MBB: Liberty League

[Hoaf]

But considering Hamilton is a better school why would he have every wanted to go to Union. I believe his girlfriend went there but wouldn't that have been the only incentive. Hamilton is ranked #17 by U.S. News while Union is #39. Not only that but Hamilton accepts 10% fewer applicants than Union. Hamilton is by far superior school.

Sorry to say but maybe this will help stir up the rivalry.

Also, I just wanted to state that Hamilton's streak of .500 seasons is up to 33 straight. That's very impressive. The longest active streak is 37 by the New Jersey City University men's basketball team.

[Hoaf]

Do you guys honestly still believe that Vassar is the best team in LL after there losses over the past couple weeks?

[shooters]

Vassar lost in OT to st. lawrence so I would say if they are a team that could do some damage but no they are not the top LL team. That will be decided this coming weekend up at St. Lawrence. TK played another 30 minutes of action yesterday and logged in an impressive 5 pts. So in his last three games he goes for 6-23-5. Very up and down. i hope they get jones back to pick up these off nights for TK. Should be an interesting weekend for the LL. Welchons wouldn't go to Union thats almost funny. Hamilton was awful again from 3, they need some straight up shooters to run away w/ the league.

[rjcarter8]

Welchons wouldn't go to Union thats almost funny.

How sure of that are you?

[Hoaf]

TK didn't have an off night. They just aren't giving him the ball. Tobin hasn't made TK a priority on the  team. I don't even think he had a touch in the whole second half. Tobin must not know how to coach when he can't give his best player the ball. Instead he's too busy on developing poor shooting fast and flashy freshman guards. I would just like to see more consistency in the style of play. One night it's Giorgi and TK in the post. The next night it's Dave Alston, Jay Simpson, and Harlee Wood shooting threes.

[shooters]

Hoaf,

Were you at the game? If so then I will take that as fact but first it was Tobin wasn't playing TK enough now its he doesn't get enough touches. They run mainly motion offense w/ a few sets which means no one is singled out. Now I believe that Union zoned Hamilton yesterday according to the radio and Wood seemed to be fine handling it. I think there were a lot of double teaming of TK which is exactly what i would do if I was playing against Hamilton. Now my issue with Tobin is his continual play of Giorgi. I have no idea how he gets into the game much less stays there. I did see he only played 9 minutes yesterday which is a relief. Hamilton plays an up tempo style of play and Giorgi goes totally against all of it. Now the welchons comment was just a stir the pot comment it had no truth to it, maybe he was going to Union, who knows and quite frankly cares.

[bucketsallday]

vassar's two losses this weekend are a result of poor coaching (unbelieveable anyone would even mention mike dutton for coach of the year). case in point - joe davis scores 15 first half point against clarkson and plays three minutes in the second half in a game where vassar's offense was bogged down. also, vassar seems unprepared for alot of games (did not look ready against clarksons zone), and get by because of tremendous talent. they could be something special with a guy like montana who, by the way, is the best scouter in the conference. union will know their opponents offense better than their opponent. he is by far coach of the year in the conference.

one other note - the kid sharlow from st lawrence is unbelievable. he controlled the game against vassar - penetrating any time he wanted against a VERY good on-the-ball defender in tyson brazell. ended up with 21 and 5 dimes (although the assist number should have been higher). 

[met_fan]

I've only seen Hamilton a couple times this year, and one was when TK was out, but whether they are trying to get him the ball or not, there is no way he should only have 5 points in 30 minutes.  Something is seriously wrong here.  I don't care if they're double-teaming him the whole game - the most talented player on the floor should be able to score double figures in a LL game.  If he's still hurt, that's one thing, but if he's healthy, I just don't know.  I have no idea whether to blame the coaching or the player - I only know that Hamilton is far from a smoothly operating machine at this point.  Every game it's something different, with different players disappearing for different games.  They may well win the league and advance to the tournament, but unless they really turn something around in the next week or two, they will be going home very early.  It's too bad, because with the exception of Amherst, the east/northeast is wide open this year and any team that makes it in (within reason) could make a nice run.  I don't see Hamilton doing that at this point though.

