MBB: Landmark Conference

[saratoga]

You have your take & I have mine.
Most times the cream rises to the top in the tournament, of course there are upsets, that's the beauty.
However, it just seems whenever Scranton wins...that's the upset.
I think his tournament record is abysmal.
Also, they didn't defeat the host Wm. Patterson in 2012, they defeated Becker. Patterson was simply the host sight.
One last thing...there is a reason his teams tend to go up against some better clubs, because the NCAA has them rated much lower.
There is also a reason the Royal's have only hosted one NCAA tournament in 20 years and, if Ursinus completed their NCAA paperwork on time to host...the Royal's would still be waiting for their first opportunity.
Defending his NCAA tournament record is simply putting lipstick on a pig.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I went looking through some of the publicly available data today, just to see where Scranton stands in comparison.  I looked at Christopher Newport as the comp, largely because they're the most successful program in the region over the last decade or so.

Both teams spend about the same amount of money overall (about $350k, salaries included), but the personnel allocation is quite different.  Scranton lists Danzig as a full time employee with part time assignment to basketball, which means he's got other duties.  Some schools have to do that to pay a competitive salary, but if you talk to any coach, that shared attention makes a huge difference.  John Krikorian has nothing to do, but focus on his basketball team, 12 months a year.

Scranton has two assistants listed, one a full-time, fully dedicated to basketball position, and a second part timer.  CNU has one full time and two part time assistants.  There are only salary averages available for Scranton, while CNU is a public institution with public salaries, but I suspect, even if they've been able to put a competitive package together for the HC, the assistants aren't getting paid commensurate with CNU and the man hours allocated to basketball aren't that close.


(Oh, and not to throw a wrench into things, but Swarthmore has one full time HC and three part time assistants, and spends almost exactly half of what either CNU or Scranton does on men's basketball.)

[Royals85]

Danzing is an assistant on the the golf team.So he would be full time.So Head coach Basketball and assistant coach for men's golf

[Royals85]

Kirk also did a great job with Merchant Marines.

[ronk]

You have your take & I have mine.
Most times the cream rises to the top in the tournament, of course there are upsets, that's the beauty.
However, it just seems whenever Scranton wins...that's the upset.
I think his tournament record is abysmal.
Also, they didn't defeat the host Wm. Patterson in 2012, they defeated Becker. Patterson was simply the host sight.
One last thing...there is a reason his teams tend to go up against some better clubs, because the NCAA has them rated much lower.
There is also a reason the Royal's have only hosted one NCAA tournament in 20 years and, if Ursinus completed their NCAA paperwork on time to host...the Royal's would still be waiting for their first opportunity.
Defending his NCAA tournament record is simply putting lipstick on a pig.

WM Paterson was upset in the 1st round so the Royals avoided playing them in the 2nd round; they had instead a neutral site game with Becker. This was the most recent Royals NCAA game that I've seen in person due to distance considerations and the lack of appearances since then. I remember there being a student bus from Scranton for the 1st round game with a number of Lady Royals among them. The dad of one(Christine Hiltunen) led the cheering to bring back the Royals from a big deficit. I'd be surprised if there would be such a bus trip today with the current student disinterest. 

[Great Day to be a Royal]

Another point on the men not hosting, in some years, especially when the women were one of top teams in the nation, depending on year, the women's team had priority in hosting, so even if the men won in the low 20s for W's, there was no way they would get to host. 

Problem with much of the student section, especially in traveling is that much of the student section consists of other athletes at the school.  By March, any of the spring athletes are going to have games of their own on a Saturday during the tournament, and not be able to travel to see a game.

[NEPAFAN]

Problem with much of the student section, especially in traveling is that much of the student section consists of other athletes at the school.  By March, any of the spring athletes are going to have games of their own on a Saturday during the tournament, and not be able to travel to see a game.

Also in a normal year, the month of January is dead on campus with intersession. That being said, no reason other student athletes shouldn't be encouraged to show up to support their fellow athletes.

This engagement in April is amazing, imagine if the kids cared as much as us.

[NJRoyal137]

The school has outstanding business / marketing and communication programs. Put the professors and students on this project - create a better experience and promotion around games. Scranton does not have a "team" per se - Scranton locals, students and alum can rally around a basketball program if the marketing + engagement efforts are on point. Creating a better atmosphere and cheering section at games and driving interest (via the Aquinas, Radio station, university e-mail + TV, ads around campus) and breeding sports passion + Scranton pride into the students can happen if you put the right people and spend the right way on it.

