MBB: United East Conference

[mapper]

Yorks new gym seems like a great place to play, I'm sure the players knees were not hurting as much as they are used to after playing a game a York.  Boy that old kitchen floor could put a hurting on ya!!
Good game by both teams.  Both shot poorly from the feild, but I'm sure opening night jitters in front of a packed crowd may have had something to do with that.  I really thought VJC could have pulled away early (they were up by 6 or 7 before York came back to take a 6 point halftime lead) but VJC's point guard, Chris Warren, got into some foul trouble.  Seemed like everytime he came back in he hit a big three and picked up a foul.  HE CAN FLAT OUT SHOOT THE BALL!!!!!
York shot a lot of free throws, especially in the first half (BRICKS), but they couldn't connect.  VJC hung in there late and made a great run on the road and came away with a sweet victory.   Good job VJC and good luck defending your title this week in the D3 Maryland tournament.

[sixfour]

What does the NEAC look like for 06 07

Who is leaving and why?

What team(s) is/are coming on to keep the league up?

[haterinthehouse]

I for one believe that basketball games at this level are won by those who have the best guards.  It is always nice to have a pretty good post player, but lets be honest, there are not enough good post players at this level. 

With that said, I like Keuka a little bit.  Their guards are upper classman and have been playing a lot of minutes throughout their careers.  They are also getting solid time from the local boy--Steve Willson, in the post.  Who knew?

I am happy to see Brian Miller back in D'Youville, altough I bet the rest of the conference isn't.  It will take him two or three years to re-build that program.  But in his first five years there he won two conference titles, a COY award, etc... He will get the job done. 

As for other teams, I do not get to see many of the other teams.  Somebody else's turn...

[Raptormania!]

Well, I'm certainly jealous of teams with tall post players this year. Bard's got a good young team though- best guard play I've seen from them, and everyone is back next year. When they are hitting their outside shots, they are tough. Coach Wood needs to bring in some interior players for next year, and I like that the perimeter players will be NEAC-tested in time for the move to the Skyline. It's a year to consolidate gains for Bard- the championships will and have come in the other NEAC sports this season. But the Raptors are awfully fun to watch.

[gobombers15]

Bard lost to a team that, before that game, had lost 207 straight games. Yes, you read that correctly. Wow.

[Pat Coleman]

207 in a row against D-III teams. 59 in a row overall.

[Raptormania!]

The Raptors are just too vertically challenged this year to compete on the interior. Coach Wood knows he needs to grab some inside players- when you're getting outrebounded like Bard is this year, you have to be perfect from the perimeter to win. Notice that Cal Tech's leading scorer was 6-7. Bard simply didn't have anyone to matchup with him- and I don't care how quickly you double that guy, of both players doubling him are 6-2, he's going to score when he gets the ball.

Most programs would struggle after losing 4 starters, including the all-time leading scorer, assist man and blocks leader (three separate players, by the way). Let's see where they are next year, with a little experience and some incoming big men.

[Raptormania!]

I didn't realize we were evaluating the whole season based on one game. Last night, for instance, Bard lost a heartbreaker, 75-74 to SUNY-Purchase on a missed last-second shot. The Raptors shot 48% for the game, but simply couldn't stop Purchase's interior game, particularly in the second half. They shot 8-26 from 3, about their season average, and 43% 3-point shooter Ray Arocho fouled out just before the last posession, keeping him from taking the shot.

The Cal Tech game was clearly a fluke, as they simply haven't made it a habit of getting blown out, even by better teams than Cal Tech (nearly half of their games have been decided by single digits). Also, however, even one big body inside to defend Purchase's interior players, and Bard wins by 10-15 points- Purchase shot 84% in the second half!

But based on your one game analysis, I have also concluded that 1985 Villanova had much more talent than 1985 Georgetown, the U.S. was obviously better at hockey in 1980 than the Soviet Union, and David did nothing more against Goliath than cover the spread.

[Raptormania!]

Bard wins at Poly, 73-57, behind 4 in double figures. Finished the game on a 60-26 run. Won't be the last one they win, either...

[Caz Bombers]

It better not be Bard's last, considering that it's the NEAC.  Is there a Pool A bid this year for this embarrassing collection of walking dead bodies (in which Bard is still just 1-3)?  I hope not but I thought I read somewhere that there is.

Raptormania, even speaking as tongue-in-cheek as I will hope for your sake you were, the words "Bard" and "Goliath" don't belong in the same book, let alone the same sentence.  Man alive, I can't even imagine how bad things are gonna get when these guys hit the Skyline.

[Raptormania!]

I'm glad you can see the difference between Goliath, who has never won at Polytechnic, and Bard, which won at Polytechnic on Saturday.

Truth be told, I'm glad they have a chance to retool this year before heading to the Skyline. But please-  even with no improvement, they'll be in the Skyline with Purchase, who they just lost to by 1 point, and Poly, who they just beat by 16 away. They topped Maritime by 20 at Maritime the last time they played there. At worst, they'll be far from certain doormats- and that's without any infusion of talent for next year.

[Raptormania!]

Bard wins again. 64-53 over D'Youville. Since returning from the west coast, the Raptors are 2-3, with two losses by 1 and 4 points. Glad to see them bouncing back like this.

[thethree]

I think it's pretty safe to say that Bard is not a contender in this conference.

What I'm impressed with right now is Chestnut Hill who seems to be owning the conference. Though it looked like VJC would take storm again this year after they beat CHC early in the year (and beat Bard by 35) CHC matched well against and fought down VJC second time around. Chestnut Hill sits at the top of the South Division and beat Baptist Bible by 17 who is first in the North. I think they could take it all.

I for one believe that basketball games at this level are won by those who have the best guards.  It is always nice to have a pretty good post player, but lets be honest, there are not enough good post players at this level. 

Chestnut Hill's Greer was first team NEAC last year and is an outstanding player. It's no question that this kid has talent. The team's younger guards are also very very quick. Their post players also seem to be able to match up against any in the conference, but you're right there's not much to it.

out

[sixfour]

been a while since anyone posted here....how are things in the NEAC?

How are these programs like Poly and Bard dealing with the looming move to the skyline?

Any big changes in place for next season?

[VJC SID]

Here are the final season standings for Men's Basketball.

North:

1.  Baptist Bible 13-3 - North Division Champions
2.  Keystone 10-6
3.  Keuka 10-6
4.  Cazenovia 9-7
5.  D'Youville 3-13
6.  Bard 2-14

South:

1.  Villa Julie 14-2 - South Division Champions
2.  Chestnut Hill 14-2
3.  Penn St-Berks 8-8
4.  Philadelphia Biblical 6-10
5.  Purchase St. 4-12
6.  Polytechnic 3-13

Final Overall Standings:

1.  Villa Julie 14-2 - Regular Season Champions
2.  Chestnut Hill 14-2
3.  Baptist Bible 13-3
4.  Keystone 10-6
5.  Keuka 10-6
6.  Cazenovia 9-7
7.  Penn St-Berks 8-8
8.  Philadelphia Biblical 6-10
9.  Purchase 4-12
10. D'Youville 3-13
11. Polytechnic 3-13
12. Bard 2-14


Tuesday's Games are as follows:

CAZ @ BBC
KEU @ KEY
PBU @ VJC
PSB @ CHC