MBB: Liberty League

[shooters]

Don't be hating on TK? Suit up and play or sit out and get better but dont' play 1/2 ass. And i'm not judging TK on these past couple of weeks I'm talking about his entire career. He should be averaging 25 and 10 period. He did this same crap last year, played well then decided not to play for awhile then he'll come back and play well again. I've been to many Hamilton games this year and the ones where he is "hurt" he's made some athletic plays, i.e. a steal and full court dunk........he's injuries are all upstairs in my medical opinion, but we shall see.

And I think TK has more talent than anyone so its not that i don't think he can play.

[bucketsallday]

has anyone else noticed that all hamiltons fans do is hate on their team on these message boards? do you guys even like one person on the team?

[shooters]

Yes I tend to hate, I will try and refrain going forward. I just expect perfection as do many other Hamilton posters on here and whether I start the negative or not I certainly join in. I will try and keep my opinions positive but at 10-4 so far i don't see a lot of daylight. We will see if a good win at Williams and a weekend sweep can put me in a better mood. Plus I hate it when woot is right!!

[Hoaf]

Shooters I get your points and appreciate your passion. Last year, it was hard for TK to coexist with Welchons at the point and throwing up shots at will. I think what the team is missing most is someone like Staunton Peck, a banger who can do everything up and down the court. Also, he was the only one to follow his shot and look for an offensive rebound on last year's team.

I hate on Hamilton because if I don't there's really not much to talk about. I can't just sit back and only praise my team. That would just be boring and redundant.

To talk about what Hamilton has been doing right lately is easy. Tobin has been getting the freshman a lot more involved. I like the way Dave Alston and Jay Simpson have been picking up their games. Joe Manns has been a little bit jumpy of late and missed a couple of easy buckets. Tim Shaw has been a key player in the last few home games. He shoots the ball well and with his long body is capable of forcing turnovers when Hamilton is running the full court press.

Nick Jones has been picking up his game of late but he's still shooting an abysmal 55% from the free-throw line. Harlee Wood has been committing lots of fouls and needs to be a little less physical. But Harlee Wood has been Hamilton's most improved player this season by far. I like the way he's been playing.

One thing about the Skidmore loss this weekend. Not only did Hamilton out shoot Skidmore by 40 field goals but they also went 9 of 20 from the free throw line.

[Hoaf]

Now to talk about the other teams in the Liberty League.

Vassar is looking like the most improved team this season. Avitabile is definitely first-team All LL.

St. Lawrence is also on the upper tier of LL teams.

I'd say that Hamilton, SLU, and Vassar are the teams to beat this year.

It looks to me like Union's (4-1) conference start is a fluke. What do you think?

[Hoaf]

Another interesting fact about Vassar, 3 of there 4 losses are to good teams.

L, 74-79 Washington U (14-1)
L, 72-84 Babson (10-6)
L, 69-78 Manhattanville (12-4)

[shooters]

alucardz,

I would agree that Union's start is a fluke and would also agree with most of what you have said. The thing I like about Wood is he plays with a passion. If you see Jones and Wood play, they are both very emotional and care a lot about what is going on. They are aggressive (Jones especially of late) and don't sit back and wait for things to happen. I love Simpson at the point and Alston is extremely good as well. I just don't get it with the line up of Wood-Jones-TK-Simpson-Alston they don't beat everyone by 20 pts. I guess part of it is that isn't the line up and TK and Alston have been hurt. I like Ray ray as well coming off the bench. Manns will be a stud before it is over. Also look the free throw percentages for the entire team, there is no reason that it should be THAT bad! I think it shows the kind of commitment or lack there of the players have toward the game. 9-20, if I had a team that shot under 50% they'd be running lines from 6am til 6pm. No excuse for those kind of numbers. I loved Peck and think if we had a couple pecks out there we'd be rolling right along. I also agree with the boards are no fun without a little argument. I kind of rambled on this post but you get the idea.

[bucketsallday]

id agree with what you say about the top teams. vassar and slu seem the most comsistent - you know what your going to get from them, and theyll play anybody tough. id say hamilton is the most tanlented but inconsistentst team (obvioously). i think union can beat anybody on any night with their ability to shoot, and i think clarkson can also knock any one in the conference off, if healthy.

what intrigues me most about the conference this year is the parody. 1-7 can all win on any given night, and after skidmores performance saturday.....  its gonna be a fun year.

[Hoaf]

indeed, it will be fun year.

[Hoaf]

I am curious to what the board thinks about who the best team is in the conference. Especially, with how the first several games have exhibited a lot of parity among the teams this year.

[Hoaf]

I created a poll to see what team you guys think is the best in the conference this year. Follow the link and vote!!

http://www.d3sports.com/post/index.php?topic=5066.0

[b4the3isme]

alucardz- how can you ask us to vote after this weekend???  Hamilton loses to Skidz, Vassar sweeps up north in nailbiters, Clarkson in a free fall, who knows maybe Union is the best of the league?!.  I just know that I'm waiting for another weekend b4 I vote.  If Vassar continues its strong showing I may be on that bandwagon but this is the most wide open I've seen this league in a great while!

[Hoaf]

Exactly, that's why I want to know what you guys think after this wacky weekend of games. There's no clear team that's above the rest.

[Hoaf]

Oh, and I forgot to say that Hamilton plays Williams tonight. Let's see how they do...

My prediction is that it's going to be a close game and either team could win.

Anyone else in action today?

[shooters]

My prediction is Williams by 10. Unless TK plays then Williams by 10