MBB: Liberty League

[hoops]

Speaking of Grazoli and Avitable who have both had great careers does either one have a chnace of playing over seas next year?

[with age comes?]

Hoops- both of them have a possibility of playing overseas.  It's all about contacts from what I've been able to see.  I think Hobart has a couple of guys playing overseas now so Grazoli may have a better chance at making contacts.  Avitabile, who definitely has the ability, may not have the connections. Obviously there are different degrees of "playing overseas"-  some play for room, board and "pocket money"- others play for what I would consider big money $100,000 plus.  Both of these players have the ability but probably not to be a "big time" earner, but perhaps an opportunity that most would "die for"- to play for pay.

[Chief1101]

Hobart does have connections overseas...Grazioli will definitely get a shot "overseas" because he is the best pure shooter in the league and he is a solid 6'7 and he is getting stronger...Teams overseas look for big guys who can shoot and handle themselves down low..he already has the jump shot and his post moves are getting better each day...Guys like Davidek and Corbett played overseas, and Grazioli is a more complete player then both of them...


Davidek was more athletic, but no one can score better than Graz...You have to remember Graz sat out his first year due to injuries and sickness, but besides that, he has put up great numbers..

[airball55]

Saw Vassar against Clarkson tonight.  Surprised by the lack of athletism and shooting from Vassar.  I am sure they may have had an off night, but I really don't see where they are better than Clarkson to be honest.  The Knights got to the rim when they wanted and Vassar had to press and double and did not look good in doing so.  I will reserve judgment on them and see how the do at St. Law. tomorrow, but it could be ugly in favor of the Saints.

[thebigcat]

Vassar has never played well at Clarkson.  Clarkson seems to always get up for Vassar, and they always play tough defense on their home court.  The first day of the North Country is always the hardest for VC because of the 6.5 bus ride that the players have to take before their game.  Expect VC to come out hard with a great effort tomorrow, and estabilish themselves as legit contenders in LL.  Remember, Hamilton lost to Skidmore last year at Skidmore.

[airball55]

Get up for Vassar?? I have seen the last three Clarkson home games and their worst total performance was last night, and they lead the all time series over 2 to 1.  The drive is an issue but basketball teams arrive at venues so early nowm I am not buying that too much.  St. Law. and Clarkson deal with that every trip and have not used it as an excuse.... we'll see today

[airball55]

BTW, what is this Hobart in the pros crap.... Cheese Vigansky from Clarkson is playing pro ball in Europe, nothing against Cheese, but he averaged 8.5 ppg in the mighty liberty league so pro ball in Europe does not exactly remind me of the Chicago Bulls. 

[bucketsallday]

airball - the bus trip is always tough because you have to sit on it, guys and girls teams, cramped without much leg space. add that to an early morning (they left at 730 am yesterday), and it will always be a tough game.

vassar @ clarkson has always been the one of the ugliest games of the year in the LL (do you remember two years ago when the final was 45-36), but vc has had a knack for bouncing back and playing well against the larries - two straight wins. i think last night was more indicative of the fact that clarkson has a legit contender this year, rather than being a knock on VC.

regardless, gonna be a great game this afternoon - VC by 2 in OT.

[with age comes?]

Saw last nights game @ Clarkson too.  I think that Vassar did come out stale in the opening stanza, but they never did seriously challenge Clarkson in the second half even when they did play with more intensity.  Clarkson continues to amaze me with their play of late.  I wasn't sure if they would win 3 league games for the whole season after their effort at Elmira, but here they stand at 3-1.  Vassar will have to play much improved to beat the Larries ( who have now established themselves as a legitimate contender in the league after a horrendous early season).  Unfortunately with the early losses by Hamilton and SLU I'm afraid only the tournament champion has a  shot at the NCAA baring perfection from here on in for the Brewers, Conts, or Larries with a tight loss in the championship game.  Even then chances may be remote.

[DDirty22]

Vassar leads SLU 33-31 at half.  Pretty sloppy game and frankly I have not been too impressed by either team.  Check out the game at:

http://www.stlawu.edu/sports/webcast/mbasketball.html

[OlBallCoach]

In a tightly contested first half of play on the road, the Vassar Brewers lead the St Lawrence Saints 33-31.

St Lawrence jumped out early to a 7-2 lead, the Brewers eventually tied it up at 7, but it was the Saints who held the lead for a vast majority of the 1st half until back to back 3 pointers late in the stanza. The second of which tied Vassar's largest lead (2-0).

Interior Defense,and preventing dribble penetration (from the games I've had a chance to watch Vassar play) remains the Brewers greatest achilles-heel so far this season as opponents seem to get to the rim at will.

At the Half:
Vassar 33
St Lawrence 31

[bucketsallday]

vassar loses 72-67. rough weekend for the brewers.

[OlBallCoach]

St Lawrence Saints 72
Vassar Brewers 67

For much of the 2nd Half this game remained contested.
Yet with just under 5:00 remaining, and St Lawrence leading 58-57, the Saints converted a 3 pointer...forced a VC turnover, which turned into an easy transition layup. Then following a  missed 3 point attempt for the Brewers, the Saints again were off and running converting on another easy layup in transition.

The Brewers who relied on long range shooting for a large portion of the game to remain involved, found themselves ice cold from behind the 3 pt. line when they needed it most.
The Brewers went scoreless from the 4:48 marker to a little over one minute remaining in play missing 3 three point attempts in the process.

St Lawrence opened up their biggest lead of the game 67-57 with just over a 1:20 left in regulation.

The Brewers never showed any signs of quitting, and after a layup from Brazell, a missed dunk from St Lawrence, a must 3 ptr from Butterworth, the score was 69-63 with :37 remaining.
VC then forced Saint Lawrence into a turnover, and converted it into a layup with only :27 left (69-65).

But it was the Saints who got some clutch FT shooting from Hoercher to close out the contest.

I have to say I was very impressed with the Saints interior man to man defense,
a defense that didn't put VC into the 1&1 BONUS until about 1:30 or so left in the game.

The Brewers Transition Defense was nothing less than inept getting beat time and time again for easy buckets in the second half. If not getting beat in transition, the VC defense was getting beat to the basket from dribble penetration as the Saints converted plenty of other easy lay-in opportunities.

Hat's off to to the SAINTS, a well EARNED VICTORY!

[airball55]

Clarkson by 5 over RPI.  Much better game today with more flow versus last night's game.  Simmons is a very good player and RPI, from what I saw today, is better than their record.  St. Lawrence holds serve in a tight one, good battle by Vassar.  Day two at home sometimes the home team sleeps a bit after the previous night, maybe why St. Lawrence stuggled a bit today.  I am sticking with my pre-season picks which had Hamilton and St. Law. at the top, only regret is having Clarkson so low, maybe a challenger for the three seed.

[labart96]

Great weekend for Hobart.  Keep up the good work Statesmen!