WBB: Landmark Conference

[bill]

Hmm...I think so - but I'm not there today!

I do know Scranton/Montclair is the 5, FDU/BW the 7:00. Saturday's game 7:00 also.

In the last round, the teams stayed at the Wyndham Hamilton Park - it's on campus!  Officials and NCAA reps stayed at Madison Hotel, about 500 yards from campus.

If I see more, I'll post it!

[sp0rtsfan]

I hate to project here as we know it's not "tournament protocol" to talk about any game other than the next one. ....However, now that there was mention of Scranton's 50 - 0 record against FDU....(Bill, I know you have a good sense of humor),  is that  just a "hex aka jinx" (ha !)  and locker room wall material for the Lady Devils ?  It's like mentioning a no hitter while still in progress ? ...Then again, both teams, Devils & Royals, need a big win before they ever get to play each other.. ...

Perhaps a little drama if MSU ends up playing the Devils with Brown facing off against her prior team ?

Love the hype....Let the real fun begin and enjoy the ride !

Best of luck to all the teams & a sincere congrats for getting to the Sweet 16....     

[bill]

Ha! - The "anti-jinx", maybe??

I actually put that record up because of respect for the Scranton program. Granted, they come from a very different background/level than FDU, but you think FDU might have snuck a win in there somewhere

FDU is still making its bones in this whole thing...and to keep the mafia reference going, Scranton is already made! 

[sp0rtsfan]

By the way, if anyone really likes hot wings, Poor Herbies,  in the center of Madison, gets my vote.....However, for an extra wide selection of "beverages" (& good food), 54 gets in done.. ..

[saratoga]

Ronk:
I'm sure 54 Main has been used in some form or fashion as all three at some point....
however, if you're just looking for some really good food with a wide variety of beverages, you won't be disappointed.
Five minutes from Drew, perhaps 10 to FDU.
Augie will be greeting Scranton fans at the door!

[gordonmann]

Losing in the NCAA tournament is never fun, but Scranton has a bright future, again. Sarah Payonk has the skill set to be an All-American. She's a tall, athletic player who is comfortable in space and can score around the rim. Alexix Roman is already a good low post threat and will get better. And Meredith Mesaris is a workhorse around the rim. If you're a Scranton fan -- and there were a lot of them in Madison tonight -- you should be very bullish about this team. Watching Payonk and Roman develop should be fun.

Ronk, thanks for stopping by tonight. Good to see you.

[ronk]

Losing in the NCAA tournament is never fun, but Scranton has a bright future, again. Sarah Payonk has the skill set to be an All-American. She's a tall, athletic player who is comfortable in space and can score around the rim. Alexix Roman is already a good low post threat and will get better. And Meredith Mesaris is a workhorse around the rim. If you're a Scranton fan -- and there were a lot of them in Madison tonight -- you should be very bullish about this team. Watching Payonk and Roman develop should be fun.

Ronk, thanks for stopping by tonight. Good to see you.

Gordon,
       enjoyed our too-brief discussion, but forgot to thank you in person for your D3 historical work that was recently displayed. Thanks also for your gracious(and accurate) words about Scranton's front court players; I'm looking forward to the next 3 years of the Payonk-Roman combo.
  Sara has been a joy to watch this year with double-doubles in each of the Montclair games(1st and last games of the season) and making all of her teammates better with her effort, instinct, and aggressiveness(driving on Melissa Tobie, for example, trying to draw a foul), in between. I had seen her play maybe 7 games 2 summers ago(AAU and high school tourneys) but was not prepared for her effect on a game going into this season.
  Rachel Krauss(Montclair) was another that I saw that summer, hoping to interest in the Lady Royals, so it was tough watching her burn us with 14 points on 4-7 3-pt shooting.
  Only watched 1st half of FDU-Baldwin-Wallace game and thought B-W had turned the corner and would impose their game on an untested FDU in the 2nd half-wasn't prepared for the press that turned things around(or the blitz in the Montclair 2nd half tonight).
   Best wishes to FDU next weekend! 

[ronk]

 Lady Royals let Montclair get off to too big a lead with disparities of -12 in turnovers, -5 on offensive rebounds and 14 points from reserve 3-pt shooter Rachael Krauss being too much to overcome. With Montclair on a 10-2 run to increase their halftime lead to 48-30, Coach Strong called a timeout with 17:11 left to change the tide; I'm very roughly paraphrasing here but, in general, he said it was not about strategy now, but intensity and effort and there was much improvement from that point on(despite occasional lapses of open 3-pt shots), closing to a possible 3-pt play by Sara Payonk down 6 with 8 secs remaining; however, the shot didn't fall and there wasn't a foul drawn, ending a very successful season.
  Sightings in the largely Scranton crowd: recent assistant coach Steph Witko, former players Kelly Lewandowski and Courtney Roselle, and possibly, Megan Kopecki's dad.
   The future looks bright for the Lady Royals, in general, and it's a joy to watch the play of Sara, in particular. 

[sp0rtsfan]

I thought the score was closer than the actual game. As mentioned by Ronk, the TO's took an early toll on the Royals. It's incredible that Scranton shot 59% from the field and 63% from beyond the arc and still lost this game. The Lady Royals should be commended for showing a lot of heart in the closing minutes. They were on the verge of getting blown out but kept at it and never gave up. No matter how sad, I think they certainly left the court with dignity and respect,  from their own fans, and those of MSU.

It brings to mind that the Royals men's team shot the ball equally well and lost too.....

[ronk]

Congrats to Meredith Mesaris on her 1st team all-regional selection and best wishes to the Lady Royals' seniors:
   Alison - 4th all-time in made 3-pt FGs; 1st team all-conference as a soph; enjoyed discussions with your dad over the years
   Katie Sherry - you were a big factor in a number of games this year
   Katie Cunningham - what might have been; glad you experienced  the late-season action

[gordonmann]

We don't post off season columns too often, but we wanted to recognize Scranton Coach Mike Strong on his retirement.

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2014/09/finishing-strong-at-scranton

[ronk]

We don't post off season columns too often, but we wanted to recognize Scranton Coach Mike Strong on his retirement.

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2014/09/finishing-strong-at-scranton

Gordon,
  Very nice presentation on your part, made even better by the anecdotes. We're going to miss the "young" man(he graduated 1 year after me), but his effect on the program will continue. Thanks!

[amh63]

ronk....your last post here confirms your affiliation to the U. of Scranton.  The past several years as I journey up to central NY state and past Scranton....I wonder about the connection aspect...truly...a little strange but true.  Understand better about your info posted on the CAC WBB board....keep them coming.  Fellow WBB fan.

[ronk]

amh63,
   Your nescac board is the 1 non-Mid-Atlantic board that I view because of the analysis and opinions of its contributors and because the road to the final 4 usually goes through 1 or more of its members, both men and women. I contribute when relevant(and sometimes otherwise). I'm especially in tune with you both in time(age) and space(DC suburbs). Looking forward to the coming season - we'll be STRONG in both genders.

[mailsy]

I see that Cabrini's Coach Kate Pearson is being inducted into the Scranton Wall of Fame! Congrats Kate!

http://www.cabriniathletics.com/news/2014/12/9/WBB_1209144306.aspx?path=wbball