Share of PSAC East title in view for men

What: East Stroudsburg Warriors @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday, March 1, 2008 @ 3 p.m.
Where: Keystone Hall on the campus of Kutztown University

The Golden Bears and Warriors will head into Saturday’s affair for what could be a preview of Tuesday’s playoff action. An ESU (6-5) win coupled with a Millersville (7-4) loss to West Chester (3-8) would mean that ESU will return to Keystone Hall on Tuesday for a first round playoff game. If Millersville wins or ESU falls to KU, Millersville will come to town on Tuesday, while ESU would head to Cheyney (10-2). The Golden Bears will be the number-two seed in the East regardless of what happens on Saturday, but will win a share of the PSAC East regular season title with a win. KU, ESU, CU, and MU all head into Saturday’s action with identical 18-8 overall records.

The Golden Bears enter this game fresh off a 112-96 win over Columbia Union on Wednesday at Keystone Hall. KU’s latest PSAC East action was a 79-71 upset win at Cheyney on Saturday.

The Warriors have won four straight games and 5-of-6 since falling to KU 78-56 on Feb. 6. ESU has ripped off consecutive wins against WCU, Bloomsburg, Millersville, and Mansfield, which has positioned them for a chance at the third or fourth playoff seed.

The first meeting between the two teams this season was a memorable one for KU and a forgettable one for the Warriors. The Golden Bears trailed 37-26 at the half, but stormed to 52 second half points, while holding ESU to 4-of-30 from the field, and won the game handily 78-56.

Dave Ben was 12-of-20 from the field and scored a career high 32 points. Andre Woodlin and Stephen Dennis also reached double digits with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Channon Easley was the only Warrior in double figures, notching 12.

Probable Starters:
East Stroudsburg:
G- # 24 - Andy Heimbach
G- # 31 - Pat Fleury
F- # 25 – Channon Easley
F- # 22 - Josh Wentz
F- # 40 - Chris Bach

Kutztown:
G- # 14 – Stephen Dennis
G- # 32 - Andre Woodlin
F- # 34 - Dave Ben
F- # 52 - Ryan Washington
C- # 55 - Jeremy Coombs

Scouting Report:
The Golden Bears will look to stay motivated in this despite not technically playing for anything. Sure they can win a share of the PSAC East regular season title, but that means nothing for their playoff positioning. It’s hard to say if they should go hard for the win or lay back and rest some key players. If KU wins, they will see Millersville in the first round, but if they lose, they could see ESU. Which would you rather face? MU beat KU in their last meeting, but ESU is on a roll. Tough call.

KU will need to focus on Easley and Bach. Bach (11.7 PPG) has carried the team’s scoring load over the last month, while Easley (13.7 PPG) still leads the team in scoring. Heimbach (12.0 PPG) and Wentz (10.8 PPG) also average double figures in scoring this season.

Bach and Easley are both big men and ESU will try to feed them the ball inside. Each averages near 8 rebounds a game this season and they have combined for 98 blocks.

KU will continue to look to Dave Ben and Stephen Dennis to carry the scoring load with Andre Woodlin as a top-notch secondary option. Ryan Washington, Jeremy Coombs, and Kevin Hafera will be relied on to contain the inside presence of Easley and Bach. Nate Edwards will see significant action off the bench and will need to make a few big plays on both ends.

Prediction:
First I need to determine which KU team will come to play. The Golden Bears have played some inconsistent basketball this season, but then other times they’ve played excellent throughout the game (see Cheyney a week ago). Secondly, I need to determine if KU will be motivated to play with nothing to lose. Finally, I need to decide if ESU’s hot streak has proved that they are contenders in the PSAC or if KU is still the more talented team.

My answer to those three questions: “What’s with all the questions? Enough with the questions, Question Man!”

No, but really, it actually is hard to say.

Since that is no fun, however, I’ll make a prediction anyways. KU will come out and play a decent tune up game for the playoffs. They won’t lay back and they’ll play to win against a team that is slightly less talented. ESU will hang in there, but KU will be hungry for that share of the division title and will hold off the Warrior charge.

East Stroudsburg 63
Kutztown 73

2006-07 Women's Basketball - PER Rating

I managed to create an excel spreadsheet that I can use to find out the KU players PER. If you are not familiar with PER, it is an extremely complicated player rating system created by John Hollinger. It is widely known and used as a way to rate NBA players.
My first project was to plug in the women's basketball statistics from last season (2006-07). Here are the results:
1. Mercedes Van Wagner - 25.00
2. Jess Brady - 17.98
3. Claire Sitarz - 16.59
4. Molly Brown - 16.08
5. Amanda Jennings - 15.61
6. Rachel Wisemiller - 15.07
7. Katie Harlor - 14.33
8. Rachel Weidensaul - 13.88
9. Lara Dellegrotti - 13.54
10. Amanda Giannotti - 12.05
11. Vivian Melvin - 11.92
12. Katie Dovey - 11.52
13. Kelley Healey - 7.50
14. C. Schroeder - 4.18
15. Jenn Loprete - 4.01
16. Laura Petriello - 3.72
17. Shir Suez - 0.00

What I've learned from my formula and from PER is that size is a big factor in women's basketball. Have you noticed how centers and forwards rate convincingly better than guards? It's science my friend.

I'll continue plugging stats into PER and have some results on the men and women next week.

Be a contributor!

Want to write for Kutztown University Vital Sports?

I can't cover everything I'd like to by myself and I'm looking for some help. I'd love to cover more sports on the site, so if you have a favorite KU sport you'd want to focus on, be my guest. This invitation is extended to players, coaches, faculty, and fans.

Players and coaches are welcome to post blogs, while staff and faculty can contribute from whichever angle they would like to. Anyone who would like to report on games how I do would be invited to take on a load of the game previews and recaps.

If you are interested, drop me an email at mclay8823@yahoo.com.

Ladies look for revenge against ESU

What: East Stroudsburg Warriors @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday, March 1, 2008 @ 1 p.m.
Where: Keystone Hall on the campus of Kutztown University

When the Kutztown Golden Bears face off with the East Stroudsburg Warriors on Saturday, it will be a meaningless game with both teams’ postseason fates already determined…or will it?

KU will be taking on the team that barely beat them out for this season’s fourth and final PSAC East playoff spot. The Warriors (5-6) beat Mansfield on Wednesday night, which clinched them the fourth seed, thus eliminating the Golden Bears (4-7). KU could try to exact some revenge on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Bears enter the game 11-15 overall this season and will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. KU is coming off a 72-59 loss at Cheyney (7-5) this past Saturday and has lost five of its last seven games. This will be the team’s season finale.

The Warriors, meanwhile, will be looking to build some momentum for their first round playoff bout with Millersville (11-0). ESU cannot improve it’s standing in the division, but will likely not back down with a tough challenge ahead of them the following Tuesday. The Warriors are coming off Wednesday’s 64-44 shellacking of Mansfield, but have lost six of their last nine games.

The teams first met this season on Feb. 2 with ESU defending its home court by a score of 67-59. Melissa McQuade carried the KU offense with 20 points and 11 boards. ESU had three scorers reach double-digits, with Kristen Murray scoring 17, Jackie Yandrisevits notching 15, and Monika Fogelsanger dropping 11.

Probable Starters:

East Stroudsburg:
F- # 45 – Monika Fogelsanger
G- #11 – Keri Cahill
G- #20 – Mel Villano
G- # 32 – DeAnna Rayam
G- # 43 – Jackie Yandrisevits

Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Scouting Report:

The Golden Bears have failed to play consistent basketball down the stretch, thus costing them an opportunity to play postseason basketball. They will look to find some of that consistency and to build for the 2008-09 season in this game.

The seniors (Van Wagner, Weidensaul, Molly Brown) will likely see significant action with the team already eliminated. With that said, don’t expect KU to lay back and let the Warriors run all over them. The Golden Bears should be motivated to knock off the team who beat them out for the final playoff spot. KU has the talent to do it, starting in the frontcourt.

The Warriors will see a lot of Van Wagner and McQuade, both who have double-double potential in the paint. If they struggle, Coach Janet Malouf will look to leading scorer Weidensaul or to guards Lara Dellegrotti and Rachel Wisemiller, who has been stellar as of late.

