MBB: Little East

[7express]

I'm not going to take much from yesterday's game.  Keene State has had their way with Western the last couple years.  The only conference team with more success against Western the last 5 years other than RIC are the Keene Owls.  There are just some teams that you have trouble against.  As ECSUalum can attest to, as much success as Keene has against Western, they have an equal amount of failure against Eastern.
Also, back to back road games in a 3 day span to Plymouth (an overnight trip), and Keene (a day trip, but you get back at like 1 in the morning) are real tough. 

[AllStar]

It is funny you mention that.  I did some research...since 2006-2007, Keene is 11-4 vs Western.  2 of the 4 losses came a few years back.  I remember one was that very entertaining 108-105 Western win in overtime in Danbury that I attended.  That was a great game.  You could make an argument that year that 3 or 4 LEC teams were NCAA quality.

[7express]

Yah 2 of 4 were 2 years ago.  The first matchup in Keene, a couple days after Derek D'Amours got suspended and then thrown off the team I think DaQuan put in like 46 or 48 points in a Western win by like 6 or 7 points.  After that, they went on that 7 or 8 game winning streak which included a win over Middlebury who was ranked #1 (and I think unbeaten) at the time.  The rematch in Danbury the following month was the 108-105 Western win in overtime where the refs lost total control of the game.  There's definitely more on that game (Luis Briddter's 3 pointer which was obviously a 2 pointer to everyone in attendance but the 3 zebras, how the refs just all control) back in the 80's or 90's pages on this board.

[AllStar]

Yah 2 of 4 were 2 years ago.  The first matchup in Keene, a couple days after Derek D'Amours got suspended and then thrown off the team I think DaQuan put in like 46 or 48 points in a Western win by like 6 or 7 points.  After that, they went on that 7 or 8 game winning streak which included a win over Middlebury who was ranked #1 (and I think unbeaten) at the time.  The rematch in Danbury the following month was the 108-105 Western win in overtime where the refs lost total control of the game.  There's definitely more on that game (Luis Briddter's 3 pointer which was obviously a 2 pointer to everyone in attendance but the 3 zebras, how the refs just all control) back in the 80's or 90's pages on this board.

Oh, yes, I vividly remember all those games you mentioned.  In the first game Brooks scored 46 in a game Western won 94-87 over break.  Referees were awful in that Keene/Western game in Danbury.  AWFUL is probably an understatement.  That game was way over their head.  You know when they start worrying about fans, etc. there will be problems.  I remember an offensive foul call that was atrocious with I think the score being 82-80 or something that could have stretched the Keene lead out a little (since the lay-up went in) and halted Western's comeback.  However, the referees missing that 2-pointer they counted a 3 was inexcusable.  Regardless, I thought it was a great game if you take the referees out of it.  The Middlebury (who was unbeaten at the time) game was an excellent game to be at.  One of the better atmospheres at Spaulding Gym I've seen, right up there with NCAA games and when they upset No. 2 UMass-Dartmouth several years back.

[7express]

Oh, yes, I vividly remember all those games you mentioned.  In the first game Brooks scored 46 in a game Western won 94-87 over break.  Referees were awful in that Keene/Western game in Danbury.  AWFUL is probably an understatement.  That game was way over their head.  You know when they start worrying about fans, etc. there will be problems.  I remember an offensive foul call that was atrocious with I think the score being 82-80 or something that could have stretched the Keene lead out a little (since the lay-up went in) and halted Western's comeback.  However, the referees missing that 2-pointer they counted a 3 was inexcusable.  Regardless, I thought it was a great game if you take the referees out of it.  The Middlebury (who was unbeaten at the time) game was an excellent game to be at.  One of the better atmospheres at Spaulding Gym I've seen, right up there with NCAA games and when they upset No. 2 UMass-Dartmouth several years back.

