MBB: Little East

[ECSUalum]

Looks like Dontae Christian may be another 3 pt specialist al la Brian Salzillo:
http://www.eagletribune.com/sports/national_sports/brooks-on-the-rise-runs-over-class-a-exeter/article_431a11b2-cf79-56f6-82df-08562775cc6f.html
(go to second page in this article)

[amh63]

ECSUalum......see you are studying up for the season.  Looks like there will be some battles between our teams...again...as it should be!  Top preseason teams in historic top conferences.
Your Warriors are loading up on talent, it seems.  I'm hearing good news about the Young players Amherst has brought in.  It is still a TEAM game and a game that requires depth.  I'm getting a feeling our teams may see each other in the post season.  Later, my friend .

[7express]

Keene State crew - why did you fire your coach after 20 wins and a tourney bid?  I do not know the back story.

Also - funny hiring Ryan Cain as "interim" head coach.  Not sure I have ever hear of someone coming in from the outside and named interim?

What I know you are getting:  WPI's all time leading scorer, Josten Trophy winner, Coach Bartley's number 1 assistant for 8 years, and a prototypical gym rat.  Guy as a player was ALWAYS in the right place at the right time.  I would think he will have a "Bartley" style - which means a fairly deliberate, organized, and smart offense - and a tenacious defense (that is where they pick up the pace in games) - that often plays with 3 quarter or full court pressure.

Best of luck with continued success - Keene State will now be my second favorite team - at least on an interim basis!

Funny you should mention hiring an "interim" coach from the outside.  Boston's women's coach resigned after their best season in program history, and the department replaced her with....yup an "interim" head coach from outside the university.
As for the Colbert firing: Go back and read through the last 160 or so pages (my first post on this board was halfway through page 47 I think so start from there).  I was never a big Colbert fan, and was always talking about how his teams always underperformed relative to the talent they had and I believe the past year I compared him to a substitute teacher with his "no rules, no set plays, anything goes, no defense" philosophy, so for them it will actually be smart to bring in a person that's organized, has set plays, and actually pays attention to the defensive end of the court, because the defensive end is where they've been severely lacking at least the last 6 years and probably longer then that.

[ECSUalum]

ECSUalum......see you are studying up for the season.  Looks like there will be some battles between our teams...again...as it should be!  Top preseason teams in historic top conferences.
Your Warriors are loading up on talent, it seems.  I'm hearing good news about the Young players Amherst has brought in.  It is still a TEAM game and a game that requires depth.  I'm getting a feeling our teams may see each other in the post season.  Later, my friend .

Hello amh63,
I am sure the Lord Jeffs will be right back in the thick of it at tournament time!!  They just have a superb program, always re loading outstanding players when the seniors graduate.  I hope ECSU can give them a fair game this year, but will be tougher in Le Frak!  Best of luck to Amherst ("Amerst") this year and hope they stay away from injury!!  Best Mike

[ECSUalum]

Keene State crew - why did you fire your coach after 20 wins and a tourney bid?  I do not know the back story.

Also - funny hiring Ryan Cain as "interim" head coach.  Not sure I have ever hear of someone coming in from the outside and named interim?

What I know you are getting:  WPI's all time leading scorer, Josten Trophy winner, Coach Bartley's number 1 assistant for 8 years, and a prototypical gym rat.  Guy as a player was ALWAYS in the right place at the right time.  I would think he will have a "Bartley" style - which means a fairly deliberate, organized, and smart offense - and a tenacious defense (that is where they pick up the pace in games) - that often plays with 3 quarter or full court pressure.

Best of luck with continued success - Keene State will now be my second favorite team - at least on an interim basis!

Funny you should mention hiring an "interim" coach from the outside.  Boston's women's coach resigned after their best season in program history, and the department replaced her with....yup an "interim" head coach from outside the university.
As for the Colbert firing: Go back and read through the last 160 or so pages (my first post on this board was halfway through page 47 I think so start from there).  I was never a big Colbert fan, and was always talking about how his teams always underperformed relative to the talent they had and I believe the past year I compared him to a substitute teacher with his "no rules, no set plays, anything goes, no defense" philosophy, so for them it will actually be smart to bring in a person that's organized, has set plays, and actually pays attention to the defensive end of the court, because the defensive end is where they've been severely lacking at least the last 6 years and probably longer then that.