Meanwhile, the ESU front court is not so shabby, with Fogelsanger and Yandrisevits working the inside. Yandrisevits generally leads the team in scoring, but this is far from a one woman team. Murray, Fogelsanger, and Rayam each average over 8.5 points per game and any one of them can go off for 20 at any given time.

The Golden Bears will have their hands full on both ends off the court, much like the first meeting, but KU does have similar (if not more) talent than the Warriors and could easy take care of business in their season finale.

Prediction:

The games that don’t really mean anything are the hardest ones to predict. Will KU come out motivated to knock off bitter rival ESU? Or will they come out downtrodden and unmotivated after being eliminated from the playoff picture?

Personally, I can’t see it going over too well with the seniors on this team if they fall in their last game at Kutztown. Expect Van Wagner to be as motivated as ever with nothing to lose in her final game. Only one of 11 1,000 point scorers in school history, she has been a treat to watch for the last four years and isn’t about to disappoint with the end of the line in plain view.

McQuade, Wisemiller, Brown, and Weidensaul (yes, in that order) will all add in enough scoring to lead KU to a slim season finale victory.

East Stroudsburg 61
Kutztown 62

Men's playoff picture update

Current Standings (playoff teams only):
1. Cheyney 10-2***
2. Kutztown 9-2**
3. Millersville 7-4
4. East Stroudsburg 6-5
***Clinched top seed
**Clinched first round home game

Remaining schedule:
March 1:
Bloomsburg at Mansfield
E. Stroudsburg at Kutztown
Millersville at West Chester

If KU beats ESU, Mill beats WCU
ESU (6-6) @ CU (10-2)
Mill (8-4) @ KU (10-2)

If KU beats ESU, WCU beats Mill
ESU (6-6) @ CU (10-2)
Mill (7-5) @ KU (10-2)

If ESU beats KU, Mill beats WCU
ESU (7-5) @ CU (10-2)
Mill (8-4) @ KU (9-3)

If ESU beats KU, WCU beats Mill
Mill (7-5)* @ CU (10-2)
ESU (7-5)* @ KU (9-3)
*ESU wins tiebreaker over Mill by virtue of win against Cheyney

Men's team beats CUC, clinch first round home game

The men's basketball team scored a season-high 112 points tonight en route to a 112-96 win at home against Columbia Union. Andre Woodlin dropped 22, while Dave Ben added 20.

The non-conference game means little, however, compared to the PSAC East playoff race.

In key divisional action tonight, Cheyney erased a 20 point second half deficit and knocked off Millersville 77-69 to clinch home court advantage throughout the PSAC East playoffs, should they win their first round game. The CU win means KU will host Millersville or ESU in the first round of the playoffs on March 4. The game will air on the Golden Bear Network.

KU's regular season is not over as they play their finale at home against ESU on Saturday. The Warriors are still playing for the fourth and final playoff berth in the division, but the game has no implications towards KU's playoff seeding.

ESU beats Mansfield, eliminates KU ladies

East Stroudsburg defeated Mansfield 64-44 in women's action this evening, eliminating KU from the PSAC East playoff race. The Golden Bears will face off with ESU in both team's regular season finale on Saturday at Keystone Hall. ESU will then move on to the postseason, while KU will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Gameday

The KU men's basketball team will take part in non-conference action tonight against Columbia Union. The tip is set for 7 p.m. at Keystone Hall. The game is not scheduled to air on the radio.

Both the men's and women's teams are idle in the PSAC East tonight, but the men penciled in the matchup with CUC to keep their momentum as they head into Saturday's regular season finale against East Stroudsburg (5-5). The Golden Bears (9-2) can clinch a home playoff game tonight if Cheyney (9-2) beats Millersville (8-3). If Millersville knocks off Cheyney, the men win the PSAC East with a win against ESU on Saturday. You can listen to the Millersville-Cheyney action live at 8 p.m. at www.redzonemedia.com:
Cheyney Broadcast
Millersville Broadcast

The women's team (4-7) is off tonight, but their postseason fate will be hanging in the balance. Mansfield (1-9) needs to pull off an upset at East Stroudsburg (4-6) for the ladies to stay alive. If Mansfield does win, it will set up a showdown at Keystone Hall on Saturday between ESU and KU. The winner will be playoff bound, while the loser is eliminated.

Baseball team looks to rebuild in 2008

The KU baseball team has been on a tear during the last decade—a tear that reached its climax last season when the Golden Bears were briefly voted the number-one team in the division II nation. Last year’s team won a school record 49 games en route to a PSAC Championship, North Atlantic Region title, and a trip to the Division II World Series. It was an unbelievable ride for the players, coaches, fans, students, and alumni, all who will be looking forward to an even better run in the near future.

With that said, in the sports world (much like in literature) it is often the case that a team will hit a downward slope for a while once they reach the climax. This year looks like that kind of season for the rebuilding Golden Bears.

Head Coach Chris Blum (pictured, left) lost a significant amount of talent this past offseason, with five of the team’s top seven hitters and four of the top pitchers out the door.

Jeff Craig, Ryan Loper, Sean Bond, Mike McCardell, Nate Kranz, Dan Gavlick, Jason Mills, and Paul Cashin each had at least 83 at bats for KU last season and will not be back in 2008. Matt Dierolf started a team-high 25 games at catcher and notched 68 at bats, but has left the team for personal reasons early this season. On the mound, Jason Mills, Mike McCardell, Matt Keller, and Ryan Loper were lost, with all but Loper moving on to professional baseball following last season.

That is a significant amount of players to replace and Coach Blum is going to have his work cut out for him trying to find a suitable lineup and rotation with one of most inexperienced teams he has had to manage at KU.

Positional Players Analysis:

None, that’s right none, of the eight positions in the field will return it’s regular starter from last season. Mike Kacelowicz started a team-high 36 times at second base a season ago, but will move to shortstop this season. Chad Lightcap started 38 games last season at DH and left field and will see a similar workload in 2008.

Of the nine positions in the batting order, five of them appear to be in stone, while the other four are still not clear and will likely continue to be a platoon for the time being.

Projected Depth Chart by position:
(After the position will be the player projected to be first on the depth chart. In parentheses will be the players pushing them for significant time)

Catcher: Matt Kulbacki (Scott Kacelowicz/Dom Fantanarosa) – Kulbacki hit .366 (2^nd best among regulars) in 2007 and will see a majority of the workload, especially with Dierolf calling it quits.

First Base: Jared Frey (Andy May) – Frey saw limited work as a rookie last season and hit .310 in 42 at bats. May redshirted and will push Frey for time. This could end up as a platoon with the righty May facing lefties and the lefty Frey taking on righties.

Second Base: Brett Wigder (Mark Renda) – Wigder is a true freshman who will see a lot of time at second. Renda is a redshirt freshman who will work from second and third base.

Shortstop: Mike Kacelowicz (None) – Kacelowicz hit .298 in 36 starts as last season’s regular second baseman.

Third Base: Michael Dugan (Mark Renda) – Dugan is another redshirt freshman who will see significant action in 2008. Utilityman Renda will be right on his tail.

Left Field: Corey Buletza (None) – True freshman Buletza could be catalyst for a team that will rely on speed.

Center Field: Garrison Rausch (None) – The senior will man centerfield where he started just five games in 2007. In 85 bats, he hit .329-2-14.

Right Field: Jeff Kistle (None) – Replacing the departed Jeff Craig, the freshman Kistle will have big shoes to fill. No pressure, right?

Designated Hitter: Chad Lightcap (None) – Hit a team best .376 in 2007 and will see a majority of his at bats in the DH spot. He will be counted on to carry the offense, which will entail an increase of his 4 homers and 41 RBIs.

