MBB: Landmark Conference

[ronk]

You think Scranton will lose at Catholic?

  Just going with the Royals not duplicating their optimal game this past Friday, the switch in courts, 2nd game of the weekend, wearing down of Ashworth over the long season, etc.; hopefully, I'll be wrong with these concerns.

[susiddad]

Two teams are locks for the playoffs.  USMMA and Catholic.

[Matt Letourneau]

projecting an 'underachieving' team to finish 2nd in the conference and host a playoff game against the ever-overachieving CUA??!!!   

i think usmma has made their statement, finishing off SU saturday with ease.  this just furthers my initial prediction that usmma will win the conference this season.  SU has clearly not noticingly struggled playing on the road this year, shown by beating a good cua team on the road.  so, the fact that usmma easily took care of them, i feel, really shows 'who is boss'.  but who knows, the past few years i dont think SU has lost to usmma at home, so we will see.

The very fact that I think they're underachieving tells you I think they should be a playoff team! 

Hey, I'm just going by pure talent and personnel. 

I don't think the current CUA team is overachieving, btw.  I think the 2001 team overachieved!

[susiddad]

overachieving, a term I might have brought into this forum I regret.  Please accept my apology.  Overachieving is what losers call reaching your potential.  The 2001 CUA team didn't overachieve at all.  They reached their potential.

[NEPAFAN]

Good matchup Friday night as the USMMA comes into the Long Center. Looking forward to see if Londo can stay out of foul trouble Ashworth can keep it rolling and a few other players can step up.


Too bad we have to wait a week to play a game in the Lanmdark Conference!

[lefty2]

Good matchup Friday night as the USMMA comes into the Long Center. Looking forward to see if Londo can stay out of foul trouble Ashworth can keep it rolling and a few other players can step up.


Too bad we have to wait a week to play a game in the Lanmdark Conference!

Yeah, but you can just sleep in the gym until the next game starts.

[hoopit123]

Kudos to Marcinek and his staff in taking initiative to play the best to try become one of the best.  #11 SOS in the entire country.  factoring that into their 11-7, its even more impressive--more likely than not, if they lose they are losing to GOOD teams (eh, goucher--ouch.).  comparing to someone, like say, CUA at #299 (if im correct), it makes more sense now that a team like SU, with not as impressive of a record, to go in and beat cua at home.    some food for thought--making an attempt to play the best teams in the country will make you a better team in the longrun!!!  a powderpuff nonconference schedule may make you feel nice and warm inside and feel good about yourselves with a great start, but, as displayed this season in the LC, it does nothing to better your chances and make you successful in conference play against teams that have challenged themselves.  after all, winning the conference is all that matters now!   i believe SU has taken the correct approach in bettering their chances of making the big dance this season.  playing the FandM's of the world make the CUA's of the world not as 'scary'.      ....but then theres USMMA. TOUGH!

[NEPAFAN]

Good matchup Friday night as the USMMA comes into the Long Center. Looking forward to see if Londo can stay out of foul trouble Ashworth can keep it rolling and a few other players can step up.


Too bad we have to wait a week to play a game in the Lanmdark Conference!

Yeah, but you can just sleep in the gym until the next game starts.

I already do that!

[ronk]

Kudos to Marcinek and his staff in taking initiative to play the best to try become one of the best.  #11 SOS in the entire country.  factoring that into their 11-7, its even more impressive--more likely than not, if they lose they are losing to GOOD teams (eh, goucher--ouch.).  comparing to someone, like say, CUA at #299 (if im correct), it makes more sense now that a team like SU, with not as impressive of a record, to go in and beat cua at home.    some food for thought--making an attempt to play the best teams in the country will make you a better team in the longrun!!!  a powderpuff nonconference schedule may make you feel nice and warm inside and feel good about yourselves with a great start, but, as displayed this season in the LC, it does nothing to better your chances and make you successful in conference play against teams that have challenged themselves.  after all, winning the conference is all that matters now!   i believe SU has taken the correct approach in bettering their chances of making the big dance this season.  playing the FandM's of the world make the CUA's of the world not as 'scary'.      ....but then theres USMMA. TOUGH!