I don't even think that Briddter "3 pointer" would've been a 3 with the old college 3 point line either.  And I knew the refs lost control of the game when one of them was more concerned with getting a couple baseball players quiet.  Definitely got the short end of the stick in that one as well, and probably killed there chances for an NCAA bid.  They should've been in the dance that year anyways (I think Keene & Amherst were the only 2 teams that beat Middlebury that regular season, IIRC) but if they win that Western game, they win the conference (even if they still end up losing to Eastern & RIC to end it) and almost certainly get a bid.  Tough final week for your Owls there Allstar.

[AllStar]

Oh, yes, I vividly remember all those games you mentioned.  In the first game Brooks scored 46 in a game Western won 94-87 over break.  Referees were awful in that Keene/Western game in Danbury.  AWFUL is probably an understatement.  That game was way over their head.  You know when they start worrying about fans, etc. there will be problems.  I remember an offensive foul call that was atrocious with I think the score being 82-80 or something that could have stretched the Keene lead out a little (since the lay-up went in) and halted Western's comeback.  However, the referees missing that 2-pointer they counted a 3 was inexcusable.  Regardless, I thought it was a great game if you take the referees out of it.  The Middlebury (who was unbeaten at the time) game was an excellent game to be at.  One of the better atmospheres at Spaulding Gym I've seen, right up there with NCAA games and when they upset No. 2 UMass-Dartmouth several years back.

I don't even think that Briddter "3 pointer" would've been a 3 with the old college 3 point line either.  And I knew the refs lost control of the game when one of them was more concerned with getting a couple baseball players quiet.  Definitely got the short end of the stick in that one as well, and probably killed there chances for an NCAA bid.  They should've been in the dance that year anyways (I think Keene & Amherst were the only 2 teams that beat Middlebury that regular season, IIRC) but if they win that Western game, they win the conference (even if they still end up losing to Eastern & RIC to end it) and almost certainly get a bid.  Tough final week for your Owls there Allstar.

Sure was.  However, the teams they lost to were all very good in my opinion.  That year, the top 4 in the LEC were very strong and you could argue they all deserved bids to the NCAA Tournament.

[7express]

RIC had some uncharistically bad losses that season: Dartmouth and to Keene where they gave up like 20 points in the final 2 minutes.  But that year all 4 teams had at least 19 wins, and even though Keene had the lowest mark, they also had the best win of any of the 4.  All 4 teams making it would've been possible, but really stretching it, but 3 teams should've definitely been in that year.  RIC lost 5 regular season games that year, 3 were to conference members who combined for a 64-21 record, and a 4th was to Amherst who finished the season 26-3.

[amh63]

7Express.....thanks for your response to my question on the CAC board   +k to you....though the definitive answer is "who knows"
Some time late in the season, RIC comes to Amherst for their annual battle...so it seems.  RIC seems to be up and down this year.  Interested in your astute opinion on them....is it a poor traveling team or inconsistent player perf....no go to guy?  This year it is a higher scoring team.....not like last season that had great defensive play throughout the season.

[AllStar]

Keene 91 Fitchburg 79

[7express]

7Express.....thanks for your response to my question on the CAC board   +k to you....though the definitive answer is "who knows"
Some time late in the season, RIC comes to Amherst for their annual battle...so it seems.  RIC seems to be up and down this year.  Interested in your astute opinion on them....is it an poor traveling team or inconsistent player perf....no go to guy?  This year it is an higher scoring team.....not like last season that had great defensive play throughout the season.

Haven't really watched them yet.  I think Western gets them on Tuesday, so I'll probably go to that game and I'll have a better understanding of who they are.  Tough to make assumptions reading off boxscore's and the like, but your right, they aren't very good on the defensive end.  Also, a pretty bad 3 point shooting team I think and can't make free throws either.

[7express]

Western leads Conn College 65-60 with under 60 seconds remaining.  Not sure whether I should be happy or frustrated??  Mixture of both maybe??

