MBB: Liberty League

[MHoops]

Hamilton follows NESCAC guidelines.  They used to only play in the ECAC's.  Once NESCAC decided to play in the NCAA's they took the ECAC off the table, or at least that's what I've been told.

NESCAC teams don't go the ECACs, and even though Hamilton doesn't currently play a NESCAC schedule in basketball, they still go by the same rules.  That is my understanding, anyway.

Thanks for the clarification.  The team capsule on Hamilton's basketball web site talks about the 10 ECAC Upstate titles that they've won so I had assumed they still participated in the ECAC tournament.

[met_fan]

Hamilton follows NESCAC guidelines.  They used to only play in the ECAC's.  Once NESCAC decided to play in the NCAA's they took the ECAC off the table, or at least that's what I've been told.

NESCAC teams don't go the ECACs, and even though Hamilton doesn't currently play a NESCAC schedule in basketball, they still go by the same rules.  That is my understanding, anyway.

Thanks for the clarification.  The team capsule on Hamilton's basketball web site talks about the 10 ECAC Upstate titles that they've won so I had assumed they still participated in the ECAC tournament.

Yeah - those are from the days (pre-'94 or so) before NESCAC schools could participate in the NCAAs.  NESCAC schools stopped going to ECACs around 2001.

[met_fan]

It appears Clarkson did not put up much of a fight or represent the LL very well - 30 point loss in the opening round.

[magicman]

Clarkson ran into a red hot Kings team. They shot 64.7% from 3 pt. land, nailing 11 of 17. Overall they shot 61.2% from the field hitting 30 of 49 attempts. Tough to overcome. Too bad for the Golden Knights, but with all 5 starters back next year, they may get a return trip to the NCAA's. Congrats are in order for getting their 1st ever bid and winning 2 big games back to back to do so.

[Cards7580]

Two Thumbs up

It's not easy being Green and Gold

[with age comes?]

Clarkson did struggle in the first half. Kings has been in NCAA's 3 out the last 4 years (once reaching the elite 8) and the experience showed.  The Knights never seemed to get untracked early and Kings was torrid, knocking down 3's and feeding their big (Sobleski) inside who pretty much scored at will. Magic & Cards if you have connections to Platts these things will help your team. 1) This really is Soboleski's team in half court offense.  Your bigs CANNOT FALL for his numerous ball fakes, head and shoulder fakes etc.  Tell them to stay on their feet until he (Soboleski) jumps and then time the block. They will be much better off and prevent a steady stream of fouls shots as when Soboleski gets players in the air he uses his big body well draws contact, finishes and gets the calls (at least in Wilkes Barre).  Their point guard Cousart is listed at 6'4" (no way) he's really about 6'2" 6'3" tops. He has a "sick" crossover left hand to right and penetrates really well.  He likes to penetrate deep into the paint on the break and dish back out to the 3 (usually on the left wing as you face the basket).  He was particularly effective with that to big Nestiel who shot the lights out against Clarkson (4 of 5 from beyond the arc).  Cousart also likes to drive get people into the air and finish.  He and Soboleski took 13 foul shots each and totaled more than the whole Clarkson team both in attempts and makes.  There was a huge disparity in attempts until almost garbage time in the second half (which was for all intents and purposes virtually the whole second half). Also there was a small guard Dwebeng who came off the bench to shoot the 3 very well too.    But from my vantage point the key for Plattsburgh will be to stop Soboleski (a poor man's Hauben from U o R a few years ago) from dominating down low. DON'T GO FOR FAKES!!!  Limiting penetration from Cousart. and not letting Nenstiel go off from 3. Should be a very good game.  Good luck to the cards!! And congratulations to Clarkson for their late run, they should be proud to have danced!!!

[magicman]

withage,

Thanks for your excellent analysis. Plus k. We pretty much knew it was the Soboleski and Cousart show. Layups from the big guy and drive and dish from the guard. Wondered about that 6' 4" claim also. You provided some details that will certainly help. I've passed your comments along to Plattsburgh's Assistant Coach who is a friend of mine. Hopefully they'll come in handy. Maybe a nice steal on that kickout to the left wing, or a few stuffs early on by our bigs on Soboleski, to get him out of his rhythm.

I left a post for you on the SUNYAC board as well.   

[hoops]

how big is  sobleski that he had to use all those fakes?

[Cards7580]

He's listed at 6' 6" 245 lbs.   

[with age comes?]

I'd say that was fairly accurate.  He was a wide body, that did not have to use the fakes but did to create contact and draw fouls. About 6'6" 245 lbs.

[FLYZ5]

Interesting points FLYZ5, I guess the question is why are those players leaving?  And the other is how do you have so many players and not have much help for Simmons?  And, I guess, if he really didn't have any real help like many other teams in the LL but still did what he did, maybe he should have been POY.

Are there any RPI posters with insight?

