MBB: Skyline Conference

[raptor31]

Coming out 0-2 obviously not what Bard wanted but I am more optimistic about this unit than I have ever been. Coming out 0-2 there isn't a sense of panic within the program. All of the guys know they need to get back to work in practice this week and keep getting better every day. This might not seem like a big deal but a lot of teams fall apart when they open 0-2 and never recover. Expect the best from this group in February.

Either game this weekend could have gone either way, Justin White missed a front end with little time left that could have beaten Centenary and in the Plymouth game they just got outplayed in the final 2. For a young team winning these close games is all about experience and getting guys used to making plays down the stretch. James Martin and Chris Margella are both in primary roles and weren't called on as freshmen to make these plays. It will take a little period of time for these guys to adjust to making the plays Washington and Arocho did last year.

On a big time positive noted, even with White having a terrible game Bard managed to be in position to win with big time games by David Polette (who people better take notice of because he will have a big time shooting year), Margella and freshman Yonah Greenstein. They combined to shoot 12-19 from 3. With those types of shooters around White and Martin you can count on this to be another fun Raptor team to watch play. Let's go get them next weekend in D'Youville!

[raptor31]

And... height doesn't matter in D3, especially amongst guards. You can put a 6'3 kid on White or Martin, they are simply to physical and athletic for it to matter.  I will also take them as the best rebounding backcourt in the Skyline. If you want to talk about height as a detractor you should talk about the frontcourts. Fortunately, Bard has 3 guys over 6'5 this year so it should be a little better situation than the past but frontcourt defense and rebounding are still big question marks. Like everything else with this young team, development of the frontcourt will make or break exactly how far this team can go.

[d3hero]

best rebounding backcourt in the skyline?

i don't think so, boss.  I would say that MSM, MSV, Farmingdale, Old West, St. Joe's & Purchase all have better rebounding backcourts.

[zonescantstopme]

why is everyone trying to make BARD sound better then they are, they have small guards point blank period and size does matter on any level.  i graduated in 2007 and was and scored 1167 career points i honestly believe i would have had close to 1400 if i didnt have to play against 6'3 to 6'6 wingmen that altered my shot.  how can you be more physical with someone who really doesnt have to guard you just play off of you and use their length to alter a shot.

I loved playing smaller guards when i played because i knew i had an advantage, and the only smaller guard that i can honestly say got the best of me was Mike Hoyt.

[Raptormania!]

"how can you be more physical with someone who really doesnt have to guard you just play off of you and use their length to alter a shot."

You've heard of quickness, right? Just curious.

In a related note- why don't the tallest guards always become the best guards? Seek the answer deep within yourself, and you'll find the answer.

[d3hero]

"why is everyone trying to make BARD sound better then they are, they have small guards point blank period and size does matter on any level."

-Gotta love this!

[zonescantstopme]

big guards arent the best, kobe, lebron, jordan all 6'6 and above and play guard.  granted the bigger guards at the DIII level arent as talented but ask any coach they will tell you that you cant Teach height!!  and i believe any coach in the skyline will take a 6'4 wing over a slightly quicker 6'0 wing in a heartbeat.

[d3hero]

97-44 Purchase over Pratt.

[Raptormania!]

"big guards arent the best, kobe, lebron, jordan all 6'6 and above and play guard.  granted the bigger guards at the DIII level arent as talented but ask any coach they will tell you that you cant Teach height!!  and i believe any coach in the skyline will take a 6'4 wing over a slightly quicker 6'0 wing in a heartbeat."

This is true. Justin White isn't as good as LeBron James. You got me.

I assume you'd also trade Chris Paul (6'0", 175) for Mardy Collins (6'6", 220).  And Tony Parker (6'2", 180) for Rodney Stuckey (6'5", 205).

Justin White gets to the basket, and scores, against anyone I've seen guard him. Taller, shorter, double-teams-doesn't matter. Go ahead, put a guy on him who is a few inches taller and assume you will lock him down. Good luck with that.

And godspeed to Chris Paul, who could have had a decent NBA career, if only he were taller.

[Raptormania!]

I remember Pratt-ah, the old Hudson Valley Men's Athletic Conference!

I'm more interested in Purchase's work in the New Paltz tourney- what are the pairings for that, anyway?

[d3hero]

Purchase v. New Paltz
York v. Hartwick

My predictions?

Purchase over New Paltz
York over Hartwick

Purchase over York
New Paltz over Hartwick

[zonescantstopme]

justin white is also 0-2

[BklynBasketball]

"justin white is also 0-2"

Cmon, thats unfair. To discuss your opinions about games and players is cool but to say a student athlete is 0 and 2 in a team sport is wrong. Give Justin White credit he is a very good player in a good conference. His team is 0 and 2, however will definitely contend for a spot in the playoffs this year. Be fair, singling a kid out like that isnt.

[Raptormania!]

It makes sense- when his point got blown out of the water, he switched metrics. He's the same guy who claimed Centenary would dominate Bard, then claimed credit when Centenary won, 81-80.

I've had the pleasure of seeing Justin White develop as a player for two years, and am even more excited to see him continue to develop for the next two years.

Incidentally, I hope Purchase is developing, because A) it's good for both the program and the Skyline as a whole, and B) the same as usual Purchase team would get stomped by this edition of the Raptors.

And I also miss St. Joe's of Brooklyn as a rival- I wonder if they can get to the Skyline Conference soon. I hope so, and wish that team well. Their gym is one of my favorite road gyms.

[raptor31]

First of all, to my guy who scored 1,100 something points. I'm sorry your height gave you a disadvantage but my guy J White's doesn't. He will pass your 1,100 up this season and by the end of his career he will surpass the 1,500 mark so if you are saying with height he could have scored 2,000 you might be right. But on the same note with a little more height he would not be playing on this level, he would be a big time guard at a high level.
Does height give certain guys an advantage, sure! But you also can't take away from the guys who dominate taller player because of their physicality and athleticism. I can go through a list that will last all day if you want me to name smaller guards that play bigger for this exact reason. One of the toughest guys I ever played against was a kid Anthony Fitzgerald at Villa Julie. He was about 6'2 and ended up as an All-American big guy who avg close to 15 reb per game and scored over 1,500 pts. I don't care if you put a 6'8 kid on him it just didn't matter.
To my guy who stated that Justin White is 0-2 you have no idea what basketball is all about. Unfortunately, players don't get wins and losses by themselves. Bard could have easily been 1-1 out of this weekend if a couple things went differently, they didn't but for a young team this isn't necessarily a bad thing. I am sure a lot of the other younger teams in the Skyline will have the same growing process.
And d3 hero, you haven't seen the Bard backcourt rebound chief!