MBB: Liberty League

[stlawus]

Not really sure why we're already playing conference games but Skidmore really felt Skoric's absence today as Hobart pounded them pretty good.  Jackson Meshanic already putting together a potential LL POY campaign.   

Vassar wins again to go to 3-1 sans Zach Johnson. 

RIT currently playing very well against SJF at the half, we'll see if it holds.

In the blink of an eye RPI is already 5-0.  Liberty League is going to be facing a huge test in the next 10 days as both RPI and SLU will be playing Williams.   SLU was in control for most of the game against SUNY Canton, was up 30 and pulled the starters while Canton proceeded to press full court the remainder of the game with their starters.   Don't really get that but a W nonetheless.

[stlawus]

Great win tonight for Hobart against Rochester.  The Statesmen took down UR in soccer this fall and now add basketball to their collection on the year.   Liberty League looking pretty good this year at the top.

[stlawus]

What a battle for the Saints today against one of the best teams in the country.  Stat sheet will show free throws were costly but the Ephs had SLU winded trying to keep up with them the whole game. One of the best defensive performances I've ever seen from a SLU squad.  This is the most happy I've ever been after a loss.

[stlawus]

Pretty crazy night in the Liberty League with both Vassar and RPI winning at the buzzer.  Almost an upset in Canton but Downs pulled off one his better coaching jobs in recent years to get the W against a Union team that's much better than their record. This was the first game the Dutchmen have played with their full squad, and all the fifth year players finally saw the floor together. 

[stlawus]

Pretty big let down for SLU to drop a game at home to Skidmore, Skidmore made a lot of clutch three's which ended up being the difference. 3 threes with time expiring on the shot clock, about as clutch as it gets. 

Vassar also disappoints as Hobart gets revenge from yesterday.  RPI right back on track to lead the league as we go into the last week of games before Christmas break.

[d3d3d3]

Box score says Zach Johnson played 10 minutes for Vassar, all in the first half ...

[stlawus]

Have a few more games before the break, but as it stands it looks like RPI and everyone else.  RPI definitely looks different than last year's team, but it's not really mattering as they are stacking wins.   Right now their win against Western New England is shaping up to be highly useful come February.   

Vassar still seems to be a good team, there has not been much regression given the fact they've been pretty solid without Johnson.  He still looked a bit hampered against Union but I'm sure he'll get back up to speed. 

Hobart has the ability to beat anyone as Jackson Meshanic is player of the year as it stands.  Typical Hobart, punishing rebounding efforts and points in the paint.  Hobart is vulnerable with certain matchups and are a bit top heavy, but they are on a good track right now. 

I'm sure they'll be using this as bulletin board material but Ithaca is probably the most disappointing so far.  They return literally everyone but sit at .500.  Radovich is playing like his normal self, but the Bombers are getting inconsistent play from a large portion of their rotation.  Liam Spellman shot 42% from 3 last year, and so far this season he's shooting 26%.  Former SLU starter Andrew Geschickter is now low in the depth chart getting only 11 minutes per game after starting most of last year.   The good news for the Bombers is they've been playing without Skylar Sinon, so his return to the lineup will definitely give them a boost on both ends of the court.  Seems like he'll be good to go for the start of the 2nd semester, but we'll have to see. 

Skidmore probably will take 4-4 given they've played without Skoric for the last month (who made his return against Middlebury on Friday).  Skidmore has the individual talent to win the league, as Kupstas will score from anywhere on the court (just ask SLU) and they have a ton of size to give them extra possessions off the glass.  They are a team that will not have a lower than 50/50 shot of winning against any Liberty League opponent, so if you have an off night they will punish you. 

The "surprise" of the first half would be Clarkson, but I am not really surprised.   Their record was not good last year but they were competitive against most teams, and this year they are winning those jump ball games.   They played phenomenal defense against SLU, holding the Saints scoreless for a full 8 minute stretch in the 2nd half.  Every time SLU tried to penetrate the Knights completely sealed off any attempt at the basket.  Clarkson's defense will definitely present challenges for the top half of the league. 

SLU is probably a bit disappointed being 5-3 at the break, but they ended the first half on a high note today burying 15 of 30 three point attempts against Geneseo which was a major market correction from the Clarkson game.   There wasn't a whole lot they could do against Skidmore, as Skidmore threw in 3 contested threes as the shot clock expired including one off one foot.  Kupstas was red hot in that game, just one of those times where the other team could not miss.    SLU has shown what their defense can do against a team like Williams, so they will need their offensive effort to be more consistent to take down the likes of RPI, Vassar and Hobart etc.  A big part of the Clarkson loss was too much individualism on the offensive end trying to play hero ball, and today against Geneseo they had 20 assists in a full team effort.   6'10" Andrew Cowan's return to the lineup in the 2nd semester will be a welcome addition.

RIT is definitely happy to be 5-3, but so far no marquee win.  They played RPI pretty close, but like every year their defense will be the difference in making the league playoffs or not. 

Bard played a great game against Ithaca, and I expect to see them upset a few teams in the league like they do most seasons. 

