Big Man on Campus

Staying Home

Centennial CVI guard Dan McCarthy committed to the University of Guelph men's program Tuesday morning.

McCarthy is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound multi-talented guard who can probably play three - if not four - spots on the floor. He's thick, can shoot and was a leader of the Spartans two runs at OFSAA the past two seasons.

McCarthy toured the Guelph science facilities last week and left impressed. He is planning to study biomed. Western was also in the running for McCarthy's services.

I bumped into Guelph senior guard Nick Pankerichan and senior forward Jay Mott on the weekend. Both were hopeful McCarthy would choose Guelph. Both look forward to playing with him.

While McCarthy chose Guelph, his high school teammate Evan Schwantz, a two-sport star in basketball and volleyball, chose to play basketball at Laurier.

He's a 6-foot-7, 215-pound post player and won the District 10 MVP this season. However, he started playing basketball later in life and might take a season or two to progress.

Ken Murray Was Right All Along

In October, when basketball training camps opened across the OUA, I surveyed every coach in the OUA and asked via e-mail who they thought were the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the province heading into the season. It was part of our OUA Basketball Season Preview at the Mercury.

With Brock having won the national championship today, I thought I'd share just a small piece of what Brock head coach Ken Murray's replied with on Oct. 5, 2007.

- - I would have voted for my team but that would show too much bias. My top six players are as good as anyone's in the country. What we need is to see how the rest of my players contribute. - -

Looks like Murray was right after all, right from the beginning.

Dinner's On O'Rourke

I just happened to be at a high school basketball practice Friday over at Guelph's Centennial CVI where the Spartans were making last-minute preparations for their second consecutive trip to the OFSAA AAAA Championship.

I spoke with fifth-year senior centre Evan Schwantz, who stands six-foot-seven and weighs 215 pounds. He's the all-star starting centre with a touch of a mid-range jump shot for the Spartans. He's also an all-star middle hitter on the Spartans volleyball team, which also went to OFSAA this season.

Schwantz isn't sure where he's going to attend university next season, but he told me Laurier head coach Peter Campbell is very interested in his services. And, I know for a fact that Guelph's volleyball coach Cal Wigston would love to have play for him. Lastly, Guelph men's basketball coach Chris O'Rourke was to take Schwantz to dinner Friday night and talk about playing for the Gryphs basketball team next season.

EDIT: O'Rourke actually went to the Schwantz house for dinner.

"I have no idea where I want to go," Schwantz told me. "Anything's possible. I'm going to look into education first and then if they offer a great basketball program or great volleyball program I'll make my decision."

Schwantz wasn't the only Spartan O'Rourke treated to a meal Friday. Before he was to dine with Schwantz, the coach had lunch with CCVI's fourth-year senior guard Danny McCarthy in the afternoon.

McCarthy is CCVI's best player. He's a six-foot-two, 190-pound guard that runs the Spartans offence. He can shoot, sees the floor well and he's strong. He's not afraid to get in the paint. Injuries this season limited his production and progress, but I think he could play at the next level.

McCarthy's applied to four universities, although he could return to high school next season.  He's narrowed his choices down to Guelph and Western, which happens to be in the OUA West final Saturday at Brock.

"I'm still undecided," McCarthy said.

It's good to see O'Rourke looking for talent in his own backyard. Not a single Gryphon basketball player this season — men's and women's teams included — was from Guelph.

From The 'Say What' File

Our good friend Neate Sager over at the CIS Blog pointed out the OUA's latest blunder.

In the OUA's weekly "By The Numbers" post on its homepage — and By The Numbers is pretty cool usually — the OUA states that the Toronto Varsity Blues women's basketball teams won its first championship in 1883-84. That is seven years before Canadian Dr. James Naismith even invented the game in 1891.

Here's this week's By The Numbers.

Guelph at Brock - OUA Semifinal

4th Quarter

0:00
BROCK 78, GUELPH 74
Leading scorers
GUELPH: Milne, 19; Pankerichan, Mott and Popic 18
BROCK: White 25

Quote of the night: Brad Rootes comes to the scorer's table and directly over to me and says "People reading that thing (my blog) must be going crazy right now. We made it exciting for them."

Both teams did.

23.2 Bianchin to the line. Brock 72, Guelph 69
UPDATE he hit both.

35.5 seconds left and Pankerichan took a tough three and missed - not his fault.