This season,I agree with no Landmark team likely to get a pool C bid, it's all about winning the conference AQ berth. But, in the future, the better approach is to toughen up against strong non-regional teams in early season/holiday tournaments where losses won't negatively impact your regional ranking in the pool C competition.

[Matt Letourneau]

Good matchup Friday night as the USMMA comes into the Long Center. Looking forward to see if Londo can stay out of foul trouble Ashworth can keep it rolling and a few other players can step up.


Too bad we have to wait a week to play a game in the Lanmdark Conference!

I really hate this schedule.  I think it makes it very hard to get some momentum and harder for teams to gel.  From a spectator's perspective, its impossible for a lot of people to get to two games in a row on a weekend and a big time commitment.

I understand the reasons for doing it and the academic focus, but I still hate it.

[hoopit123]

Kudos to Marcinek and his staff in taking initiative to play the best to try become one of the best.  #11 SOS in the entire country.  factoring that into their 11-7, its even more impressive--more likely than not, if they lose they are losing to GOOD teams (eh, goucher--ouch.).  comparing to someone, like say, CUA at #299 (if im correct), it makes more sense now that a team like SU, with not as impressive of a record, to go in and beat cua at home.    some food for thought--making an attempt to play the best teams in the country will make you a better team in the longrun!!!  a powderpuff nonconference schedule may make you feel nice and warm inside and feel good about yourselves with a great start, but, as displayed this season in the LC, it does nothing to better your chances and make you successful in conference play against teams that have challenged themselves.  after all, winning the conference is all that matters now!   i believe SU has taken the correct approach in bettering their chances of making the big dance this season.  playing the FandM's of the world make the CUA's of the world not as 'scary'.      ....but then theres USMMA. TOUGH!

This season,I agree with no Landmark team likely to get a pool C bid, it's all about winning the conference AQ berth. But, in the future, the better approach is to toughen up against strong non-regional teams in early season/holiday tournaments where losses won't negatively impact your regional ranking in the pool C competition.

yes, i agree, and understand what you are saying.   however, all i was getting at re: this season is that all the experience playing very tough teams early on is bettering their chances to win the conference championship this season, getting the AQ.  playing more formidable foes in non-conference is helping them out now against the tougher teams in the landmark---therefore, those close games against national top teams is helping them win in the LC, and hopefully win the title.

[susiddad]

Interesting.  I'll take beating bad teams over losing to good ones any day of the week.  Some nice big wins and the tougher schedule no doubt breeds a better team.

As far as CUA scheduling, no surprise there.  Just read the bio, it's all about the boss and his winning games. 

Marcinek has always been a program, never a me guy.  How can we have such a high sos with some of the teams in this league on our schedule?

[Matt Letourneau]

Interesting.  I'll take beating bad teams over losing to good ones any day of the week.  Some nice big wins and the tougher schedule no doubt breeds a better team.

As far as CUA scheduling, no surprise there.  Just read the bio, it's all about the boss and his winning games.  
Marcinek has always been a program, never a me guy.  How can we have such a high sos with some of the teams in this league on our schedule?

That's a total bull%&it cheap shot.  You have no idea what you're talking about.  I know you wrote that pretty much just to get a rise out of me, so I'll try not to take your bait, but your obsession with the Catholic coaching staff went from funny to annoying to just plain creepy a long time ago.  

[susiddad]

Totally kidding, Matt.  I happen to believe the staff at CUA is doing a great job this year.  I even picked them to win the conference this year and like the style of play.

Outside of USMMA, I can see CUA winning multiple tournament wins if they get a couple of breaks.

You have to be able to get the sense of humor by now!!!!!


  cheer up Matty. 

[susiddad]

Any predictions for this weekend?

Catholic + Refs  74 Susquehanna 72 
Will CUA fans travel for this most important Landmark game?
Matty?  Lunch?