MBB: Little East

[ECSUalum]

7 Express....see that you got your bet down for tonight.  Caught a little of the RIC game last night....since Amherst goes to RI next week.
Your team looked good for a half.  Did you make the trip?
ECSU....seems your team is making a run for the post season!  Who knows, if our teams continue to play well and win, there maybe a meeting somewhere in the future....in LeFrak?

Oh, BYW, Kick some Eph ass tonight at the Frak, I will be watching on the big screen!!!

[7express]

7 Express....see that you got your bet down for tonight.  Caught a little of the RIC game last night....since Amherst goes to RI next week.
Your team looked good for a half.  Did you make the trip?
ECSU....seems your team is making a run for the post season!  Who knows, if our teams continue to play well and win, there maybe a meeting somewhere in the future....in LeFrak?

Unfortunately I was there.  You probably saw me on video.  I was the person in the orange hat sitting behind the Western bench.

[7express]

This Western team this year looks a lot like the Los Angeles Lakers.  Neither team is very good, both probably make the playoffs (Lakers because they have an easy schedule the rest of the way after mid February, Western because all 8 teams make the tournament this year) but neither is going to do anything once they get there.  Both have had stretches in the last few weeks where you thought the season was going to turn around for them, but then they continued with subpar play.  Really, RIC isn't that tall of a team how do you give up 21 offensive rebounds??  And 5 in the last 150 seconds up 2??  Completely boggles my mind.

[amh63]

7 Express...left my response to your post on the "CAC" board.  Still friends.....I hope
Didn't watch long enough to scan the audience for you.  Next time, maybe will look for the "loudly"dress person in the stands

[7express]

Thursday schedule:

Dartmouth 58 @ Elms 73.
Elms is only 8-8, but has won 6 of their last 8 and is tied with Newberry at the top of the NECC with a 7-1 conference record.  Dartmouth just picked up their first LEC win Tuesday and only 3rd overall.
Boston 58 @ Tufts 72.
Tufts is 10-7 and has won 7 of their last 9 after a terrible start to the season.  The only 2 losses in that time frame are to Williams and Middlebury.  I don't think Tufts has much of a problem.

[ECSUalum]

This Western team this year looks a lot like the Los Angeles Lakers.  Neither team is very good, both probably make the playoffs (Lakers because they have an easy schedule the rest of the way after mid February, Western because all 8 teams make the tournament this year) but neither is going to do anything once they get there.  Both have had stretches in the last few weeks where you thought the season was going to turn around for them, but then they continued with subpar play.  Really, RIC isn't that tall of a team how do you give up 21 offensive rebounds??  And 5 in the last 150 seconds up 2??  Completely boggles my mind.

LEC Individual Rebounding Top 20:

REBOUNDING                  Cl GP Off Def Tot. Avg/G
1. Rahshjeem Benson-UMB JR 17 60 122 182 10.7
2. Rashad Wright-KSC       SR 17 61 99 160 9.4
3. Chris Robitaille-ECSU     SR 18 42 100 142 7.9
4. Joseph Groski-WCSU     SO 14 47 63 110 7.9
5. Tahrike Carter-RIC        SR 17 28 90 118 6.9
6. Chris Burton-RIC           SO 17 31 76 107 6.3
7. Brian Clarke-UMB           SO 17 41 65 106 6.2
8. Conor Sullivan-USM       JR 18 24 86 110 6.1
9. Uche Nwokeji-PSU         FR 16 55 42 97 6.1
10. Luis Bridtter-WCSU      SO 17 30 67 97 5.7
11. Alex Rodrigues-UMD     SO 16 27 62 89 5.6
12. Bran. Yarbor.-ECSU     SO 17 37 56 93 5.5
Mark MacGregor-PSU        JR 17 29 64 93 5.5
14. Mike Garrow-ECSU       JR 18 12 84 96 5.3
15. Tyler Hundley-ECSU     SR 18 18 76 94 5.2
16. James Odneal-USM       JR 18 24 65 89 4.9
17. Eleazar Clayton-UMD     JR 13 21 43 64 4.9
18. Sean Bergeron-USM      SR 15 16 54 70 4.7
Stephan Roberts-PSU        SR 15 23 47 70 4.7
20. Eric Fazio-KSC             SR 17 33 45 78 4.6

