MBB: Little East

[LECFAN32]

agree that conference will be strong next year once again, ric has gotten used to playing without gray here and there over the last couple of years and I have no doubt bob walsh will continue to bring in schol. level players unless this s the year he mans a small div. 1 school

Keene seems way to big and talented to have the type of record they had this year, this team legitmately had the size of a mid major d1 schooland some serious players. Seems like they may try and stretch their bench a little too much playing 12-13 guys 12-15 minutes and guys end up not getting a flow goin (although Im sure the players outside of the starting 5 like it)

Eastern seems like if they bring in a couple forwards ready to contribute they could make an ncaa tourney run, they have size on the wings and at the guards, kohn and nedwick are both tough heady players, and garrow seems ready to break out.

Western losing those seniors will be a large loss especially because maturity is a MAJOR issue, I have heard they are reloading with talent, including getting back some former contributors, however their veteran guys will really have to take control of the team and be leaders and not worry so much about getting theirs...

That being said I we should take care of business tonight, but middleburys size could be a problem

[7express]

Western with a dominating 89-67 win over Salve.  Best game they've played since they played Plymouth state at home Jan 8.  Sure, there was hot dogging in the second half, but we were already up by 20 and Salve wasn't the shooting the ball at all, so I'll give it a pass.  Still give up 2 many second chance points that'll be a BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG problem against Middlebury on Saturday.  If we want any chance of getting the win (or even staying close with a chance to win at the end) we have got to get on the boards and limit Mid to as little offensive possessions as possible.  But still a pretty complete game played by the Colonials, first in almost 2 months.  Good to see they haven't given up just yet.  If they play they way they did tonight on Saturday they are more then capable of knocking off a Middlebury team that has issues with tiny, quick teams.

[7express]

Rhode Island College vs. Penn state-Behrend (at Oswego state).  Don't know much about Behrend so can't really handicap them to much.  Their 23-4 with 2 of the 4 losses comming to La Roche, the AMCC regular season and postseason tournament champions.  Imo, whoever wins this will win the pod as I think either team can take out Oswego state (making their first NCAA tournament appearance) or the Wells Express out of the NEAC (NEAC is probably the worst D-3 conference).  RIC had an atrociously long drive up to Oswego so hopefully they went up Thursday morning.  LEC competition prepares yourself better for the NCAA tournament then AMCC competition does, and thats the difference.  RIC advances 76-64.

[7express]

Not to sound like too much of a homer, or too upset all the West Conn fans on the board but the seedings just don't make much sense. West Conn is basically seeded as an 8 seed.  And they are getting to host a game and they come in limping, having lost 3 of their last 5 and an early exit from the LEC tournament.

RIC was given what is a 10 seed and has to play over 350 miles away in the first round, something that West Conn wont have to do till the Final Four.  This after RIC comes in winning 8 straight, the regular season and tournament titles, and they have won 11 of their last 13 since mid-Jan, with two wins over Eastern a bubble team and one over West Conn an NCAA tourney team, in that stretch.

Not to mention who they each got for opponents. West Conn gets a horrid Salve team that RIC beat this year by 15 on the road without Antone Gray, and Carl Lee.  But RIC gets a Penn St. team that only has 2 loses all semester, both to an NCAA tourney team in 24-2 LaRouche.

RIC may have gotten shipped the farthest of the 4 LEC teams (including the 2 LEC women) but because of that they have the easiest road to the second weekend of any of the 4 teams though.  Western women only travel about 100 miles, but they play Kean at Kean tomorrow, a team that gave Amherst women their only loss of the season, Eastern women travel even less then Western does but they play @ Amherst in the second round, and even though the Western men got a home game in the first round, their prize for winning is a date with Middlebury, the #2 team in the country who's only loss is by 5 to the #4 team in the country.

[7express]

RIC demolishes Behrend 83-54.  Behrend had more players score in double figures (3) then RIC did (2), so you would think the score would be closer.   The Anchormen got balanced scoring from everyone in the lineup; 12 of the 13 players that appeared in the game hit at least 1 field goal, compared to Behrend who only had 8 players in the scoring column and outside of those 3 in double figures the next highest point total was 5.  Even though its being played in Oswego, RIC should be a clear favorite to get an LEC team to the second weekend since I think the other 3 lose (hopefully I'm wrong about Western).

