Catlett(Dematha), and the great Austin Carr(Mackin). ND and Kings' were run by the same religious order, which facilitated that matchup.

[NEPAFAN]

Saratoga,


Thoughts on Kings and former Royal Assistant/Bessior Successor JP Andrejko losing to Penn College? I was checking the scores last night and saw Kings lost at Penn College. Interesting.


You got any insight into Swaback? Good numbers in his first collegiate start.