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Western leads Conn College 65-60 with under 60 seconds remaining.  Not sure whether I should be happy or frustrated??  Mixture of both maybe??

If you're letting this ConnColl team score more than 50, I'd have serious questions about your defense (at least in terms of being a regionally competitive team).

[7express]

Western leads Conn College 65-60 with under 60 seconds remaining.  Not sure whether I should be happy or frustrated??  Mixture of both maybe??

If you're letting this ConnColl team score more than 50, I'd have serious questions about your defense (at least in terms of being a regionally competitive team).

Fitchburg State put up 82, TCNJ put up 80 and Mitchell put up 100 so it's not that surprising.  Vassar also put up 78, but at least they actually have a competitive, good team this year.

[7express]

Thursday results:

Keene over Fitchburg 91-79.  A scoring battle in this one.  The Falcons won the battle as Mike Ingram Rubin outscored Keene's Tom Doyle 33-28 (both players hit a combined 23-37 from the floor), but the Owls won the war 91-79.
Dartmouth defeats Curry 77-64.  4 Dartmouth starters in double figures lead by Wale Abraham and Ryan Walsh each with 16.  Lambros Papalambros (34 points) and Antonio Jones (15) combined for 49 points.  The other 8 Colonels combined for just 15.  Looks like a Western boxscore from the DaQuan days, when DaQuan would get 35 something, a second player (fill in Mark Redding/Gary Robinson/Mike Jensen) would get 10-13 and the next highest would be like 4.
Bridgewater defeats Boston 73-61.  Michael Lofton & Brandon Montiero each had 18 for the Bears and Lofton added 10 rebounds, while Barrett Murphy added 13 off the bench.  Selim Omerovic and Quadry Allen each had 11 for the Beacons with Omerovic recording the double double with 11 rebounds.
Western survives Conn College 68-62.  Zuri Pavlin (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Rob Harrigan (10 points, 10 rebounds) recorded double doubles for the Camels who were lead in scoring by Mason Lopez with 15.  Jose Groski had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Colonials who were lead in scoring by Tony Seldon who tied a game high with 15 points.  I know Conn College has improved, but not very pretty.  Should've definitely beaten them by a lot more.  Well, at least I nailed Conn College's point total!

44-33 LEC; 63-28 me

Saturday schedule:
Keene @ Dartmouth
RIC @ Plymouth
Western @ Boston
USM @ Eastern.  I'd give best nod to Dartmouth/Keene. 

[7express]

Saturday schedule:

Keene 65 @ Dartmouth 73.
Since getting swept in both regular season matchups in the 2010-11 season, Keene has won 6 straight against the Corsairs including back-to-back first round wins in 2011 & 2012 LEC tournament.  Dartmouth rebounds from the Eastern loss, and breaks the losing streak vs. the Owls.
RIC 74 @ Plymouth 65.
That's always a tough trip for teams, and Plymouth has usually played them tough up there in Plymouth, losing last year by 3 when they had a much worse team, and this RIC team is still up and down.  However, this is about the time of season they start to turn on the jets and go on one of their patented winning streaks which vaults them to the top of the standings and in NCAA discussion.
Western 78 @ Boston 60.
Boston may keep it  close for a while and could potentially even win if Western is looking ahead to the RIC matchup, but if they focus on this game only they should pull away in the second.  Boston swept them last season, and Western's had 2 bad games this week, so hopefully they put up a good one.  Even though Boston is winless in conference, that team has a lot of talent, and road games are ALWAYS tough no matter who your playing and can't overlook anyone.
USM 57 @ Eastern 74.
It's looking more and more likely that USM's success last season was the product of a terrible conference.  They may beat them in Maine the final day of the season, especially if Eastern has already locked up the conference, but won't beat them in Connecticut.

Massey ratings:
Eastern 75-58 (95%)
RIC 67-60 (75%)
Dartmouth 85-78 (75%)
Western 77-69 (77%)