MBB: Liberty League

[GrassyKnoll]

I don't think St. Lawrence's has enough to handle the buzzsaw that is Ithaca. I've seen them play and I just don't know if they're freshman class is mentally tough enough to get ready for the upperclassmen Ithaca can bring and the 'big-game' atmosphere it's likely to have. It looks like they beat them last year at Ithaca in OT, but Burton didn't play. HUGE DIFFERENCE. He's the best player around in region and will have a decided advantage over anyone St. Lawrence tries to throw at him. That being said, I think the game will be very entertaining as both teams can fill it up, and I think Ithaca's assistant used to work for Downs at St. Lawrence which is always fun drama as a subplot. I'm hoping to make it up for the game, but my prediction is IC by 9 with free throws separating a 2 possession game late.

[gobombers15]

With Age Came, Shooters--check your messages.

[with age came?]

Grassy you were pretty accurate as Ithaca held on at the end thanks to Burton, but it got down to a point with less than 3 minutes left. See gb15 post. 

[labart96]

What's the deal with Hobart hoops?

Seems like the Statesmen have made great strides in virtually all other men's sports including Soccer (ranked #4 in D3 this season, sweet sixteen), Football (#23 in D3, 6th NCAA berth in 8 seasons), Sailing (perennial national contender) and Lacrosse (winning season last year in D1), etc but basketball is still a <.500 team each year (save 2004 when they went 16-11).

Any insights on why the hoops program seems to languish while others prosper?

[magicman]

St. Lawrence defeats Heidelberg 90-79 to win the consolation game of the Buffalo St. Holiday Inn Invitational. Saints never headed as they control game from the outset. Up by 10 at the half, they stretch lead to 22 before settling for the 11 pt. win. Tom Wopperer with 18, Terry Parham with 17,  Bela Vonnak with 14 lead SLU.  Josh Sharlow and Richard Williams each added 11 pts.

Saints have to be disappointed despite winning as they should have been in the Championship game against Buff ST. Saints let one slip away against Widener on Friday night. SLU up by 7, 90-83 allows Widener to go on a 14-3 run in final 2:40 and falls 97-93. Saints with 5 turnovers in last 2 mins.

Hamilton scorched by Middlebury 73-49. Panthers jump out to early lead and never trailed. Up by 13 at the break,  Middlebury, puts the Continentals away with a 15-6 run early in the 2nd half and coasts to the win.     

[magicman]

Clarkson rallies from 18 down against UR and gets within 1 at 66-65 with 15 secs left only to come up short 71-67. UR goes up 68-65 on 2 Mike Chmielowiec FT's and Knights Brandon Litton's layup cuts it to 1 again. Clarkson fouls and UR makes 1 of 2 with 6 secs. left. Clarkson with 1 last chance turns the ball over and UR makes 2 more FT's to end it. Tough loss for the Knights but shows they can hang with some of the better teams in the East.   

[with age came?]

Good win for Clarkson in 2 ot @ Cortland considering very draining and most likely emotional loss to U of R the night before. Like gb15 said on the east poll board - Clarkson scheduled some tough non-league games with Potsdam, Plattsburgh, U of R, Cortland & Oswego.  Saw St Law on 1/3 and they looked a little flat in victory over Heidelberg.  Hoescher was in street clothes nursing what looked like a leg injury? Anyone know the scoop? Think the team was a little down not finishing off Widener the night before.  True leader for slu in the game was Sharlow.  He made things happen!

[met_fan]

Things seem to be falling apart for Hamilton right now.  Middlebury is pretty good, but they shouldn't lose by that much, and the score from the Conn College game is atrocious. 

[thebear]

Good win for Clarkson in 2 ot @ Cortland considering very draining and most likely emotional loss to U of R the night before. Like gb15 said on the east poll board - Clarkson scheduled some tough non-league games with Potsdam, Plattsburgh, U of R, Cortland & Oswego.  Saw St Law on 1/3 and they looked a little flat in victory over Heidelberg.  Hoescher was in street clothes nursing what looked like a leg injury? Anyone know the scoop? Think the team was a little down not finishing off Widener the night before.  True leader for slu in the game was Sharlow.  He made things happen!

I think Clarkson is for real, especially if Pickering gets healthy and in shape, Stockwell is a very sharp coach, they play hard D and control the tempo, and they hit the boards real hard.  Hoescher has been out all season, wouldn't be surprised to see him take a medical RS.  Which Sharlow?  Josh the PG, or Garret the PF.  Both have been factors and will be back. 

[UCAAHoops21]

With the conference about to tip-off, what have we learned so far?

I think SLU is still the team to beat...And with Clarkson off to the start they have had, I think the road to the NCAA might go through the North Country.

I think it shakes out this way

SLU-better talent than the rest
Hamilton-maybe rep carries them, not sure how good they really are yet
Clarkson-physical and tough to beat both Clarkson & SLU back to back
Union-always crafty and seem to have rebounded from down year
Skidmore-young and getting better
RPI-Simmons can't do it all and they never seem to have good guards
Hobart-thought they would be better
Vassar-new coach and lost a lot

what does everyone else think?

[with age came?]

Bear- Sharlow the PG is the true engine (at least from what I saw)for SLU.  It will be very interesting in the league this year and I think UCAA hoops has it down pretty well,  I am not getting what is going on at Hamilton,  I do not think they lost too much to graduation but they do not seem to be playing very well right now.  Think Hobart is missing Grazioli (who I personally thought was the best player in the league last year). Union seems to have righted the ship from last years awful start.  Skidmore is playing better but I think Hobart will sneek ahead of them & RPI who seems to need someone to complement Simmons. Vassar lost a lot to graduation and may be in the worst position this year. SLU is not quite as talented as last year if Hoescher is out for the year and with the loss of 2 very good seniors. Clarkson virtually intact and with conflicting styles between run & gun SLU & scrappy defensive minded Clarkson it leads to some interesting match ups. The league season will be upon us very soon- I can't wait!

[met_fan]

Hamilton is all over the place this season.  Would not have expected them to beat Williams after some of their recent play.

[with age came?]

magicman over on the east fan poll board said they (Hamilton) have had quite a few injuries.  Maybe they are finally healthy and ready to roll now that we are coming into league play.  Certainly they have had 2 good wins in the past few days-with a run thumping against Hobart and an impressive road win at Williams. Looking forward to this weekends matchups particularly Clarkson at Union which I see as two potential playoff teams.

[shooters]

Hamilton is young, and their schedule was absolutely insane up to this point. I believe playing the tough schedule so far has seasoned the team and although their W/L ratio is not good I think they are picking up at the right time. Don't be surprised to see a good run out of Hamilton with everyone back and healthy. Two huge road wins as of late. The liberty league seems to have a lot of depth this year so should be exciting.

[labart96]

Things seem to be falling apart for Hamilton right now. 

Can't feel sorry for the Conts with them in 1st in the LL and 7-4 overall.

Especially as Hobart has lost 4 straight to start out the new year and pretty much guaranteed another losing hoops season.