The batting order for 2008 is not completely set, but the early season action has cleared up some of the questions:
Projected Batting Order:
1. Mike Kacelowicz (SS)
2. Chad Lightcap (DH)
3. Garrison Rausch (CF)
4. Matt Kulbacki (CA)
5. Corey Buletza (LF)
6. Jared Frey (1B)/Mike Dugan (3B)
7. Jeff Kistle (RF)
8. Jared Frey (1B)/Mike Dugan (3B)
9. Brett Wigder/Mark Renda (2B)

Other bench players:
Bryan Riggins OF – Riggins saw a lot of work in center field last year and will see time there again in 2008. He hit .179 in 39 at bats.
James Quigley 3B – The freshman is currently injured, but could compete for time at third.
Nole Saylor OF – Yet another freshman who well see time in the outfield.

Pitching Analysis:

Projected Rotation:
Phil Rummel – Coming off a 2007 season in which he went 8-1 with a 4.50 ERA, Rummel will be relied on to provide senior leadership as the team’s ace.
Darin Gorski – Only a sophomore, Gorski will be counted on to improve on his 4-0 record and 2.63 ERA in 14 appearances (6 starts) as a rookie.
Garrison Rausch – The senior southpaw went 4-0 and recorded a team best 1.53 ERA in 2007.
Steve Craig – Craig threw just 14 innings in 2007 and posted a 9.00 ERA.
Anthony Fegely – A redshirt freshman, Fegely could be counted on as a regular or spot starter.

Bullpen:
Justin Jachowicz – Now a senior, Jachowicz was one of the top setup men for KU a year ago, posting a 2.55 ERA in just under 25 innings of work.
Ryan Cassidy – A sophomore lefty, Cassidy (pictured, right) could be used as a spot starter in 2008. He was 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA in 19.2 innings of work in 2007.
Derick Reis – Reis tossed 27 innings in 2007, posting a 2-1 record and 5.33 ERA.
Kevin Morganti – Currently injured after redshirting as a junior last season, Morganti was 4-0 with a 2.86 ERA in 2006.
Trent Mertz – Mertz is a freshman from Kutztown who will be used out of the pen.
Jordan Smith – A freshman lefty who will see time on the hill in 2008.
Mike Moran – A freshman right-handed pitcher who could see time in the infield as well.
Jason Herr – Another freshman right-handed pitcher.

It’s very clear that Coach Blum will be relying on a lot of fresh faces in 2008. The Golden Bears entered the season ranked 30^th in the division II nation, but it is going to be quite a challenge for them to compete in the PSAC with so many unknowns. With that said, Coach Blum has proved he is a mastermind and will find ways to get the best out of his young team.

“We have more speed than we ever had and will be playing a lot of small ball,” said Coach Blum via an email earlier this month. “It was a lot of fun watching the kids play in North Carolina, even though we didn’t fair well. The kids were positive and had some good practices back here in the fieldhouse.”

Even though this is clearly going to be rebuilding year, you can bet it’s going to be fun watching this exciting crop of young talent at work.

OFFICIAL Men's Playoff Scenarios

Special thanks to KU Sports Information Director Josh Leiboff for preparing these (which saved me a lot of time and energy).

Current Standings
1. Cheyney 9-2*
2. Kutztown 9-2*
3. Millersville 7-3*
4. East Stroudsburg 5-5
5. Mansfield 4-6
6. West Chester 2-8
7. Bloomsburg 0-10

*Clinched playoff berth

Remaining schedule:

February 27

*West Chester at Bloomsburg
*Cheyney at Millersville
* Mansfield at E. Stroudsburg

March 1

*Bloomsburg at Mansfield
*E. Stroudsburg at Kutztown
*Millersville at West Chester

If KU beats ESU, Chey beats Mill, Mill beats WCU
Cheyney (10-2) is #1 (tiebreaker 2-sweep of MU)
KU (10-2) is #2
Millersville (9-3) #3

If KU beats ESU, Mill beats Cheyney and WCU
KU (10-2) is #1
Mill (9-3) is #2, with 11 wins vs. DII at or above .500 (tiebreaker 3)
Chey (9-3) is #3, with 8 wins vs. DII at or above .500

If KU loses to ESU, and Cheyney beats Millersville
Cheyney (10-2) is #1
KU (9-3) is #2

If KU loses to ESU and Millersville beats Cheyney and WCU
All three teams would be 9-3, MILL wins tiebreaker 3 with 11^ wins vs. DII at or +500, KU and CHEY remain tied with 8^. Cheyney wins tiebreaker 4 with 1.00 winning percentage vs. DII teams below .500.(^all three include 1 win over IUP, which might not be included, include wins assumed in this scenario)
Mill (11 wins DII at or +.500) is #1
Chey (8-0, 1.00% vs. DII below .500) is #2
Kutz (8-2, .800 vs. DII below .500) is #3

If KU loses to ESU, Millersville beats Cheyney and WCU beats Mill.
KU and Cheyney would be 9-3, Cheyney wins tiebreaker 4 with 1.00 winning percentage vs. DI teams below .500
Chey (8-0, 1.00% vs. DII below .500) is #1
Kutz (8-2, .800 vs. DII below .500) is #2 (does not included 2/27 game vs. CUC)

Men beat Wolves, stay in hunt for PSAC title

Kutztown Golden Bears 79
Cheyney Wolves 71

Recap:
The Golden Bears came up huge in a tough road environment on Saturday when they took care of business against division-leading Cheyney. KU came out strong and played consistent basketball until the final whistle. With the eight point win, the Golden Bears will likely host a first round home playoff game and are still alive for the PSAC East Championship. KU is now 17-8 overall and 9-2 in the division with one game to play in the regular season.

Key Stat:
Most statistical categories were very close, but the big difference was the obvious one if you saw the game—free throw shooting. KU was 29-of-36 from the charity stripe thanks to 29 personal fouls by Cheyney. Two CU starters fouled out and two other regulars had 4 fouls a piece. Meanwhile, the Golden Bears committed just 17 fouls, leading to an 11-of-15 day at the free throw line for Cheyney.

Key Moment:
The Golden Bears trailed 69-68 with just under 3 minutes to play, but David Ben gave KU the lead for good with a steal and a pair of free throws at the 2:41 mark. He then swiped another steal and hit two more from the charity stripe to extend the KU lead to three. Ryan Washington then made a layup, Ben hit another free throw, and Woodlin hit a pair from the stripe to all but seal the deal.

Golden Performance:
Stevid Bennis. Get it? Stephen Dennis and David Ben carried the load for KU—just not at the same time. Dennis scored all 16 of his points in the first half, but was no where to be found in the second half—at least on the score sheet. Meanwhile, Ben had just 3 points at the break, but took over in the second half, also scoring 16 points for the game. Dennis also added 6 rebounds, while Ben had 5 steals and 2 assists.

Not-So-Golden Performance:
I haven’t really enjoyed giving this award out after wins, so I’m going to cease doing that for now. With that said, I’m still going to have to give someone or something a hard time. So, here it goes. If you were at the game, I think you’ll agree with me when I say I think Cheyney needs a new basketball arena…

Impact:
The KU win, coupled with a Millersville loss to East Stroudsburg yesterday, opened up a mansion full of playoff windows—each window filled with a different seeding possibility. KU will likely host a first round playoff game and the PSAC East title is still up for grabs between KU, MU, and CU. I will make a separate post with the playoff scenarios so check that out later. The Golden Bears will play a non-conference game at home against Columbia Union on Wednesday before hosting ESU on Saturday to complete the regular season.

NOTE: When I initially posted this article, I was under the impression that KU had in fact clinched a first round home playoff game. Since that time, the same source who gave me the initial information has corrected his stance and has now realized that KU could in fact end up on the road in the first road. More details later.

Loss jeopardizes ladies' playoff chances

Kutztown Golden Bears 59
Cheyney Wolves 72

Recap:
The ladies hung in the game for over three quarters, but in the end, they could not overcome Danielle Jones and the playoff-bound Cheyney Wolves. KU fell behind 18-6 in the early stages, but fought back and actually led at points in the second half. As has been the case throughout the 2007-08 season, however, the Golden Bears were unable to pull off the win, likely costing themselves a playoff berth for the second consecutive season.

Key Stat:
The Golden Bears actually outshot the Wolves from the field, but their three point shooting was awful. KU was just 1-of-13 from beyond the arc, while Cheyney was much more impressive at 8-of-14 in the trifecta department.

