MBB: Little East

[7express]

7,
Your thoughts on the LEC after all the rosters/schedules are published will be very interesting.  Everyone looking forward to them!!

I already posted them; the team by team preview and the 1 game to watch for each team I think their a page back.  I won't have much more until the season starts.

[amh63]

7Express......How are you.....see that you are up for the season to unfold.  Have one more football game to watch this Sat. at Amherst. 
While up will try to get some time on the hardwood to watch the MBB practice...the "CAC" starts later than you guys....especially since three players are still on the football team, including the starting QB.  The Amherst website still doesn't have its players listed.
Enjoyed your preview of the conference teams.....since Amherst will again play RIC and other top "CAC" teams will meet Keene, etc.
Agree that the RIC vs MIT matchup in RI will be most revealing about the strength of this conference.
Take care and maybe we can catch a future game this season....again.

[7express]

Ryan Martin preseason 3rd team all American:
http://d3hoops.com/awards/all-americans/men/preseason-2013

[7express]

7Express......How are you.....see that you are up for the season to unfold.  Have one more football game to watch this Sat. at Amherst. 
While up will try to get some time on the hardwood to watch the MBB practice...the "CAC" starts later than you guys....especially since three players are still on the football team, including the starting QB.  The Amherst website still doesn't have its players listed.
Enjoyed your preview of the conference teams.....since Amherst will again play RIC and other top "CAC" teams will meet Keene, etc.
Agree that the RIC vs MIT matchup in RI will be most revealing about the strength of this conference.
Take care and maybe we can catch a future game this season....again.

Will do.  I'll send you a PM when I'm looking to go up to Amherst this year.

[ECSUalum]

Eastern Has just listed its 2012/13 mens basketball roster:
http://www.easternct.edu/athletics/men_basketball/mbb-roster.htm

Of note are big men Darryl Best 6'-7' 245lb Center from Hamden Hall Day School CT http://www.maxpreps.com/athletes/4MrrnZsFQ0O2fPGNl04vUg/basketball-winter-11-12/profile-darryl-best.htm

and Arkel Miles a 6'5" 250 lb Forward from Notre Dame HS Ansonia ( http://new.berecruited.com/athletes/792629)

Kevin Leumene a 6'-2", a 2nd Team All Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conf. guard from from Trinity Catholic in Stamford seems to be a highly touted.

Here is an article from the New England recruiting report on ECSU's freshman class:
http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/2571/Commitment-CatchUp.php

Arkel Miles has been deleted from Eastern's mens basketball roster!!  Anybody know why??

[LECFAN32]

 Leroy Mayers was alarge part of the run to the 2010 lec final, scoring 26 ish points in the close loss. very savy low post scorer with great touch and feel, much lighter now then he was back then but has been battling back from a very serious injury. Saw him this summer and was shocked how well he was moving. If hes in shape and healthy, a big plus for wcsu.

itll take time with this team, turnover is a reg. thing for coach campbell and some of the better teams hes had have peaked very late.

keene state def. the best from day 1 however.

[WPI89]

I would think WPI at Keen next Saturday would have almost made the list because of the timing - while I think WPI maybe down and be roughly .500 this year, Bartley has done a great job reloading each year so I am VERY interested in this early test. 

Here's my games to watch this year in projected order:

Keene state: February 16 vs. RIC.  Final Saturday of the regular season LEC championship.  After choking in their quest last year to win it, they close the year with 3 of their final 4 at home beginning with this game.  Full schedule: http://www.keeneowls.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/schedule
RIC: November 29 vs. MIT.  The #1 ranked team in the country comes visiting the Murray Center in 1 of the few games the Engineers could possibly end up losing this season.  Will be a great win for RIC and the conference if RIC was able to pull off the win.  Full schedule: http://www.goanchormen.com/index.html
Western: November 20 vs. Albertus Magnus.  This will be the sefond NCAA team we would've played in a 3 day span after playing @ Franklin & Marshall on November 18.  Coach Campbell is getting us tested early.  Albertus has some key losses as well so this will be a nice test for both teams.  Full schedule: http://wcsuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/schedule
Eastern: December 1 @ USM.  Its imperative to get out to an early lead in the conference, and the first conference game of the year will be important for these 2 teams.  Full schedule: http://www.easternct.edu/athletics/men_basketball/mbb-schedule.htm
USM: January 22 vs. Plymouth.  One of the main reasons the Huskies got left out of the tournament last year was because they got swept by Plymouth state.  This game is important for USM because after this they play 4 of their next 5 conference games on the road with the only home game in that stretch being against Keene state.  Full schedule: http://southernmainehuskies.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/schedule
Plymouth: February 16 vs. Western.  Final game of the regular season.  Depending on what happens with these two teams it could decide a lot: playoff spot or not, home advantage in first round.  if both Western & Plymouth are tied for one of those important spots have to like them playing at home.  Long trip to upstate New Hampshire in the middle of the winter.  Full schedule: http://athletics.plymouth.edu/sports/mbkb/2012-13/schedule
Dartmouth: November 30 vs. Keene.  Apparantly this is a Friday night game, so everyone in the conference can check this out before their openers the following day on December 1.  i said earlier about starting off strong; Dartmouth has 4 of their first 6 LEC games at home starting with this, so its a chance for them to make noise early.  Full schedule: http://www.corsairathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/schedule
Boston: February 12 @ Dartmouth.  The second to last game of the year.  The final playoff spot could be in play.  Full schedule: http://www.beaconsathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/schedule

[warrior]

It won't be long now!  Let the games begin!  I enjoyed the predictions and preseason info - thanks all! 

