MBB: Little East

7express · February 16, 2011, 01:27:29 PM

3. If you are Dartmouth, Keene, Eastern, and Plymouth and your seeding cant improve how important is sat? Do you play the starters the whole game and try to win? Do you go deeper on your bench because win or lose its set where and when you play? No point in killing your team on sat to turn around and play on tuesday. I am pretty sure that all four of these teams will have to win the tournament to get into the NCAA so winnnig/losing on sat will not impact an at large bid for them. Something to think about
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Since Dartmouth and Keene will be playing each other Saturday and then again 3 days later in the tournament, I don't think they'll be showcasing much in the Saturday game. Eastern's playing Southern Maine, so the starters probably would've gotten the last 5 or so minutes off anyways. I hope Plymouth shows up at home against RIC. With 5 senior starters for Plymouth, I don't think their going to roll over for RIC just because they can't move up, but you never know.

Argylebballer · February 16, 2011, 01:45:21 PM

Thatt is what we had heard from RIC, if RIC wins or West Conn loses RIC will host. RIC unveiled all new seats with arena style seating instead of bleachers last night so atleast the seats will be nice

Argylebballer · February 16, 2011, 01:48:53 PM

Also RIC is playing their best ball of the season. Gray has been in complete control of the last few games and Choice has played like POY contender the last month. Also Kadeem Francis the freshman back up 2 guard has really started to blossom scoring 10 against southern maine and playing very good def last game.
WestConn though is right up there as far as the great teams of the coutry go.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 16, 2011, 03:27:28 PM

Week 3 Regional Rankings are out: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2011/02/16/ncaa-2011-regional-rankings-week-3/

7express · February 17, 2011, 10:54:02 AM

Sat games:

Western Connecticut 74 @ UMass-Boston 52. We might be in for a game in the first half, but we should be able to pull away in the second half.
Southern Maine 56 @ Eastern Connecticut 63. Tough game for Eastern on Tuesday against West Conn. Since their locked in where they are (the 3rd seed) I think they'll play more to not get anyone hurt (Nedwick, Sawyer, Kohn especially) then to win the game, but they should be able to win regardless.
Keene state 52 @ UMass-Dartmouth 53. Since they'll be playing each other on Tuesday in Keene in the 4/5 game, wouldn't expect much out of either team's starters. Both Colbert and Baptiste will give their starters some minutes to keep them fresh, but will probably be mostly Keene's reserves against Dartmouth's reserves.
Rhode Island College 73 @ Plymouth 62. Hopefully I'm wrong. Plymouth should give them a good game with 5 senior starters playing their last game in Foley gymnasium , but if your playing for the 1 seed and home court advantage that comes with it, you can't lose this game. Even with a fight from the Panthers, RIC should come out on top.

LECFAN32 · February 17, 2011, 11:54:47 PM

safe picks but I agree with most of them.. maybe with dartmouth able to pull an upset.. they usually play keene very tough... interesting to see ric's new setup.. the francis kid is from white plains and was a good player for an up and coming stepinac program.. wouldnt be surprised if becomes a good guard in this league

wcsu's payton, gates, and recently jackson have shown a great deal of promise for the future as well.. surprised to how aggressive and strong jackson is.. where was this guy all year.. rumor is from an asst. coach is that they getting cody bayne, underwood, and leroy mayers back next year.. if this happens they should be able to repeat this years success.

wcsu91 · February 19, 2011, 11:19:42 AM

Hoping for a Western WIN and a RIC LOSS Today so Western can host the LEC Tournament. Go Plymouth.

7express · February 19, 2011, 11:06:47 PM

Saturday results:
West Conn 97 @ UMass-Boston 86. Really bad played game by the Colonials. The Beacons were only averaging 59 ppg in their 0 for February and they managed to get almost 30 more then they average. No rebounding once again, and we take shots to quickly when we have a lead. DaQuan, your a great shooter, but taking a 3 when were up 10 with 2:27 left with a defender in your face with 28 seconds left on the shot clock is not very good shot selection. Also, I'm not sure if this is why the freshmen didn't play much, but I heard from the West Conn women at halftime that there was fighting between a few freshmen. Taeshawn Jackson didn't get in the game today after playing well the last 2 games, and Russell Payton didn't play at all in the second half. Also, one of the assisant coaches (Eddie Quick) sat at the end of the bench the second half. As I said, not sure if that had anything to do with it, but something to keep your eye on as we get into the LEC tournament.
Mass-Dartmouth sweeps the regular season series with Keene, win 87-74. They'll have a chance to finish 3-0 against the Owls as they face off in Keene in the 4/5 game Tuesday night.
East Conn by 4 over Southern Maine 73-69. Surprized a lot of the East Conn starters played a lot of minutes. Joe Ives didn't start but he registered 31, Kohn finished with 29, and Nedwick with 37 minutes played.
LEC tournament will be going through Providence as the Anchormen completely demolish the Plymouth state Panthers 97-67. Really not surprizing that they won the game, the 30 point margin is surprizing, I thought Plymouth would give them a game.

