MBB: Little East

[7express]

Keene can host if they win and Eastern Connecticut loses (even though they probably won't to UMB).
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Yah, thanks for the correction, I forgot Keene was 10-3, I thought they were stuck in that 9-4 pile when I wrote that.  I don't see Keene beating RIC anyways, so it's probably a moot point..

[AllStar]

Keene can host if they win and Eastern Connecticut loses (even though they probably won't to UMB).
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Yah, thanks for the correction, I forgot Keene was 10-3, I thought they were stuck in that 9-4 pile when I wrote that.  I don't see Keene beating RIC anyways, so it's probably a moot point..

Its probably more possible that KSC beats RIC than it is ECSU loses to UMB.

[7express]

Tuesday results:

Plymouth over USM in double overtime 100-93.
That loss ends the season for the Huskies and gives the final spot to Plymouth.  Even if they finish tied after Saturday, Plymouth owns the head-to-head tiebreaker based on their season sweep.  That Plymouth win also officially locked Dartmouth in the 5 spot; so the Dartmouth USM game Saturday will be meaningless.  Brandon Tomah had a block on a Plymouth layup as time expired at the end of regulation, and Jason Pagentine hit a 3 with 10 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT, though he missed what would've been the winner with a second to go after Plymouth turned it over.  Sounds like an exciting game to watch on LEC.tv tomorrow.

Eastern over Keene 65-62.
Sounds like another exciting game to watch.  Eastern hit their free throws this game unlike last Tuesday as they finished 15-21, and were 7 of 8 from the line in the final 2:00 minutes.  That's what championship teams do, and as long as they win Saturday, their the champions.  Judging from the play-by-play, looks like no team had a lead greater than 6 points the whole game, but sounds like Eastern was ahead most of it.  Ryan Martin missed a 3 at the buzzer which would have forced OT.

RIC 79-78 over Western.
I'm still not entirely sure how we lost this game.  We scored 24 of the games first 36 points, unfortunately it went downhill rather fast from there and were actually trailing at halftime after building the 24-12 lead to start    Actually should be lucky we weren't down by more at the break; Avery King had a breakaway layup attempt late in the half, and ended up missing the layup at the buzzer, and along with that RIC missed about 15 other layups, and shots in the paint that should've gone it.  DaQuan Brooks had a meaningless 3 at the buzzer after we were inbounding down 4 with .04 tenths of a second late.  Brooks had 30 points, but only shot 8-26; a bad day by his standards.  The bench got 4 points (all 4 from Luis Bridtter), not the kind of scoring you want.

Dartmouth over Boston 92-72.
The most meaningless game of the day; Boston was already eliminated, Dartmouth wasn't finishing higher than 5th, and the Plymouth win leaves them 5th with nowhere to go Saturday.  Alex Rodrigues had 17 to lead the Corsairs.

Standings and tournament update:
1) eastern 19-5 (10-3)
1) Keene 18-6 (10-3)
3) RIC 19-5 (9-4)
3) Western 19-5 (9-4)
5) Dartmouth 12-12 (6-7)
6) Plymouth 9-14 (4-9)
7) USM 10-13 (3-10)
8) Boston 5-19 (1-12)
Eastern would host (2-2 against Western and RIC, while Keene is 1-2), and Keene gets the final bye.  Western gets edge over RIC for 3rd (3-1 vs. Keene/eastern while RIC is 1-2), so Western would host Plymouth again in the 3/6 game Tuesday and Dartmouth would travel to RIC in the 4/5 game.  Note, any one of the 4 teams can still host, yes even RIC if they win and BOTH Eastern AND Western lose.
Dartmouth and Plymouth are locked in at 5th and 6th respectively.  Neither of those teams posistion can change Saturday, so we officially know the road teams and what spots they'll be.

Final OOC game of the 2011/12 season is upon us at USM is @ Wentworth Thursday (really, why are they playing this game??)

Saturday concludes the LEC regular season, order of importantance from most to least important:
Eastern @ Boston
Keene @ RIC
Plymouth @ Western
USM @ Dartmouth

[7express]

Its probably more possible that KSC beats RIC than it is ECSU loses to UMB.

I'm actually gonna be picking RIC over Keene when I make my selections Friday.  RIC is undefeated at home, and absolutely choked the last time they played Keene, you know they want to win.

[warrior]

That was amazing!  I told you guys not to count us out! 

I love our team game and balanced scoring.  Assist to Turnover Ratio says it all: ECSU 12/10, KSU 3/19!  (and that's despite a bunch of our missed shots from close range off great feeds!) 

I must say, the victory was extra sweet considering the boorish behavior of the Keene fans (shouting crazy stuff at the refs and calling players by name and using adjectives like "gay", "ugly", and "fat" ....).  Combine that with their announcers calling the refs "cowards" after the loss to Western and I have to say, I am very disappointed with Keene's support group. I know most people consider razzing the opposing team and even the refs to be "part of the game", but the Keene kids tonight, and their announcers last week, clearly stepped over the line.  Hopefully, if we win next week and get to host the tournament, our fans will be more sportsmanlike. 

PS  Shout out to freshman Brandon Yarborough for another great game off the bench.  Although his stat line doesn't look so impressive, he once again took some great charges and played tough D vs. players 6 inches taller than him!  Way to go Yarbs!

[7express]

Listening to Geno and whatever the color guys names for Keene are in a game Keene ends up losing are absolute classics.  Its sort of like listening to the talk radio in NY the night of/day after a New York team blows a big game.

