Here’s a couple of things I’ve been thinking about while reading all of the different Top Tens being posted. Nobody can state with any certainty who the best team at the Shore is this year. That’s simply because there isn’t a dominant team out there. Every one of them has flaws. I’m not sure any of these games some of us are calling upsets are upsets at all. To be honest, I think we’ve got 7 or 8 good basketball teams and an awful lot of mediocrity. That happens some years. I’ll also say this. I’ve seen games up in North Jersey. Save for the usual powerhouses there are some bad teams in Union, Essex and Mercer County. Let’s not forget that Lakewood took powerhouse Trenton Catholic to the wire and then promptly lost to Jackson Liberty, a school traditionally considered to be in the lower tier of SC basketball. By the way, their game against Jackson Memorial was canceled. They HAVE to play that game now. Anyway, down year or not, I still believe the Shore Conference will continue to hold it’s own in the States. As it has done for the last several years. That huge gap that used to exist between the Northern schools and the Shore has closed considerably. Year round basketball and AAU have greatly contributed to that.
On a different note, can we please, please get a shot clock in NJ? I saw the WOBM championship game and it was a snooze fest. Watching teams pass the ball around the perimeter while the other coach claps because nothing is happening is hard to watch. I didn’t blame Toms River North, it kept them in the game and the rules allow it but for the love of pete can we change the rules so the kids get to compete? Most games don’t need the clock but we can certainly avoid the occasional clunker by making the coach’s get into some kind of offense quicker plus it will initiate some offensive ingenuity on the kid’s part. All I know is those kids didn’t go to that game so they could pass the ball back and forth and then go do defensive slides all night on the other end.
Also, I’d like to see the arc put into the paint to stop a lot of the ridiculous charging fouls that are called. I’m all for teaching a kid to take a charge. But if an offensive player leaves his feet, lays the ball in and THEN hits the defender standing under the basket and gets called for a charge thats nuts. Happens too often.
Hey, here’s a conversation that actually took place after a business dinner last night. The older guys will appreciate this I think. I was sitting at a bar watching the UCONN/WESTVIRGINIA game. At halftime Len Elmore was doing analysis and here’s the conversation at the bar.
(Bartender) Hey, that’s Len Elmore. I saw him play with Tom Burleson at Maryland.
(Me) No sir, actually Tom Burleson played at North Carolina State, not Maryland.
Several minutes later
(Bartender) hey that kid Drummond has feet as big as Bill Lanier, big guy who played for Niagara.
(Me) Um, that was Bob Lanier and he played for St. Bonaventure.
(Bartender) No, Calvin Murphy played at St. Bonnies.
( Me) Nope, Lanier, St. Bonnies, Murphy, Niagara.
Several Minutes later
(Bartender to other customer)- Hey, you’re from Chattanooga. Good basketball town. Tennessee-Chattanooga, that’s where Cedric “Cornbread” Maxwell played.
(Other Customer to me) Is that true?
(me-laughing) God, I wish it was but no, Cornbread played at North Carolina -Charlotte.
(Bartender to Me, kidding I hope) I hope you’re only here for one night.
Back to some Shore hoops…I like some of Point Beach’s players but Nick Catania is a big reason why that team wins. That guy can flat out coach. So can Kevin Hynes at Point Boro who gets the most out of his players…I like the way Tom Aldridge of CBA plays. Hard, like he means business on the floor. Probably underrated…Holmdel is having a nice year and Christian Vikse is a good shooter while center Danny Baumlin is doing a nice job and plays with a high motor, always a good thing in my book….Congrats to Wall for getting their first win. Wall plays hard every night and Derek Gardner is a force on the glass..I’d like to see a 3 point shooting contest between Jack Donnelly of Rumson, Brandon Federici of Colts Neck and J.R. Hobbie of Manasquan. Give me some other names, I’m sure I’m missing somebody.
Finally, the Battle of the Boardwalk is Saturday. Honestly, without these games being played at a larger (college) venue, it loses most of its appeal with me. Some of the games will be great but I’m disappointed for the players. All it is now is just some good high school games. It used to be more than that. It was a spectacle. Now it’s just another day at the gym and that’s a shame.
January 11, 2012 at 12:45 am |
If your talking about a 45 second clock I’ll go with that. Unitl the officating get’s better in the shore confernce the hoops will not get better. You need to start drinking at a better bar !!
January 11, 2012 at 4:17 am |
You’re crazy. You have a problem with an inferior team making a better team defend for minutes at a time? If you put in a shot clock, you can say goodbye to the upsets and close games we see. Bad teams will be forced to shoot quicker, giving better teams more possessions.
You want to see a lot of scoring, go to an NBA game! There’s nothing wrong with a team that sticks to the game plan of controlling the clock, making the other team defend, and keeping the ball out of the best players’ hands.
