Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - ljk

#1
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
February 21, 2011, 03:41:14 PM
I picked 6 for my first team Freedom Conference.  Jones, Beckett, Johnson, Eichorst, Conroy, and Hunter.  POY=Jones.  ROY=Hammonds.  COY=Coval over Stitzel in tight one.
#2
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
December 14, 2009, 10:22:31 AM
...and Januzzi ain't walking through that door!
#3
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
December 14, 2009, 10:15:43 AM
bballguru, nice breakdown on Wilkes. It is indeed very frustrating to watch the Colonels play.  You see more offense run in a pickup game at the local Y when complete strangers play and run the basic sets.  Pick and roll, give and go, cuts to the basket, quick ball rotation , etc.  Not at a Wilkes game.  The so called motion offense ends up with the big men holding the ball 25 feet from the basket.  After FDU win, Coach JR mentioned in the newspaper that he had installed a new offense.  I was at the game and didn't see much difference.   They let an undersized FDU team hang around for most of the game.   Game after game the Colonels fail to post up their big men and take advantage of the mismatches that are so evident.   Wilkes does have a nice size talented front line this year. Combine that with the deadly shooting of DeRojas from downtown and the inside outside potential could be hard to stop.  However, it all starts with that entry pass down low which opens up the whole court.  Wilkes reluctance to pound the ball inside as a place to start running the offense is hard to understand.   Like bballguru said, it hurts to watch.
#4
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
December 04, 2009, 12:18:11 PM
You're right Nais., out rebounded, out shot, out hustled and out coached!
#5
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
February 25, 2009, 10:15:49 AM
Wilkes height and free throws did Del Val in, even though it seemed like the Aggies had the game in the bag.   Del Val led by 10 points with about 8 minutes left in the game.  Wilkes went on a 15-2 run and Del Val just went ice cold and could not score.  The Aggies hurried their shots down the stretch and let their lead and the game just get away from them.  Wilkes scored over half of their points from the FT line and out rebounded DV 54-29.  For once, Wilkes hit their fouls, with the game on the line, and the clock winding down.  I think Del Val's young squad might have felt the heat playing in the school's first playoff game in 40 years.  Coach Stitzel rode the officials and whined the whole game.  I believe he should have been T up a few times.  Hats off to him and his squad for the season they put together. I think the experience of play off action will serve the program well down the road.
#6
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
February 22, 2009, 12:03:12 PM
mid and chiz:  I'm with you in sending kudos to Mville Coach Pat Scanlon.  The interesting thing is that the Valiants had a great winning season last year with a fast paced, run and gun, up and down the floor, playground style team.  This year was the complete opposite.  They slowed it down, worked the clock, and looked for the best shot available, and still enjoyed another great season.  A sign of a good Coach adjusting his technique to his personnel.  Great job!
#7
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
February 19, 2009, 02:49:40 PM
Jump and Nais: nice breakdown of game that might not happen.  I like the front line of Wilkes too, but they just don't take advantage of it on a consistent basis.  Wilkes starts every game feeding the post a few times and then just get away from it totally.  How many times do their big men end up with the ball at the top of the key just holding it?   I understand the motion offense, but it doesn't make sense not to use the strengths of your personnel and the matchup problems that they present down low in most games.  If you are going to pound it down low, then continue to do it , even if it takes double or triple entry passes.  Even if you don't get anything from it, it creates double and triple teams and opens up the whole floor for inside/outside game.  DeRojas is the iron man of the league and that accounts for Donatoni"s lack of playing time.   As Nais pointed out, that 2nd guard spot is a problem for Wilkes, with the smaller Donatoni limiting substitution options,  the ineffectiveness of Ruby, and the lack of an outside shot from Gulla.   One question on Wilkes/DelVal, who's guarding Jones?  He went off in both games this year.  Have to go with a zone or some gimmick defense I guess or mix it up during the game to slow down the probable league POY. 
#8
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
February 18, 2009, 03:01:51 PM
Mid:  Mville really holds the ball on offense and lets the clock go all the way down before taking a shot.  They seem to treat every possession like it is for the last shot of the half or the game.  Thats ok, but teams holding it that long, have a tendency to turn the ball over, or rush the shot as the shot clock winds down, and as a result they don't get a good look at the basket.  That might account for the drought on offense that you mentioned.   They really do shorten the game.  When I was scanning their roster, I noticed players from Australia, Ireland, Texas, Fla, DC, etc. Who does their recruiting and how do these players find the school?  They had to replace a lot from last season and they did a great job.