[Caz Bombers]

one other note - the kid sharlow from st lawrence is unbelievable. he controlled the game against vassar - penetrating any time he wanted against a VERY good on-the-ball defender in tyson brazell. ended up with 21 and 5 dimes (although the assist number should have been higher). 

I thought he was pretty shaky in the first half, tried to do too much and make plays that just weren't there.  I even said at that time (to nobody in particular) "coach, take #10 out, I think he's shaving points."  2nd half he settled way down and took it over with shooting and passing.  Overall SLU was just far too athletic for Vassar and it was VC's discipline and shooting touch that kept them in it til the end.  I do like Brazell and Avitabile quite a bit, they complement each other well.

[bucketsallday]

st lawrence controlled the paint, especially down the stretch, where vassar couldnt get d boards. williams had 19 and 10, and whoever 00 is had about 6 blocks and a vicious dunk on avitable.

[shooters]

met fan,

That is exactly what I am trying to say! I get so sick of everyone making excuses about TK. First it was he was not playing, then it was he was hurt, now its the offense and the coach. I mean every week he should be "forward of the week" but instead its a blame game or excuse for why he didn't perform. He should consistantly be putting up 20-10, period! If he would just stand under the bucket the entire game he should net 10 off rebounds alone. Giorgi can put up 5pts. in 30 minutes if thats what Hamilton needs. At any rate I will be the first person to tell you Hamilton is not a well oiled machine. They get inconsistent play from a lot of people. I can't wait for Jones to get back and help this team out, apparently its too much work for TK.

[labart96]

Hamilton is ranked #17 by U.S. News while Union is #39. Not only that but Hamilton accepts 10% fewer applicants than Union. Hamilton is by far superior school.

Do people still actually base their decisions on where schools are ranked in those magazines?  I got into Hamilton and Middlebury (which Midd guys would probably say is "superior" to Hamilton), but ended up choosing Hobart and loved it. 

In fact, my going to an "inferior" school as Hobart - at least based on these completely subjective rankings - didn't hurt me at all - education or career wise.

[Hoaf]

I would totally base my decision on a school's ranking and reputation. Wouldn't you? Especially, if you grew up in an elitist WASP suburb of NYC where reputation is everything.

Hobart was my safety. Hamilton was my mid-range school. Middlebury was a stretch. I would have gone to Middlebury in second if I had gotten in. Heck! They even have their own ski mountain.

College is everything to a kid when you're surrounded by goal oriented peers.

[b4the3isme]

Where are all of the Vassar guys?  Clarkson and SLU turns them from frontrunner to lets try to make it into the playoffs.  My only prediction that seems to be in jeopardy is Union backing up to RPI.  It seems as though that spot may be reserved for Vassar.  I thought that SLU deserved more props which seems justified now.  Clarkson's win at Vassar kept them on life support, but the next loss pulls the plug.  Haven't seen RPI but they seem to be playing pretty good ball but somehow they always seems to be the perenial bridesmaid.  Either 4 or 5th in the league and never making it to the promised land.

[labart96]

I would totally base my decision on a school's ranking and reputation. Wouldn't you? Especially, if you grew up in an elitist WASP suburb of NYC where reputation is everything.

Hobart was my safety. Hamilton was my mid-range school. Middlebury was a stretch. I would have gone to Middlebury in second if I had gotten in. Heck! They even have their own ski mountain.

College is everything to a kid when you're surrounded by goal oriented peers.

That is still probably the common wisdom in the elitist suburbs of NYC, as it was the common wisdom of my elitist Connecticut hometown.  Fortunately I guess I was either a) too dumb and/or b) too smart to put much stock into that.

I do recall getting a lot of funny looks when I told folks I chose Hobart over Middlebury.