MBB: Landmark Conference

[NEPAFAN]

Another article on tonight's game:


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For almost two decades, the University of Scranton men's basketball team called the Scranton CYC home.

From the early 1950s until the John Long Center opened on campus in January 1968, the Royals welcomed the Eastern powers of the day such as Providence, Temple, Niagara and La Salle and produced some of the program's memorable moments.

Although the building is now known as the Lackawanna College Student Union, it still will be a homecoming for Scranton when it takes on Keystone College there tonight at 6. The game is the finale of a Coaches vs. Cancer tripleheader that features two high school games - Elk Lake against Mountain View at 2 p.m. and Crestwood against Scranton Prep at 4 p.m.

"Our kids understand what the history is all about and the lore of the gym," Scranton coach Carl Danzig said. "We're excited to be playing there."

Keystone interim head coach Brad Cooper is a New York native, so he is not completely familiar with the venue's rich basketball history. Still, he can tell it is a special place.

"It has an aura about it," Cooper said. "Being around some of the area's older basketball minds, they're always talking about it."

Winners of three straight, the Giants (5-2) have not played since Dec. 7. They are led by 6-foot-3 junior forward Duncan Lunsford, who ranks second in the Colonial States Athletic Conference in scoring with 20.6 points per game; fourth in steals with 1.6; sixth in rebounds with 8.3; and seventh in assists with 3.3.

Underrated 6-1 junior guard Dan Candemeres adds 15.9 points and 6-foot-4 freshman guard Jesse Longmire chips in 13.3 points.

Scranton (7-2) last played two weeks ago when it defeated Muhlenberg in the championship game of the PNC Bank Royal Rumble. The Royals are led by 6-foot-4 junior guard Ross Danzig, who tops the Landmark Conference and ranks 23rd in NCAA Division III with 21.9 points. Senior guards Tommy Morgan (11.1 points) and Michael Barr (11.4) and sophomore forward Brendan Boken (11.6) also score in double figures.

Last season, Keystone won an overtime thriller, 96-95.

This time around, the Giants want to play uptempo and utilize the 3-point shot. They average 28 attempts per game from behind the arc.

"They shot about 1,000 percent in last year's game," coach Danzig said. "They run a simple system: drive-and-kick, make shots, get to the foul line. So we have to play to our strength and hope that we can make them miss their shots."

That strength is a size advantage that Cooper admits could pose a problem for his undersized team.

"They're really big. Even their guards are big," Cooper said of the Royals. "If they're able to pound the ball inside, they'll hurt us. But if we're able to spread the floor and speed things up, it will benefit us.

[ronk]

  Nostalgic return for me tonite(Keystone game) to the Scranton CYC which was Scranton's home and practice court for many years including my year on the Frosh team. Also, it was home 4 the Scranton Miners Eastern League pro team when there were only 9 NBA teams, so many outstanding players in that league like Paul Arizin, Paul Silas, Larry Costello, Bill Spivey. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim played 4 Scranton at that time. It was a great venue for boxing, rassling, and concerts, also. Bob Foster, the light-heavyweight champ from DC held a number of title defenses there because there was no comparable place in the DC area and Larry Holmes fought there many times before becoming champ.

[ronk]

 Looks like they haven't changed the light bulbs in 46 years; it was pretty dark in the gym. They used to have mercury vapor lights that had a bluish haze about them; it was like playing in a smoky pool hall. PG Kelly got his 1st playing time after sitting out with a finger injury. The Royals are going to need him with conference play resuming.

[NEPAFAN]

Boken was inspired at the old gym...he should play there more often.

Here is hoping the big storm doesn't screw up the Cross County Challenge this year. I also have a suggestion. Get rid of the Laurel Line Tournament and kick off the season with this Cross County Challenge. Kids are in class and will be pumped up for the first game of the season..

[lefty2]

Boken was inspired at the old gym...he should play there more often.

Here is hoping the big storm doesn't screw up the Cross County Challenge this year. I also have a suggestion. Get rid of the Laurel Line Tournament and kick off the season with this Cross County Challenge. Kids are in class and will be pumped up for the first game of the season..

To whom are you suggesting that they get rid of the Laurel Line Tournament?

What does the Laurel Line Tournament have to do with the Cross County Challenge? 

[NEPAFAN]

Boken was inspired at the old gym...he should play there more often.

Here is hoping the big storm doesn't screw up the Cross County Challenge this year. I also have a suggestion. Get rid of the Laurel Line Tournament and kick off the season with this Cross County Challenge. Kids are in class and will be pumped up for the first game of the season..

To whom are you suggesting that they get rid of the Laurel Line Tournament?

What does the Laurel Line Tournament have to do with the Cross County Challenge?

Doesn't Marywood play in that Tournament? They would have to give up that Tourney if they moved it to a Tip Off Tourny.

[lefty2]

Boken was inspired at the old gym...he should play there more often.