#9
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
February 18, 2009, 10:58:18 AM
Wilkes beat Miseri on the road to finish 10-6 in conference.  Huch and Gabriel came off the bench  and gave the Colonels a big boost.  Freshman Huch has been coming on strong down the stretch.  With long arms and wide shoulders ( a young Phil Jackson), he has become a premier shot blocker in the league.  As he matures and hits the weight room, he has a bright future.  He had 12 pts and 7 rebs in the win.  Gabe had a lot of energy last night and chipped in 11 pts, and 6 rebounds.  It's a great time for contributions from the bench as the Colonels have now won 4 in a row.   It looks like if Eastern loses to King's, Wilkes gets 3rd seed.  If Eastern wins, Wilkes will get 4th seed and a home game.  Del Val at Wilkes would be a real bad matchup for the Colonels. I agree with my fellow posters, Del Val is one dangerous team if they get that last spot.
#10
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
February 17, 2009, 12:20:58 PM
Forgot, Gabriel= good perfomer off the bench, had some good minutes, lack of concentration and turnovers hurt.   Wilkes picked a good time to get hot, winning 3 in a row, as they head out to Misieri tonight for their last conference regular season game.  Would like to see at least one playoff game this year.  I guess Wilkes finishing 4th would do it. Home for play- in game.
#11
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
February 17, 2009, 12:08:48 PM
Here's my take on the Colonels:  Kresge= hard nosed go to guy, tough matchup, would like to see him play inside more, terrific rebounder esp on the offensive end, his outside shot just not there this year, a lot of bricks.  DeRojas= deadeye streaky shooter, knocks them down on the foul line, would like to see more screens set up for him a la Reggie Miller,  doesn't miss when feet are set and square to basket, not as good a shooter driving to the basket and shooting on the run, great ball handler but not a good distributor esp on the break, gets hurt on defensive end, a lot of blow byes.  Kline= great low post presence with variety of moves, good rebounder and passer like a point forward or center, should touch the the ball on every trip,  offense should start here.  Gulla= nice size guard, good rebounder and defender, lack of outside shot hurts, a slasher who has to finish more often.  Hinze and Huch= the future, both made contributions, Huch, one of the leaders in block shots in the conf.,   both will have to step up next year.   Rest of the bench is thin,   Donatoni made some plays, can't play him with DeRo (2 smaller guards).
#12
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
January 27, 2009, 10:53:56 AM
Nice post Naismith.  "Hollywood" is a cool performer.   McPherson has done in King's (twice) and Wilkes (once) so far this season.  He put 33 points on the Colonels at the Marts Center in a terrific display of his game and scored 42 total points in the wins over the Monarchs.  He is fun to watch, and just might carry FDU into the play in game for the last playoff spot,. especially with the way the Colonels are playing.  Wilkes and King's are both on losing streaks as they meet up on Weds at the Marts Center.  Whats up with the Colonels? Lack of chemistry? Dissension? Depth? Two guard spot? Coaching?  Any insight?  Whats your take Naismith?
#13
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
January 26, 2009, 09:49:07 AM
Mac fan:  One glaring omission from your picks is Ryan McPherson from FDU averaging 18.6 a game.  Some good looking rookies include Katz from FDU, Williams and Mayo from DelVal, Zanneo from DeSales and Tucker from Eastern.
#14
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
December 09, 2008, 10:21:39 AM
Eastern hung in there with Wilkes at the Marts Center on Saturday.  It was a close game, right up until the end, when the Colonels went on a run and pulled away at about the 6 minute mark.  The Colonels were once again beasts on the boards and even made their fouls shots in crunch time.  However, too may turnovers kept Easter in the game.  Kline and Kresge registered double doubles and DeRojas continued his torrid shooting.  DeRojas has some stroke and is a long range dead eye and when he is on, it is nothing but net.  Wilkes did get some nice minutes from freshman Kendall Hinze.  It was nice to see some contributions coming from a player other than the Big Three (K,K and DeR).   
#15
Region 4 men's basketball / Re: MAC Freedom League
December 04, 2008, 11:58:18 AM
Wilkes won their conference opener, beating rival King's 80-71.  Wilkes terrific trio, DeRojas, Kresge. and Kline,  continued their fine play,  combining for 61 out of the total team points,  making 19 of the teams 27 FGs.   Kline had nice overall floor game with (19-8-4).  CD was all over the floor and shot lights out, while TK created match up problems for the Monarchs.   Once again, not much production, from the other Colonels.  Gulla had some nice moments but then seemed to disappear.  Wilkes led most of the game, but King's cut the lead to 74-71, with a little over a minute to play in the game.  King's did not score the rest of the way, as CD and SK sealed the deal for the win.   Wilkes bigs out rebounded the young Monarchs and the Colonels had a good night from the foul line.  Next up for Wilkes is Eastern who lost their opener to Manhattanville by the score of 66-36.  (ouch).