Unfortunately for Ice Bear, the Dutchmen are reeling as they remain winless.   They brought back several 5th year players but are just not getting the defensive effort needed to win games.  Concannon is still noticeably affected by his injury from last year and Manley can't do it by himself on the offensive end every night. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Nice work, stlawus +1k

[stlawus]

Brutal game for Hobart to lose today against BW.  Was in control for most of the game, only give up a three at the buzzer to force overtime.  Statesmen proceed to lose on another three at the buzzer. 

[stlawus]

Not a great start for the Liberty League after the break.  Skidmore lost a pretty bad game against below .500 Suffolk (although they did beat ONU today). Vassar dropped a contest to W&L (who has a solid team) and squeaked out a win against 2-10 TCNJ.  Seems like Zach Johnson has finally returned to the starting lineup. 

Skidmore lost a pretty bad game to below .500 Suffolk (although they did beat ONU today) in a game that should have been won but the Thoroughbreds acted like they already had the game won and got bit in the end.  Skidmore did play a tight game with top 10 John Carroll today but they also committed some costly late game mistakes to prevent them from getting a marquee win.   

Clarkson finished the weekend with 2 disappointing losses as well after riding high from their 5-3 record heading into the break.

Union loses to 387th Massey ranked Mount Saint Vincent.

Bard loses to 412th Massey ranked Curry.


Monday/Tuesday will be the last chance for the league to get premium non conference wins with Vassar taking on Williams and SLU hosting Oswego at home who are coming off a great win on the road against Utica. 

There were several players in the league who missed most or all of the first semester due to injury so hopefully everyone gets back healthy after the break.  Ithaca has been without starting guard Skylar Sinon and SLU has been without starting center 6'10" Andrew Cowan along with backup point guard Andy Downs.   As previously mentioned Zach Johnson appears to be back in Brewers' starting lineup.

[stlawus]

Strange night in the Liberty League.  Union was up double digits most of the game against Skidmore and cruised to an easy win.  Skidmore had the size advantage at every single position but the Dutchmen refused to miss shots.  Great win for the Garnet. 

Once again, Clarkson almost pulls it out, this time losing an OT nail biter against Vassar.  The Knights are going to be a tough out for everyone in the league. 

As everyone expected, RIT wins at Hobart.  Massey gave the Tigers a 17% chance to win that one.   As usual, scoring has never been an issue for RIT, it was always their defense that caused their downfall.  Tonight RIT clamped down and kept Meshanic relatively quiet.  RIT winning those types of games could throw a huge wrench in the LL picture. 

The only "normal" game tonight was SLU's win over Bard.  Even then, that was not a typical game.  Bard has always given SLU trouble at Burkman, and for about 30 minutes tonight it was no different.   Credit to Bard's coach, he had a game plan and stuck with it.  Bard applied full court pressure the entire game, never taking a play off.  To SLU's credit they didn't panic and just waited for the Raptors to wear down and then pulled away at the end sparked by a fast break dunk from Trent Adamson. 

Ithaca gets a really good win @RPI.  RPI's lack of depth showed in this one, but the Bombers played equally tough defense and kept feeding the hot hand that was Logan Wendell.  Coming off Sportscenter #1 play against Hamilton, Logan Wendell lights up the Engineers with a 29 point performance. 

[stlawus]

Rough weekend for Clarkson and Hobart.  Seems like Clarkson just didn't have the legs after the OT loss last night to Vassar. 

Great weekend for Ithaca who get a road win against RPI and steal one from Hobart.  Skidmore also was lucky to get out with a win against RIT who are definitely disappointed with a weekend split, a testament to the improvements of that program under Coach McVean.

Solid weekend for SLU as well.  Defensive battle today with Vassar.  Aside from a throw away layup at the buzzer, SLU did not allow a field goal in the last 6 minutes or so.  The zone is getting a big boost from the return of 6'10" Andrew Cowan who bothered the Brewers in the post all game. 

League play is now ramping up, things are going to get pretty interesting if the trends hold.

[hopefan]

stlawus (Larriesguy)... as a long ago RPI player and Asst Coach... I appreciate your writeups... Keep them coming!!!

Note, when I played 69-71   conference was ICAC (Independent Collegiente Athletic Conference)... 6 teams RPI, Union, St. Lawrence, Clarkson, Hobart, Alfred....  We won the Conference my Soph year, winning at Union in decisive game... after that Tedesco came along, Union probably won it my junior, Senior years
Of Course Skidmore, Bard, Vassar were women's schools back then... RIT, Ithaca joined us later to make an 8 team conference in the 70's
D3 didn't exist until 3 years after I graduated (1974)...we were "college division" when I played

[Caz Bombers]

Bard was never a women's college. Vassar began enrolling men in 1969 and Skidmore in 1971.

[stlawus]

stlawus (Larriesguy)... as a long ago RPI player and Asst Coach... I appreciate your writeups... Keep them coming!!!

Note, when I played 69-71   conference was ICAC (Independent Collegiente Athletic Conference)... 6 teams RPI, Union, St. Lawrence, Clarkson, Hobart, Alfred....  We won the Conference my Soph year, winning at Union in decisive game... after that Tedesco came along, Union probably won it my junior, Senior years
Of Course Skidmore, Bard, Vassar were women's schools back then... RIT, Ithaca joined us later to make an 8 team conference in the 70's
D3 didn't exist until 3 years after I graduated (1974)...we were "college division" when I played

For a minute I was beginning to think everyone left this board, glad to know someone else keeps tabs on here!