I can't wait to say what Geno says on the Keene broadcast of that Briddter 2 that was somehow ruled a 3 and the countless other calls that went against Keene yesterday.  I know they work for the school, but those guys go a bit overboard.

[ECSUalum]

Keene fans can be obnoxous at times, and Vallante and Harrison are definitely homers,(aren't we all?) but i think Keene broadcast is one of the best, next to WCSU, and Harrision and Gino are very knowledgable guys.
Warrior, no body was counting out Eastern, in fact, IMO, everyone, in the back of their minds were dreading Eastern.  Except for the early season loss to St Joes LI and the loss to RIC when Nick was out, the Warriors have given everybody a great game and dominated in many.
The Colonials escaped a big loss in their own place, by the skin of their teeth, when Eastern was in town, and if it wasn't for the great Western crowd and of course Daquan, WCSU would have another L in their column

There is nooo doubt that Eastern IS for real.  I liked the way Brandon is coming along and he will be even better next year.  Robitaille played fantastic, and Nick and Jamie and Ham , well... they are Nick and Jamie and Ham!!
I also think we get to the NCAA Tourney by hook of by crook this year!!!!

[Eye in the Sky]

Combine that with their announcers calling the refs "cowards" after the loss to Western and I have to say, I am very disappointed with Keene's support group.

Gino and Christian during last nights broadcast apologized for the comments on saturday and admitted emotions got the best of them. In fact, last night was one of the best broadcasts I have heard all season long by them. Very nuetral, gave eastern a lot of credit at the end of the game for the way the finished. I have heard them do a U-Mass Boston and Keene game, for both schools last year I believe, and they didn't have the Keene slant during that game. I'm not going to hold saturday's game against them. I think that their broadcast as a whole, may be the best right now (by a nose hair), although both RIC, and Western have good commentating, and RIC does a good job with their broadcast quality and production.

The funny thing about heading into Sunday's game, I don't believe anyone controls their destiny like you guys have pointed out.

Keene and Eastern could both win, but if West Conn were to somehow fall asleep and lose again to Plymouth, then Keene would get the one seed. So an Eastern win won't lock it up for them. Don't see that scenario playing out, of course. But it is funny because we have come to the end of the season, and no one completely controls their destiny anymore. Typical Little East basketball, a dog fight until the end. Should make Saturday atleast somewhat interesting, but looks like Eastern Connecticut is poised to host, if Keene drops that tough one in Providence, or if their counterparts from Western feel like helping them out!

Ironic, Eastern should be rooting for Western on Saturday!

[7express]

Eastern has the tiebreaker over Keene
Western has tiebreakers over Eastern, Keene & RIC
If Keene loses to RIC Saturday, they lose the tiebreakers to everyone.

Since Eastern is a game up on Western,tied with Keene but owns the tiebreaker, it doesn't mater what Western (or Keene) does for that matter.  Beat Boston, and the tournament goes through Willimantic.  Lose, and that's where things get interesting.

[Eye in the Sky]

Eastern has the tiebreaker over Keene
Western has tiebreakers over Eastern, Keene & RIC
If Keene loses to RIC Saturday, they lose the tiebreakers to everyone.

Since Eastern is a game up on Western,tied with Keene but owns the tiebreaker, it doesn't mater what Western (or Keene) does for that matter.  Beat Boston, and the tournament goes through Willimantic.  Lose, and that's where things get interesting.

You are correct. These scenarios always screw me up. Eastern win, and they got it. Which having Boston at home plays out well for them.

[warrior]

What a story.  Ham, Nick and Jamie join a program whose best finish ever in the LEC was 4th, and now they are on the cusp of their 3rd 20 win season in a row and their first LEC regular season title!  Credit Coach Geitner for coming up with a great system, and the players for buying into it.  Is it too early to give him a vote for Coach of the Year?  I can't wait for Saturday and hopefully a piece of history for the Warriors!

[ECSUalum]

What a story.  Ham, Nick and Jamie join a program whose best finish ever in the LEC was 4th, and now they are on the cusp of their 3rd 20 win season in a row and their first LEC regular season title!  Credit Coach Geitner for coming up with a great system, and the players for buying into it.  Is it too early to give him a vote for Coach of the Year?  I can't wait for Saturday and hopefully a piece of history for the Warriors!

YOU BET!!!!!!!

[7express]

Northeast rankings:


NORTHEAST






1

Ahmerst

20-2

22-2



2

Middlebury

20-2

22-2



3

Western Connecticut State

19-4

19-4



4

MIT

22-1

22-1



5

Keene State

15-4

18-5



6

Rhode Island College

18-5

18-5



7

WPI

17-5

17-5



8

Wesleyan (Conn.)

19-4

19-5



9

Eastern Connecticut State

18-5

18-5



10

Albertus Magnus

22-1

22-1



11

Becker

19-4

19-4



12

Tufts

16-7

16-7


That didn't come out exactly like I wanted it too.  First column is in-region, second is overall

[Eye in the Sky]

OMG....those are really the rankings. This is really starting to confuse me. Now they put Keene at 5? They were at 8 when they were winning all their games and playing really good. Now they go on an awful stretch and can't win tight games against two teams in the regional rankings and they jump up to 5? I'm so confused. And East Conn, drops to 9? WOW.

[7express]

Tuesday games don't count, so Eastern's loss to Western last Tuesday wasn't included in last week's rankings, but was in this weeks, likewise their win vs. Keene last night wasn't included this week.
Same deal with Keene, only their loss Saturday was included this week.