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Messages - rollingthunda

#1
Quote from: Matt Letourneau on November 19, 2006, 02:25:21 AM
If its any consolation to you MAC guys, the CAC is very strong this year.

I know I personally could give a hot stinky fart how your teams do over in the CAC in relativity to the MAC, especially after the first weekend.

After watching the weekend of games in Etown this weekend, I was pleased to see a talented, and what I believe will be an underrated Etown team.  They blew a terrible Penn State Harrisburg team out of the water Friday night and help their own all game Saturday against #5 Ohio Northern before succoming to a late run and ultimately losing by 16.  Etown has a solid core of players that have varsity experience.  They are also missing starter Chad Piersol at the moment and Billy Orr saw limited minutes, I believe because he is still trying to get back from injury.  When those 2 get to full strength and are back in the rotation, I think Etown could cause many of the Commonwealth teams a lot of problems.

One last positive that I saw was Etown playing 2 very talented freshmen major minutes, which usually is not the norm for that program.  Church is the real deal and will only get better as he gets tougher and more comfortable with the system.

How can SusQ have a guy drop 50 and not have anyone on here letting us know about it?
#2
Etown finally released the season preview:

http://www2.etown.edu/sports/mbasket/preview.asp

I didn't realize it but nationally 5th ranked Ohio Northern is participating in the tip-off tourney this weekend in Etown, along with a DeSales team that plays hard anually, and Penn State-Harrisburg.  It should be a good 2 game test to start the season for the Blue Jays.

Grove and chooch, thanks for the info on the conference change.
#3
Pre-season Coaches Poll has been released:

Commonwealth Conference Pre-season Men's Basketball Poll
1. Widener...........56 pts. (7)
2. Lebanon Valley....44 pts. (1)
3. Albright..........41 pts.
4. Messiah...........39 pts.
5. Elizabethtown.....32 pts.
6. Susquehanna.......31 pts.
7. Juniata...........23 pts.
8. Moravian..........22 pts.

Hopefully this board picks up once the games start.  What year are teams going to start defecting from the conference?  Word is Etown got an invitation to the Landmark Conference, but that offer got pulled, leaving the people at Etown a bit upset.  Can anyone offer any insight into this situation?
#4
Time for another season of D3 basketball.  Per usual, this room hasnt been too active.  Unfortunately Etown has not yet put out a season preview but from my talks with the players, they have a pretty positive outlook on the season.  We did lose 3 key contributors from last years unexpected run into the Commonwealth playoffs however, they do have some very talented players returning.  Those expected to make major contributions will be Brian Goodwin, Luke Ledyard, Greg Brizek.  Also Chad Piersol and Mike Schatzmann look to build on their solid seasons from a year ago.  Piersol suffered a pretty ugly injury in the preason and may miss some time but that should allow some of the reserves to see valuable early season PT.  Others to look out for are Bryce Rodgers who should see a substantial role increase and needs to be effective down low, Kris Kieres and Rob Fusaro who both give Etown a legitimate outside threat.  This crew is hungry to make its own name after a 2 year absence from the Conference Championship game.  Get after it fellas!!!

I will be making the trek up to Etown this weekend to see their tip-off tourney.

Any news from around the conference?
#5
Quote from: Pat Coleman on March 08, 2006, 05:43:37 PM
Quote from: rollingthunda on March 08, 2006, 04:40:21 PM
I still attend games post-graduation.  I maybe the exception to the rule though.

Depends. Were you a drunken idiot who crossed the line? :)

Maybe not quite the terminoloy I would use for myself, but I went to games inebriated and yelled my fair share of off-color comments.

Andre,

Feel free to keep breaking out the "balls" comments.  I had a good 20 minute laugh off that post.  I see no problem with any of those comments appearing on a sign at a game.  If security or Administration feels its inappropriate, they will deal with the situation as they deam necessary.
#6
Quote from: mwgoonie on March 08, 2006, 03:25:50 PM
Quote from: mwgoonie on February 22, 2006, 12:47:57 PM
As a fan, and i attend many games and often engage in heckling, there a few rules to abide by. These rules are just plan moral common sense and keeps cheering for your team and heckling within the competitive arena:

1. No racial/sexual/disability jabs
2. After the game, leave the refs alone.
3. Fans can cheer for their team, against/for refs, and against/for other teams, fans should not be threatening to fight opposing team's fans, etc. Just not classy.
4. Opposing fans, after the game, leave the game on the court/in the stands. Many times after games with heated cheering, I've ending talking with the opposing team's fans and talking about good/funny cheers for either side.
5. For current students, if you're going to arrive with a measurable BAC, try to kep in perspective that your cheering may be offensive/go over the line with some fans (especially with children, etc) in the crowd.