[ECSUalum]

Just watched the WCSU vs RIC game on LECTV Archives.  Again, another excellent broadcast by Matt Lopes on the Ocean State Network(?) on LECTV with nice multiple camera angles and great commentary by Matt.
The Colonials played very well on defense, (also against ECSU which shows that Coach Campbell has beeb working on this), and except for little lack of rebounding, TO focus late should have won this game.  Shows that RIC, even with NCAA leading D, is struggling with their offense.  RIC lucky to have pulled this out.  If it were played at Feldman Arena, give the W to Western and an upset win.  Western showed good intensity, and with maturation of some of the younger players, WCSU should be back in the thick of things next year.  However,my crystal ball see's a Colonial upset in the LEC Tourney   Hope its not vs the Warriors

[amh63]

ECSU....Glad you caught the game on the big SCREEN and better yet that you enjoyed it.  One of the announcers is Spencer Noon from nearby Farmingdale H.S.  Spencer was selected First-team All American in Soccer this year!  He helped "recruit" Ben Pollack from Farmingdale, a FY who is making an impact with his play....also a Ct. all state player in HS.  According to WPI89, there is a fine player from a Trumball Ct. HS coming to play at Amherst next year.
Spencer has also been selected to several sports All-Academic teams over the years.  Spencer was a very good BB player in HS and was on the Amherst team his first two years. 

[7express]

Trumbull High or St. Joseph's Amh??

[amh63]

7express...and ECSU...I stand corrected...Mr Racy is the HS senior is from Ridgefield or Riddgeview HS nearby?  The school that often battles St. Joe for regional titles.  You know those CT. towns that all look alike to me

[ECSUalum]

ECSU....Glad you caught the game on the big SCREEN and better yet that you enjoyed it.  One of the announcers is Spencer Noon from nearby Farmingdale H.S.  Spencer was selected First-team All American in Soccer this year!  He helped "recruit" Ben Pollack from Farmingdale, a FY who is making an impact with his play....also a Ct. all state player in HS.  According to WPI89, there is a fine player from a Trumball Ct. HS coming to play at Amherst next year.
Spencer has also been selected to several sports All-Academic teams over the years.  Spencer was a very good BB player in HS and was on the Amherst team his first two years.

Yes Sir,  Really love the atmosphere at The Frak, when the Lord Jeffs are in a big game, (hoping ECSU gets to go there this year )!!! Great student turnout, it reminded me of the EConn vs WConn game last year at Feldman when Daquan Brooks dished off with seconds left to beat the Warriors, the stands emptied and mobbed the Colonials.  I have watched a couple of fantastic Williams/Amherst games like this over the last 2-3 years.  The commentary was exciting and it's great that Spencer, whom I watched play some wonderful soccer is doing the play by play.  BYW congrats on Alejandro Sucre's being drafted into MLS' Vancouver Whitecaps!
As I posted over on the CAC thread, it is great that Coach Hixon can attract such fine student athletes from the Northeast states. 
Do you know why Williams decided to go man to man in the second half after a bit of success on a 2-3 zone? IMHO  Williamson was outstanding last night!!

[ECSUalum]

7express...and ECSU...I stand corrected...Mr Racy is the HS senior is from Ridgefield or Riddgeview HS nearby?  The school that often battles St. Joe for regional titles.  You know those CT. towns that all look alike to me

Correct, Patrick Jeff Racy 6'5" forward, Ridgefield HS.  Should be good for Coach Hixon's squad.

[7express]

Thursday results:

As predicted, both Dartmouth & Boston got crushed.
Dartnouth loses 69-82.  Elms outrebounded Dartmouth 22-12 on the offensive glass, and Dartmouth "won" the turnover battle 21-13.
Tufts beats Boston 67-48.
Vinny DeLucia had 14 for Boston.  Stephen Haladyna lead all scorers with 23 for Tufts.
35-39 OOC record.

