MBB: Landmark Conference

[Tim the Enchanter]

In fairness to the young man, I think realistic expectations should be set for the Millersville transfer. 

I don't think anyone was proclaiming this kid the Messiah, just that Scranton has gotten some good players out of CB West in the past.

Scranton has also had a range of success with D2 transfers under Danzig with the pinnacle of that being Tom Bicknell, but there was also Mitch Cross who took a couple of years to break into the starting lineup. 

Since he hasn't played in college, who knows what to expect?  I hope it works out well for him and Scranton!

Tim, thank you! I was just commenting about another C.B.West player heading to Scranton. I mentioned nothing about getting overly excited because he's coming from a very good (this year) D2 program. He might help at Scranton. He might not. It's not the end of the world either way. Scranton wanted him before he went to Millersville and will now be heading there. Somebody at Scranton saw something in him to head to Doylestown a few times and show genuine interest.

On another note, to give it away for our resident internet sleuths................Scranton is all over his sister, who is having a great year for C.B. West. It won't take a degree from a UAA or NESCAC school to put these pieces together. I provided a beach ball and a huge bat:) First one with the name gets a Tufts or Hamilton (not the crappy play.............I preferred Spamilton, a great takedown of the foolishness) hoodie !!!

Now, back to our regular programming of switching conferences and being mentioned in the same breath as the University of Chicago, Amherst and M.I.T.

I've read that she's already committed to Jefferson.

Yep.

https://www.cityofbasketballlove.com/news_article/show/1178868

[ronk]

 Royals were outplayed by Juniata yesterday who inserted themselves into a 5-way battle for the 4 conference tourney spots for the AQ. I put the emphasis more on Juniata's play than any lacking on the Royals' part. Can't remember allowing 70 points in a game and losing to a team that had no one scoring in double figures. Juniata is midway thru an 11 games in 25 days(normally 8 games in same stretch) stretch due to covid factors. So, with 10 or more players contributing, they would seem to be a squad that could best get thru such a stretch.

[saratoga]

Agreed...the Juniata bench is their strength.
However, Curley does a remarkable job year in & year out with the talent he has so having him on the sidelines is certainly a plus as well.
And, to frustrate NEPA even more than losing a winnable game, Juniata brought out their pep band! 

[jmcozenlaw]

In fairness to the young man, I think realistic expectations should be set for the Millersville transfer. 

I don't think anyone was proclaiming this kid the Messiah, just that Scranton has gotten some good players out of CB West in the past.

Scranton has also had a range of success with D2 transfers under Danzig with the pinnacle of that being Tom Bicknell, but there was also Mitch Cross who took a couple of years to break into the starting lineup. 

Since he hasn't played in college, who knows what to expect?  I hope it works out well for him and Scranton!

Tim, thank you! I was just commenting about another C.B.West player heading to Scranton. I mentioned nothing about getting overly excited because he's coming from a very good (this year) D2 program. He might help at Scranton. He might not. It's not the end of the world either way. Scranton wanted him before he went to Millersville and will now be heading there. Somebody at Scranton saw something in him to head to Doylestown a few times and show genuine interest.

On another note, to give it away for our resident internet sleuths................Scranton is all over his sister, who is having a great year for C.B. West. It won't take a degree from a UAA or NESCAC school to put these pieces together. I provided a beach ball and a huge bat:) First one with the name gets a Tufts or Hamilton (not the crappy play.............I preferred Spamilton, a great takedown of the foolishness) hoodie !!!

Now, back to our regular programming of switching conferences and being mentioned in the same breath as the University of Chicago, Amherst and M.I.T.

I've read that she's already committed to Jefferson.

Yep.

https://www.cityofbasketballlove.com/news_article/show/1178868

Dad did confirm that while she wavered bwtween the two (Jeff and Scranton), she ultimately chose Jeff. Great family. Pops was an athlete way back in his day.

[NEPAFAN]

Agreed...the Juniata bench is their strength.
However, Curley does a remarkable job year in & year out with the talent he has so having him on the sidelines is certainly a plus as well.
And, to frustrate NEPA even more than losing a winnable game, Juniata brought out their pep band! 