Anyways, just some things I've pick up going to CAC, NCAA tourney, out-of conference games. Feel free to add or discuss.




just thought i'd quote myself. All serious fans of the CAC/D3 get into the games, and sometimes get too wrapped up in the game. Rarely, do serious fans go over these bounds. Its 100% of the time the line is crossed is by drunken idiots who probably won't attend d3 games after they graduate (if they do graduate).

I still attend games post-graduation.  I maybe the exception to the rule though.
#7
Just my two cents on "the sign" issue.  I'm not condoning it by any means, but heckling is a part of the game.  I'm sure J.J. Reddick has gotten blasted a lot worse than the hearing sign.  You can throw out the rule book when it comes to student sections heckling players.  Anything and everything goes, from comments about players mothers and sisters to signs about their disabilities.  The more off color the comment, the funnier the kids think it is.  Is it right?  Probably not, but thats not going to stop it.  Again, I'm not saying its right, but as a player, you have to expect that kind of thing from a student section.  I personally wouldn't classify it as malicious as much as I would the kids trying anything they can to get in a players head and at the same time draw a laugh from their peers.  Kids are going to be kids.

I know at Etown you are required to complete 4 PE classes and each class is worth one credit, so from the sounds of it, it depends on the schools curriculum whether or not students must take PE classes as well as if those classes count as credits.  I also know that as a basketball player at Etown they don't restrict which PE classes you take, so the players ususally do take the basketball class.
#8
I'm a poster from the Commonwealth and saw Widener's win against Etown in the playoffs.  I also only have knowledge of Catholic from reading what everyone else has posted on here.  That being said, Widener has 4 very tough players that play pretty much the entire game.  From what you guys have posted about Catholic liking to run an uptempo game, I would say Catholic takes this game if they can dictate an uptempo game.  From the game I saw, Clarkson was tugging his shorts early in the second half and appeared fatigued (although that didn't stop him from throwin down a few monster dunks in the second half).  I have said from the beginning of the year, that playing uptempo and being very physical with Clarkson are the keys to beating Widener.  It certainly sounds like CUA has the tools to do this.  Don't count Widener out though.  If they can slow it down they are pretty good in the half court.  Whoever dictates the pace of the game will come away with the W in this game.
#9
I saw a very good Widener basketball team last night.  They are by no means a one-man-band.  Clarkson has progressed lightyears as a player from last year, and Thomas and Ford are both very good players.  Combine that with the quickness and handle of Blakely and they are going to be tough to beat.  Etown, and Widener for that matter, both could not have turned in much better performances last night.  It was a very good game to watch.  Etown had their chances to win.  I thought the 3 in the corner from Adams was definitely in, but a few bounces and calls went Wideners way at the end.  I'd have to say Widener held the edge with the officials, but I am no way blaming the game on them.  Etown had their chances to win and just couldnt get some of the shots to go down when they needed them to.  Etown has no reason to hang their heads after that game.  They played their hearts out.  Congradulatoins to Etown, and most notably the seniors, for a spectacular year.  As I told most of them after the game, no one except the guys in their own lockerroom expected this kind of year out of them.