That sets up the tournament as follows:
#1 RIC and #2 Western Connecticut get bye's the semifinals with start Friday night @ RIC
#6 Plymouth state plays @ #3 Eastern Connecticut and #5 Mass-Dartmouth plays @ #4 Keene state to open the LEC tournament on Tuesday night.

warrior · February 20, 2011, 07:22:20 AM

Congratulations to all LEC teams on a great LEC regular season! As predicted, there were no guaranteed wins (ask RIC about their USM game) and no one ran the table, as the winners ended with 3 losses.

As for our warriors, congratulations to them for breaking last season's LEC win record with 10! It was tough losing 4 close ones to RIC and Western, but wins against them in the tournament would more than make up for it!!!

Also, give credit to the league for putting EVERY game on LECTV. What a blessing for us all!

Here's to a great tournament!!!

Argylebballer · February 20, 2011, 10:46:23 AM

For RIC Nick Manson hit 6 threes, finally getting that deadly stroke back. Mason Choice shot 6-of-7 from the field to finish with 17 points, while Mike Akinrola added 13 points and Antone Gray chipped in with 10 points and seven assists.

RIC really is playing their best ball of the season lately. They started the season 4-5. without both Carl Lee and Gray. But since then they are 13-2 and have a 6 game winning streak going now.

The seeding certainly went well for the two top seeds. WConn doesn't have to deal with a Keene team that has had their number this year, and RIC gets the comfort of staying at home.

7express · February 20, 2011, 12:47:00 PM

The seeding certainly went well for the two top seeds. WConn doesn't have to deal with a Keene team that has had their number this year, and RIC gets the comfort of staying at home.
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I would've rather have gotten Keene again then Eastern though. Its tough to beat a good team 3 times in one season, especially when they just played each other which is why I would've taken my chances against Keene then trying to beat the Warriors for a 3rd time. Of course with the inconsistancy Keene has shown this year their just as capable to knock off RIC on their home floor as they are to lose to Dartmouth at home once again. LEC playoffs should be fun. With both Western team's having the bye I'll be in Willimantic for Keene vs. Eastern women/ Plymouth state vs. Eastern men's games. Hope to see you Eastern fans there.

7express · February 21, 2011, 10:12:25 AM

My Tuesday predictions:

#5 Dartmouth 67 @ #4 Keene 72. This should be fun, if Keene wasn't so far away from southwestern Connecticut I'd go back to Spaulding. Keene is inconsistant, but can't see them losing a second game in Spaulding against Dartmouth. Owls win a close one.
#6 Plymouth state 58 @ #3 Eastern Connecticut 74. Instead I'll more then likely be at this game. Eastern is better then Plymouth is, this could be close for 25 or 30 minutes, but the better players Eastern has will put the game away the final 10 minutes.

LECFAN32 · February 21, 2011, 05:36:27 PM

the west conn game appeared VERY sloppy and although I have heard first hand from that their are chemistry problems it is now becoming evident on the floor..you have 3 freshman guards who appear to be capable of contributing (payton,gates,jackson) and minutes for 1 of them, this at times has appeared to fuel friendly competition but lately has spiraled in the wrong direction.

brooks shot selection has always been questionable at best.. when your making them nobody is going to say a word about it. While I played for westconn greg cole (schools 3rd all time leading scorer) was the best outside shooter I have ever seen.. every home game his first, 3 pointer would usually be somewhere around the lec emblem, while watcing tape coach told greg that it was a bad shot and he said ' I dont think Im going to miss when I shoot"..this is most likely a similar situation..

Im sure coach Quick was sitting at the end of the bench to make sure no bickering was going ong between teamates.. hopefully this can be pulled togethor in time!

7express · February 21, 2011, 05:49:48 PM

Hopefully Plymouth can pull the upset tomorrow. I don't want to see Eastern again, this time on a neutral court. We got lucky last time around rallying from 8 down at the 8:00 minute mark to win by 4, I'd prefer not to do that again, especially with the team chemistry problems that seem to be going around. Hopefully they can pull it together here. The season started out so well, I'd hate to see it end like this.

wcsu91 · February 21, 2011, 09:33:51 PM

does anyone know what is going on with the team chemistry problems/internal issues at Western?? Surprised Coach Campbell would let it effect the team the way it has. Agree with 7express it would be a huge disappointment for Western to fall early in the LEC Tournament after such a successful first 20 games. Already bummed they are not hosting the LEC Tourn. At home blowing a 2 game lead the last couple of weeks. Hopefully Western turns it on again and goes deep in the NCAA's.