MBB: Landmark Conference

[saratoga]

NEPA:
No problem....trust me, this program has made me "salty" as well.
Just when you think it's safe to drink the water.....

[ronk]

 Cards clinch #1 seed; Scranton & Susquehanna are #2 & 3 seeds, which remains  to be decided. Everybody else except Moravian in battle for 4th playoff spot.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Must have been something in the air tonight. Scranton drops one and CUA was in real danger for most of the first half tonight against a Goucher squad that was clearly ready to play tonight. CUA was down by as many as 13 late in the half. This was a game marked by long periods of neither team interested in playing any defense at all as both teams went streaking up and down the floor time and time again. Goucher fully deserved their half-time lead.

Kyle Phanord put in a real captain's performance tonight with what must be a career-high 28 points, going 8-14 from 3-pt. Bryon Fonville overcame a quiet first-half scoring to finish with 13 points and 15 assists.

Pleased the team overcame a poor first-half to fight back and claim a relatively "comfortable" win, but performances will have to improve over the next 2 weeks if this team wants to be rewarded.

It was that particular end of the court... Goucher shot the lights out of the building on the Catholic bench side of the court in the first half (9-14 from deep) and then Catholic did the same in the second half. Goucher just didn't have 40 minutes... and haven't all season. Nice to see them put over 50 up on CUA in the first half, but they didn't want halftime to happen. Too bad... at least it was an exciting game which about halfway through the second half had eight total turnovers.

CUA is better than when I saw them in November... but when 97% of your scoring comes from your starting five... well that worries me slightly - only because you need to have some depth (besides defense from Kevin Phanord) off the bench. Bench didn't impress me last night - almost every time someone came in, they fouled or made a mistake. I realize that happens, but it was consistent. Of course, it could have been an off game, but that was what I saw in November, too. Here's hoping the bench can contribute a bit more ... more consistently and then CUA could be a threat.

As for Scranton - I don't think their at-large chances are over with that loss - as it stands on its own. Many other MA teams lost last night as well. Now, if they lose to CUA next weekend AND they lose to CUA in the championship game - the Susquehanna loss is going to prove costly (along with the Husson, Ithaca, Misericordia, etc.). If Scranton defeats CUA next weekend and loses in the conference title game (thus the reason they would be an at-large candidate), I think they might be okay... they just lost some of the wiggle room by losing last night.

[CardsFan]

D-Mac, in regards to your observation about CUA's bench play Wed. night, it's been like that for not only this season, but for nearly the last decade. I've found this season that the bench on most nights goes 2 deep (Kevin Phanord and Louis Khouri). I've thought all season they are each half a player. Louis is the offensive sub and Kevin the defensive sub, but there have been several times this season where one of them is on the floor and the team probably needs the other one out there. In close games, Coach Howes will often abandon the bench altogether. The team has had to massage foul trouble on several occasions, but haven't yet had to do so against a real quality opponent. That's a big reason why this is a good team, but probably several steps from a truly great one.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

CardsFan... completely agree. I have said it often to people, and even Coach Howes, I consider Kyle Phanord the offensive twin and Kevin Phanord the defensive twin. Khouri didn't contribute much against Goucher except for some ill-timed fouls.

Listen, Catholic has a really good starting five you are clearly supported by the bench, though not spelled by them. The problem is, you need some depth in the NCAA tournament. A number of deep teams might shorten their bench, but one thing is key in March - you need a decent bench. Not many teams have gone deep or won championships with very little bench contribution. Look at the CUA championship team... they has some key guys from that bench.

Maybe Catholic can do it the harder way, but I like their chances better if Kevin, Khouri, and some others can find ways to contribute... even if it is in short minute or two minute spurts.

[CardsFan]

I'm with you 100% d-mac. While I could write a dissertation on comparing the 2001 team with these days, one major difference is that while bench contributions in 2001 were limited, three of those guys became all-conference players once their opportunity came. Looking in the recent past, teams like Cabrini in 2012 and St. Thomas in 2013 had incredible depth. Walton-Moss came off the bench for that Cabrini team and St. Thomas had nearly 10 players who could defend and score.

I think we can all agree that the Landmark is a long way away from having teams with that kind of depth, or any real depth at all. The team that finally puts a bench with their starters consistently in this conference will create real separation.

Now in fairness, with the way last season ended for CUA and the huge clearout of players off the roster coming into this season I can understand why maybe Coach Howes decided he needed to ride the starters and see where the team ended up. The team came into the season with only 3 players with legitimate college experience. Now maybe going forward the team can build off the solid formation and begin adding quality depth.

[cugrad]

It is quite impressive for a team with absolutely no depth to have a record of 20 -3, including a loss to a pretty high level D1 team in Davidson!

