MBB: United East Conference

[thebear]

Actually SUNYIT should be very good.  They have three solid bigs, SUNYAC ROY Dave Golembiowski, Derek ahn & Savion Torrance, all freshmen plus Devon Moore & Maceo Hayneworth coming back.  If they can find a point guard, they should dominate that league.  Although they didn't have a great record, they were in most games, and feared by most of the coaches in the league.

P.S.  SUNYIT is actually very selective in Freshman admissions, and becoming increasingly so in transfer admissions.  Cobleskill is transitioning from two to four year, but eventually they will be upgrading their standards as well.  Coby is very well coached and play great defense, that will be enough to contend in the NEAC in most years.

[Cards7580]

I agree with thebear's assessment of SUNYIT.  They can score with anybody, but cannot consistently defend

[WNYHoops]

That should make things interesting in their game with DYC. D'Youville can also really score ... but defense is not their strength either. They led the conference in scoring at around 75 ppg. Their last two games of the season were both over 90. That should be a fun game next year when those two hook up!!

[bballfan44]

I think next year should be a good year for the NEAC about 6 teams fighting for first (SUNY IT, Colbeskill,Caz, DYC, Berks and Harrisburg).  I think berks and harrisburg will be up there because they return so much.  DYC will be good again, Coach Miller is a great Coach and recruiter, he will turn the team around and they will be like they use to be, fast pace athletic players.  Caz should be ok again, they have gotten better each year under bowser so i dont see a big drop to the team.  I just dont think Keuka will be any good.  They really dont have a great coach and none of the guys like him.  If Banks is smart he will get out of there and go play for a good team.   But still along time till next season starts

[32 Gold and Blue]

There's a new kid on the block next year - should be interesting with their coach - could upset your thinking - will a first year team compete for the crown?

[bballfan44]

I hope your not talking about Wells....... i mean i wish them luck, but they will have no chance to play for the championship

[bballfan44]

Anybody have any word on recruits for next year.  I take back my statment i made before about Wells.  What I have heard through the grape vine the coach has been doing some good recruiting and is brings in some good freshmen with some good JUCO kids to get the program starting.  They should be in the middle of the pack next year. 

[WNYHoops]

I just watched some summer league basketball at Daemen College. This league is the tops in the area. A lot of former D1 players, pros home from overseas, top talent in Buffalo. ECC, Daemen, Medaille, Hilbert and D'Youville all have teams, as do groups of guys in  their mid-20's to early 30's who played at very high levels.

Sticking to this thread about the NEAC, I can tell you D'Youville won tonight against a group of former Daemen players like Dewan Stroud and former Oswego standout Eric Roberson. The Spartans are athletic as ever but seem to have better chemistry than last summer at this time. Charles Walker was outstanding,  but the team has some new faces I did not recognize. One of the frosh I do know is Greg Osika .. the point guard and All Western New York 3rd team from Depew. The kid is pesky and really knows how to handle the ball. Shane Canahai, who played at NCCC last year and I thought was headed to D'Youville, is with them again this summer. Not sure if he will be playing for Coach Miller in the fall. There was another kid who I guess is from the Batavia area (Oakfield-Alabama??) who is around 6-2, shoots it and is athletic as well.

They did not have  a big guy but a lot of players around 6-3, 6-4 and long. The new 3-point line did not seem to phase them either. But their game is transition. They fell behind early and trailed by 13 at the half before blitzing the Daemen group in the second 20 minutes. From what I saw tonight, I would have to think they have a good shot at winning this league after making some strides last year and coming on strong at the end of the season.

[bballfan44]

Hey WNYhoops.....i hear coach miller is one of the final four for the Alfred job.  That would hurt DYC if he gets it.  that program has only done anything when he is in charge of the helm.  Great recruiter and coach would suck if he goes. 

Some Rumors;  I hear Keuka could be losing alot of big pieces.  one of there starters looks to be transfering to another NEAC school.  i think this upcoming year the team will struggle with the coach they have. 

new member SUNY IT, loses sme players from grades.

Askew is back for berks and they return everyone plus another big athletic freshman.  They lok to be the team to beat.

Caz brings in another big group of 10-12 players but who knows if they are any good.  Some freshman and some transfers.  There might be 2 guys in the group that will show impact.  i do know they stole a PG that medaille really wanted.

Wells brings in some athletic transfers.  I feel that they will not be in last place as there first year.

[WNYHoops]

Good stuff bballfan44.

