MBB: Landmark Conference

cold_case · January 28, 2008, 06:54:03 AM

Quote from: saratoga on January 27, 2008, 11:33:39 PMReally good teams take care of business on the road...especially against teams they are simply better than talent wise. How easy it would have been for Duke to just roll-over tonight at Maryland...especially after the flurry of scoring the Terps put on right before the half. What does Duke do...start the second half with intense pressure on the ball, create turnovers and let their defense kick-start their offense. The crowd is taken out of the game & Duke refuses to let any Terp shot go uncontested. Result...another Duke win on the road against an always tough opponent. Until Scranton remembers how to play perimiter defense, box out & crash the boards & play the game hard from tip to final buzzer...3 wins followed by 2 losses may be the norm. Over the course of 25 games not very impressive...just like their season thus far.

That comparison is an apples and oranges philosophy. Major differences in the level of play, in particular, the mental toughness. Unlike D-I, these kids don't have to be out there, they want to be out there, or do they?
You should just come out and say it: Something is wrong with this team and it doesn't start with the players. Speaking of players, I find it unusual how many talented kids left the team since Danzig took over. Steele, Clarke, Clabby, McGowan. Am I missing some others? And where is Ivan Bogovich, the kid who is said to be a "rebounding machine???"

suhoopster · January 28, 2008, 12:15:29 PM

Crusaders win both on the road. Catholic game was tight all the way into the second half and then SU took over and Catholic tried to bully SU, but it did not work. Crusaders were up over 20 with minutes to play and finished with a solid road win.

At Goucher the game was tight early on and featured high pace action. SU started to pull away towards the end of the first half. Joel Patch had three dunks on what seemed like consecutive possessions. One a fast break alley-oop from Robinson on two Gophers. Second half was hard played, but SU made shots and defended well.

Any thoughts on all conf. players through the first half?

Matt Letourneau · January 28, 2008, 12:35:00 PM

What do you mean bully?

Physical play? Call them mean names?

Looks like SU has really asserted itself in the conference...though I doubt anybody is getting a NCAA bid from Landmark this year.

saratoga · January 28, 2008, 04:57:14 PM

CC: Something is certainly wrong with the Royals highly inconsistent play...hard to say exactly what it is. Every team every year faces some type of adversity due to health & injury issues...some are just tougher & more resilient than others. I saw this team play without Randy Arnold against Catholic & they played so well I think they could have knocked off Rochester that day & then the next week they can't even control the tempo against Drew with everyone back. Coaches can only push so many buttons...at some point talented kids have to take control of their own destiny. Playing hard & with a passion is not something I've seen on a consistent basis for quite some time in the Long Center & especially on the road. What was once a very promising year at the outset has certainly taken a nose dive...time for corrective action may have already passed. I'm starting to feel like the Royals are getting me prepared for how my Orioles will be playing again this year. No sooner does the season begin & talk turns to "wait till next year"!

Pat Coleman · January 28, 2008, 05:12:29 PM

Quote from: Matt Letourneau on January 28, 2008, 12:35:00 PM
What do you mean bully?

Physical play? Call them mean names?

I believe lunch money was taken and a pantsing was involved ...

suhoopster · January 28, 2008, 06:26:02 PM

Matt,

That is one of the best freshman classes I have seen in a while. I wouldnt be suprised if they have some special seasons ahead of them.

cold_case · January 28, 2008, 07:31:20 PM

Quote from: saratoga on January 28, 2008, 04:57:14 PMI'm starting to feel like the Royals are getting me prepared for how my Orioles will be playing again this year. No sooner does the season begin & talk turns to "wait till next year"!

You know things are going bad when we're looking forward to Orioles baseball.

I do yearn for the days of Paul Blair roaming CF again.

NEPAFAN · January 28, 2008, 07:42:28 PM

Quote from: saratoga on January 28, 2008, 04:57:14 PM
CC: Something is certainly wrong with the Royals highly inconsistent play...hard to say exactly what it is. Every team every year faces some type of adversity due to health & injury issues...some are just tougher & more resilient than others. I saw this team play without Randy Arnold against Catholic & they played so well I think they could have knocked off Rochester that day & then the next week they can't even control the tempo against Drew with everyone back. Coaches can only push so many buttons...at some point talented kids have to take control of their own destiny. Playing hard & with a passion is not something I've seen on a consistent basis for quite some time in the Long Center & especially on the road. What was once a very promising year at the outset has certainly taken a nose dive...time for corrective action may have already passed. I'm starting to feel like the Royals are getting me prepared for how my Orioles will be playing again this year. No sooner does the season begin & talk turns to "wait till next year"!

Great points. Royals have looked great in knocking off Walsh, Ramapo and Albright, only to get smoked by Moravian, Juniata, USMMA. Does this inconsistency stem from the coaches not preparing the kids or a lack of effort and passion? I really don't know the answer. This upcoming weekend should be interesting, if the Royals lose both games the playoffs might pass them by this year.

As far as wait till next year, can we clone Tom Bicknell?

Pat Coleman · January 28, 2008, 08:03:03 PM

Quote from: cold_case on January 28, 2008, 07:31:20 PM
I do yearn for the days of Paul Blair roaming CF again.

I doubt he has much range at this point.

suhoopster · January 29, 2008, 10:28:37 AM

Kevin Cuffe was named player of the week scoring 28 and 14 points over the weekend. Robinson added 16 and 25 points. Both averaged 7 rebs as well.

saratoga · January 29, 2008, 10:34:27 PM

Pat: Should the O's & Seattle not pull the Bedard trade off & Baltimore does not get a healthy Adam Jones...they may consider resigning Paul Blair because even at 63 he'll still get a better jump on the ball than Jay "Which Way" Payton. Whatever happened to Oriole Magic & Purple Pride?

suhoopster · January 31, 2008, 11:29:44 AM

Patrick asked for some SU fans and gets one. Now all I hear you talk about is Baltimore baseball. I'm going back to the other D3 message board where our conference gets some more respect.

saratoga · January 31, 2008, 01:09:40 PM

SUHoopster: Susquehanna certainly has my respect...they've won their conference games, both at home & on the road. Talking about Oriole baseball is just a temporary release for Scranton fans like me during what used to be a pretty exciting time of year.

NEPAFAN · January 31, 2008, 01:25:40 PM

Quote from: saratoga on January 31, 2008, 01:09:40 PM
SUHoopster: Susquehanna certainly has my respect...they've won their conference games, both at home & on the road. Talking about Oriole baseball is just a temporary release for Scranton fans like me during what used to be a pretty exciting time of year.

Step away from the edge Saratoga!

Pat Coleman · January 31, 2008, 01:38:02 PM

Quote from: suhoopster on January 31, 2008, 11:29:44 AM
Patrick asked for some SU fans and gets one. Now all I hear you talk about is Baltimore baseball. I'm going back to the other D3 message board where our conference gets some more respect.

Feel free to actually talk and join the conversation.

Other D-III message board -- now that's funny.