That is incorrect - Albertus won the 1st ever GNAC in 1995-96 - also in New Haven, also vs. Emerson.

That's 10 Finals in 15 years of the GNAC for Emerson, quite an impressive feat considering they've only had a home gym for the last four seasons....but just another reason why coach smith is top shelf.

congrats to shannon and rouse on their excellent careers.

Rob Murphy...Rich Glesmann....Steve Georgolius from Emerson

Creek, I just can't accept these as the top 2 teams. SVC had a team of one-and-done players that fueled their run and J & W was powered by Rohan Russell who was convicted of rape about a month after the tournament -  http://www.d3hoops.com/notables?month=4&year=2004 

One of the great things about D-3 is that you get to watch players and teams grow. Down or not, I thought Norwich was very good and so was WNEC - that team also won in 1999-2000. In '01 they beat Emerson in OT in one of the greatest games in conference history (Aaron Young of Emerson hit a 25 footer at the buzzer to force OT) and don't forget that Emerson team went to the ECAC finals after beating Colby and Wesleyan and lost at Williams by 20 (as close as a dozen in the 2nd half) to the same group that would win the NCAA tourney the next year and lose at the buzzer in the title game the year after.

I still think Emerson would have won that '01 title game vs. WNEC had Dave Miller not gotten hurt in the 1st half - and for those who remember D-Mills that was before any of his knee injuries and he was lightning fast and a great on-the ball defender. That teams also starred Rob Murphy, Rich Glesmann, and freshman Rob Hennigan who went on to score 2,200 points.

Since the conference has only been around since 1995-96, only Emerson (1996-97, 97-98), WNEC (1999-01) and Norwich (2004-06) have repeated as champs so if we're talking about greatest teams in conference I think we have to start the conversation there.....I've been around since the beginning, so that's my two cents.

Thoughts anyone?

Top 4 GNAC Champs of this Century in order..

1. 2002-03 Southern Vermont Mountaineers (Chicago imports in Bennington...)
2. 2003-04 Johnson & Wales Wildcats (Russell, Tamargo, and the Glory Days at Wales)
3. 2001-02 Suffolk Rams (Luisi and the Flex run to a T)
4. 2000-01 WNEC Golden Bears (Physical, defensive-oriented, gritty)

creek....how do you not list Norwich? They were the best champs of the decade...won back-to-back with the same group....it's not even close. Far more legit that #'s 1 and 2 on your list.

Lions roll 86-58 over U-Mass Boston....any details?

That's pretty much what happened...we were the last out in NE - the fact that  UMD, Brandeis, WPI, AND Amherst all losing their conference tournament sealed our fate as an at-large.

We get to keep playing as the #1 seed in the ECAC - a long way from barely getting in to the tourney as the GNAC champion in 1998.

Can't wait for Wednesday - there another game to get geeked up for and I'm happy there's more to go in what has been a great year for a great team - not just in accomplishments, but as people...we really have a great group and it would be nice moment to see former Emerson AD Keeling handing the championship trophy to Coach Smith. We started the season honoring Keeling for his many contributions to Emerson athletics at our first home game - maybe there's some role reversal in the cards for Sunday. It should be fun.

Ankles -

I'm a bit surprised at that statement considering Emerson beat Lasell in Newton without Rouse and Messinger - considering they are both back and playing well, how can Emerson NOT have the firepower to win again? 2nd in the nation in FG% and 3-pt FG% - I think there's plenty of weapons for the Lions.

Great job with the previews - everything played out as you scripted. Tomorrow should be a great game.

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Even with Rouse playing as he did against St. Joe's I'm just not sure Emerson will have the firepower to keep up with Lasell in the final.  Regardless, it should be a great game.
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The semi's should be good - I don't think it's as clearcut as most make it out to be....yes, it could be Lasell-Emerson in the finals but any of the other matchups are just as feasible.

Gotta earn it to make it to Saturday.....can't wait for tomorrow night.

Not only that, but Wales is solid and St. Joe's could make a run as well....and the 6th seed is Riv who's played everyone tough plus they defend and rebound well. I think the conference play has been very good this year and this is one of the deepest seasons in the twelve years of the GNAC.

As I said before....this has the chance to be a great week.

Why is it surprising that the Monks beat Emmanuel? St. Joe's lost to Emerson by 10, Lasell by 9 and Wales by 6 so they are playing close games in conference and the opener vs Wales should be a great game in Providence.

Even if Emmanuel won today, Emerson held the tiebreaker over the Saints - Lions beat Lasell, and Lasell beat Emmanuel, so Emerson would be the regular season champ and the #1 seed regardless of the outcome of the Saints-Monks game in Standish. Since the Lions the won and the Saints lost, Emerson wins the regular season title outright.

Lions roll past Norwich today at the Lions Den 74-48. Emerson grabs the GNAC regular season title and the #1 seed in the conference tournament starting Tuesday.

Lions led 40-21 at the half and turned in a complete fahty minute effort as they held Norwich to a season low 48 points, which was the Lions lowest allowed total as well as the Cadets lowest offensive output of the season.

Once today's action is over the conference tournament seeds/pairings will be officially announced and we'll have Tuesday's quarterfinal match-ups.

I think you could say that holds true for the conference as a whole - the teams in the lower half of the conference are not strong and are certainly not as strong as the bottom teams in the elite conferences of New England - however, I think there are teams in the GNAC as well as the NAC or CCC that can hang with the NESCAC's etc.

Look at the bottom two team in the NE Poster's poll - Emerson and Elms for proof - Emerson beat three NEWMAC's by 10+ and Elms lost to Amherst by 6 and Brandeis by 1 in OT.

