MBB: Landmark Conference

[kate]

And everything's hunky dory now that everyone's like-minded?  No matter how difficult diversity may be, I would go to my end believing that it's worth it, not just in sports.  I surely hope the powers that be in the MAC realize this and can come together, especially in regard to athletics.
As always, Dave, thanks for your comments.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I certainly never said things are hunky-dory in the like-minded world... but usually its the one that is the outlier.

In the Landmark Conference... that has always been Merchant Marine. They were actually the school added at the last minute to replace Stevens who also at the last minute decided they didn't want to change course and leave their current situation for the Landmark - a fib they were quickly exposed by when they announced 24 hours later they were joining the Empire 8. USMMA wasn't quite the right fit considering their class schedules and the new travel requirements the Landmark was going to cause. They are the chief reason the schedules have been altered multiple times in the conference - none of which I have thought were good decisions (the other main complain in basketball was playing back-to-back games - but don't get me started on why that is a hollow complaint that is rather short-sighted while ignoring proof to the contrary).

I do believe there are good things with diversity and you can have diversity with like-minded institutions. There really isn't a lot similar with The Catholic University of America and Goucher College, but they have been together for a long time in two different conferences. Drew and Scranton aren't exactly similar, but they are like-minded. There is still diversity, but with a similar plan both with athletics and academics.

I think the MAC is trying to come together... but, I dare say, I think it needs new leadership and it needs to put some of the bickering and made-up bad-blood aside and move forward.

[ronk]

I certainly never said things are hunky-dory in the like-minded world... but usually its the one that is the outlier.

In the Landmark Conference... that has always been Merchant Marine. They were actually the school added at the last minute to replace Stevens who also at the last minute decided they didn't want to change course and leave their current situation for the Landmark - a fib they were quickly exposed by when they announced 24 hours later they were joining the Empire 8. USMMA wasn't quite the right fit considering their class schedules and the new travel requirements the Landmark was going to cause. They are the chief reason the schedules have been altered multiple times in the conference - none of which I have thought were good decisions (the other main complain in basketball was playing back-to-back games - but don't get me started on why that is a hollow complaint that is rather short-sighted while ignoring proof to the contrary).

I do believe there are good things with diversity and you can have diversity with like-minded institutions. There really isn't a lot similar with The Catholic University of America and Goucher College, but they have been together for a long time in two different conferences. Drew and Scranton aren't exactly similar, but they are like-minded. There is still diversity, but with a similar plan both with athletics and academics.

I think the MAC is trying to come together... but, I dare say, I think it needs new leadership and it needs to put some of the bickering and made-up bad-blood aside and move forward.

Dave,
     MMA was an original Landmark member;  the replacement of Stevens was by Scranton over E-town.

[ronk]

 Just looking at next year's Landmark bball schedule(year 2 of the 18-year schedule-so much for Plan A now that MMA is leaving)

Doubleheaders on weekends-men play first
Opposite site games for midweek
travel time(1 way for Scranton's 4 midweek opponents: 7 hours 19 mins
                                 Catholic                                          9           35

[NEPAFAN]

Joe Mihalich has gone on to become Assistant Coach at UPENN. Scranton has hired two backfills:

Carl Danzig, head men's basketball coach at The University of Scranton, has announced the appointment of Ryan Van Zelst and Brian Coyle as assistant coaches.

Van Zelst spent last season as an assistant at his alma mater, Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, after serving as an assistant coach at York College (Pa.) from June 2012 through August 2014.

His primary responsibilities at both Albright and York College over the past three seasons were recruiting, scouting, preparing individual workouts, tape exchange and video editing, and serving as position coach for the guards and wing players.  He also served as assistant director of Albright College Skill Development Clinics last summer and as assistant director at the York College Boys' Day Camp in the summers of 2013 and 2014.

In addition, Van Zelst coached at the Hoop Group Elite Basketball Camp the past three summers, was a staff member of the Hoop Group Bob Hurley Pocono Skills Basketball Camp in 2012 and 2013, and has also worked camps at Berks Catholic High School (2013) and Rider University (2012).

A 2011 graduate of Albright with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a management track, Van Zelst played three seasons on the Lions' men's basketball team and was a member of the 2010 team that captured the Commonwealth Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament.  He is also a graduate of Conwell-Egan Catholic High School, where he was a captain of the 2006 boys' basketball team and three-year starter. 

Coyle joins the Royal coaching staff after spending last season as an assistant men's basketball coach at Lackawanna College and the previous three years at Marywood University, where his major responsibilities were scouting, recruiting, game preparatory, and community relations.  He also picked up valuable experience as an assistant varsity and head junior varsity coach of the boys' basketball program at Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, leading the junior varsity program to a 44-18 record (.709) over a three-year period and helping the varsity program reach the state tournament in 2010, its first postseason berth in 16 years.

A 1999 graduate of then Bishop Hannan High School in Scranton, Coyle played collegiately at Misericordia University for four years and was a member of the 2003 team that won a then school record 16 games.  He is still sixth all-time in Cougars' history with 271 career assists.  He holds a degree in business administration with a minor in human resources from Misericordia. 

At Bishop Hannan, Coyle was a member of the 1999 team that won the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) District II title and advanced to the championship game of the state tournament in Class A.  He earned All-Lackawanna League and regional all-star honors his senior year.

The Royals are coming off a 23-6 season that included its second straight and sixth Landmark Conference championship in the league's eight-year history.  Danzig will enter his 15th season as head coach next winter with an overall record of 268-116 (.698).

[ronk]

 Ursinus and Stevens Tech said to be the other 2 teams in the Royals' tipoff tourney.