1:05 Rootes intitiated contact on Mott while shooting and is heading to the line for two. O'Rourke hated the call. But, that's the call an all-Canadian gets. It happens in every sport. Everyone in the gym knew it was coming.
UPDATE: Rootes hit one. Brock rebounded

1:19 Milne fouled on rebound. Shooting bonus. The crowd is into it. Milne hit one and it's Brock 70, Guelph 67.

2:29 Don't look (or listen now) but Guelph is within six in a raucous house. Guelph fans are into it as Popic hits a two and forces a Brock timeout. Brock 70 Guelph 66. Guelph has outscored Brock 9-2 in little more than two minutes.

2:56 During a Pankerichan free throw, Agyemang and Steen exchanged words when Agyemang tried to break up a Brock huddle.

3:49 Guelph's throwing up threes like rescue flares. This thing is over as the crowd chants MVP for Rootes.

4:27 I think I've said it before, but the "Sit Down Coach" chant is my favourite in all of sports. And I'm hearing a lot of it sitting beside the Guelph bench.

4:55 Timeout Guelph. Brock 68, Guelph 57

7:00 A six-point run by Brock in effect. The Badgers lead by 15.

8:40 I just noticed this on the box score: Only four Gryphons have points. No team is going to win any game with a stat like that.

3rd Quarter

0:00
BROCK 63, GUELPH 51
Leading scorers
GUELPH: Pankerichan 17, Mott 15, Milne 14
BROCK: White 17, Rootes 14, Kemp 11

Brock's offence is so smooth, so deep, so deadly. Inside and out. They run plays fluidly. They drain threes. They have an idside threat. Complete I tell you.

2:09 Timeout Guelph. Everyone on the Gryphons bench is frustrated and angry. 58-44 Brock.

2:44 Random reminder: I picked Brock to win the OUA West. Again, they are impressing me. I think they can do it whether they play Windsor or Western.

3:41 Owen White is playing so well for Brock, O'Rourke just told Milne and Luke Nevar to double team him. he scored immediately after. 56-42 Brock. This is looking to be over.

5:14 Petrella's on the court to guard Rootes, obviously, but in order to be effective at both ends, Petrella needs to be a bigger threat. Right now, it's too easy for Brock to double Milne and Pankerichan; the Gryphons two biggest threats.

5:51 Guelph is frustrated with the calls, with Brock's defence, with just about everything. Things are slipping away fast. The confidence Guelph had in warmups is all but gone. 50-36 Brock.

8:27 No breaks for Guelph. Two balls turned over on diving, mad scrambles. One out of bounds off Milne's foot. 44-34 Brock

HALFTIME NOTE:

No word on Moscatelli.
UPDATE: It's either his groin or hamstring. Either way, I don't see him in the building and he will not play tonight.

I didn't expect nearly a 10-point lead for Brock. Maybe six. But if this lead extends to 13 or 15 points, Guelph may be done.

Man Brock's scoring is balanced. And, someohow, the Badgers are out-rebounding the Gryphons.

2nd Quarter

0:00
BROCK 41, GUELPH 32
Leading scorers
GUELPH: Mott 15, Milne 8, Pankerichan 6
BROCK: Rootes 9, Kemp 9, White 9

47: Murray and Mott and trading three-point blows. These guys are two of the most under rated and best shooting players in the West.

1:55 Another charge drawn by Mott. What an all around game he brought tonight. Timeout Brock. 36-28 Brock.

2:42 Guelph is struggling to find offence thanks in part to a good Brock defence — it's aggressive and fast — and in part to Milne being out.

4:21 - I just noticed (and I apologive for not doing so sooner) but Moscatelli is NOT on the bench, but I'm not sure why. He did tweak a hamstring last week against Laurier. And, he's been sick. In double checking, I don't even see him in the stands behind the bench. I have someone looking into his whereabouts. 32-27 Brock

5:41 Mott with a three to give Guelph the lead. I told you he'd be important. Immediately after, he drew a charge on Muir. 27-26 Guelph, which also took a timeout. O'Rourke needs to change plans with Milne out for what will likely be the rest of the first half.

