MBB: Landmark Conference

[NEPAFAN]

Here is Pat's take on the Scranton bracket. Not sure what Scranton as a surprise means.



The top right bracket

York, N.Y. (21-7) at Rhode Island College (20-8), winner to Amherst (23-4)
MIT (20-8) at Plattsburgh State (22-5); Husson (26-2) vs. Eastern Connecticut (22-6)
Bridgewater State (16-11) at Cabrini (25-1); Richard Stockton (23-4) vs. Bowdoin (19-5)
Morrisville State (19-8) at Brockport State (24-3); Scranton (24-3) vs. Hobart (21-6)

What everyone's all up in arms about: The fact that two of six East teams who qualified for the tournament got to host, while one of eight Mid-Atlantic teams host.

What do we make of this game? Richard Stockton vs. Bowdoin. And the question is who will win, the NJAC, which has lost nine consecutive NCAA Tournament games, or the team which lost in the NESCAC quarterfinals and hasn't played since Feb. 22?

Most likely to disappoint: Brockport State. Without John Ivy, Brockport goes from a Sweet 16 or even an Elite Eight favorite to a team that's just better than ordinary. Ivy was the SUNYAC player of the year after averaging 22.2 points per game.

Surprise: Scranton. Sorry, Rhode Island College, you can't be a surprise if you have advanced to the second round six times in the past seven years.

Going to Salem: Cabrini. Going a little away from the favorite here, I suspect, but I like Walton-Moss over Toomey in the battle of the Aarons..

[Pat Coleman]

The definition of a surprise team is a road team who can get out of the first weekend.

[saratoga]

Actually, I think the definition of a "surprise" team is when/if the Scranton men ever win another first round game.
I think the Royal's are 1 out of 8 during the current tenure. 
A great year went south in a hurry.
Oh well, in a little over 200 days practice will open for a new year.

[Reserved Seat]

High hopes get crushed quickly, and then it's a long wait for another chance.

[sp0rtsfan]

A team hits 65% of their FGs and goes 9 / 13 from downtown and still loses by 10+ ??  O man, I guess it just wasn't meant to be...

[saratoga]

I guess that's why they say, defense wins championships.
This game simply evolved into an intramural scrimmage.

[kate]

As per our Express Times here in Easton this morning, Glen Nanius, star forward for North Warren Regional HS committed to Susquehanna.  Total 2,103 career points.  Selected Susquehanna over Catholic and DeSales.

[saratoga]

Thanks for the update Kate.
Speaking of recruiting...Danzig better have his best year ever in the Electric City this season because his bench is thinner than Kate Moss on a hunger strike.
The team has absolutely nothing waiting in the wings after this next season so it might be time to increase his recruiting budget to cover an area or two beyond Clarks Summit.
Perhaps another star from California or Australia will land on his doorstep & all will be well...especially if they can play at least occasional defense.

[NEPAFAN]

Can't confirm that Hoopsville is sponsoring a hole...


http://www.scranton.edu/development/athletics-fund/carlesimo/index.shtml

[saratoga]

Rumor has it that D Mac is MC'ing the festivities.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Someone call me

[Matt Letourneau]

Very sad story impacting the Catholic University community this weekend.

CUA Community Saddened by Death of Jamie Roberts

Jamie Roberts, a staff member and assistant coach in the Catholic University Athletics Department, was killed Friday in an accident while riding her bike across country in support of cancer research. Roberts was the assistant sports information director and an assistant coach of CUA's women's basketball team for the past three years.

She was travelling in Scott County, Kentucky with a group affiliated with the Ulman Cancer Fund when she and another rider were struck by a truck traveling along U.S. 25 N. The group of five cyclists had stopped while Roberts changed a tire on her bike according to a report by the Georgetown News-Graphic. Roberts was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The other rider sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

CUA Athletic Director Sean Sullivan said Roberts will be remembered for "her caring nature, considerable warmth, subtle sense of humor, and consistent thoughtfulness."

"It came as little surprise to anyone who knew Jamie when she quietly revealed how she had taken up the daunting challenge of riding her bike some 4,400 miles from Baltimore to Portland to contribute to improving the quality of life for others," Sullivan said. "With little fanfare, she took on this remarkable physical and emotional quest because she felt as though others were in need and she could help. She also displayed these selfless qualities each and every day we were fortunate enough to work with her."

Roberts, was a native of Rockville, Md. She graduated in 2011 from St. Mary's College of Maryland where she majored in economics and excelled as a three-sport athlete. She played lacrosse, and was captain of the soccer and basketball teams She was a member of the Capital Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and was named to the All-CAC Second Team for her outstanding contributions on the basketball court.

"Jamie was an incredible mentor to our young women and friend to us all," said Matthew Donohue, CUA's head women's basketball coach. "In typical Jamie fashion, she was spending her summer dedicating herself to assisting others who have been dealt some very challenging life hurdles."

Donohue said Roberts focused on player development and academic monitoring. "She worked with our girls on the court to help them build their fundamental skills, while also working with them off the court to connect them with peer tutors, academic workshops, and the like," he said.

Roberts is survived by her father, Robert; mother, Julia; brother, Will; and sister, Julia. Information about funeral arrangements is not yet available.

In a message to athletic department staff and members of the women's basketball team, the CUA athletic director wrote: "In moments such as these, we find strength in our faith and sense of community. These are two such reasons as to why the CUA community is so special. Jamie Roberts contributed greatly to creating the wonderfully caring campus that we all enjoy daily. She will be deeply missed and will continue to serve as the strongest of reminders as to how we can intentionally choose to lead our lives for the betterment of others."


—30—

More news from CUA

[ronk]

 A sad story, indeed. I've been acquainted with Jamie for a few years from working out at the same health club,  her playing for St. Mary's, coaching for rival CU, and scouting prospects at AAU tourneys; going to miss renewing those with such a lady in the future. My daughter is a tri-athlete and she frequently mentions the hazards of the biking component of her training. My condolences to Jamie's family, Coach Donohue, and the CU community. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Sad news to be sure... I remember her play and she certainly made an impact at SMC, CUA, and elsewhere.

On a separate note, USMMA was already in the process of officially hiring a new coach, but now they have no one internal to hire: http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2014/06/merchant-marine-interim-coach-jumps-ship-for-maine-maritime

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

For those who may not know... Catholic will once again be participating in the Hoopsville Classic on November 21-23. Here is more information and the pairings: www.d3hoops.com/notables/2014/06/hoopsville-classic-pairings-announced