Key Moment:
KU trailed by just 7 points with 2:27 to play and still had an opportunity to make a comeback. From there, Lutfiyya Muhammad nailed two free throws, Danielle Jones stole the ball twice and scored 6 points, Muhammad hit two more from the charity stripe, and Tamika McFadden hit a free throw to complete the game’s scoring.

Golden Performance:
I almost feel like I should give this award to Cheyney’s Jones, because, like her or not, she was on fire in the final minutes of the game, all-but-single-handily finishing off the Golden Bears. With that said, I like to focus on KU during these articles and Rachel Wisemiller was a huge contributor for coach Malouf. Wisemiller came off the bench and played 28 minutes, scoring a career-high 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field. She also had 3 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. She is also listed as having 6 turnovers, but that is a scoring error…so ignore that.

Not-So-Golden Performance:
With the exception of Wisemiller, the KU guards struggled mightily throughout the contest. Lara Dellegrotti, Meredith Starr, and Vivian Melvin combined to hit just one of 14 shots for a grand total of 6 points. They also combined to commit 10 fouls and committed at least 8 turnovers. If anything, Dellegrotti did manage an impressive 8 assists. Runner up for this award is the persistent technical issues during the early stages of the second half. There were 2 long delays as the staff tried to correct issues with the scoreboard and shot clock. But, hey, at least we had entertainment. Cope Hall turned into Saturday night at Shorty’s for a while there…you know…except without the good music.

Side Thought:
Where on earth was Katie Dovey and Chauntelle Schroeder? Schroeder is coming off a 13 point game (in 8 minutes), while Dovey has been playing well in limited action. Combined they played 0 minutes. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't understand.

Impact:
Mid-game dance party aside, it was not a happy day for the Kutztown Golden Bears. They fall to 4-7 in the PSAC East and 11-15 overall and need some help if they hope to be playoff bound. Mansfield (1-9) needs to upset East Stroudsburg (4-6) on Wednesday and then KU needs to beat ESU on Saturday. If that happens, KU will be playoff bound, likely for a matchup at Millersville (10-0). If not, the Golden Bears are eliminated.

Baseball team wins two of three

The Golden Bears fell to Apprentice School on Saturday before defeating PSAC-foes East Stroudsburg and Bloomsburg on Sunday. All the action was during the Builder Invitational.

KU fell to Apprentice School 11-10. Chad Lightcap had a team-high 2 hits for the Golden Bears and homered. Anthony Fegely started on the hill for KU, but last just 2 innings. Jason Herr ended up taking the loss after failed to record an out in the 8th inning. Box

The Golden Bears then beat East Stroudsburg 10-1 on Sunday morning and followed with a 12-5 win over Bloomsburg.

Men's team upsets Cheyney, ladies fall

The men's basketball team upset Cheyney this afternoon 79-71 and may have clinched themselves a first round home playoff game. Meanwhile, the ladies fell to the Wolves 72-59 and will need help to earn a playoff berth.

Full recaps tomorrow including an in depth look at the playoff possibilities.

For now, you can get all the latest info at www.kubears.com

Gameday

The baseball team's game scheduled game against Apprentice School was postponed from yesterday to today. The Golden Bears will then play Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg in Sunday action.

As for the highly anticipated basketball action at Cheyney today, the women are set to tip at 1 p.m. and the men will follow at 3 p.m.

You can listen to Mike Clay as he brings you all the basketball action on the Golden Bear Network starting at 12:50 p.m.

I will not be back from Cheyney until late tonight, so you can get scores and updates for KU games and from around the league by visiting the PSAC website or the KU Athletics Website.

Baseball team wins first of 2008

The KU baseball team knocked off Lock Haven yesterday by a score of 10-2, improving their 2008 record to 1-4. The game was held during the opening day of the Builder Invitational in Hampton, Va.

LHU jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning, but it wasn't long before KU took a commanding lead en route to a 10-2 victory.

Up 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Matt Kulbacki hit a grand slam to seal the deal.

Phil Rummel was on the hill for KU and allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, on 3 hits in six innings of work. Justin Jachowicz, Ryan Cassidy, and Trent Mertz each tossed one inning a piece to close the deal, striking out a combined 5 batters.

KU's next action is Friday at noon against Apprentice School, the host of the Builder Invitational.

Ladies look for revenge at Cheyney

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Cheyney Wolves
When: Saturday, February 23, 2008 @ 1 p.m.
Where: Cope Hall on the campus of Cheyney University

The Golden Bears head into Saturday’s matchup with Cheyney in need of a victory if they hope to qualify for the PSAC playoffs. KU is 4-6 in the division and currently trails East Stroudsburg by one-half game for the final playoff spot (See Playoff Picture).

The Golden Bears have won two of their last three games, but are coming off Wednesday’s 13 point loss to division-leading Millersville (9-0).

The Wolves have already clinched a postseason berth, meaning this season will mark their first trip to the playoffs since the 1989-90 season. Cheyney is 6-4 in the division and is playing for an opportunity to host a first round playoff game. The Wolves are coming off a game in which they were shellacked by West Chester 84-52.

These teams last met on Feb. 2, with Cheyney making an improbable comeback in the second half to upset KU by a score of 77-66. The Golden Bears led throughout that game, by double-digits at most points, but collapsed in the final minutes and scored just 2 points in the overtime period.

Probable Starters:
Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Cheyney:
F- # 15 – Angel Stephens
F- # 32 – Stephanie Orgi
F- # 21 – Lillian Penn
G- # 24 – Ashley Blake
G- # 20 – Danielle Jones

Scouting Report:
The Golden Bears will enter this game looking to continue their gameplan of moving the ball all over creation until they find someone open for a shot. This offensive style has been successful as of late and has resulted in a conference leading 164 assists during divisional play.

The problem with KU’s offensive attack has been a lack of consistency. One player will step up and have a big couple of games and then disappear for the next few. If Coach Malouf can get consistent play from her core of talented athletes, KU can contend with anyone, even Millersville. Sure the Golden Bears were swept by the Marauders this season, but it was episodes of epic collapses during parts of those games that were the difference. At one point or another this season, KU has outplayed every divisional opponent.

Melissa McQuade was outstanding in the team’s first meeting with the Wolves. She had a double-double, scoring 14 points and hauling in 17 rebounds. Three other Golden Bears reached double digits, but KU turned the ball over a whopping 35 times.

The Golden Bears will look to McQuade, as well as, Mercedes Van Wagner to carry the load in this game. Both have been playing better and better as the season goes on and they will need to step up against a respectable front court.

In the last meeting, the three other double-digit scorers for KU were guards (Wisemiller, Melvin, Starr). If the Cheyney defense collapses on the KU frontcourt on Saturday, the guards will once again be relied on to hit jump shots.

As for the KU defense, they will be looking to their front court to shut down the efforts of forwards Angel Stephens (16 points and 14 rebounds in the first meeting) and Stephanie Orgi (12 points, 8 rebounds). Meanwhile, the guards will have their hands full with Danielle Jones, who led all scorers with 18 points in the first meeting and leads Cheyney in scoring.

Prediction:
The Golden Bears had this game won in the last meeting, and there is no reason to doubt them this time around. This team has collapsed late in games on several occasions, but the one against Cheyney was the worst of them and unlikely to be repeated. As for the Wolves, they were on a roll, but they were just smoked by West Chester and you have to believe that experience will play a factor down the stretch. Cheyney is already in the playoffs and KU is more talented with more to play for. It will be tough on the road, but the Golden Bears will pull it out in the end.

Kutztown 67
Cheyney 61

Playoff Picture

Note: Four of the seven teams qualify for the playoffs.

Women’s basketball:

Seed—Team—Record—Remaining divisional games—Status
1. Millersville 9-0 – vs. ESU/CU/WCU – Clinched Playoffs
2. West Chester 7-2 – vs. Man/BU/Mill – Clinched Playoffs
3. Cheyney 6-4 – vs. KU/Mill – Clinched Playoffs
4. East Stroudsburg 4-5 – vs. Mill/Man/KU – In Contention
5. Kutztown 4-6 – vs. CU/ESU – In Contention
6. Bloomsburg 2-8 – vs. WCU/Man – Eliminated
7. Mansfield 1-8 – vs. WCU/ESU/BU – Eliminated

The ladies are currently on the outside looking in at the PSAC playoffs. They sit at 4-6 and are one-half game behind the fourth and final seed, which is held by East Stroudsburg with a 4-5 record.

