MBB: Little East

[olskool]

My enjoyment of that game was subverted by the play-by-play call on the video. Apparently some miscalled three-pointer midway through the first half cost Keene State the game, never mind that there were about 70 possessions after that one!

Pat the officiating was terrible for both teams in that game.
Turning point in the game, one of keene state's centers called for an offensive foul around when the game was tied at 81.  Call should have been a blocking foul which would score the bucket and give the kid a chance at the free throw.  That play energized west conn enough to grind out the rest of the game for a victory. 

[AllStar]

Pat - The officials blew about 100 other calls, too.  Not just that three-pointer that was actually a 2.

[7express]

Even me, as a West Conn student will admit Keene definitely got the short end of the stick (or in this case the whistle).  Probably the only reason Rob Colbert (the Keene coach) didn't get 2 technical's much less 1 was because the zebra's knew they screwed up, so they put up with Colbert chewing them out, probably deservedly so

[AllStar]

Even me, as a West Conn student will admit Keene definitely got the short end of the stick (or in this case the whistle).  Probably the only reason Rob Colbert (the Keene coach) didn't get 2 technical's much less 1 was because the zebra's knew they screwed up, so they put up with Colbert chewing them out, probably deservedly so

I'm afraid that game was FAR too much for those referees to handle.

[7express]

Oh yah by far Allstar.  Same with the Eastern game Tuesday.  Both of them get slowed down due to too many whistles.  I'd rather have them call too few fouls then call to many.  You keep stopping the game every minute with whistles, the 2 teams can never get in an offense flow.  If this quicm whistles happen Tuesday @ RIC were in big trouble.  In order to win that game, were gonna have to run them up and down the court, slowing the game down with fouls will definitely be an advantage to RIC.

[olskool]

Couldn't agree with you guys any more.  The officials were not ready to work a game of that caliber.  Two teams that were going to compete for the full 40 min and on top of that western fills the student section.  Loved hearing all the taunting and cheering.  It seems that the crowds look to be showing up this year for the LEC.  It is great to see when the student body gets involved.  I can remember playing in front of some very weak crowds years ago.

[pjunito]

Connecticut has some of the worst officiating in division 2 and 3 basketball. Too many of them have egos and here everything that is said from the crowd or bench. I just want them to call what they see and stop anticipating fouls.

[Bucket]

Connecticut has some of the worst officiating in division 2 and 3 basketball.

Clearly you haven't experienced the pleasure of seeing a DIII game in Massachusetts.

[7express]

Oh yah I forgot one of the officials yesterday was more concerned about quieting down a student in the student section, than what was taking place on the court???  Let it be known, there were no derogotive words thrown the refs way just ordinary things like "you can't be serious with that call" and "you should go back to school."  I think the student was right with the second chant.

[PressBreaker]

What a scene at West Conn yesterday. I have seen a lot of games over the years, in and out of this conference, with bad calls. However, can't remember a time when it was so obvious that the momentum in the game changed because of very poor officiating. Keene was in control of that game and for a stretch of about 5 or so minutes, had about 4 or 5 calls that completely changed where the game was going. NOT THAT WEST CONN STILL COULDN'T HAVE MADE A COMEBACK WITHOUT THEIR HELP. But if you watched you could see that after that stretch of the game, Keene didn't know what to do.

As far as that three pointer that was a two, if you get a chance to see the west conn broadcast or for entertainment purposes the Keene broadcast, can clearly see that call was badly blown. Bridter's shot might not have even been a high school 3 pointer, let a lone a college 3 with the extended line.

Hopefully this isn't something we are talking about come the end of the year. Hopefully both teams can move on (specially Keene) and try to put this one behind them because unfortunately there is nothing anyone can do. Let's hope the rest of the games are quality games decided by the extremely talented players in our league, and not the officiating, like what happened at O'Neil yesterday.

[7express]

I never like blaming games on the refs no matter how bad they may be (and that game they were pretty bad).  Keene had more then enough chances to win the game, the biggest being when they were either up 1/down 1 with about 2:00 minutes left to play in overtime and Western was able to rebound three missed shots, and by the time they finally converted there was only about 1:10 left to play.  Keene had by far the bigger players on the court, and you can't get a defensive rebound in a close game??

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Little East and Keene State fans... Coach Rob Colbert will be on Hoopsville in less than 30 minutes!

Show starts at 7:00 PM EST and Coach Colbert is the first guest scheduled.

Tune in at www.d3hoopsville.com.

You can email questions to hoopsville@d3hoops.com
Follow us on Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #hoopsville
And on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

If you missed Coach Colbert on Hoopsville, tonight, the archive is already available: www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2011-12/feb12

He is right near the beginning... so you won't have to do much searching.

Enjoy!

[PressBreaker]

Watched Dave last night on Hoopsville and he does a great job, however I have to admit his opening interview and discussion about the Little East Conference left a lot to be desired.  The Little East Conference has always been a top conference in the country but for some reason people choose to ignore it.  I do realize the Northeast talk is all about the NESCAC and yes the teams at the top of that conference deserve credit.  I'm not even trying to say the top teams in the Little East are in their category year in and year out.  I AM saying the LEC is a player in the national scene.  They CONSISTENTLLY send teams to the tournament and you see them in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 year in and year out.  So to say they are just coming on the scene is an oversight.

Also, if you notice the LEC plays each team twice which is a very difficult task.  The teams in the NESCAC play ONCE and for those teams that choose to play an "out of conference" game for the second time in a season you see them splitting.  Look no further than Wesleyan.  They play Amherst, and Williams twice a year look and see how that is working out.  That's what happens in the LEC EVERY YEAR!

As for Keene State, the first player brought up was Derek D'Amours, who hasn't been with the team since January 1st!  That's the first guy you bring up to a coach when you have him on air?  A little homework on that one would have been good.  Also you chose to focus on a loss to Williams on DECEMBER 7th!  REALLY DECEMBER 7th? That's like an ENTIRE SEASON AGO!  Everyone knows teams come together and develop over the course of a season especially one as long as the basketball season. 

Why is it you didn't choose to focus on the fact that KSC has won 10-12 since Jan.1st, with 3 wins over top 25 teams (or they were at the time) and only 2 losses to WCONN who was also ranked nationally this season?  And oh by the way you could have focused on the MORE RECENT WIN over #1 Ranked Middlebury. 

But...if you need an explanation for the Williams game here it is:  GIVE THEM CREDIT they shot unbelievably  well from the floor ...think Villanova –Georgetown national championship if you can remember....ALSO THAT WAS A DIFFERENT KSC TEAM!  They lacked chemistry, and Rashad Wright did not play in the game.  Since they have put it together you can see they are a force.

I like the show and watch all the time but just though that segment lacked depth and research.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The Little East is not a top national conference.  They are moving into the ranks of the second tier.

The top conferences are those who routinely send two or three teams to the tournament.

I think giving the LEC props for improving overall performance and increasing its profile is right on.  The conference is improving and making a name for itself.

It's not on the level of the CCIW, WIAC or the like right now - but it can certainly challenge teams from those major conferences each year.

More good conferences are better for everyone.  Keep up the good work.