PS- I read all of your stuff, and I love how much you know about the game. But you can’t complain about a team like TR North, a team that has no real business trying to run up and down with the horses at Jax Mem, controlling the clock and keeping the ball out of Hollup’s, Kenny’s, and McDonald’s hands. Had they pulled off that win, it would have been a monumental upset for the underdog.
Shot clock is for entertainment purposes, not real die hard basketball purists.
January 11, 2012 at 2:09 pm |
Coach P, Thanks for your honest response. Please note that I said I didn’t blame the TRN coach for slowing the game down. It absolutely kept him in the game and with no shot clock it was a smart move. And yes, the shot clock is to make the game more entertaining. We agree on that. That’s why many states have gone to the shot clock. To make the game more exciting. You and I are not that far apart here. We both agree it was a smart move by TRN. I just prefer a quicker, more uptempo game.
January 11, 2012 at 1:30 pm |
i think you are WAY off the mark. To tell kids… the SC is in a down year…is borderline abusive….and definately inaccurate… Dude, the kids are still developing you paint w/ too broad a brush. Just because you write a column doesn’t mean you have carte blanche . In Fact , you have more responsibility , think a little before you write….. shot clock comment confirms your ineptitude…. and while you’re clearly entitled to your opinion, so am I… it’s guys like you that ruin the joy of the game
January 11, 2012 at 2:24 pm |
erlcan. I appreciate your feedback. I did say this is a down year for the conference. That happens in every league, whether high school or college. But I also said I thought the teams would do well in the States because I am a huge Shore Conference supporter and the overall quality of the players is better now than it was a generation ago. Please read my whole blog. I am constantly pointing out kids who may not get recognition and complimenting them on a job well done. My aim here is to give a little information and to support the kids.
January 11, 2012 at 2:05 pm |
No arc required….what is required is an evaluation of the current officials in the SC, I can honestly say after watching a number of games this year the game has past a few of them by. I watched an offficial do a varsity game recently (two man team), he was physically unable to get up and down the court. Furthermore, a good official (professional) pays attention to detail and is focused on the game at hand, there are far to many officials in the SC that pay too much attention to everything outside of the court, too many officials spend far to much time conversing with fans during the game. A few actually give the impression they think the game is about them and think they are bigger than the game.
January 11, 2012 at 2:31 pm |
Gene, I have to say that I think most of the referees in the Shore Conference do a great job. I know some of them and they take their jobs seriously and are very professional about it. The charging foul is a tough call to make and I think the arc would actually make it easier for the officials. Are there some bad officials? Of course. Some out of shape? Of course. But by and large I think they operate with a great deal of integrity and officiate to the best of their ability. I don’t think you’re wrong with some of your comments. I just think the ones you refer to are in the minority.
January 11, 2012 at 3:22 pm |
It is a down year for the SC which means great entertainment for us. Refereeing is at an all time low, so an arc is a waste of time. Holmdel does indeed play hard and with great coaching is turning out big wins. Donnelly is the best sniper. Catania is a very underrated coach. Monte Towe was Burelson’s best teammate, not DT. Shot clock is mandatory once the budgets allow (maybe do some private fund raising). SCT will be a shootout as the Top 15 teams all have a shot at winning it. Likely a tough year for bringing home sectionals and states though. as JRome would say, I’m out.
January 11, 2012 at 5:33 pm |
ASM….You’re right…It’s the minority, (“far too many” to me is 2 or 3) . The majority does a very good job, they work hard and take pride in their game.
Unfortunatley, the minority leaves a lasting negative perception, especially when involved in big games and deciding an outcome………..
January 12, 2012 at 4:38 pm |
Scout,
We are not far off at all because I understand its purpose. I just think you would severely hurt the chances of the little guys upending the big guys. You have to agree with that. The best defense is a good offense that can control tempo and clock.
I know it is boring to watch for those who love scoring, but again, anyone who appreciates game planning, strategy, and coaching doesn’t mind a good defensive battle with ball control and long possessions.
As for those who say Scout is “abusive”…I mean, come on. How long have you watched SC basketball? Truth is, this year it’s weaker than years past. Not taking away how hard kids play or anything like that, it’s just a fact. CBA’s team with Werner or Neptune’s team with Todd, Alston, and Dean, or even the Monmouth teams that went to back to back Final 4s were much more skilled than any teams we have now. Again, not putting anyone down, it’s just the truth. Those teams had high division 1 talent. Werner won a national championship at Florida and was captain for 2 years. Dean went to a Final 4, Alston played at Monmouth and Todd was the best of the 3. If not for his test scores he surely would have gone to a school even better than Louisville.
Final thought- Jackson Memorial is REALLY good. Definitely the most balanced starting 5. Only question mark is how they will defend a Lakewood or Neptune, with really athletic and quick guards.