I don't know about Coach Miller and Alfred. All I know is what I see posted on the Empire 8 board. That would be a tough loss for the Spartans, but I can tell you he was back watching their summer league team play last night ... so the Alfred thing puzzles me if he is spending time watching the DYC players. Interesting note, D'Youville played a team of guys last night that included Jason Rowe who plays pro in Europe and Damone Brown who was a star at Syracuse and had a stint in the NBA with the Sixers. And the Spartans lost by 2, had the ball with a chance to win it but turned it over with less than :10 left. Charles Walker was outstanding and has to be the frontrunner for POY in this league. A couple frosh were not intimidated and one kid, Louis Megna, was taking it at Brown. Of course, Brown was not going full-tilt, but once the game stayed close they were going hard to win it.

What Keuka starter transferred and to where? I had heard  Banks might not be back.

I agree that Berks will be good. Especially if Askew returns as you say. SUNY IT is interesting with their big kid who hits a lot of 3's and their athleticism. I would want to keep an eye on Cobleskill ... they are the widcard in this league. A good JUCO going DIII is hard to project how they will do. Do they keep the same type of kids or start over?? I still like DYC to be in the mix, simply because I am from Buffalo and Coach Miller has a lot of local kids on the squad ... plus I see them the most. One of the guys told me last night they have a 6-6 frosh coming in from Germany to play. He is a PT student and was a member of one of their junior national teams. Are the Spartans going global???

I'll keep posting anything else I hear. Anybody else on this board know any summer gossip??

[bballfan44]

Yeah i also heard Banks might not be back....but from what i heard is Mcdowell is going to wells now to play with his high school teammate antonio parker(Transfer from TC3)

[WNYHoops]

It looks like Coach Miller is staying put at DYC. Alfred has hired its new coach.

If McDowell does leave Keuka and Banks does not return, they might finish last in the conference. Maybe Wells does have something going, but it would be hard for a first-year program to win the league ... wouldn't it??

I still think SUNY IT and Cobleskill, both newcomers, will be near the top. Berks will be solid and normally do well within the conference. DYC will be very good and should challenge. Harrisburg has two of the top players in the league returning ... but they really struggle on the road. The team nobody seems to mention much is Caz. Remember, they are the regular season champions. They do loose their top scorer and rebounder in Latendress, but everyone else should be back. It's July, but I'll take a crack at the pre-season standings with the little I know about who actually will be on rosters (assuming the info posted on this site is indeed true):

1) SUNY IT - ROY in SUNYAC back along with most of team that smoked Caz by 20.

2) Caz - defending champs find ways to win big games. Returning backcourt is best in the league.

3) DYC - Walker will be POY. Athletic newcomers and Miller's up tempo style wear teams down. If they get any play from their posts they could win the league.

4) Berks - everyone returning from playoff team. If Askew is back, they have the main scorer they lacked last year.

5) Cobleskill - Just a guess. Always a good JUCO. How does that transfer to 4-year school???

6) Harrisburg - Last season's top scorer and POY Lewis returns along with hot shooting Hitz. They can score ... but have trouble defending.

7) Wells - If McDowell is definitely there they will beat some people. First-year program feeling their way.

8) Keuka - Decimated by loses according to posters here.

[bballfan44]

Hey not bad for some early perdictions.  Mine will be alittle bit different.

1.  Caz- return 2nd,3rd,4th leading scorer.  and rumor is they got a kid who got a few scholarship offers.  But i also heard they lost there biggest kid, that might hurt in non league but def not in league games.

2/3.  I am not sure here, its between DYC and berks.  If berks returns askew they can be good, he is a real good player.  But DYC with walker can be good.  I like Coach Miller he knows how to recurit and how to play.

4- SUNY IT-  rumors say they have lost a few starters because of grades.  ROY is going to be back, he is good if they have a good recuriting class they might move up.

5 Wells-  I think they will be a surpise, bringing in alot of transfers.  should be interesting.

6. Harrisburg-  Got two good players but thats about it, wont do to much this year, everyone knows how to beat them now

7. Cobleskill- New coach will hurt, and they lose there best players because they transfered out.

8.  Keuka- Lost to many good players, bad coach.  Smith and stern probably only good players returning and they cant do it themselves

[bballfan44]

Sorry WNY,  i made a mistake,  Mcdowell wanted to go to Wells to play with his good friend from high school but for some reason decided to stay a keuka  probably cause its his last year.  So they might be better then last.  Sorry for the wrong information

[WNYHoops]

I have heard that sometimes wrong information gets out on a message board. No need to apologize. If McDowell stays at Keuka they will not finish last. But one person alone cannot get it done. He would have added a nice flair to the Keuka/Wells game tho.

Saw D'Youville again last night and they looked bad at times, good at others. Very inconsistent in their play. Medaille had a solid summer and made the playoffs in the ultra-competitive Daemen league. Many pros and former DI and DII players in the 12-team league. Paul Harris even made an appearance with Jason Rowe and Damone Brown's team last week.