[Royals85]

See bess always made it a show and about his team.Carl is very low key guy,My opinion no personality to connect with people!Back in the 70s,80s,And 90s Bessior put the show on the floor by recruiting D1 players and also playing D1 schools,Bessior never backed down and I think Saratoga is right when Danzing has his tournament at home he brings in the bards,Penn tech not a knock on them but bring the show to your tournament !,,Will give your guys experience for the ncaa playoffs(I think he lost alot of them first rounds games because of his scheduling) Playing great teams like Amherst,Williams,CNU in o your schedule helps!I understand you want to make it easy to win your tournament but this will get fans back in to the long center and even bring bigger recruits to the U those low d1 players etc.In Bessiors case D1 players.On a  Wednesdsy night during  Bessiors tenure you would have a line at the door waiting to get in to See the men play Delaware Valley,Kings,Wilkes,etc.Start bringing the show back and the fans will show up.You need a National caliber team to get that fan base and like Saratoga said nobody wants to see a team that in the last 21 years make it 10 ncaa appearances it should be every year!!,,Just my thought why fan base is not at the U or following them.

[NJRoyal137]

See bess always made it a show and about his team.Carl is very low key guy,My opinion no personality to connect with people!Back in the 70s,80s,And 90s Bessior put the show on the floor by recruiting D1 players and also playing D1 schools,Bessior never backed down and I think Saratoga is right when Danzing has his tournament at home he brings in the bards,Penn tech not a knock on them but bring the show to your tournament !,,Will give your guys experience for the ncaa playoffs(I think he lost alot of them first rounds games because of his scheduling) Playing great teams like Amherst,Williams,CNU in o your schedule helps!I understand you want to make it easy to win your tournament but this will get fans back in to the long center and even bring bigger recruits to the U those low d1 players etc.In Bessiors case D1 players.On a  Wednesdsy night during  Bessiors tenure you would have a line at the door waiting to get in to See the men play Delaware Valley,Kings,Wilkes,etc.Start bringing the show back and the fans will show up.You need a National caliber team to get that fan base and like Saratoga said nobody wants to see a team that in the last 21 years make it 10 ncaa appearances it should be every year!!,,Just my thought why fan base is not at the U or following them.

Dedicate yourself to greatness. Totally agree. IMO, I'd like to see Scranton move to a more competitive conference:

Stay D3 and move to the Centennial for better competition
Reclassify to D2 and move to PSAC and cultivate stronger regional rivalries
Reclassify to D1 and move to the MAAC (our gym is nicer than Rider's anyway)

I know those last two are not super realistic, but regardless - getting better schools on the schedule + REALLY building local rivalries (even if it is Keystone, Marywood and Wilkes) can help

Pair that with better marketing and fan support and we can be a force in the Electric City.

[Tim the Enchanter]

Dedicate yourself to greatness. Totally agree. IMO, I'd like to see Scranton move to a more competitive conference:

Stay D3 and move to the Centennial for better competition
Reclassify to D2 and move to PSAC and cultivate stronger regional rivalries
Reclassify to D1 and move to the MAAC (our gym is nicer than Rider's anyway)

I know those last two are not super realistic, but regardless - getting better schools on the schedule + REALLY building local rivalries (even if it is Keystone, Marywood and Wilkes) can help

Pair that with better marketing and fan support and we can be a force in the Electric City.

Well, if this plan goes through, the PSAC may be looking for some more members:

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/04/27/pennsylvania-higher-ed-system-releases-consolidation-plans#.YIiQPvRQ3UY.link

[NEPAFAN]

It is almost like the handful of posters here could be used by the Scranton administration to help solve the problem, along with students.


Anyways, For your viewing pleasure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0ZnQuvRcB8

and Coach Danzig going crazy as the Royal's knock of MIddlebury

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOXEHtNrCTo

[saratoga]

NEPA:

Plus 1 for sharing those moments of Bess & that last Championship Season.
The days when the Long Center started rocking an hour before the game.
If only we could see those crowds & the excitement for Royals basketball once more.
Great job bringing back those memories of when we were a national program. 

[Royals85]

Was at that game in Middlebury!Coach D ran all the ways up the steps in the bleachers behind the team!

[ronk]

It is almost like the handful of posters here could be used by the Scranton administration to help solve the problem, along with students.


Anyways, For your viewing pleasure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0ZnQuvRcB8

and Coach Danzig going crazy as the Royal's knock of MIddlebury

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOXEHtNrCTo

Nepa,
   thanks for the link; plenty of shots of the way things used to be in the Long Center - crowds in the clippings between 2000-3500. I've got a VCR tape of the championship game somewhere in my house but this will do fine until I find it.
Some observations:
   Analyst for the championship game was John Clark, star player at my high school and coach @ St. Francis(PA)
   no 3-pt shot in D3 by '83, 4 players on the foul line
   pictures of Scranton mayor Jim McNulty, was in my college class @ the U
   pic of former AD and football HC Pete Carlesimo, father of PJ, NBA analyst
   G Todd Bailey is father of current Royal star Logan Bailey