6:46 Petrella's doing what he's been told and getting Milne the ball. But the thing is, Rootes, who is guarding Petrella is doubling down. When Milne kicks it back, Petrella's not enough of a threat to draw Rootes back out.
NOTE: Milne picked up his third foul while I was typing. 26-23 Brock

8:30 Brock controlled the ball and game on the offensive end for 1:30 to open the quarter and never scored. Milne did though at the other end.

1st Quarter

0:00
BROCK 20, GUELPH 15
Leading scorers
GUELPH: Mott 7, Milne 6
BROCK: Rootes 7, Steen 4

1:17 Offence must not matter to Guelph right now. On the floor? Agyemang, Petrella, Kasiuk, Popic, Bering.
Two rookies a defensive specialist and a set shooter. Popic is the best threat.

1:57 Petrella checks in with specific instructions from O'Rourke "Give Ducnan the ball." 15-15 score.

2:34 Duncan Milne wants the ball, wants the win. He's barrelling over players just to get a finger on a rebound or loose ball. His teammates need to reward him.

4:00 With so many good and equal matchups on both ends for both teams, could Jay Mott be the difference for Guelph? He's being a aggressive and looks confident; four points. 11-11 game.

5:00 Just an observation: Brock's second unit is just as good as its first. Steen and Muir off the bench tonight and Steen's looked good; four points.

6:17 Two touch fouls assessed to Guelph early. That only helps Brock who, with Guelph guarding the three so close can take further advantage and drive.

7:00 O'Rourke's already working the officials over — hard.

8:15 Brock's first bucket? A three.

9:00 Bianchin has two shots, two misses. He's the Badgers worst offensive option. If he keeps shooting, we'll have a house here by halftime.

10:00
Just a question: How big of a role does Nick Walters play tonight? He's a great, gritty defender and may be needed if Bering gets into foul trouble.

10:00
Tonight's starters
Guelph: Pankerichan, Petrella, Mott, Milne, Bering
Brock: Rootes, Kemp, Murray, White, Bianchin

Two rookies get the start for Guelph again tonight. It's all about matchups. Petrella to help defending Rootes. Bering has to pick up Bianchin or White. I'm not sure he's fast enough to guard White. But I suspect that's his assignment. We'll see.

Honestly, I've never seen the Gryphons at least look this focused. These guys look like their heading into battle. It's as serious as I've seen them all season.

Pre-game

11:00 to tip: I'll be working a running blog in (pretty much) real time — as best I can anyway.

I believe bigtime in numbers, percentages and odds. So I think that's what this game comes down to. Can Guelph have the better three-point shooting percentage? They certainly have the ability to have such a number. Can Brock beat Guelph three times in one season? I think it's going to be tough. Those are the two key numbers.

Everyone looks healthy for Guelph in the warmup. There's a certain silence to the team as they run through their warmups.

As far as personnel is concerned. Can Chris O'Rourke keep Duncan Milne fresh enough and manage his bench well enough to stop Brock's Big Three (Dusty Bianchin, Owen White, Mike Muir).

When I spke with Milne Saturday, he was as confident as I've ever seen him. He had a swagger. That might help toni
ght,10:00

Stick With Me!

I first have to thank my coworkers, whoever they are/were, for posting items of the BMC Blog the past few days.

I've been away from the office and away from a computer since Saturday.

However, I will be courtside and blogging from St. Catharines when Guelph plays Brock in an OUA semfinal Wednesday night.

Basketball semi-final tomorrow night

The Gryphons advance to an OUA semi-final game against the Brock Badgers tomorrow (Feb. 27).

Tip off is at 7:30 p.m. at the Bob Davis Gymnasium in St. Catharines.

Up and over

Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks player Jesse Macdonald goes up for a shot on the Guelph Gryphons Borko Popic Saturday at the Mitchell Athletics Centre during their OUA West Division quarter-final. Photo by Tony Saxon, Guelph Mercury. Guelph won 69-59.

Overtime loss eliminates women's hockey

Laura Foster, right, of the University of Toronto Blues celebrates her overtime winner Saturday at the Gryphon Centre in front of Gryphon goaltender Sarah Long and defencemen Jody Hodgins (7). The loss eliminated Guelph from the playoffs. Photo by Tony Saxon, Guelph Mercury

Guelph vs. Laurier - OUA Quarter-Final

GUELPH 69 LAURIER 59 (FINAL)

Leading scorers:
GUELPH: Pankerichan 26, Milne 22 (8 reb)
LAURIER: Harrison 23

FOURTH QUARTER

:43 Timeout Laurier after they wasted a shot clock. Guelph posession. Guelph 68, Laurier 59.

