WBB: Landmark Conference

[ronk]

Yes, disappointing that it wasn't a competitive game like the one only 2 weeks ago. Still have a chance for NCAA since there r 3 more Pool C berths available than on the men's side.

[augie]

First off i want to thank Megan and the seniors.Now it is time for me to rant. First off if you want to make the tournament you have to take care of business coaches etc.When you play a team three times like last year and make no adjustments do not expect to get to the tournament you can play the toughest schedule what good is it if you make no adjustments.When you say in a interview that i am playing man to man and i do not fall for gimmicks that means you do not want to coach. Instead of switching up the defense!Second and final maybe he can get out and recruit early like a point guard maybe a a true center and a power forward you are not going to win a championship just recruiting guards it will never happen.Good luck to the seniors in the future and thanks again!!!!

[saratoga]

Augie: I agree, all the very best to the seniors who deserved a heck of alot more than this uncharacteristic fall from grace. This is the same team that went to the NCAA's last year...one would have thought a year older & a year wiser would have helped everyone...especially the coaching staff.
The days of putting the best 5 on the floor & having the other team roll over are long gone. There are way too many bright, young & energetic coaches out there that will eat you alive when you fail to make adjustments to neutralize  their strenghs or find ways to continue to exploit your assets.
The Lady Royals certainly had enough natural talent to be in the dance, and it still comes down to the coaches being able to develop the roadmap to get them there.
Not having a set starting 5 or your substitution patterns established after 23 games is not a plan for post-season success, it's more like this current... recipe for disaster.

[kate]

Not sure if any Moravian posters are on this site, but if they are, BEST luck to the Moravian Lady Hounds as they take on Waynesburg University on Wednesday night at 7 pm in an ECAC South game!

[ronk]

Kate,
There's never been a Greyhound sighting.

[Hoopla]

First and foremost let me say that I have no affiliation with Scranton or their coaching staff.  However, I cannot believe that you would blame the coaching staff after a 19-win season.  Mike Strong has proven time and time again that he is an outstanding coach.  Just because you do not make the NCAA Tournament does not mean that the season was not a success.  I know many coaches who would love to have won 19 games this season.  As a former women's basketball coach I can tell you that sometimes things just don't click.  Sometimes the chemistry isn't great.  Sometimes you just don't have that one extra player to get you over the top.  And sometimes players just don't make plays when they need to.  I saw the Lady Royals play this season and they just seemed to lack something.  That happens in sports.  Understand, not making the NCAA Tournament is unusual for Scranton's women, but for many programs making the NCAA field is unusual.  Remember, Duke had an aweful year not too long ago.  Based on your comments North Carolina should have gotten rid of Roy Williams and Duke should have definitely let Coach K go.  Both had down years with those programs.  Just realize that 19 wins is a very good season.  Maybe not NCAA worthy, but still very good.  I am sure that the Scranton coaching staff will work hard to try and make the team better next season. 

[augie]

Hoopla:I understand your thoughts on Coach Strong(Did he win a lot of games yes!)Did he go to the NCAA numerous times yes!Did he go to 9 final fours and win a national title yes!)but he did not do it only he had some great players.My gripe is: lets take last year against Moravian at home lose by 10 @Moravian by 17 and the Championship game by 17.Now lets fast forward to this year against Juniata at home up 11 lose by 14 @Juniata lose by 1 in OT and the Championship game lose by 18.In my mind and what i saw it was the same thing no adjustments and to win you have to make adjustments to the game to give your team a chance to win.My final thought is this he has some great players on that bench like Saratoga said when a freshmen lights it up for 31,25,18,14 etc in 20 minutes a game i think you should use her a lot more.

[Hoopla]

Augie, I think that you missed my point.  The fact of the matter is that none of us have any idea why things played out the way they did.  Was it a chemistry issue?  Were there discipline issues?  Were the players limited in the things that they could do?  Without being at practice every day and being inside the coaches office there is no real way to tell why things played out the way they did.  Sometimes teams just don't match up well against a particular opponent.  It happens on every level and coaches feel helpless in those situations.  No matter what they try against that particular team, nothing seems to work.  All I am saying is that to blame the coaching staff is a bit unfair since we don't know all of the particulars. 

[augie]

Hoopla:When the coach comes on the radio pre taped before the Championship game and says these words and quote me on this please we will play man to man because at this time in the season i do not fall for gimmicks does that sound like a coach that is throwing in the towel! Sailing into the sunset

[Hoopla]

Don't read too much into what is said in a pre-game interview.  During the two games that Scranton and Juniata played during the regular season the Lady Royals were out-rebounded in both games.  I have a feeling that Coach Strong did not like the way his team played zone defense.  I also think that he was probably fearful that if they did play zone, or a gimmick such as a box-and-one or triangle-and-two, that they would get pounded on the glass.  As I said before there are a lot of variables that go into putting together a game plan. 

[Brookland]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but this sounds like someone is implying that man-to-man is "real" defense and anything else, like the various types of zone defenses, box-and-one, triangle-and-two, etc. are all "gimmicks." I'm wondering how many serious basketball people would agree with that, vs. how many would say those are all ways to maximize the effectiveness of your team defense based on player capabilities and opponents' schemes. I tend towards the latter point of view. I remember an article years ago from the coach at GW university in DC saying that he didn't believe in "hands up and hope they miss" defense (I love that characterization of a simple zone!), which he went on to say meant he liked to mix different types of zones, man-to-man, different help schemes, etc., NOT that anything but man was a gimmick.
Again, I'm not picking any fights here, just asking a basketball question. Any other points of view?

[ronk]

Brookland,
  I'm with u- anything that has the best chance of succeeding whether it's box and one, triangle and 2, switching man to man. u want to stop them from what they do best and make them do something they're not as comfortable with. Don't let the stars beat u- make it b someone who's not used to doing it.

[Hoopla]

Brookland,

You absolutely made my point!  You play whatever you can to maximize your team's abilities.  Having been a coach, I know that I have had teams that just were not good zone defensive teams.  There could be many reasons why that is the case, such as bad foot speed, lack of height, etc.  Coaches have to make that evaluation in practice. 

[kate]

Hello Ronk!  I see that it's official, The Delaware Valley College Lady Aggies play the Lady Royals of Scranton University at the tip-off Tourney of Gwynedd-Mercy College on Friday evening starting at 6 pm.   Friday night traffic down there in Montgomery County is wild, so we (oldies that we are) can only make the Saturday games.  Still looking forward to seeing U of S play.    It's been quite awhile since our two teams have met, so it should be interesting.  Maybe we'll catch up with you on that Sat.  Really looking forward to the start of this season!!

[ronk]

 Hi, Kate!
  There's a good chance I'll be there since I have a sister in Feasterville with whom I could stay overnite.
I couldn't find new scheds 4 scranton, dv, or g-m; so what makes it official and who's the 4th team?