There are still a lot of playoff scenarios, so I’ll take a look at some of the major points without going too in depth.

KU’s sweep of Bloomsburg eliminates the Huskies from playoff contention, so the only battle still up for grabs is the 3 and 4 seed. Cheyney wins the tiebreak over KU via their win over West Chester, so KU can only get as high as the fourth seed.

If ESU upsets Millersville in their next game, KU loses the tiebreaker with ESU unless West Chester somehow manages to catch Millersville and win the East. If they do, KU would still need to have beaten Cheyney in their next game to have a chance.

KU can get away with losing to Cheyney if they beat ESU and ESU loses to Millersville and Mansfield. If the teams tie at 5-7, ESU wins the tiebreaker with their win over Cheyney early this season or potentially the upset in over Millersville (if they pull it off).

That is probably a lot to comprehend, but it will clear up a lot more after Saturday’s games. Consider the game at Cheyney a must win for KU. If they lose, their playoff hopes are completely out of their hands.

Men’s basketball:

Seed—Team—Record—Remaining divisional games—Status
1. Cheyney 9-1 – vs. KU/Mill – Clinched Playoffs
2. Kutztown 8-2 – vs. CU/ESU – Clinched Playoffs
3. Millersville 7-2 – vs. ESU/CU/WCU – Clinched Playoffs
4. East Stroudsburg 4-5 – vs. Mill/Man/KU – In Contention
5. Mansfield 3-6 – vs. WCU/ESU/BU – In Contention
6. West Chester 2-7 – vs. Man/BU/Mill – In Contention
7. Bloomsburg 0-10 – vs. WCU/Man – Eliminated

The Golden Bears have already clinched a playoff berth, but are fighting with Millersville and Cheyney for a first round home playoff game and for the PSAC East title (which would make KU the host of the PSAC playoffs). They currently trail Cheyney by 1 game and lead Millersville by one-half game.

If KU wins it’s final two games but still ends up tied at 10-2 with Cheyney, the tiebreaker would go to the Wolves because they would have swept Millersville, while KU split with them.

If KU wins out and Millersville beats Cheyney and loses to ESU or West Chester, KU wins the East.

KU can lose the rest of its games and still clinch a home playoff game if Millersville loses the rest of their games.

The farthest KU can fall is to the third seed, which would mean they play on the road throughout the playoffs at either Cheyney or Millersville.

Leave comments if you would like other scenarios and I will add them as soon as I can.

The playoff tiebreak criteria according to www.psacsports.org:

“The committee will review the records and the following criteria in order listed for the selection and seeding of the first four teams in each division.

a. Head to head competition within mandated schedule.

b. Record with teams above tied teams, starting with highest team, etc. and proceeding in descending order until the tie is broken. If tie is for first place, start with next team below and go in descending order until the tie is broken. If there are ties for more than one place, the highest seeds must be determined first and then work in descending order. This is within Division.

c. Number of wins against NCAA Division II opponents at or over .500.

d. Winning percentage against NCAA Division II opponents under .500.

e. Coin toss.”

Sloppy play plagues Golden Bears

Kutztown Golden Bears 67
Millersville Marauders 80

Recap: The Golden Bears took a lead late in the first half and led by 1 at the break, but a turnover-filled night ended with a 13 point Millersville victory. The Golden Bears relinquished their brief hold on the game with 17:39 left to play and would never recover. The loss drops KU to 16-8 overall this season and could prove costly as the Marauders are now just one-half game behind them in the division.

Telling Stat: KU shot a respectable 41 percent in the game and out-shot the Marauders from the three point arc (despite making just 3 of their 13 attempts) and the free throw line. They out-blocked the Marauders by 5, out-assisted them by 1, and out-rebounded them by 1. So, what was the problem? Mistakes. The Golden Bears committed 8 more turnovers and 7 more personal fouls. That proved to the difference in the game.

Key moment: Still not convinced fouls were a big problem? KU was down by just 5 points following a Ryan Washington layup with 5:05 to play. The Marauders would answer by outscoring KU 20-12 the rest of the way with 12 of those 20 points, including 9 straight, coming from the charity stripe.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: This should come as no surprise, but Dave Ben carried the scoring load against last night. Aside of his 8 turnovers, Ben had a decent game. He was 10-of-18 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. He scored a game-high 29 points and filled out his boxscore with two assists, a pair of offensive rebounds, a block, and a steal.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: Ever since missing time with an injury a few weeks back, Stephen Dennis has not been the same superstar scoring threat for the Golden Bears. While not the worst player on the court last night, Dennis is not matching the expectations he brought on himself by scoring in the 30s several times this season. Last evening, Dennis was just 3-of-7 from the floor for 7 points, committed 4 fouls, and turned the ball over twice. He had just 1 board, 1 assist and 1 steal. KU is going to need more from him down the stretch.

Impact: The loss drops KU to 8-2 in the PSAC East and jeopardizes their chances of hosting a playoff game for the second consecutive season. Millersville now sits just one-half game behind the Golden Bears with both teams still needing to play 9-1 Cheyney. The results of those games could decide home court. Look for a deeper look at the playoff race later today.

Slow start spoils upset bid

Kutztown Golden Bears 43
Millersville Marauders 56

Recap: Millersville opened the game by taking a 15-0 lead and led by as many as 22 in the first half en route a PSAC East victory over KU on Wednesday. The Golden Bears climbed to within 9 points in the early stages of the second half, but the Marauders, now 9-0 in the PSAC East, held on for the 13 point victory. KU is now 11-14 overall this season.

Telling Stat: The game was fairly even once the Golden Bears gave the Marauders a 15 point handicap. Had the first 8 minutes of the game not counted, KU certainly could have pulled off the upset. With that said, the most telling stat of the evening was the Golden Bears shooting percentage of just 14% (3-of-21) in the first half. Not to be discounted is KU’s 27 turnovers, 20 of which were forced by MU steals.

Key moment: The quick 15-0 MU run might seem like the obvious key series of the game, but the truth is that KU had a chance to come back. With 17:56 left in the second half, Mercedes Van Wagner dropped in a layup to cut the KU deficit to 9. That was as close as the Golden Bears would get, however, as the Marauders answered with a 7-2 run to all but put the game away. KU wouldn’t get any closer than 12 the rest of the way.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: Chauntelle Schroeder has been anything but a regular in the KU lineup this season, but she has to be earning Coach Malouf’s confidence as of late. Last evening, Schroeder scored a career-high 13 points, hauled in 5 boards, and recorded 2 blocks. She was 3-of-4 from the field and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. She has had some foul troubles in her career, but committed just one last night. The most impressive stat you ask? She played just 8 minutes! Do the math. If she played 24 minutes (near the average for a KU center), she was on pace to score 39 points and haul in 15 boards. Sure, she would’ve dropped off from her pace in all likelihood, but damn, I hope you were watching Malouf. Schroeder has proved she has the size and athleticism to cause problems for opposing defenses.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: There are a few players who played poorly last night, but the one that stands out the most in the boxscore is Vivian Melvin. The sophomore was 0-for-5 from the floor and scored just 2 points in 22 minutes of work. She had two steals, but failed to chip in with an assist, a must for guards in this offense.

Impact: The loss, coupled with East Stroudsburg’s win over Bloomsburg last night, drops KU back out of the top 4 in the PSAC East. KU is now 4-6 in the division, one-half game behind the 4-5 Warriors. Left on the schedule is Cheyney and ESU. KU may need to beat Cheyney, but definitely must beat ESU if they hope to be playoff bound. Look for a more in depth outlook on the playoffs later.

Both hoops teams fall to Millersville

The women's basketball team fell to Millersville tonight by a score of 56-43. They fall to 4-6 in the PSAC East, while the Marauders improve to 9-0.