[San Juan]

I noticed Sean Cummings is no longer on the team!I What happened he was a good player!

[ronk]

I noticed Sean Cummings is no longer on the team!I What happened he was a good player!

At this point, I don't know; he had the ability to be a starter this year.

[sp0rtsfan]

Word has it that Sean Cummings transferred to another school. I'm not sure why, or what school, or if he's playing ball there. He was nice player; sorry to see him go.

[San Juan]

Thanks that is what I heard.I know ever since the  coaches other son (Ethan ) came aboard Sean got less playing time.Great athletic skills for 6-3 he could jump and score.It seems like every year Danzig loses players and they are pretty good players that he recruited.Lot of Royal fans will be disappointed to see Sean not there but good luck were ever you go .

[NEPAFAN]

Welcome to some new blood on the board!...looks like the moved up the Cross County Challenge to November from early January. Would still like it to be the first weekend of the season.

[saratoga]

As usual, Scranton gets no love from D3 regarding the men's poll.
I guess it doesn't  matter that the Royals have defeated Catholic 711 times out of the last 712 games dating back to the 1791/1792 season, somehow the Cards are now the # 6 team in the country.
I think Danzig needs to start bringing in more than 3 kids a year & maybe not losing one of his better kids each year via transfer might also help.
Far more excitement on campus over the women's team than the mens...not sure how well this will sit with Dave as we move forward.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Saratoga... Scranton lost Ross Danzig and Justin Klingman from a team that underperformed last year... and then Cummings transfers (as you noted). Catholic returns EVERYONE. Maybe number six is too high (though, that's where I have them - my blog will be published later today), but if you noticed from the story about the poll, voters are all over the place with everyone but essentially number one (one voter didn't even vote for them, another seven of them had then 16th or worse).

I am not about to vote for Scranton who besides having Boken back... doesn't really bring anything back to the table that impresses voters. And nothing against Boken, but I was surprised by how inconsistent he was last year (and how inconsistent the team was getting him the ball).

Scranton is consistently good, but they have not been consistently a factor for a number of years. They got past the first round of the NCAA tournament last year for only the second time in the last ten seasons - seven of which had NCAA berths! The Landmark conference has been disappointingly average in men's basketball pretty much since it was founded with just Scranton and Catholic really being year in and year out contenders. Scranton has to do more than consistently win 19+ games against an okay conference and a mixed-bag out of conference schedule. Catholic tends to go out there and challenge themselves a bit more out of conference and again brings back the entire squad from a team that has made the second round two since the last three seasons (and could have gone further in '13 if the committee didn't put them up against Williams in the second round - should have been an easier opponent for both teams).

Again... Catholic may be too high, but I can't give any love to a Scranton squad that never lives up to the hype.

[NEPAFAN]

Saratoga... Scranton lost Ross Danzig and Justin Klingman from a team that underperformed last year... and then Cummings transfers (as you noted). Catholic returns EVERYONE. Maybe number six is too high (though, that's where I have them - my blog will be published later today), but if you noticed from the story about the poll, voters are all over the place with everyone but essentially number one (one voter didn't even vote for them, another seven of them had then 16th or worse).

I am not about to vote for Scranton who besides having Boken back... doesn't really bring anything back to the table that impresses voters. And nothing against Boken, but I was surprised by how inconsistent he was last year (and how inconsistent the team was getting him the ball).

Scranton is consistently good, but they have not been consistently a factor for a number of years. They got past the first round of the NCAA tournament last year for only the second time in the last ten seasons - seven of which had NCAA berths! The Landmark conference has been disappointingly average in men's basketball pretty much since it was founded with just Scranton and Catholic really being year in and year out contenders. Scranton has to do more than consistently win 19+ games against an okay conference and a mixed-bag out of conference schedule. Catholic tends to go out there and challenge themselves a bit more out of conference and again brings back the entire squad from a team that has made the second round two since the last three seasons (and could have gone further in '13 if the committee didn't put them up against Williams in the second round - should have been an easier opponent for both teams).

Again... Catholic may be too high, but I can't give any love to a Scranton squad that never lives up to the hype.

This is laughable. Scranton beat catholic for the landmark title last year. Cummings scored 50 career points so let not get crazy. Scranton fans are used to the disrespect so no sunrises here.

[saratoga]

D-mac:
Most of what you stated in paragraph 3 is what most people that follow Royal basketball have been saying for Danzig's entire tenure...so nothing new there.
Please explain though how Scranton "underperformed", last year?
They beat Catholic in Washington to win the Landmark after Catholic was thought to "possibly" go undefeated in conference play last season.
They then won a first round NCAA game in Babson & lost in the second round to the host that plays on a court most CYO leagues wouldn't sanction.
So where exactly was that team supposed to go?
You didn't give them a snowballs chance in hell to win the Landmark yet they did...so are you now saying you expected them to win at Babson even though Babson was like 8th. in the country & the Royals were, as usual. unranked?

Where my issue comes from is this sudden love for a Catholic team that was already better than Scranton last year but still couldn't win at home for the title.
Yes, they return a talented crew & they'll be good, but 6th. in the country???
Also, let's keep in mind that Danzig was hurt all year & rarely was able to be the player he was capable of being so many other kids picked up the slack.
Klingman was far better as a junior as there were games last year he couldn't buy a basket & he never played D.
So in reality, lets not place too high a premium on these two departures.
Still a team game & Catholic has yet to take 2 games in a season from Scranton since the Jefferson Administration.
The Landmark Championship still must go through the Electric City.