MBB: Landmark Conference

[gordonmann]

Augie:

Losing two games to inclement weather won't directly impact Scranton's tournament chances.  There is no minimum number of regional games to qualify for an at large bid, should the Royals not win the Landmark. 

At the risk of getting too detailed, the NCAA uses regional records as the primary criteria to evaluate teams when awarding at-large bids.  What qualifies as a regional record is defined here.  Of the two games that Scranton had cancelled, only the game against Ramapo would've counted as a regional game any way.  The Ripon game would not have. 

In any event losing one regional game probably won't hurt Scranton that much come at-large selection time in the grand scheme.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Also, if memory serves... not sure either of the games they were scheduled to play would have been regional. Can't remember if Ramapo was one of the games they were supposed to play, but even that might not have been a regional game by any definition (don't know about the mileage)... so in that sense Scranton doesn't lose anything by missing those games except possible "bonus points" of OWP and OOWP outside the region.

Also, you have to play half of your games against D3 opponents to qualify for the tournament (i.e. Nebraska Wesleyan).

[Pat Coleman]

Gordon correctly pointed out in the previous post that Scranton-Ramapo would have been a regional game.

[ronk]

  And no, Amherst women's team will not be playing the Scranton men's team tomorrow after they play @ Kean tonite to make up for their other cancelled Las Vegas game. 

[Pat Coleman]

+1

[saratoga]

That's too bad...would have been some pretty good competition on the Royal's schedule, certainly better than D'Youville or Casanovia. Good idea Ronk...maybe next year???
The Royal formula seems pretty basic, win at home & fingers crossed on the road.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Gordon correctly pointed out in the previous post that Scranton-Ramapo would have been a regional game.

Must have over read that part... my bad.

[Matt Letourneau]

That's too bad...would have been some pretty good competition on the Royal's schedule, certainly better than D'Youville or Casanovia. Good idea Ronk...maybe next year???
The Royal formula seems pretty basic, win at home & fingers crossed on the road.

I think when your conference is fairly spread out and you play back to back games every weekend, that's pretty much everyone's formula...

[NEPAFAN]

That's too bad...would have been some pretty good competition on the Royal's schedule, certainly better than D'Youville or Casanovia. Good idea Ronk...maybe next year???
The Royal formula seems pretty basic, win at home & fingers crossed on the road.

I think when your conference is fairly spread out and you play back to back games every weekend, that's pretty much everyone's formula...

You forgot to mention playing at 5:30 in the afternoon as well. Can't get over the new rules on tip off times this year....no disrespect to the Ladies. 

[saratoga]

Matt: I guess I stated the obvious & just about everyone's plan since the inception of the game. Probably should have stated fingers crossed every game.
NEPA: I'm somewhat surprised that our always welcome  on this site MAC womens contributor "Kate" has not started a campaign with the Presidents & Athletic Directors of "those" schools to begin a similar format. What do you think Kate...would you welcome watching the Aggie ladies in that 7:30 time slot vs. Desales?

[kate]

Hello Saratoga, not really would i "relish" a 7:30 start.  A 6:30 half time is perfect for me to grab my hot dog.  Thanks for the kind suggestion, though.

[ronk]

That's too bad...would have been some pretty good competition on the Royal's schedule, certainly better than D'Youville or Casanovia. Good idea Ronk...maybe next year???
The Royal formula seems pretty basic, win at home & fingers crossed on the road.

I think when your conference is fairly spread out and you play back to back games every weekend, that's pretty much everyone's formula...

You forgot to mention playing at 5:30 in the afternoon as well. Can't get over the new rules on tip off times this year....no disrespect to the Ladies. 

  How about starting your conference schedule with 5 straight road games for CUA? Except for the one trip to NEPA in February, it'll be all downhill for the Cards.

[NEPAFAN]

Matt: I guess I stated the obvious & just about everyone's plan since the inception of the game. Probably should have stated fingers crossed every game.

Yeah, 10-2 and you have to keep your fingers crossed for every game? Would love to hear your take on Goucher or Drew..

[saratoga]

NEPA: Just referring to the fact that the Royals had an 8 point lead on E-town with 2.5 minutes left in the game & left them back in over that span. Game went to OT at the Long Center & E-town won.
At Kean, they built a 17 point lead & were up 15 at the 5 minute mark only to let that one almost slip totally away, yet they hung on to win by 4.
Cabrini was another fairly large lead in the 2nd. half that was reduced yet the Royals nailed their free throws at the end & created some space.
Eastern is another example of a 14 point lead with 8 minutes left in the game reduced to I believe 4 points with 2 minutes left turning a game completely in control into anyones game with more than enough time left to lose. As I stated in an earlier post after that game, it was a great win for the Royals because earlier in the year in a similar situation against E-town that did slip away & it was nice seeing them hang together in this one.
Then last Saturday vs. MMA they had a 22 point 2nd. half lead cut to 6 with just under 2 minutes left (plenty of time) & again were able to hold on to win by 8.
When there is no post presence, no true point guard, kids are playing out of their natural position & they are pretty young... games like these are to be expected. This group has done a very nice job of pouncing on teams early, what they now need to develop is a killer instint & keep the pressure on & not continually let teams back in the game. Hence, my reference to "fingers crossed".

[NEPAFAN]

NEPA: Just referring to the fact that the Royals had an 8 point lead on E-town with 2.5 minutes left in the game & left them back in over that span. Game went to OT at the Long Center & E-town won.
At Kean, they built a 17 point lead & were up 15 at the 5 minute mark only to let that one almost slip totally away, yet they hung on to win by 4.
Cabrini was another fairly large lead in the 2nd. half that was reduced yet the Royals nailed their free throws at the end & created some space.
Eastern is another example of a 14 point lead with 8 minutes left in the game reduced to I believe 4 points with 2 minutes left turning a game completely in control into anyones game with more than enough time left to lose. As I stated in an earlier post after that game, it was a great win for the Royals because earlier in the year in a similar situation against E-town that did slip away & it was nice seeing them hang together in this one.
Then last Saturday vs. MMA they had a 22 point 2nd. half lead cut to 6 with just under 2 minutes left (plenty of time) & again were able to hold on to win by 8.
When there is no post presence, no true point guard, kids are playing out of their natural position & they are pretty young... games like these are to be expected. This group has done a very nice job of pouncing on teams early, what they now need to develop is a killer instint & keep the pressure on & not continually let teams back in the game. Hence, my reference to "fingers crossed".

Appreciate the clarification, I agree about the need to close out games. I guess I need to pay more attention, as I didn't recall the details of the Etown game. I read in the media notes that Travis Farrell is playing Point Guard now...


On Edit: Double checked and Scranton was up 7 with 10 to play, not quite 8 with 2:30 to play...