The men's team then dropped the nightcap to the Marauders 80-67. KU (8-2) is now one-half game ahead of the Marauders who improve to 7-2. With Cheyney's victory at West Chester earlier tonight, KU is now one game back of the 9-1 Wolves.

Gameday

The women's and men's basketball teams are off to Millersville for this evening's PSAC East duels with the Marauders.

The ladies (4-5) are fighting for their playoff lives with just two games to play after tonight. They will tip off at 6 p.m. against the division leading Marauders (8-0).

The men (8-1) can clinch a home playoff game with the road win against a tough Millersville (6-2) squad. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.

Jason and I are off tonight in favor of Reading Phillies play-by-play announcer Steve Degler, who will be calling the action live on the Golden Bear Network.

Softball team a national championship contender

The KU softball team will head into the 2008 season with extremely high expectations following a 2007 season in which they recorded a 43-18 overall record. The Golden Bears were just one strike away from defeating Division II powerhouse Lock Haven for the PSAC Championship and, if not for an injury to ace Katlin Arbogast, would have been contenders for the Eastern Regional title.

The 2007 Golden Bears won the PSAC East with a 22-2 record and set a school record in both overall and PSAC East wins. Head Coach Judy Lawes was named the PSAC East coach of the year, while slugging first baseman Steph Denlinger (pictured) was named the PSAC East Female Player of the Year.

The 2008 version of the Golden Bears is not much different from the powerhouse squad of one year ago, but did lose a few important pieces. Gone are leadoff hitter and standout centerfielder Adriane Willmer, who graduated in May. Catcher Dani Spalik also graduated, while backup pitcher Rachel Weidensaul left the team for personal reasons. Lindsay Bennett was expected to start at shortstop, but had to leave the team to focus on her degree. Other players from last year’s team who are not back in 2008 include Liana Daczka and Jennie Lincoln.

While Coach Lawes will certainly miss the departed, she has brought in several worthy replacements. The most notable is Krista Tedjeske, who is expected to start at shortstop and bat sixth. Maggie Reifsnyder will likely see significant time as a compliment to Sam Flowers in right field and as a backup pitcher, while Alex Najpauer will backup Kim Morrison at second base. When workhorse Arbogast needs a breather, newcomers Monica Glomb and Mary Hoch will split a majority of the time on the mound.

Other newcomers include pitcher Lauren Doering and outfielders Joanna Spangler, Angela Domenici, and Nicole Hannum (will redshirt).

The freshmen are going to be in for quite a ride as they are joining a team that certainly has national championship hopes. Led by last year’s division II leader in homeruns, Steph Denlinger, KU’s offense is one the best ever in the PSAC, and possibly in Division II. Denlinger’s returning supporting cast includes Kim Morrison, Maria Schiavo, Krista Cameron, and Ashley Fitzgerald. Those five are expected to bat first through fifth, providing a ton of offense to say the least. Deeper in the lineup will be the aforementioned Tedjeske, Caitlin Hague, and Sam Flowers.

Probable Starting Lineup:
(L to R: Batting Order – Position – Player – 2007 AVG/HR/RBI – Note)

1. 2B - Kim Morrison - .329/3/31 – Doesn’t walk much, but has speed and should score a ton of runs in this offense.

2. LF - Maria Schiavo - .324/0/38 – Hit in this spot last year as a rookie and set the KU single season record for sacrifice hits with 27.

3. 1B - Steph Denlinger - .507/24/73 – Will be expected to put up similar numbers to 2007, but will likely be walked even more than the PSAC record 51 times from 2007.

4. 3B - Krista Cameron - .359/16/66 – If opponents turn to walking Denlinger, Cameron could drive in 80+ runs this year.

5. CA/DH - Ashley Fitzgerald - .396/11/61 – She will catch more this year, which hopefully will not wear her down at the plate where she excels.

6. SS - Krista Tedjeske – N/A – The only rookie in the lineup will be counted on to provide some pop behind the “big 3”.

7. CA - Caitlin Hague - .325/1/12 – Will split time at catcher and is an excellent contact hitter.

or DH - Tami Wambold - .176/2/3 – She will DH when Fitzgerald catches and will be swinging for the fences every at bat.

8. RF - Sam Flowers - .211/3/11 – Will start in right field, but will feel free pressure from freshman Reifsnyder.

9. CF - Kathy Gregg - .337/0/7 – Was stellar as the nine hitter in 07 and will be relied on to get on base for the top of the order…not to mention replace Willmer in center field.

Returning to the bench:
IF Emily Fazekas - .200/0/0
IF Anne Arbogast - .000/0/0
IF/CA Laine Heisler - .167/0/1

Probable Pitching Staff:
(L to R: Depth – Player – 2007 Record/ERA/K – Note)

Ace: Katlin Arbogast – 27-9/1.82/287 – KU’s single-season wins and strikeout record holder was the ace in 2007 and will be even better this season.

Secondary option: Monica Glomb – N/A – The freshman will be relied on to produce when Arbogast needs a breather

Secondary option: Mary Hoch – N/A – Like Glomb, this power pitching freshman will see time behind Arbogast.

Other option - Christie McIntyre (0-0/13.36/1) – Saw little action a year ago, but could get more work this year depending how the freshmen fare.

What to expect:
This team is as good as they get at this level and there is absolutely no reason to expect anything less than a contender for the regional title. This team had Division II powerhouse Lock Haven beat last year and the player’s are as motivated as ever to storm back and roll over their PSAC rivals in 2008. The team does have a few question marks including depth and the heavy reliance on freshman pitchers behind Arbogast, but KU also has one of the best offenses in the nation and a proven winner on the mound.

If the team’s core players stay healthy and the pitching holds up, the Golden Bears will be a serious contender for a national championship. You heard it here first.

Ladies look to upset East-leading Marauders

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Millersville Marauders
When: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 @ 6 p.m.
Where: Puscillo Gymnasium on the campus of Millersville University

The Golden Bears have quite the challenge on their plates as they prepare to head to Millersville on Wednesday evening. Kutztown (11-13, 4-5) is coming off back-to-back wins for the first time since December, but will be going up against the PSAC East-leading Millersville (19-4, 8-0).

The Golden Bears currently hold the fourth and final playoff spot in the PSAC East. They trail Cheyney (6-3) by two full games for the three seed and lead East Stroudsburg (3-5) by one-half game for that final playoff spot.

The Marauders have already clinched a PSAC East playoff berth and are winners of nine straight games including a 65-40 beatdown of KU on Jan. 23 at Keystone Hall.

Both teams struggled out of the gate offensively in that game, with MU taking just a 24-19 advantage at the half. The Marauders exploded in the second half, however, outscoring KU 41-21. Jenna Craig and Gladine St. Julien dominated KU’s frontcourt, accounting for a combined 28 points and 19 rebounds. The Golden Bears actually outshot the Marauders from the field, but turned the ball over 25 times, were outrebounded by 11, and made a telling 19 less free throws.

Probable Starters:
Millersville:
F- # 3 – Jenna Craig
F- # 22 – Gladine St. Julien
G- # 30 – Kari Cover
G- # 32 – Jenna Philo
G- # 34 – Aiesha Bellamy

Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Scouting Report:
The most glaring deficiency for KU in the teams’ first meeting was the lack of a front court presence. The Golden Bears played solid defense in the first half, but fell flat on their faces in the second half, allowing Millersville’s big scorers to dictate the game. As if it wasn’t bad enough that Craig and St. Julien were winning on their offensive end, they also shut down KU’s offensive attack, holding them to a season low 40 points.

The Golden Bears will need a stellar defensive showing from front court leaders Mercedes Van Wagner and Melissa McQuade. If the Golden Bears can slow down Craig and St. Julien and find a way to score the basketball, they can contend with this team.

With that all being said, MU is far from a 2-lady team, as they’ve had five different players lead them in scoring over their last six games. Ashley Moyer, Jenna Philo, and Kari Cover are also excellent scorers who can easily pave the way to victory for the Marauders.