[CardsFan]

It is quite impressive for a team with absolutely no depth to have a record of 20 -3, including a loss to a pretty high level D1 team in Davidson!

That's a real credit to the quality of the starters.

[CardsFan]

So does anyone want the final playoff spot?

[saratoga]

The issue of team depth isn't always black & white.
I certainly do not have the insight into Catholic's rotation as much you do but, I can give you some examples playing out at Scranton that can leave one wondering if things are really as bad as they may seem.

To begin the season, the Royals started a sophomore at point guard.
Two games in he received a pretty bad injury & was replaced by a freshman.
He struggled a little out of the gate but once he got past his first game, he was off & running.
He scored double figures, passed out assists, hit his free throws & rarely turned the ball over.
Things were going well.

Fast forward to the Ithaca game & now he gets injured in the first minute of action.
Out of pure desperation, the Scranton staff looks down the bench & replaces him with a junior that has zero meaningful game minutes in 2 1/2 years. In fact, in his previous 2 plus years most games he didn't even play.
What does he do....scores double figures, dishes the ball like a seasoned veteran & plays that game with a confidence and calm like he'd been getting quality minutes all the time.
Currently, he remains one of the first off the bench, plays within himself, gives you points, assists & quality minutes.

Now call me skeptical, but I have a really hard time believing if it were not for these two injuries, he's still be relegated to the farthest corner of the bench.
Why didn't the Scranton brain trust see that poise, inner confidence & talent?
How could someone who practiced every day for over two years not have that potential recognized?

There are other examples on this team.
One young player took the game over vs. Cabrini early in the season.
Scored double figures...in fact, didn't miss a shot the entire game.
He also was a force on the boards & everyone in the stands was thrilled to see his raw talent take over against a pretty good team at the time.
Since then, meaningless minutes here & there, no opportunity to get into the flow of the game & one mistake & yanked out.
How is the talent this young man possess' not nurtured & refined to be the best he can be?
How can a coach ignore that untapped potential.

There are even other examples... but, for another time.
I guess my point is just because a coach's bench is short does not necessarily mean it's without talent that can help.
What that respective coach can project & develop out of his bench should not be left to mere chance.
They have an obligation to each kid that puts on a uniform to know what they can bring & make that ability even better.
Quality kids should not be so far down on the bench they are in another area code waiting for a coach's call that never comes.

[CardsFan]

Saratoga I agree 100%. I've probably just done a terrible job of making my point. It's certainly not that CUA doesn't have talented players on the bench, I quite like what I've seen in limited moments from some of them, especially freshman Brian Seward who has been a scout-team player. The only problem is that he is never in unless the game is out of reach.

My feeling has been that the bench players who get time are the ones Coach Howes trusts, which right now seems to be 2 guys. One problem in the past has been that guys are recruited, make no contribution as a freshman and by sophomore year have fallen deeper in the rotation behind the next class.

It's up to both the player and the coaches. The player has to keep improving and the coaches have to foster confidence in the player, so that he hasn't been on campus for three years with no game experience.

[saratoga]

Absolutely.
I think we all want to see hard work, ability, dedication & a positive attitude rewarded with in game minutes for these kids rather than mop up junk in the last 58 seconds.
Here's hoping some coaches actually get to know the talent that lies within.

[cugrad]

Actually, Louis Khouri has done a pretty good job off the bench for Catholic. He has scored at times, including a 9 - 10 from three against W&L. He also does a good job grabbing rebounds. I feel that he has been pretty solid off the bench, though a bit inconsistent.

[CardsFan]

Actually, Louis Khouri has done a pretty good job off the bench for Catholic. He has scored at times, including a 9 - 10 from three against W&L. He also does a good job grabbing rebounds. I feel that he has been pretty solid off the bench, though a bit inconsistent.

He was fantastic against W&L scoring 23 pts. in 19 minutes. He is one of two bench players to play in every game this season. Also, to your point he is a very good rebounder for his size, has one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios on the team, and is the 2nd best 3pt shooter on the team (23-55 for the season). He has very good instincts, knowing when to pass and when to shoot, in fact I think he turns down too many open shots.

The question about CUA's depth isn't because the bench players aren't good enough, it's that they aren't given a consistent run in games. In conference play, Khouri has played at least 20 minutes in only 1 game. The coaches trust him enough to play him, but not enough to give him extended playing time at the expense of any starter. I'm sure his consistency would pick up with increased playing time.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I think Khouri came off the bench on two separate occasions against Goucher and immediately picked up a foul. Same thing happened to Kevin Phanord. That doesn't breed confidence in a coaching staff.