MBB: Little East

[warrior]

ECSU vs. Roger Williams scrimmage was fun to watch - finally A GAME!!!!  Obviously, there's still lots to work on, but ECSUs bench depth stood out as very impressive.  Anyone going to the RIC vs. URI game?  Anyone hear about the other first scrimmages?  Only 2 more weeks to season begin!  A few days before, the preseason polls should be out too.  Any other predictions out there? LET'S GO!

[warrior]

URI 88- RIC 55!  RIC started out strong with 6 straight points off offensive rebounds, then .... it looks like URI pulled away.  I still like RICs annual DI game - wish Eastern would follow suit.  Was anyone at the game?

[ECSUalum]

Warrior,

Not at URI-RIC game , however, looking at the URI roster, RIC was dealing with a much bigger URI team and more talented.  No Grimes and Gray hurt as well.

Would be interesting to have a "Nutmeg Tourney" as a exhibition warm-up with the 4 Connecticut State University teams playing.

Have it played at CCSU. Probably would draw a decent crowd.

ie, ECSU vs CCSU, WCSU vs SCSU with SCSU most likely playing CCSU in final.

We had a Nutmeg Tourney back in 70's in baseball before we had the NCAA divisional breakdown.  Back then ECSU usually ended up playing CCSU for title and won a couple of times

[ECSUalum]

ECSU 2010/11 roster posted.

Looks like Coach Geitner picked up 2 freshmen and what looks like a transfer.  Frosh are 6-0 G Brian Salzillo of North Haven High, a 3 pt shooting expert and 5-5 G Justin Nunez ex East Catholic High.

re Salzillo New England Recruiting Report says: A great catch and shoot player, Salzillo was one of the most improved players in the CIAC this year and earned a variety of post-season accolades.

5-11 G Chae Philips is listed as a Jr from West Haven High '07 another 3 pt shooter, not sure where he played after 2007.

Philips also looks to be a 3 pt shooter

[KSCfan]

I was looking at Keene States roster and they have a young team, a very young team.  They in fact have no seniors on the team what so ever.  They have a couple of juniors and a slew and i mean like 8 to 10 sophmores.  You might be hearing the theme song to growing pains out of the spaulding gymnasium this year.

[leelowlang]

I see one of those sophomore's is Ryan Martin, a transfer from Maine-Orono.  Kid can flat our score!  The D'Amours/Martin duo could be a handful to stop, I'm thinking 42-48 pts a night from those two.  Many of their sophomores (Mariano, Fazio, DeMasco, Norris) saw a lot of time last year as rooks.  Toss Snow in there, I see they have a 6'10" kid, I have a feeling they will nipping at the heels of the league's Big 4 at the top.

[KSCfan]

leelowlang i hope that you are right.  They def have the pieces for a very good team but i still think that they are a year or two away.  Close games down the stretch you need to have leadership, and that comes from experience.  If Keene can win a couple of close games early then it might allow them to gel together.  I hope that they have a great year but im thinking improve this year make a fun next year

[warrior]

ECSUalum - Chae Phillips,  was a student at Eastern last year and possibly before that, but this is the first year he made the team. Salzillo is playing well and actually started in the scrimmage vs. Roger Williams.  The team didn't look great in the scrimmage vs. Coast Guard, but that's what scrimmages are for, working things out.  Only one more week until tip-off!  I can't wait!

[ECSUalum]

ECSUalum - Chae Phillips,  was a student at Eastern last year and possibly before that, but this is the first year he made the team. Salzillo is playing well and actually started in the scrimmage vs. Roger Williams.  The team didn't look great in the scrimmage vs. Coast Guard, but that's what scrimmages are for, working things out.  Only one more week until tip-off!  I can't wait!

Thanks Warrior,

Who do you see to be the starting 5 this year?  Or will Coach Geitner platoon players at certain positions?I have to think Kohn, Roveto, and Nedwick has to start.  And I guess Sawyer over Thompson as Saywer is a Senior.  I hope Mike Garrow is other starter, I really liked what he did last year as a frosh, however Salzillo and H Levy will most likely get some playing time.

[warrior]

ECSUAlum - I think you're right-on with your predictions, but in the end, how the different combinations perform will determine who stays on the court.  Well, it won't be long now!!!! The start of a new season is only a week away and the preseason poll should come out any day!  I think a number of teams, including ECSU could knock off RIC this year, but I'm predicting the coach's poll will place us third behind RIC and Western.  In the end of course, the poll doesn't mean much as in the LEC, it is always a mistake to take any team lightly.

[Argylebballer]

Quick note on RIC, they are not looking as down as everyone is making it sound.  They only lost one player of a sweet sixteen team.  Gray will be on the team he is only suspended the first few non-conference games and has been with the team at scrimmages and practices as the teams real leader.  There was more about this on the start of the student URI-RIC broadcast this clip cuts in 5 minutes late but still you can see some of it, http://blip.tv/file/4361963/.
To go with that they have added some highly touted freshman including the number 2 recruit in RI and a kid who was a 30 point scorer his senior year.  But the class is lead by Kadeem Francis. He is a 6-1 point guard hat was rated the 121st best PG in the nation last year by espn and is the highest rated DIII freshman by any recruiting service, http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/101577/kadeem-francis.

[ECSUalum]

RIC did not look very smooth in their 67-53 home loss last night to a very quick Becker College squad!!!
I am sure coach Walsh was not a happy camper with the performance.  In particular, very sloppy on the basketball most of the night, ie 24 TO's and poor FG/3ptFG %s!!!

[Argylebballer]

That is for sure it was a rough start.  Not having Gray back yet was a clear major problem.  The team really lakes focus without him and was in a complete panic the first 10 minutes and again in the last 10 of the second.
It was a packed house, never scene that many students at a RIC home game, maybe the big crowd even though it was a positive one seemed to shock the Anchormen.

[warrior]

Argyleballer - Thanks for the very informative post and video link.  Unfortunately, I guess the part where they talk about Gray was cut off.  So what was the problem? Academics? 

Well, ECSUalum, everyone else is off and running and we still have to wait until Friday!  Hopefully we'll get off to a good start!  (By the way, the new photos, "Player Revealed", and coach's comments are up on the ECSU website as well as the season's first news article. Enjoy!)

[leelowlang]

Big-time start to the season for a big-time player in Da'Quan Brooks...efficient 35 & 27 respectively in a pair of wins for West Conn.