It won’t be easy, but KU needs to play disciplined basketball and do several things better than they have if they want to keep this close. It will start by slowing down the Marauder scoring attack and will end with protecting the basketball and finding ways to get clean looks at the net. The Golden Bears gameplan should be similar to what has been working over the last few weeks. They need to pass the ball all over the floor until someone gets a clean look. KU has worked the ball around so well that they’ve been left open for wide open three pointers on multiple occasions. A big day from beyond the arc would keep them in the game and, if they play solid defense, would be a recipe for an upset.

Prediction:
KU has some confidence following back-to-back wins, but Millersville is a powerhouse in the PSAC and will not allow a KU upset on their court. The Golden Bears have the tools to pull off the shocker, but they need to do way too many things perfect to actually win the game. For a veteran team, I’d give them more of a shot here, but coach Malouf loves playing the underclassmen and that won’t change on Wednesday. The ladies will fall behind early and won’t be able to overcome the tough Puscillo Gymnasium environment.

Kutztown 53
Millersville 68

Home court advantage at stake for KU men

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Millersville Marauders
When: Wednesday, February 20 @ 8 p.m.
Where: Puscillo Gymnasium on the campus of Millersville University

Last season, the KU men's basketball team made history by hosting their first ever PSAC playoff game. This year's squad has a chance to make history repeat itself. If KU defeats MU it will allow the Golden Bears to host a first round playoff game. KU is still in the running for the top spot in the PSAC East as it is tied with Cheyney for first place. KU is coming off of a 97-68 blowout against Bloomsburg. Andre Woodlin had a career high 22 points, while Dave Ben and Nate Edwards added 17 points a piece. Stephen Dennis chipped in with 13 points. For the game, KU shot 49.3 percent from the floor and it was the team's fourth straight win.

MU comes into this game with a 17-6 overall record and is 6-2 in PSAC East play. The Marauders have only lost one conference game since losing to KU last month. CU defeated MU by 30 points on January 30. MU's last victim was also BU as they won 76-67. Charlie Parker led MU with 23 points, while Cory Bray added 22 points, including six three-pointers. MU is led by Reggie Bates, who averages 19.4 points per game and five rebounds. Parker adds 15. 3 points per game. MU as a team only shoots 26.6 percent from beyond the arc.

The last time these two teams met was back on January 23. KU won 78-60 and defeated MU for the sixth straight time. KU was led by Woodlin who had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Dennis had 14 points, and left for part of the game with hip and tailbone injuries. Jeremy Coombs added 13 points and eight rebounds. Bates led MU with 21 points and eight rebounds. Parker added 18 points and eight boards, while Bernard Brown added 14 points. MU's head coach Fred Thompson was ejected with 57.8 seconds left in the game after picking up his second technical foul of the evening. MU was 1-of-18 from beyond the arc, while KU was 4-of-9. KU also outrebounded MU 46-35.

Probable Starters:
Kutztown:
G- #14 Stephen Dennis
G- #32 Andre Woodlin
G/F- #34 Dave Ben
F- #52 Ryan Washington
C- #55 Jeremy Coombs

Millersville:
G- #3 Charlie Parker
G- #20 Cory Bray
G/F- #22 Reggie Bates
F- #42 RayQuan Miles
F- #44 Bernard Brown

Prediction:

KU has turned the tide lately in its series with MU, and has shown that its not intimated when playing at Puscillo Gymnasium. KU won their last year 67-64. MU is 10-1 overall at home this year, and will be looking to prove that KU's 18-point win last month was a fluke. KU proved that it had more talent than MU last time, and with a home playoff game on the line, the Golden Bears will find a way to win a close one.

Kutztown 75
Millersville 71

Men's team shellacks Huskies

Bloomsburg Huskies 68
Kutztown Golden Bears 97

Recap: The Golden Bears stumbled out of the gate and allowed the Huskies to take the early lead, but it was only a matter of time before the more-talented KU squad ran away with the convincing victory. Four Golden Bears scored double figures in a game that saw the home team shoot an impressive 49 percent from the field. It was KU’s highest scoring game of the season and their second straight 90-plus point game in a row.

Telling Stat: There really wasn’t one stat that stood out in this game. Rather, it was a bunch of categories that, when viewed as one, show why KU dominated the game. The Golden Bears outrebounded BU 46-37, had a 22-8 advantage in assists, had 8 more blocks, and, most importantly, made 12 more shots.

Key series: KU led by as many as 17 in the first half, but the Huskies clawed to within 11 early on in the second half. The Golden Bears would answer with 7 straight points and the Huskies would get no closer than 15 the rest of the way. With KU ahead 48-37 and 18:35 to play, Andre Woodlin hit two free throws and a layup, Dave Ben nailed a free throw, and Jeremy Coombs dropped in a layup to extend the lead to 18.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: Of the 4 Golden Bears in double figures, Woodlin was certainly the most prolific on Saturday. The sophomore was 9-of-13 from the field and scored a team-high 22 points. He failed to convert each of his two three point attempts, but was 4-of-4 from the free throw line. He also chipped in with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: Throughout this game, the arena had some severe and some minor technical issues. The music was muffled for the Dance Team routine, there was no sound between the action, there was loud obnoxious noises coming out of the speakers during play, and at one point, the power went out on the scoreboards and shot clocks. The LVGB goes to whoever’s fault that was…even if it was me accidently kicking an electrical outlet.

Impact: The Golden Bears win sets them up for a huge duo of road games in the next week. KU, now 8-1 in the PSAC East, heads to Millersville on Wednesday for a game with playoff implications. If KU wins, they clinch home court advantage in the first round of the PSAC playoffs. The Golden Bears then travel to Cheyney on Saturday to take on the Wolves, who are tied with KU at 8-1 atop the division.

Ladies complete sweep of Huskies

Bloomsburg Huskies 56
Kutztown Golden Bears 76

Recap: The Golden Bears took an early lead and never looked back as they easily handled the Huskies at Keystone Hall on Saturday. KU led by as many as 15 in the first half and extended that to 20 by the final whistle. The Huskies hung in the game early on thanks to a few buckets from leading scorer Colleen Kegerreis, but it wasn’t long before it was clear that KU was the superior team.

Telling Stat: The Golden Bears did not shoot much better than the Huskies in this game, but they did hit 8 three pointers and outrebounded them 47-36. The most significant stat of this affair was a margin of 21-9 in the assist department. KU, tops in the PSAC during conference play in assists, wore down the BU defense by continuing to work the ball around the court until someone was open for a clean look.

Key series: KU appeared to have put the game to bed late in the first half when they led by 15 points. However, the Huskies went on a 6-0 run to cut their deficit to single digits at the break and were within 5 with 17:27 left in the second half. The key series of the day game next as KU answered with a 9-0 run and a stretch in which they outscored the Huskies 20-5. It was started by a Rachel Weidensaul jumper and continued with two layups and a free throw from Mercedes Van Wagner. Vivian Melvin completed the 9 point swing with a layup.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: Van Wagner was a monster on the boards (8 points, 13 boards), but the athlete who seemed to make the big shots and took the air out of every BU run was Rachel Wisemiller. The sophomore scored a team-high 16 points and was 4-of-5 from beyond the three point arc. She also had 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: KU hosted the mascot Olympics yesterday with several local mascots battling it out for mascot supremacy during breaks in the action. This award goes to whoever came up with the idea for that pink, creepy-looking softball team’s mascot. What was that thing?

Impact: The Golden Bears’ win was huge as it propelled them back into the playoff picture. KU currently sits at 4-5 and holds the fourth and final playoff spot in the PSAC East. With the win over BU, KU’s biggest challenge for the final playoff spot will be East Stroudsburg, who trails them by just one-half of a game. Left on the schedule for the Golden Bears are trips to Millersville (8-0) and Cheyney (6-3) before a huge regular season finale at home against ESU (3-5).

KU dominates Bloomsburg

Both the women and men's basketball teams easily handled the visiting Bloomsburg Huskies on Saturday afternoon.

The women won their game 76-56 to move to 4-5 in the PSAC East and are now back to fourth place in the division. Four teams qualify for the PSAC playoffs in each division.

The men scored a season high 97 points en route to a thrashing of the Huskies. They improve to 8-1 and are tied with Cheyney for first place in the PSAC East. Both teams have already clinched playoff berths.

Look for full recaps tomorrow.