I've been watching RPI for 4 years and I live with many of the players, so this is all I can deduce from our season:

Players don't quit in the middle of the season, especially large contributors like Gordon and Rourke, unless they coincidentally both had school or family issues, or they don't believe in the system and are bailing out like rats bailing out of a sinking ship (yeah I'm an engineer but I can use similes with the best of the liberal arts students).

After the Henrik incident, it seemed like most of the team quit caring, at least until they found out that they wouldn't have to forfeit their games after all.

The coaching staff cost them the first Hamilton game, which set the tone for the rest of the season.   The bench was T'd up after a not-so-dubious call, and that changed the momentum of the entire game.  Hamilton was on a run, or went on a run right after that.

Coach Griff's refusal to start Rupp and Brion, when they were absolutely playing better than Bull and Philatre, may have led to animosity.  Rupp only started the last three games because Bull went down with an ankle.

Kris Kowalczyk was suspended for the second Union game, which we lost.  He may have made a difference.  I think it was a league suspension for punching a Hobart player on the road.   Didn't see that one, but heard it was reminiscent of when Simmons sucker punched Haviland-Markowitz back in the day.

Finally, after 4 years, I've seen one LL playoff game, which we were blown out in.  I can promise you that RPI doesn't have a monopoly on bad players.  We've had Paris Moore, John Van Schaick, Tom Schneider, Neal Wesson, Sam Simmons, great LL players, but somehow are always fighting to get in.

There's a reason that Hamilton is consistently good and we're consistently mediocre.  It always comes back to leadership.   

XVII---Your final point of analysis regarding consistent mediocrity is food for thought.  Most integral parts of a team are variable and fluctuate from year to year while the essential and crucial factors of leadership and guidance are the only components that generally remain constant.

[FLYZ5]

CONGRATULATIONS to Liberty League student-athletes John Grazioli of Hobart and Lawrence Avitabile of Vassar who have been honored by D3HOOPS & the National Association of  Basketball Coaches. Both Grazioli and Avitabile have been named to the D3HOOPS All-East Region 2nd team and to the NABC  Division III All District East 2nd team.  It's great to see the Liberty League represented.  Kudos to both on exceptional college careers!  Definitely well deserved!!!

[FLYZ5]

Legendary Coach Thomas Murphy has been awarded the 2008 NABC Outstanding Service Award.  Beyond question, an exceptionally adroit and dedicated coach, he spent 34 seasons as head coach at Hamilton College with an impressive record of 602-263.  The best part of the story is the measure of his success as meaningfully illustrated in the words of many of the fine and fortunate athletes has has coached over the years - "trusted, respected, mentor, leader, teacher, role model, fair, rare moral character, honest, sincere integrity, honorable, uncompromising values, significant personal regard for his players, believes in the concept of team and one of the finest coaches in the country at any level."  Need anyone say more??  Coach Murphy's legacy embodies the uncommon and genuine spirit of coaching and we congratulate him on this worthy honor!

[basketball]

Any word on Recruits ?
I posted one about a Vermonter going to Union earlier. And i found this one of about a shooter from NY going to hamilton,  Ephraim Herskovitz. The link is below.

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/273/DIII-Commitment-CatchUp.php

[FLYZ5]

If you love d-3 hoops - (to quote gobombers from the E8 boards) "it's never too early to look forward to 2008-09:

1.  HAMILTON     144/404 (Current Massey Rating)
Returning all 5 starters.  Controlled, patient and very athletic.  Great shooting team, young & solid.  Harlee Wood (2009 POY candidate).  The dominant team to beat.  Very well coached.

2.  ST. LAWRENCE   106/404
Returning 4 starters.  Deep, talented and balanced.  Play with intensity.  Effective leadership.  Team-centric.  Coaching staff doesn't seem concerned with inflating any single player's stats.  Worthwhile philosophy if you want to finish at the top.

3.  CLARKSON   274/404
Returning all 5 starters.  Most fun team to watch.  Consistent gritty defense.  Epitomize selfless team play.  Dedicated coach (COY) had to deal with numerous injuries and did so while keeping the team in sync.
Elson Pickering (2009 POY candidate).

4.  HOBART  251/404
Returning 4 starters.  Disciplined team.  Have some experienced underclassmen.  Coach seems to be a knowledgeable strategist.  Should do well.

5.  UNION  300/404
Returning 4 starters.  Should be more competitive and balanced.  Look for improvement.

6.  VASSAR  180/404
Returning 2 starters.  Losses to graduation may be too much to overcome.

7.  RPI  264/404
Returning 2 starters.  Lost significant # of experienced upperclassmen.  Not sure what effect the inopportune ineligible player situation may have had.
Look to rebuild.

8.  SKIDMORE  360/404
Returning 3 starters.  Young, energetic & enthusiastic coach is a huge plus.  Look for needed improvement.

Any Thoughts?