[7express]

games today:
Eastern vs, Albertus in the ECAC semi's.  Winnable game for the Warriors but they have to watch out for Ray Askew.  When AMC played Western back in January, Askew went for 36 points but it felt like he scored 60.  They have the guards to give Eastern a hard time.  Eastern 78-66.
RIC @ Oswego state.  Of the other 3 LEC tournament games today (Western @ Kean women, Eastern @ Amherst women, Western @ Middlebury men) this is easily the easiest game for an LEC team to win today.  Would be discouraging if we didn't get 1 team to the round of 16, RIC gets it done for the conference.  RIC 73-69
Western @ Middlebury.  We have got to play defense, force Middlebury into bad shots to create transition offense.  Were going to get killed in a half court offense as Jamal Davis, Andrew Locke and Ryan Sharry will dominate the paint for the Panthers.  Because of their size they struggle against small, quick teams.  If we can get them in transistion and get the score in the 80's or 90's, I'll take my chances, but thats a big IF.  However, with that said I like Western's chances better then the 2 women's chances though.  Mid 69-58.

[Argylebballer]

I am in Oswego.  Oswego isn't a great team but they are a very good team, and strong down low.  Like Western needs to do against Middlebury, RIC needs to get this game up-temp. RIC did look good yesterday but not making the Sweet 16 is a major let down for this program.

West Conn's best chance is for the fast guards, like Brooks, to go off.  When we beat them last year, by alot, we won by keeping the game fast and open.  Also when you attack the rim their bigs have been known to foul.

[7express]

I am in Oswego.  Oswego isn't a great team but they are a very good team, and strong down low.  Like Western needs to do against Middlebury, RIC needs to get this game up-temp. RIC did look good yesterday but not making the Sweet 16 is a major let down for this program.

West Conn's best chance is for the fast guards, like Brooks, to go off.  When we beat them last year, by alot, we won by keeping the game fast and open.  Also when you attack the rim their bigs have been known to foul.

Good luck to the Anchormen this evening.  This is Oswego's first year in the NCAA tournament so RIC definatly has the expierence because they've been here before.  How was the trip out to Oswego??

[Argylebballer]

Long, RIC got the rough end in the travel department.  I have a good feeling about the LEC tonight.

I really do think if they run West Conn shocks the country tonight...

[7express]

Me two.  If we can get both of the men's game (possible) and then 1 of the women's game that'll be a great night.  As long as we can run I really think we can win.

[deiscanton]

ECAC New England semifinal action

E. Connecticut 23,  Albertus Magnus 10 9:23 left in first.

Update:-- Halftime from Geissler Gym in Willimantic, CT--

E. Connecticut 37, Albertus Magnus 31

Update-- E. Connecticut 41, Albertus Magnus 37  14:50 left in regulation

[deiscanton]

Second half updates-- ECAC New England Semifinal action

E. Connecticut 43, Albertus Magnus 43  12:45 left in regulation

E. Connecticut 47, Albertus Magnus 43  9:46 left in regulation

E. Connecticut 55, Albertus Magnus 54  4:16 left in regulation  (Albertus's Ray Askew fouled out of the game with 5:20 remaining.)

E. Connecticut 57, Albertus Magnus 54  3:24 left in regulation

E. Connecticut 63, Albertus Magnus 57  47.7 seconds left in regulation.

  Final:  E. Connecticut 66, Albertus Magnus 61-- E. Connecticut advances to play winner of Brandeis v. MCLA in Sunday's ECAC New England title game.

[7express]

Eastern holds onto defeat AMC 66-61.  They had a 23-10 lead to start the game and had to hold on.  They'll play Brandeis tomorrow for the championship who was a 76-66 winner over MCLA.
Middlebury blows out Western 79-53.  No boxscore and since I was at Kean for the women's game not sure how West Conn did.  From the looks of it sounds like they were never in the game after the opening tip off.
RIC advances to the sweet 16, wins 71-63 @ Oswego.  Carry the flag for the conference guys.  Amherst is a young team, and their beatable.  Since the sectional will more then likely be at Williams, hopefully the Williams faithful jumps on the RIC bandwagon in the game against their arch-rival.  They'll have a tough time with Williams/VWC, but I think they can get by Amherst.

[toad22]

I can't imagine any Williams fan rooting for Amherst -- that just doesn't happen.

[7express]

I can't imagine any Williams fan rooting for Amherst -- that just doesn't happen.

Thats what I'm saying.  If the sectional ends up being @ Williams which seems highly probable hopefully RIC can get a home crowd advantage with the Ephs fans rooting for the Anchormen to knock off their rivals.