Saturday schedule, all intruguing games:
Plymouth @ Dartmouth
RIC @ Eastern
USM @ Western
Keene @ Boston.
Keene @ Boston is an offensive battle.  The matchup up in Keene was 80-76 I believe, could be close to the same score in this one.
Plymouth @ Dartmouth.  More then likely decides who finishes last (Plymouth won by 2 in Plymouth).
RIC @ Eastern.  Best game of the day.  More than likely decides who finishes first (Eastern won by 8(6??) in Providence last month)
USM @ Western.  If Western wants to make a move, it NEEDS to start here.  USM will get tested, and sure as hell ain't gonna win by 30 again like they did last month (actually the final was only 12, but USM was up 30 with about 7 minutes to play).  As usual, I'll have predictions Friday.

[amh63]

ECSU....apology to not responding to your question of Williams use of the zone.  Do not really have a definitive answer. I believe that Williams' coach found that Amherst made adjustments to it and changed.  Maybe in the first half after watching Amherst go on a 15-0 run...maybe seeing Aaron Toomey and other starting to hit from outside....maybe seeing that his subs in the first half when Williams was ahead...failed in zone execution and allowed the run by Amherst.   There has been discussions of the zone usage by Williams on the "CAC" board...and my long post of defensive adjustments made in the game.

[7express]

Saturday schedule:

Keene @ Boston.
Two all offense no defense teams.  Boston has cooled off since a fast start (have lost 4 of their last 5 games), Keene had been playing well, but got tripped up by Eastern at home.  Keene won in December 80-76.  First time team to 75 wins.
Score: Keene 83-78
Plymouth @ Dartmouth.
Two 1 and 7 teams going at it, an exillerating matchup!  Dartmouth's 1 win was on the road in Boston Tuesday, Plymouth's 1 win was at home against Dartmouth by 2.  Think Plymouth is slightly better, but I'm going to go to my coin flip app on my iPhone to pick a winner, since this game is a coin flip...
...and the App says Plymouth. 
Score: Plymouth 60-59
RIC @ Eastern.
More then likely decides the regular season winner this year.  Eastern won at RIC earlier in the year.  As I just said on the women's board about the RIC women, having the nations #3 defense can only get you so far, you actually have to score some points to win games.  If Western doesn't have costly turnovers, or can get key rebounds they get the win @ RIC Tuesday.  Eastern looks like the better team (from what I saw in games vs. Western), is at home, already beat them on the road, and can take the drivers seat in the race for the conference title.  With a win, not only would they win the tiebreaker vs. RIC (2-0 season series record), they'd also win tiebreakers over their closet competition Keene & USM who at best could only finish 1-1 vs. RIC since each lost earlier in the season to the Anchormen.
Score: Eastern 68-64
USM @ Western.
Dating back to the 03/04 season as far back as the Western archives go back USM has lost 8 of the last 9 games in Danbury dating back to that period.  The only win coming in the 07/08 season, the last time (assuming USM holds on this year) USM finishes the season with a winning record.  Also, that season that win in Danbury occured in the 2nd of 2 meetings that season after they won the first game in Maine AND came in the game after playing Plymouth at home.  In 2008, Plymouth won, in 2013 USM won.  My heart wants to pick Western, but my head says otherwise.  We played RIC well and should have won, USM is awful on the road historically (been good this year however), but we can't close out close games, and right now, sorry to say it, and I hate to say it, but USM is a better team right now.  Also, Western really has no depth right now.  As you know Ryan pellitier is out for the season with knee surgery he had today, Joe Groski is still not listed back on the roster, Ryan McLaughlin is out for the season now apparantly with hepititis and liver issues.  Didn't play much, but he had potential to improve.  I said this about USM vs. Dartmouth and I'll say it here: If USM is serious about the conference this year, they will find someway, anyway to pull out this win and keep pace with the Keene/Eastern and RIC (and tie up the RIC/Eastern loser).  I want to pick Western, but I just can't.  Too many holes, and not as good.
Score: USM 68-62.