MBB: Liberty League

[stlawus]

Preseason poll announced https://libertyleagueathletics.com/news/2022/11/8/vassar-selected-as-liberty-league-preseason-favorite-in-mens-basketball.aspx

[stlawus]

.500 night to open things up for the league last night.    Ithaca probably disappointed to drop the home opener to Cortland.  Cortland has the best player in the SUNYAC and last night it showed.  Ithaca was down Sinon, but Cortland did well defensively given Ithaca's scoring prowess. 

Clarkson played a very even game with Plattsburgh, not sure how either team will fare this season but a pretty entertaining game nonetheless. 

RIT doesn't look much different from last year in the sense that they have the ability to score.  Adding Fox to the starting lineup looks to boost their rebounding this year.  As always, the thing they have to concentrate on is defense. 

Hobart was surprising last night.  They looked like the Hobart teams of old.  Dominant on the glass, efficient scoring and good PG play.  They put the screws to SJF right from the opening tip.  Fisher brings back their top scorers from last year as well.  Maybe if the Statesmen turn things around this season we'll get Bartman back in here!

[d3d3d3]

I just took a peek at Vassar's opener, against Stevens ... and I couldn't help but notice that reigning LL POY Zach Johnson is not playing.

[stlawus]

No Johnson for Vassar and Concannon still not in action for Union.

[stlawus]

Hobart played a great 30 minutes against Oswego but the Lakers' depth wore them down in the end.

Vassar escaped a close one against Stevens sans Zach Johnson.

Ithaca drops another one.  Not much defense from the Bombers so far.

Good start for Bard. 

Skidmore doesn't play great against New Paltz and benefited from bad FT shooting from the Hawks, but NP does have a good team. Skid starts 6'11", 6'7", 6'7", 6'3" and 6'.  Very few teams have that type of size.

Still gotta wait a while for the Saints to start their action.

[d3d3d3]

Skidmore coach on Twitter this morning asking for prayers for Greg. I assume he means Skoric. Does anyone know what happened?

[stlawus]

He went down in the 2nd half but he got back up and seemed like he was walking it off. Maybe I just wasn't paying attention and it was a much worse injury.   The full game is on YouTube, I'll take another look.

[stlawus]

with 3 minutes left Skoric went up for a ball at half court and had his knee bent at a very concerning angle on the way down.  He walked off the court on his own but went straight to the locker room and didn't return.  Really hope it's not an ACL or anything long term.

[Ice Bear]

Ice Bear says 0-2 Union leads D1 UAlbany 30-29 at half. Ice says it won't last as UAlbany is just too big and strong but certainly a valiant effort from Ice's beloved Garnet thus far.

[stlawus]

Greg Skoric not on the bench or with the travel party for Skidmore's game against Hartwick tonight, seems indicative of a serious injury which is extremely unfortunate.

Clarkson hung around with Oswego for 30 minutes but ran out of gas.

RPI had close game with SUNY Delhi for most of the game, only pulled away a bit in the last 5 minutes. 

Ithaca did what they usually do and scored a lot of points but they kept letting Keystone back into the game and made it a few possession game until the end.  Ithaca now back on track a bit with a 2 game win streak.

[stlawus]

Liberty League and SUNYAC continues to beat up on each other with both leagues getting a win tonight.  Hobart had a pretty unlucky night with their point guard having an off shooting night against Brockport.   Seems like every Brockport team of the last 15 years is the exact same in terms of team profile and style of play.

SLU opens up the season with a good win @Plattsburgh.  Plattsburgh is clearly better than last year, but it's hard to tell how they'll end up this season.  Young SLU forwards stepped up tonight with Engelhardt and Adamson in foul trouble for most of the game.   Big test against a good Bears squad Friday.

[d3d3d3]

There will be another good LL vs. SUNYAC game on Friday at Bard, when Vassar plays New Paltz. It was a four-point win for the Brewers last year - but Zach Johnson's status could determine the outcome of that game.

[stlawus]

Even still without Zach Johnson Vassar had no issue with New Paltz tonight.   

Bard shot the lights out in the 2nd half to blow out MSM.  3PT shooting is going to be the Raptors' strength this season. 

Clarkson goes on a late run to pull away from SUNY Canton. Thought the Roos had that one.

SLU moves to 2-0 with a route 11 victory against Potsdam.  The Macaulay twins' offseason seems to have paid dividends, they are noticeably stronger and are almost impossible to stop going to the rim.

Solid night for the Liberty League.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

If Skoric is out for Skidmore for any length of time, this could really be Vassar's conference to lose.

[d3d3d3]

I heard that Skoric's injury isn't as bad as feared, and that he will likely be back second semester. I also heard that Zach Johnson's issue is a meniscus which comes and goes, and they're trying to manage it and get him to second semester as well.