Gameday

Today the women's and men' s basketball teams will be taking on Bloomsburg at Keystone Hall.

The women kick off the action at 1 p.m. and the men will follow at 3 p.m.

My partner Jason Ogle and I will be broadcasting the action live starting at 12:50 p.m. on the Golden Bear Network.

Golden Boys Look For Fourth Straight Win

What: Bloomsburg University @ Kutztown University
When: Saturday February 16, 2008 @ 3 p.m.
Where: Keystone Arena on the campus of Kutztown University

Fresh off securing a PSAC East playoff berth, the Golden Bears' men's basketball team will look for their fourth straight win over the doormat of the PSAC East, the Bloomsburg Huskies. KU is coming off of a 94-91 win at Mansfield on Wednesday night. It was KU's first win there since 2004. The team was paced by Dave Ben's 25 points, including a 13-of-14 showing at the foul line. Stephen Dennis and Nate Edwards added 17 a piece, while Ryan Washington grabbed six rebounds. KU led by as many as 12 in the second half , but MU cut the lead to three with 27 seconds left. KU secured the win by going 29-of38 from the charity stripe. The win moved KU into a tie with Cheyney for first place. KU has three conference games remaining after this one, including trips to CU and Millersville.

The BU Huskies have as many wins as their field hockey team had losses this season; give or take a few. BU has an 8-14 overall record and is 0-8 in PSAC East play. They have lost nine in a row and 10 of 11. Their closest margin of defeat during that span was eight points, which occured last Wednesday night in a 64-56 loss to Mansfield. BU is led by Nick Jones, who averages 16.9 points per game (7th in PSAC). Buddy Rose averages 10 points and five boards per game. As a team, BU averages 64.7 points per game, shoots 43 percent from the floor, and 32 percent from beyond the arc.

These two teams met earlier this season on January 26 at Nelson Field House. KU won that game 67-52, even without the services of Stephen Dennis. It didn't matter for the talent-laden Golden Bears as they had four players score in double figures, led by Andre Woodlin's 14. Ben added 12 and six, while Washington added 12 and nine boards. Jeremy Coombs added 10 points and six rebounds. Nick Jones led BU with 16 points. John Allen added 12 points and nine boards. Rose was held to just six points. BU shot a dismal 34.5 percent from the floor and was 1-for-17 total (5.9 %) from beyond the arc.

Probable Starters:

Bloomsburg:
G- #33 Jon DeJesus
G- #14 Drew Jerry
G- #21 Buddy Rose
F- #34 John Allen
C- #52 Jeremiah Long

Kutztown:
G- #14 Stephen Dennis
G- #32 Andre Woodlin
G/F- #34 Dave Ben
F- #52 Ryan Washington
C- #55 Jeremy Coombs

Prediction:

There really isn't much to predict here. KU handled BU earlier this year without Dennis, and proved that they have a solid group of core and bench players. Ben has been light's out lately and is making a late case for PSAC East Player of the Year. This one will be ugly throughout.

Bloomsburg 60
Kutztown 85

Ladies continue playoff push against Huskies

What: Bloomsburg Huskies @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday, February 16, 2008 @ 1 p.m.
Where: Keystone Hall on the campus of Kutztown University

The Golden Bears head into Saturday’s contest with the Bloomsburg Huskies knowing that a loss would result in devastating consequences with regards to their playoff hopes. Just off a convincing win at Mansfield on Wednesday, KU currently sits in fifth place in the PSAC East at 3-5. The Golden Bears trail Millersville (7-0), West Chester (5-2), Cheyney (5-3), and East Stroudsburg (3-4) for one of the four divisional playoff spots.

Meanwhile, the Huskies are in a similar situation. They sit just behind KU with a record of 2-6 and need this win to creep back into playoff contention. BU is coming off a game in which they were smoked 72-50 at Millersville on Wednesday.

These teams last met in Bloomsburg on Jan. 26 with the Golden Bears coming away with a convincing 71-52 victory. KU shot an impressive 49 percent in that game and were led by a 20 point day from leading scorer Rachel Weidensaul. 11 Golden Bears scored in a game in which KU outrebounded the Huskies 44-25.

Probable Starters:

Bloomsburg:
C- # 25 – Colleen Kegerreis
F- # 31 – Monica Dennison
F- # 20 – Kelly Joyce
G- # 21 – Lauren Healy
G- # 22 – Stephanie Jones

Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Scouting Report:

The Golden Bears should have no trouble in this game, but that does not mean Bloomsburg is short on players who can help them to an upset. In the first meeting, center Colleen Kegerreis played the entire game, scoring a team-high 16 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Kegerreis the team’s clear best player and is one rebound per game short of averaging a double double on the season. KU will be looking to it’s inside game to try and shut her down, with Mercedes Van Wagner and Claire Sitarz likely to see much of the time defending her. Lauren Healy scored just 5 points in that first game, but averages just over 11 points per game this season.

Coach Malouf is likely to continue her trend of going with the hot hands and running a pass first offense. KU has been playing better on the offensive end lately and much of that credit goes to an improved passing game. The Golden Bears lead the PSAC in assists in conference play and that has been a product off them focusing on passing the ball all over the court until someone has a clear lane to the net. That is likely to continue on Saturday, as KU will be looking to build some offensive momentum for a tough road game against Millersville next Wednesday.

The Golden Bears cannot afford to lay back and let the Huskies dictate this game. KU needs to come out strong and put this game out of reach as soon as possible to give BU no hope for an upset. If the Huskies build some confidence in the first half, there is no reason to believe they can pull off the win in the second half.

Prediction:

Expect KU to come out and play well. The players know they need to win this game to keep their playoff hopes alive and they won’t allow a letdown. Coming off a throttling of Mansfield, the Golden Bears will have a big first half before coasting through the second frame to back to back PSAC East wins.

If Weidensaul plays well early, look for her to score near 20 points again. If not, expect Melissa McQuade and Mercedes Van Wagner to carry the scoring load for KU.

Bloomsburg 55
Kutztown 70

Men’s team completes sweep of Mounties

Kutztown Golden Bears 94
Mansfield Mountaineers 91

Recap: Much like the women’s action earlier that night, the men’s team led by just 2 at the half before extending their lead during the second half. Unlike the ladies game, however, the men allowed the Mounties to sneak back to within 3 before the final whistle blew. Regardless, the Golden Bears took home a slim 3 point victory and all but sealed up a spot in the PSAC playoffs. The game was relatively even with both teams shooting almost exactly the same from the floor throughout the day. Both teams shot just under 36 percent in the first half, just over 57 percent for the second half, and just under 48 percent total.

Telling Stat: With both teams shooting so similarly, it was the other categories that made the difference in the game. The most notable statistic was the difference in free throw shooting. KU drew 9 more fouls than the Mounties and were 29-of-38 from the charity stripe, while MU was just 12-of-19.

Key moment: The Golden Bears led by 7 with under a minute to play, but allowed the Mounties to hang in the game until the final moments. Up just three with 27 seconds to play, Steve Coffey hit a free throw and Andre Woodlin followed with two of his own. That extended the lead to six and would prove to be the difference as MU’s Kevin Hill nailed a three pointer with 3 seconds left.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: David Ben was once again the leader of the pack for the Golden Bears. Ben was 5-of-12 from the floor for a game-high 25 points. He was 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and an extremely impressive 13-of-14 from the free throw line. As if that wasn’t already enough, he chipped in with 5 boards, 5 assists, and 2 steals.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: Kevin Hafera played 11 minutes and was 0-for-1 from the field. He had a rebound, assist, steal, and hit both of his free throws, but committed 3 personal fouls in limited action. It was not an awful day, but the least valuable day.

Impact: The Golden Bears improve to 7-1 in the PSAC East and are now a half game ahead of the Cheyney Wolves (who play Thursday). They are close to clinching a playoff berth and will likely do so following what should be an easy game on Saturday against the visiting Bloomsburg Huskies. Now that they’ve all but clinched a playoff berth, they will focus on a regular season PSAC East championship.

UPDATE: Cheyney won on Thursday which means they return to a tie with KU atop the PSAC East. Both teams have clinched playoff berths.