1:22 Duncan Milne is player of the game. I know Pankerichan has 26 points at this point, but Milne has been clutch. Rebounds, points, keeping balls alive. He's been instrumental in the fourth. Guelph 68, Laurier 59 and we're in a timeout.

1:59 Harrison fouled on a jumper. And he hits the free throw. It's Guelph 66, Laurier 59. I shudder to think how good Harrison will be in three or four years.

3:49 Harrison's back in, and into a ball game. I predict a Laurier win right here. Right now.

4:04 Walker hits a Laurier three and we have a game. See post at 4:31 to read my thoughts.

4:31 Guelph leads by just nine and they're winding time down off the clock. If you play to "not lose" you lose. This looks like trouble.

5:52 Harrison comes out for Laurier. This could be Campbell conceding the game. Harrison's the only one to be effective offensively. He's the future of this team - maybe the OUA - and Laurier's down 11. I'm not sure the Hawks can stay in the game until Harrison returns.

6:55 Milne nearly crowned Pennycook while trying to finish a fast break off the press break. Nice to see the big man finally trying to throw down on someone.

7:04 Guelph leads by 14 but they sure are trying hard to jeopardize the lead. Dumb fouls, lots of complaining.

8:05 Mott wins the wrong place wrong time award today. He picked his fourth foul diving for a ball. His first foul was as innocent. He just couldn't catch a break.

THIRD QUARTER

0:00
GUELPH 54 LAURIER 41

Leading scorers
GUELPH: Pankerichan 25
LAURIER: Harrison 20

:50 From the Wow File: Pankerichan hit a three from the hockey arena next store: Guelph 50, Laurier 50.

1:39 Coach Campbell is all over referee Geoff Astles: "The whole idea of this is for you guys to be consistent. The players will decide the game if you're consistent. Right now that's going to be tough because you guys keep making things up!"

1:58: How about this? Pankerichan is back. Looks good. Must not be broken.

2:18 Harrison just elbowed Pankerichan in the face on a pivot. I could hear the smack from the scorer's table. This was ugly, although I don't see blood. Pankerichan is dazed and leaving the court. The elbow landed flush on the nose.

3:32: Nothing has happened in about three minutes. Literally, nothing. It's been slow, sloppy, laden with turnovers and fouls.

5:57 Timeout Laurier. Guelph 41, Laurier 38.

6:22 Petrella's the latest Gryphon to go down. He was rubbed out on a screen no one called. This one cost the Gryphs a point guard. He hobbled off with a left leg injury. Looks like a thigh bruise/charley horse.

6:44: Does any Guelph player struggle more at home than Popic? He's been dynamite on the road. But can't buy a bucket at the MAC.

Also, Guelph has no clue how to break a man press. Well, at least no clue how to get open for the inbound pass.

7:17: Laurier's turn to press full court - man-to-man. It's working.

8:00 Guelph's Bering and Laurier's Csima are waging quite the war in the post. It's an absolute pleasure to watch. These guys, two of the teams' lesser knowns, are really going at it. Arm bars, shoulder locks, grabbing jerseys.

8:59: Laurier big man Andrew Pennycook went down with an ankle injury. Play was stopped after Guelph scored, but Pennycook stayed in. He cannot be 100%. He looked to be in pain.

HALFTIME NOTE: Moscatelli's injury is reportedly a slight tweak of the left hamstring. He's been sick, dehydrated and pumped full of antibiotics this week. So, he likely will not play in the second half today. He was the last to return to the floor at half.

SECOND QUARTER

o:oo
GUELPH 37 LAURIER 29

Leading scorers
GUELPH: Pankerichan 14, Milne 12 (5 reb)
LAURIER: Harrison 17

:48: The second consecutive shot clock mishap stalls the game. Campbell's quote: "I thought you told me we were in good shape with the Guelph table?" Usually coach.

NOTE TO YOU KIDS: Call the screen. Agyemang just got leveled by a screen on the press. You have to talk to your teammates.