Suffolk's win isn't that surprising - an 11 beating the 7th place team in any conference is not that unusual, especially when the underdog shoots 13-25 from 3-pt land. I think that can happen in any conference - look at the number of times it's happened in conference tournaments over the years in D-1, 2, or 3.  It's not as if Suffolk beat one of the top 3 teams in the GNAC.

Quote from: ILive4This on February 20, 2008, 12:04:56 AM
I watched Suffolk get absolutely blown out by Brandeis earlier this season, however I also saw a few other things. They has some size both height and physicalness. Also they had a couple decent shooters. If all of that comes together on a night then there is a chance for a win, especially in a conference like the GNAC which no offense to anyone is not exactly the toughest of conferences.

Emerson 82-79 over Emmanuel - Lions tie for 1st in the GNAC and hold the tiebreak for the #1 seed in the GNAC tournament with their win over Lasell in early January.

Great game between Emerson and Riv at the Muldoon today.

Rivier led 48-34 with approx. 15 to play, only to see the Lions run off 16 straight points keyed by  Jeremy Shannon's ability to get to the hoop.

Riv bounced back and led 65-60 with a minute to play, but Ben Chase hit a big 3 and Shannon got to the rack for a finger roll layup with 3 seconds to play in regulation.

OT went back and forth, Lions led by two - Riv had the last possession and Jeff Carpenter was fouled with no time on the clock. Carp missed the first attempt and the Lions earned a hard fought 20th win of the season.

Carp had 17 and 10 rebounds for Riv, Lions were led by Ben Chase with 17 and Jeremy Shannon with 16. Free throws were a big factor - Emerson made 22 of 32 and Riv only 7 of 19.

1st place and most likely the regular season championship on line Tuesday when Emerson and Emmanuel meet at the Lions Den- game time 7 PM.

As far as the Emerson/no love comment, I think that is a reflection on the league as a whole....in 13 seasons the GNAC never gets props, even though it continues to get better every year. I think the non-conference games tell a different story - Emerson beat three NEWMAC teams and Lasell played a number of close games vs. top schools in the NE...and Rivier took Wheaton (IL) to OT.

Over the next 2-3 years the GNAC and its teams will get better PR if they can make some noise in the NCAA tournament....success has been mixed, but we haven't had a sweet 16 team yet - one or two appearances in the 16 and others will be turned on to what we already know to be true.

I have to disagree with unsung on a number of points presented. I will agree that Guitian is a special player and will be GNAC 1st team and possibly POY. I haven't seen him play but I have heard a lot of great things about him. However, unless his height is not listed properly on the Lasell website, at 6'9" he is not a foot taller than everyone else in the league. Since Levi Smith of Emmanuel is 6'7" I'd have to say that's one of the most ridiculous statements I've seen in a long time unless two inches is now equivalent to one foot.

Also, to say that Lasell should run the table in the conference....also a baseless statement. The league is solid this year w/Emmanuel, Wales, and Emerson playing very well and Rivier and St. Joe's have solid squads as well. In my opinion, if you state that one team should run the table they should be light years ahead of the other teams they play. No knock on Lasell, they are very good but certainly there is not that large of a divide between them and 3-4 teams in the league. How you can you that they should have run the table?  Emerson beat Lasell in Newton without Rouse and Messinger - if they were that much better they should have rolled by a ton - but they didn't because both of those teams are very talented and will play close games. As for the best starting 5, I'd say that you'd get varying opinions about which team has the five in the GNAC because of the talent level and competition.

It's not as clear cut as you think and I think the GNAC tournament games will bear that out - I think we're in for a great week of well played, tight games that go down to the end.

Quote from: UnsungHero11 on February 15, 2008, 01:17:23 PM

Quote from: CCCalum2 on February 14, 2008, 01:52:10 PM

Quote from: UnsungHero11 on February 14, 2008, 01:02:13 PM
Personally, I think anything less than an undefeated conference season for Lasell is a disappointment. Talent wise, they are a step or two ahead of everyone else in the league, but for some reason (my guess is coaching) they don't play as hard as they should. It looks like they're back on track, but I wouldn't be surprised if they lost early in the playoffs.

buddy, I don't think that you have all your facts straight.  you are challenging them about playing hard and knocking the coach, but if you had all the facts, maybe your tune would change.  They were 4-1 before arguably their best player went down with and injury and they proceeded to drop some tough decisions in his absence.  Lost a tough won to Babson by 2, another tough one to #1 Amherst by 7.  They have dropped a few league games.  Twice to JWU, and once each to Emerson and Rivier.  No slouches their either.  Their non-league losses are Keene State, Babson, Amherst and Williams.  All quality teams.  I know Babson's record is not great, but they are a solid team.  It is very hard to run the table in any league, never mind in a league with a lot of parity.  18 league games is very tough to go undefeated.  I think they've responded very well to a tough stretch in the middle of their schedule and are now playing very well at the right time.  To say that it's a disappointment that they didn't run the table in the league is a bit of a stretch.  Again, make sure you know the facts before opening your mouth, or in this case, typing on your keyboard.

Sounds good, I guess, if you want to make excuses. But the FACT of the matter is, they have the tallest player in the league, by about a foot, who is also incredibly athletic, can shoot from the outside and absolutely dominates at this level (not to mention, according to this board, he is also player of the year) their entire starting five is more talented and more athletic than any other team's in the league. If their best player went down with an injury that should only give them more reason to win, not an excuse to lose. To be honest, it doesn't matter what you say...I totally agree that their non conference schedule is tough, thats why i said they should have gone undefeated IN THE CONFERENCE.If they just stayed focused on winning instead of talking trash, I'm sure they would have done much better this season....and I do know one fact. Discipline is instilled by a coach, not by a best player (who happened to go down with an injury)