Here is hoping the big storm doesn't screw up the Cross County Challenge this year. I also have a suggestion. Get rid of the Laurel Line Tournament and kick off the season with this Cross County Challenge. Kids are in class and will be pumped up for the first game of the season..

To whom are you suggesting that they get rid of the Laurel Line Tournament?

What does the Laurel Line Tournament have to do with the Cross County Challenge?

Doesn't Marywood play in that Tournament? They would have to give up that Tourney if they moved it to a Tip Off Tourny.

That's why I asked who you were talking to.  And you said 'get rid of.'

[NEPAFAN]

Boken was inspired at the old gym...he should play there more often.

Here is hoping the big storm doesn't screw up the Cross County Challenge this year. I also have a suggestion. Get rid of the Laurel Line Tournament and kick off the season with this Cross County Challenge. Kids are in class and will be pumped up for the first game of the season..

To whom are you suggesting that they get rid of the Laurel Line Tournament?

What does the Laurel Line Tournament have to do with the Cross County Challenge?

Doesn't Marywood play in that Tournament? They would have to give up that Tourney if they moved it to a Tip Off Tourny.

That's why I asked who you were talking to.  And you said 'get rid of.'

I was just talking to Cold_Case (isn't it time for a reinstatement) how the Laurel Line is not as strong a tourney as the Cross-County Challenge. Miseri should get out of it too...

[NEPAFAN]

Scranton and Marywood go 4-0 against Kings and Wilkes , showing how far the MAC Freedom has fallen (jk)


Again my only critique is that the game is played in front of 300 fans, when they used to be played to packed houses.

[ronk]

Landmark schedule 4 Saturday


Jan. 11   Juniata      Scranton       2:00 PM   Preview  Live Stats  Video  Audio  Directions
   Susquehanna      Drew       2:00 PM   Live Stats  Video
   Goucher      Moravian       2:00 PM   Live Stats  Video
   Catholic      Merchant Marine       2:00 PM   Preview  Live Stats  Video



   Conference      Overall
GP   Record   Win %   PF   PA      GP   Record   Win %   PF   PA   Last 10   Streak
Catholic   1   1-0   1.000   82   60      12   7-5   0.583   903   852   5-5   Won 2
Goucher   1   1-0   1.000   72   65      12   6-6   0.500   896   958   4-6   Won 1
Juniata   1   1-0   1.000   66   50      12   10-2   0.833   883   768   9-1   Won 2
Moravian   2   1-1   0.500   122   123      11   6-5   0.545   725   723   6-4   Won 3
Scranton   2   1-1   0.500   165   154      12   10-2   0.833   986   892   8-2   Won 5
MMA    3   1-2   0.333   208   227      12   5-7   0.417   855   894   4-6   Lost 3
Drew   1   0-1   0.000   60   82      12   6-6   0.500   873   898   5-5   Lost 1
Susque   1   0-1   0.000   68   82      12   8-4   0.667   893   816   6-4   Won 2


After digesting the nonconference games, the opening conference games, and the personnel changes from last season, I project a tighter conference finish from top to bottom:

Scranton         9-5
Juniata            9-5
Catholic          8-6
MMA               8-6
Susque          6-8
Drew              6-8
Goucher         5-9
Moravian        5-9

[NEPAFAN]

Time for some payback against Juniata!!! #goroyals

[BCannon]

No payback to be had today

[ronk]

  Today's Landmark action had 3 road wins and a 1-point loss 4 the 4th road team. Updated projected finish:

Juniata          10-4
Catholic          9-5
Scranton         8-6
MMA               7-7
Susque          6-8
Drew              6-8
Goucher         6-8
Moravian        4-10

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Talk about a wild finish at Moravian in a long game: http://www.d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2013-14/contrib/20140111akc06w

[saratoga]

To quote John McEnroe,
"Are you freakin kidding me"?
Danzig hasn't recruited a point guard since Randy Arnold 7 years ago...think it shows???
If it wasn't for Matt Swaback burying a 3 at the buzzer 2 years ago, Danzig still wouldn't have an NCAA win with a team he recruited.
Two years ago, if Travis Farrell doesn't nail a 3 at the buzzer, Scranton doesn't go to the Elite 8.
If he can't recruit players with his own son on the team.....good luck.
Two losses...AT HOME, not real good when being reviewed by the NCAA Regional God's.
As someone recently stated, Bess had more people in the stands for one game than Danzig pulls in all year.
Not sure where this program is headed, just not convinced it's in the right direction.
Landmark wins are nice, try getting in the Top 10 again & staying there.
Two conference losses at home...not real impressive.
Outcoached by the Juniata staff yet again.
Absolutely, unacceptable.
PS...on a much more important note...I just saw that our friend from Susquehanna had a baby a few months back...Congratulations and I hope all is going perfectly well for mom, dad & baby.
Ronk...you better keep recalibrating, because if Danzig can't protect the home turf, this thing is totally open & will be won by Juniata.