2:55 Typical OUA officiating. A one-minute span where all hell breaks loose. They missed Milne being fouled on a shot. Missed a charge on Laurier then called Popic for a weak blocking call. The fans, of course, went bananas. Guelph 34, Laurier 25.

3:37 Laurier timeout. I'm not sure why. They aren't that far behind (trailing by seven) and they aren't playinig that bad. Coach Campbell must have seen something he needed to change on the Laurier offence. They just fired up a prayer with no time left on the shot clock.

4:53 Guelph timeout. Pankerichan's trying to do way too much now; an out of control drive that missed and an airball three from way too far away. Even O'Rourke was left screaming 'WHY!?' Guelph 29, Laurier 25

5:45 Harrison continues to be Laurier's big player. He's the next Ryan Steer. He just hit two free throws to get Laurier to within four. 29-25

6:24 Mott just picked up his third foul. He was clearly over the back. I appreciate aggressive rebounding, but it's cost him two fouls today.

7:44 Another three by Pankerichan. I told you he could be dangerous today.

8:18 A three by Pankerichan stretches guelph's lead to 24-19. Make no mistake, their pressure defence has been the difference early in the quarter.

9:00 Another steal and basket for Petrella off the press. This Guelph guard continues to prove to be the steal of the 2007-2008 rookie class.

10:00 Guelph comes out pressing. I haven't seen this much this season. It created a turnover and two points immediately.

FIRST QUARTER

o:oo
GUELPH 17 LAURIER 17

Leading scorers:
GUELPH: Milne 8 (4 reb), Pankerichan 5
LAURIER: Harrison 11

If you're Laurier, you're confident. The Hawks came back nicely down the stretch. As usualy, Guelph couldn't find the jugular vein. Again the Gryphons make it tough on themselves.

:37: Things got so bad down the stretch of the first quarter, O'Rourke couldn't wait for the quart-time timeout and called one. Laurier leads 17-15. Guelph got away from Milne. Took too many starters out and stopped playing defence. It's all added up to cost them.

Bering needs to be on the floor longer. Milne needs to touch the ball more. And the defence needs to tighten up again.

2:07: Kasiuk had to come off the floor for Guelph. He was weak on the offensive boards and weak on defence. Bering's back in.

3:36: Harrison hits a three with Pankerichan draped on him to beat the shot clock and get his team to within one. Less than a minute later, he was fouled as the shot clock wound down. Talk about big play for a rookie.
15-13 Guelph.

4:16: Moscatelli hit the deck and didn't get up. Laurier's had a fast break and an uncontested three to get to 13-9. Moscatelli walked off on his own. But he didn't look confident.

5:24: Timeout Laurier. Duncan Milne is having his way inside. Laurier can't guard both Milne and Bering. For the first time this season, Guelph has the distinct advantage in the paint. Guelph leads 11-4.

6:14: 9-4 Guelph. Milne has four points. Adam Bering has two boards and two points. Nice work in the middle. This is where Guelph has an advantage.

6:50: Three different Gryphons in the books. There's the balance this team can bring.

Kale Harrison does NOT play like a freshman. He's a rookie of the year candidate for sure. He makes tough shots, plays good defence.

Pankerichan hit a three in a man's face like nobody's business on what was his first shot. This could be trouble for Laurier.

10:00: For the first time this season, the crowd is actually into the pre-game introductions. Maybe these bodies will show some life today.

10:00: Here are you starters for today's game
LAURIER: Csima, Harrison, MacDonald, Pennycook, Walker
GUELPH: Pankerichan, Petrella, Mott, Milne, Bering

I like this Guelph starting lineup. I think the matchups are perfect and it keeps guys like Popic and Moscatelli fresh. Also, Agyemang can sub in for two different players. This is the best first-round matchup Guelph could have hoped for.

25:23 to tip: We're up and running. It's a pretty laid back feel on the court. Lots of smiles on both teams' players.

Small crowd though, but I guess that's what you get when playoffs fall in the middle of reading week.

Looks like Guelph is healthy. Only Moscatelli has any sort of brace, and it's on the left knee he's torn up twice in his career.

23:53 to tip: Guelph just exited the court. A three-game winning streak to end the season was enough to get head coach Chris O'Rourke give the team its locker room back.

Okay, I'm hungry. Time for pizza. Keep checking b ack later.