I also agree with hoopsdafin's earlier assesment in the year that Widener could be a much better team if they played a more uptempo game.  Those kids are lighting quick and would be a nightmare fastbreak team.  I don't think they are in the condition to do it though.  Clarkson can play 40 minutes with the style they play now, but he was tugging at his shorts very early in the second half last night.  I'm assuming that is probably why they chose not to play the running game.  I'll take Widener by 8 in the final on Saturday.  Good luck to both teams.
#10
All Conference Teams were released:

First Team:

Kris Clarson, Widener
Trevor Deeter, Albright
Zach Wiernicki, Messiah
Jimmy Curran, LVC
Matt Effler, SusQ
Jared Yoder, Messiah

Second Team:

Malcom Thomas, Widener
Matt Kieselowsky, Albright
Tommy McConnell, Juniata
Essien Ford, Widener
Brian Schrieber, Etown

Player of the Year: Kristian Clarkson, Widener

Rookie of the Year: Kyle Enoch, Lebanon Valley

Coach of the Year: Dave Duda, Widener

Congrats to all, especially coach Duda for elevating Widener to a level above the rest of the league during the regular season.  Was disappointed to not see Greg Adams on either list.  Much deserving.

thereiis:

Just wanted to clarify that I said I like there chances, not necessarily that they would indeed pull it off.  Its gonna be a tough road no matter what.  Good luck those teams in playoffs except Widener, Albright, and Messiah!!!
#11
Etown lost yesterday, but got some help from SusQ who also last, so the Jays back into the playoffs.  So first round looks like:

Etown @ Widener  -8
Albright @ Messiah  -3

I will be in Chester on Wed to see the upset.  Thinkin about sittin in the Widener student section with a big Etown poster and all my Etown apparell on.  In all seriousness though, I like Etowns chances of taking it all as a 4 seed.  They won the conference as a 1 seed in '02, a 2 seed in '03, and a 3 seed in '04, so it would be nice to see them get one as a 4 seed.  They have proven they can beat the other 3 teams, having split with them all in the regular season.  Should be an exciting week.
#12
So I was checkin out the tie-breakers today, and there are a ton of possibilities how 2 through 4 could play out.  SusQ is only in if they win and Etown loses.  Messiah, Albright, and Etown could all finish as any of the 2, 3, and 4 seeds.  If Messiah and Albright both lose and Etown wins, all three teams would be tied and Etown owns both tie-breakers so they would move all the way to 2nd.  If Messiah loses and Albright and Etown both win, Messiah falls all the way to 4th.  It will be interesting to see how Saturday plays out.  Messiah could be in trouble with a loss at Widener this weekend.
#13
Just to clear up any misguided notions that I have serious issue with Coach Duda or the Widener program...I do not.  My bias against Widener only stems from being an Etown fan and Widener always being amoungst the stiffest competition.  Like I said before, I was simply curious as to how a former player viewed Coach Duda, because I had my own opinions that were formed just from seeing him coach.  Hope that is cleared up.  And yes, I am an Etown alum.

thereiis:

I'm not sure that it is a lock yet that Etown will play at Widener in the first round.  I think there is a possibility that SusQ could sneak into that last spot if they beat LVC this weekend and Etown loses at Moravian depending on what the tie-breaker is.  Should Etown win this Saturday, I will most likely be in Chester on Wednesday for the playoff game, although unfortunately not wasted because I'll be coming from work.
#14
Quote from: Coach C on February 15, 2006, 02:54:04 PM
rt -

Duda flat out recruits. You can't fault him there. And look at his records. He wins lots of games.

What is your problem with the guy?

C


I don't have a problem with him.  If you look back on my posts, the only negative thing I have said about him is that in recent years he has underacheived with the level of talent that has been there.  Its quite obvious that he knows how to get very athletic players to commit to Widener.  I was just curious to hear what a former player thought.  From being around Etown, I knew Casey Stitzel and I know he was not happy at Widener during his time there.  My last post was out of curiosity to see what someone that had been involved in the program had to say.  I don't see how that correlates to me having a problem with him.
#15
thereiis:

Having played for Duda I'd be curious to hear your take on him as a coach and a recruiter.

And my point was more about talking ish on here.  You guys were making Etown sound like a junior high team before that game.  I was just saying since then, the Widener posters have refined there postings to comments about Widener.

Times must have changed at Widener.  Are you saying they draw bigger crowds now?  Everytime I was there for an Etown game, I'm pretty sure Etown had more fans than Widener did.  The Pioneers will definitely be a tough team to beat given how well they have been playing and especially having home court through the playoffs.  However, given the recent history of the matchup vs. Etown, my guess is that Duda and the rest of the gang would probably like to see someone else walk into their gym come playoff time.  Your prayers may get answered in the first round though.