MBB: Little East

[Pat Coleman]

An yes, I predict Keene will break into D3.com/NABC National Rankings over next 2 years

For what it's worth, there's no NABC poll anymore. Just us.

[ECSUalum]

Pat,

Yes, Thanks, I went back to the NABC website and it in fact referenced the d3hoops.com poll.  Looks like they publidh a D-II poll and show the USA Today/ESPN ploo for D-I basketball.

[ECSUalum]

Well, The guys continued to play wicked tough D today, only problem was RIC played even tougher and held the Warriors to 27% FG and 17% 3PT FG.  Nothing would go through the hoop for them today, and RIC superior outside shooting was the difference.  Looks like Coach Walsh's strategy today was to bottle up the middle and cut down the inside game, and let Eastern shoot from outside, which they did poorly.  Felt a bit sorry for the guys this afternoon, as they played their hearts out, but as the game wore on you could see the dissapointment setting in.
Somehow we need to find a way to beat RIC.  Theoretically, 2 of the last four losses we really should have won.

Anyway, Just forget about this one and go out and beat WCSU Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!

[warrior]

Yes, it was a very disappointing loss, but the team has plenty to be proud of.  Despite many good shots, especially threes, that just wouldn't fall, the kids never gave up and fought to the end. They could have just thrown in the towel after that horrible first half, but they never did and made a game of it.

RIC really seems to have our number the last couple of years, but if the only game we win vs. them this year is in the league tournament .... I'll take it!

Well, another big game coming up on Tuesday.  Too bad it will likely be postponed due to the expected snow storm.

At least everyone will be rooting for us, to knock off the #1 team!

[LECFAN32]

Eastern must try and slow down western both in transition and in the half court...which most teams have seen this year is a very difficult task, having a low scoring, grind it out type of game would definitely work in easterns favor, im not sure I see this happening given westerns restored confidence

seen posts in the newmac forum (no slouch league) that western is the "quickest d3 team they have ever seen"

[WcsuAlum]

That may definitely be true. BIG game tomorrow! Can't wait to see these two teams battle it out.

[LECFAN32]

definitely agree.. always look forward to watching the games online at littleeasttv.. easterns gym is shooter friendly as opposed to the o'neil center where the backdrop throws off shooters on both teams, that aspect of being on the road for western is a real positive.

[KSCfan]

LECFAN32- why is western on the road a positive?  Just curious?  Keene plays Plymouth at home tonight which should be a good game.  Often times a lot of plymouth fans find their way down to the Spaulding for the inter-NH game.  Keene is running a big "BEAT PLYMOUTH" thing, so the attitude in the gym should be real good.  When the Spaulding is rocking  I feel that it has the best atmosphere in the conference.  Keene gets real good fan suppourt, should be an exciting night in Keene.

Predictions for tonight

Eastern over Western- only for the reason that i want a nice tight race at the top
Keene over Plymouth- Keene to much for Plymouth, espically with the game in Keene
RIC over UMD- close game but RIC takes it
UMB over USM- who knows on this one!

[LECFAN32]

KSC - a good amount of the team is from that part of the state so youll see more family and friends at a game like this compared to some home games.... also .. shooting in a " high school" style gym where the wall is very close to the court makes the basket seem bigger as opposed to the oneil center where there is 20 yards of space behind the basket and its harder to focus.

[warrior]

Well, that one hurt, but I've got to hand it to Western - they are a tough team and they always seem to rise to the occasion against us.  I thought we did some good stuff - getting the ball in the post and some good defense, but all those missed lay-ups in the first half were tough to overcome.  With the RIC loss, however, we still have a share of second and we get one more shot at Western, so ..... we're not out of it yet!

[KSCfan]

Yeah so i was way off the picks, Western over Eastern... wrong and UMD over RIC....wrong.  Oh well at least i got the Keene one right.  Exciting game out of Keene, Martin had a really good night for the owls.  Plymouth played them tough but Keene was eventually able to hold them off.  Keene would go up 10-12 points and plymouth ran right back at them, to get close but never over take them.  Plymouth got within 2 and 3 with about a minute left and Keene answered them everytime. 

I dont know if this shows maturity as they were able to hold off the runs, or lack of growth as the owls would go up 11 only to have Plymouth run it right back to 4-5 points.  A better team than Plymouth might of been able to win the game.  Its like a PTI question, TOSS UP:  Holding on to the lead shows growth as they were able to win or does the fact that a 10 point lead evaporated quickly everytime they got one show Keene still trying to figure out kinks.  Discuss amongst yourselfs.  Good thing is that Keene is tied for 2nd in the conference now.  With a game against WC in Keene coming up!

[warrior]

I'm very relieved that we didn't let history repeat itself vs. Plymouth today.  Last year, we followed losses to RIC and Western with losses to Plymouth and Weslyan before getting back on track and winning out the rest of our LEC games (with the exception of the second Western game).  By beating Plymouth today and with a chance to beat Western in the rematch, our hopes of a league title are still alive!

After our game I caught the end of the UMD/Western game.  I can't believe Stephen's buzzerbeater went in, but only counted for two!  Western really got a break there!

Similarly, Keene almost lost to USM.  It was a one point game with a minute left!

Oh well, at least now we can all wish each other well in Tuesday's non-league games!

[KSCfan]

Crazy game for Keene up in Southern Maine.  They survived against the Huskies who are not a great team.  Tough to win on the road in the LEC but the OWls should be able to take care of business against USM.  Going down the stretch Ollie really stepped up for Keene.  Keene plays WNEC on tuesday.

RIC, Eastern, and Keene all are two games behind Western.  Keene still goes to Eastern on Feb 8 and Western comes to Keene on Feb 12, and RIC comes to keene on Feb 5th.  League is still wide open, and if the first part of the season tells us anything its that this league is up in the air this year

[LECFAN32]

western started playing pretty sloppy in the second half after being up  over 20 in the first half, umd has been playing well but western definitely opened the door for them to get back in the game, finishing up their lec schedule with keene, ric, and eastern will test them for sure going into the conference tourney, home court advantage is something they havent had since 2005.

playing at southern maine is always very difficult. for the the ct teams, having that long of a busride arriving late, waking up early etc is not pleasant, Keene may have suffered from similar circumstances

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

First Regional Rankings: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2011/02/02/ncaas-mens-regional-rankings/