MBB: Landmark Conference

saratoga · November 18, 2009, 11:03:42 PM

NEPA: I saw the Kings score last night as well & found it hard to believe. Perhaps Penn Tech is the real deal, PSU Hazleton is Top 25 material & Bard will be in the Sweet 16. And to think I thought Scranton had one weak non-conference schedule!
The young player you mentioned filled in very nicely for the injured Luke Hawk. Although he's listed at 6'8"...he seems more comfotable shooting the 3 as opposed to playing in the post. He does hit the boards pretty well & all things considered...he had a pretty nice first start. If the Royals can get that production from him every night, I think they'll take it.
As they say, I'd rather have an ugly win than a pretty loss & that about sums this one up. Some signs of hope & a dash or two of the typical stuff that generally hurts the Royals vs. better teams. It's early, take the win & move on & hopefully the smoke & mirrors will arrive by mid Janurary.

ronk · November 19, 2009, 09:53:08 AM

The 1st smoke cartridge has already been used; the shooting guard recruit(0-4) led the team in rebounding(7) in a half game of action. Things aren't always like they're planned.

NEPAFAN · November 19, 2009, 02:43:55 PM

Saratoga,

Glaring stat is Kean's 14 Offensive boards. Same thing we have seen in past years. That being said, not a bad performance minus Hawk against a decent NJAC team.

saratoga · November 19, 2009, 03:43:30 PM

I guess if you continue to be unsuccessful in bringing in post & wing players that can step in & play on both ends of the floor & all you do bring in are guards...eventually, from a probability standpoint...they (guards) will lead the team in rebounds.
As you've stated, giving up second & third chance shots has been an issue here for quite a few years.

NEPAFAN · November 21, 2009, 11:45:23 PM

Scranton has an easy time with #25 Bard, paving the way for # 2 John Carroll vs. the Royals on Sunday afternoon at 4pm in the final of the Raddisson Invitational. Any other tournys going on?

By the way, I believe one of the John Carroll stars, Crozier was being recruited by Scranton but chose to go out to Ohio.

ronk · November 21, 2009, 11:52:55 PM

Quote from: NEPAFAN on November 21, 2009, 11:45:23 PM
Scranton has an easy time with #25 Bard, paving the way for # 2 John Carroll vs. the Royals on Sunday afternoon at 4pm in the final of the Raddisson Invitational. Any other tournys going on?

By the way, I believe one of the John Carroll stars, Crozier was being recruited by Scranton but chose to go out to Ohio.
And Bard is #25 in what?

cold_case · November 22, 2009, 08:17:56 AM

Great post, ronk.

Danzig wanted Crozier really bad. Now he has to hope his team can stay within 30 of JC.

NEPAFAN · November 22, 2009, 10:35:01 AM

Hey ronk,

Just a joke based on saratoga's post a few days ago.

CC,

great post by me you mean,right?

What's up with the centenary -Carroll score?

hoopit123 · November 22, 2009, 08:31:05 PM

what's up with Catholic? pretty sub-par start for a team w/ preseason top25 votes and super[hero] star banzhaf

i may be wrong, but he had something like 4 pts and 2 rebs the first game this weekend?

on the contrary, solid showing by SU this weekend..beat around a fairly-experienced E-town team with quite some ease...STARTING THREE FRESHMEN! it appears Marcinek followed up his successful recruiting class of Spenser^2 last year with a group of very solid freshmen to replace what they lost to graduation.

NEPAFAN · November 23, 2009, 12:48:44 PM

Quote from: cold_case on November 22, 2009, 08:17:56 AM
Great post, ronk.

Danzig wanted Crozier really bad. Now he has to hope his team can stay within 30 of JC.

Pretty accurate. Scranton loses by 25 or so and Crozier is named Tournament MVP.

fourguysdone · November 23, 2009, 12:59:35 PM

Saw the Pride of MD tournament at Goucher; that team may never be what it once was. Different cast of characters, same results. Look for repeat of recent years - tough defense, no organized offense, no outside shooting.

saratoga · November 23, 2009, 01:58:44 PM

In all honesty, John Carroll could have defeated Scranton by 40 at the Long Center if their coach continued to press & rotate his first 10 players. Thank God he took them out at the 8 minute mark & put in players 11-15. The questionable part was when Scranton's players led by subs Lavelle, Mineo, Wallace, O'Connell & Swaback etc. started busting their butts for loose balls & rebounds & then nailed a few 3's, he got all out of shape & put his starters back in. The game was over, what did it matter if they won by 40 or 19? It was a massacre from the start & it painfully revealed how far Scranton has fallen from the upper echelon of DIII basketball in recent years.
The good news...Scranton's back end of the bench played very hard, in fact, they played with more resolve & spirt than did the starters. Granted, it was against JC's bench but, just the same, they did hustle while out there...something I dare say many of the "starters" failed to do.
Far too many turnovers (hasn't this been an issue for years), minimal rebounding(ditto), lack of true point to run the game & break the press(double ditto), & just too slow to play with the top guns in the nation.
If this game were a bench mark against where "they" are & where "we" are...trust me, we are not really in a good place. I'm sure we'll be competitive with Juniata & Goucher,probably knock off Drew(not 100% sure about that at Baldwin), perhaps a win or two vs. Moravian & maybe we'll even be competitive against Catholic, Merchant Marine & Susquehanna. However, once the Royals step outside of the friendly confines of the Landmark...all bets are off.
Bottom line...John Carroll was bigger, faster, stronger, tougher,more poised, more focused & had the best overall team concept I've seen in a squad visiting the Long Center in probably 20 years.
If Scranton truly wishes to attain prominence in DIII again, then they have some very serious work to do. The current gap between these two teams will take three light-years and a minor miracle to close. Jusuit's...start your prayers!

cold_case · November 23, 2009, 05:18:49 PM

Quote from: saratoga on November 23, 2009, 01:58:44 PM
It was a massacre from the start & it painfully revealed how far Scranton has fallen from the upper echelon of DIII basketball in recent years.

Jack, you needed this game to be convinced? What took you so long?

And where is Lefty. I need to ask him how the Steelers did in Kansas City on Sunday.

lefty2 · November 23, 2009, 06:00:32 PM

Quote from: cold_case on November 23, 2009, 05:18:49 PM
And where is Lefty. I need to ask him how the Steelers did in Kansas City on Sunday.

CC,

I was wondering where you were - are you out on parole?

Lefty

tpm4286 · November 24, 2009, 01:31:35 PM

Quote from: fourguysdone on November 23, 2009, 12:59:35 PM
Saw the Pride of MD tournament at Goucher; that team may never be what it once was. Different cast of characters, same results. Look for repeat of recent years - tough defense, no organized offense, no outside shooting.

Its going to be a tough year for them again, noone can score. Only chance they have is defense and pray for a poor shooting night by the opponents. Sad.