12 kids or so? What a novel concept to get some energy in the gym.


Jmcozenlaw, we will keep a sport warm for her at Scranton if Jefferson doesn't work out.

[Tim the Enchanter]

Dad did confirm that while she wavered bwtween the two (Jeff and Scranton), she ultimately chose Jeff. Great family. Pops was an athlete way back in his day.

Their mom was a pretty solid player (especially defensively) for Del Val basketball in the early 90s, too. 

[Great Day to be a Royal]

Susque had a furious comeback at Drew to take the win.


Congrats to Tahaj Parland with a career high 18 points on 4-4 from 3 point land.


For the dreamers...https://twitter.com/MarkSingelais/status/1483817743795298304?s=20

I still will never understand the dream of transitioning to D1. I will take D3 and the purity of sport over D1 athletics. This is speaking as former athlete, coach, and now just a fan of the level.

I believe that the Ivies, Patriot League and some other schools certainly have the "purity of sport".

I certainly agree with you on the purity of sport. But we have now gone from comparing Scranton from a MAAC school to Patriot and Ivy?

[ronk]

 When the Patriot League started, some were non-athletic scholarship schools. That lasted for some years.

[Great Day to be a Royal]

When the Patriot League started, some were non-athletic scholarship schools. That lasted for some years.

Tell you what, when the Royals join the Patriot, I will pay for everyone's season tickets.
Until then, lets see if we can win some road conference games, and make a few baskets inside the paint and within 6-8 feet of the basket.

[NEPAFAN]

I don't think anyone is comparing the two. There is still some purity in the Patriot and Ivy was the point I believe.

[ronk]

 Just saying that when I evaluate bball prospects, my competition are the Patriots and Ivies, athletically and academically, since I look for those who can make a difference at the highest D3 level. Financial competition(tuition/aid) then comes into play with the state(NY/NJ/PA) schools.
  When I attended Scranton, we regularly played now-Patriot League Bucknell, Lafayette, and Loyola and much stronger D1 Villanova, Temple, Seton Hall, and Providence. But that was pre-D3 and now the proper focus is to compete at the top level of D3. 

[Great Day to be a Royal]

I don't think anyone is comparing the two. There is still some purity in the Patriot and Ivy was the point I believe.

No, I get it! I was just being facetious on the topic. Overall point, we would all like to see Scranton basketball in a winning state of mind. The glory days of yesteryear will likely never be, but the team has certainly dropped off from national prominence to barely being on the regional radar.

[Great Day to be a Royal]

Just saying that when I evaluate bball prospects, my competition are the Patriots and Ivies, athletically and academically, since I look for those who can make a difference at the highest D3 level. Financial competition(tuition/aid) then comes into play with the state(NY/NJ/PA) schools.
  When I attended Scranton, we regularly played now-Patriot League Bucknell, Lafayette, and Loyola and much stronger D1 Villanova, Temple, Seton Hall, and Providence. But that was pre-D3 and now the proper focus is to compete at the top level of D3.

ronk, that is a great comparison as Scranton does/ should check those boxes at the D3 level academically and athletically. With that being said, most of the conference does as well, which means in my eyes, the Landmark is a great fit.

I do not think the university is concerned with being at the top of D3. I think it is "compete and win the Landmark, and get to NCAA". Anything beyond that is icing. Most schools would love to have that philosophy, and be successful at it. I think we are just looking at it through eyes of the past. 

[ronk]

Agreed.

[ronk]

Royals were outplayed by Juniata yesterday who inserted themselves into a 5-way battle for the 4 conference tourney spots for the AQ. I put the emphasis more on Juniata's play than any lacking on the Royals' part. Can't remember allowing 70 points in a game and losing to a team that had no one scoring in double figures. Juniata is midway thru an 11 games in 25 days(normally 8 games in same stretch) stretch due to covid factors. So, with 10 or more players contributing, they would seem to be a squad that could best get thru such a stretch.

So much for Juniata having no one in double figures yet winning the game; tonite they only got 38 and were walloped by Susque; the bench did outscore the starters 24-14.
Big games this week:
Wed - Drew @ Susque, Catholic @ Juniata
Sat - Catholic @ Drew, Juniata @ Susque