As for your prediction for LEC First Team, 7express, I was surprised by the absence of what I think will be 3 of the top players in the league: Rashad Wright, Chris Robataille and Mike Garrow.  I might be going out on a limb here, but Chris and Mike could both be top 5 scorers and rebounders and Rashad was great last year and can only get better! 

ECSUAlum - I don't know about that missing freshman, but Daryl is the back-up center I was telling you about.  I don't think he's 6'7", and he needs time to develop, but he will be a good back-up this year and should have a nice career at Eastern.  Also, the point guard from Enfield is doing very well and could see some minutes right from the get-go!

Are you going to the scrimmage tonight?  7pm vs. Coast Guard.  Hope to see you there!

[LECFAN32]

Warrior,

agreed with your thoughts. Garrow will have a breakout year. he is simply too big and explosive for wings in this league. Im just guessing about this but it seemed like geitner wasnt crazy about his shot selection early in his career, which may have kept him from being on the floor (mostly do to the kind of elevation he has on his jumper, everything feels like a clean look even when its not). With Nedwick (lot of respect for his game n career) and Levy (under used until his senior year, very tough matchup) gone Garrows stats will take a huge jump with three years under his belt in the ecsu system.

as far as Wright goes, stats dont mean all that much, he is the most physically talented forward in the region. There is no doubt in my mind about this. This guy was a top 100 player in the country out of hs, and at 6'10 he runs like a dear and is very explosive, as well as fluid (getting better, mostly to the right though) in the post, as well as wreaking havoc on defense where you dont see him challenged all that much. You see guys like this in the LEC once in ... well NEVER, as there is really not a good reason for him being in this league. There is a crowd of people around him whenever he catches the ball and it seems like every basket is a highlight level play. He excels despite colbert misusing him, and being on the court for maybe half the game, if he wants to this kid will make money playing the game.

problem with robataille is that unless wright is the conference player of the year, your not going to have two centers on the first team in a guard dominated league. although he is a great fit for that system and has had a great career for a guy that is flat out not very athletic and cant shoot free throws. but again REALLY respect the kind of impact hes made there. Backup pg seems to be a worry for eastern? Ives is serviceable but they need a bit of punch off the bench.

[warrior]

Mike made me look good in the scrimmage last night - leading the team with 17 points.  Starters Chris, Tyler, Joe, and Brian all did good things, while Brandon Yarborough (Yarbs)  and the big new kid, Daryl, did some nice things off the bench.  Eastern wound up beating Coast Guard by 31.  I'm telling you, they will be tough to beat this year if everyone stays healthy!

As for a back-up point guard - I'm not worried at all.  They have the freshman from Enfield, the other freshman who broke a bone in his ankle, but should be back in December, and Justin Nunez.  I think we will be fine at that spot.

PS I found out about the other freshman center.  He has some health issues they are checking out, before they can put him on the roster. I remember now seeing him play at the first practice.  I think he will be on the roster in a few weeks, but won't see much playing time this year. Could be a factor though in the future.

[ECSUalum]

Warrior,

Thanks for all the keen insight into Eastern basketball, alway great to read.  Was not at the scrimmage due to prior committments but can not wait for ECSU to defend their LEC title this year and expect to take in a lot of games.  I think w will see great turnout from the students and community this year a la the soccer games.
Also please keep us updated on Jamie's progress/success in Europe!  He is one of the best kids ever to go through Coach Geitner's program, athletically and academically!!
I really hope Mike Garrow has a standout year as we need him to , and he deserves it.  Robitallie will be fantanstic, hope his hand is fully recovered, and with Salzillo pumping in the 3's and the nice recruiting year,, the Warriors are poised for another run.
Isn't LEC basketball outstanding!!! ECSU, WCSU, UMD, Keene, RIC, all great programs with great coaches

[7express]

Western with a scrimmage at Springfield college this mornin.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find out where it was until this morning (damn scrimmages not on the schedule) so won't be a recap today.

[7express]

No clue what happened in the scrimmage this morning.  The only thing I know about the game is Russ Payton tallied 31 points.

[7express]

Heads up for the schedule.  Only 5 of the 8 schools play before Saturday (Western, Boston & USM don't tip until Saturday).  The 2 games on Thursday have Keene @ Husson and RIC @ LaSell.  I'll have a prediction either Tuesday or Wednesday.

[ECSUalum]

Introductory story on the 2012/13 ECSU Warriors from athletics page:
http://nutmeg.easternct.edu/mt-static/athletics/2012/11/eastern-basketball-gets-high-marks.html

A publication called DIII News has published a pre season poll mentioned in Bob Molta's article above:
This is the first I have heard about D-III News , which is part of SmallCollegeHoops.com.   

http://www.njacsports.com/custompages/mbb/2012-13/News.pdf

Will be interesting to see how accurate this poll is vs others

DIII News Preseason Top 25
1. Va. Wesleyan
2. Wis. Whitewater
3. North Central
4. Wooster
5. Cabrini
6. Franklin & Marshall
7. Hope
8. Amherst
9. Wm. Paterson
10. Ill. Wesleyan
11. Wis. Stevens Point
12. East. Connecticut
13. Capital
14. Washington (Mo.)
15. Middlebury
16. MIT
17. St. Thomas
18. Scranton
19. Farmingdale State
20. St. Mary's (Md.)
21. Ohio Wesleyan
22. Trinity (Texas)
23. Hartwick
24. Messiah
25. B'ham Southern