Hello 7
Hope Coach Campbell had a good recruiting year and look forward to some excellent WCSU vs ECSU basketball this year!  And, always enjoy your keen insights into LEC coaches, players and teams!!

[7express]

Thank you Alum, you & Amh should join the Little East pick 'em league this year!

[ECSUalum]

Thank you Alum, you & Amh should join the Little East pick 'em league this year!

7,
Wouldn't stand a chance of being competitive in your pick 'em league as I do  not study LEC BB in that much depth!

[warriorcat]

Interesting note on Keene State and their new coaching staff.  In addition to their "interim" head coach, Ryan Cain, coming from a very successful playing and coaching career at WPI, they have added Tyler Hundley (ECSU '13) and Tahrike Carter (RIC '13} as assistant coaches.  All three of these programs have distinguished themselves as disciplined and intense play on both ends of the court.  Might we be seeing a different style from Keene this season?  There is a lot of talent left over from last year.  Tom Doyle, their top player in 2014-5, was the only senior last year and all of the underclassmen who saw significant time have returned along with Tre Tipton who sat out last year.

[wcsu91]

Western CT's roster is finally up. Lots of Freshmen, 9 on a roster of 14 and their good shooter Kendall Marquez is not listed on the roster. Young team. Lets hope Coach Campbell did a good recruiting job.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

"The off-season is over. The basketball season has arrived, but it can't start without Hoopsville hitting the air! Tune in tonight as Dave talks to the two preseason number one teams, touches base with a major coaching change, checks in with the men's basketball National Committee chair, and previews the Northeast Region.

Show starts at 7PM ET! www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2015-16/nov12

Guests include:
- Grey Giovanine, head coach for #1 Augustana men
- Jeff Hans, head coach for #1 Thomas More women
- Brian Van Haaften, men's basketball committee chair and head coach for Buena Vista
- Trevor Woodruff, head coach for Scranton women
- Matt Noonan, Northeast Regional Reporter"

You can also catch up on the Hoopsville New Rules Special we did and published yesterday. We chatted with:
- Bill Raleigh, Southwestern Assistant Athletic Director and former men's basketball coach along with being on the men's rules committee
- Brad Duckworth, Alverno Athletic Director and women's head coach along with being the current chair of the women's rules committee
- Tim Fitzpatrick, Coast Guard Athletic Director

You can watch or listen to that show here: www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2015-16/rules-special

AND BIG NEWS... Hoopsville has added Sunday shows to this year's November and December schedule. That means the show will air Thursdays and Sundays from the beginning of the season until the end. Each show will air at 7pm ET (unless noted) with a few shows in November and December being canceled due to holidays or other responsibilities (i.e. Gagliari Trophy and Stagg Bowl Week).

Don't forget you can always interact with us:
Website: www.d3hoopsville.com
Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #Hoopsville
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville
Email: hoopsville@d3hoops.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/d3hoopsville
SoundCloud (podcast): www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville

[7express]

Opening night tomorrow, let's get this party started:

Plymouth State @ Thomas.
The Panthers are going on 5 straight seasons finishing below .500, but at least they finished the regular season 13-13 last year and snuck into the ECAC tournament as the #8 seed last year, so that's something they can build on.  The Panthers also bring back 7 of the top 8 scorers from last year.  The Terriers finished last year 12-14 and 10-8 in the NACC.  They return 3 of their top 4 scorers from a year ago including Levi Barnes who averaged 24.1 ppg in 2014/15.   Panthers are a 3.5 point favorite on the road, but I think Barnes will lead the Terriers to the win at home.  Thomas 70-63.

WPI vs. Eastern Connecticut (@ Westfield State).
Eastern's got a pretty challenging OOC schedule.  They start off right away with the Engineers of WPI, next weekend they play Johnson & Wales and will also play either SUNY-Purchase or Ramapo that weekend, will play Hartwick again Thanksgiving weekend, with the usual matchup against Amherst after New Years.  The Engineers have to replace their 2 leading scorers from a season ago who averaged 26.7 ppg in Sam Longwell & Domenick Mastacusa.  The Warriors meanwhile return basically the entire team from last year that had a disappointing first round exit in the NCAA's.  Both teams lost in the first round last year, and will be in the running for the NCAA's once again this year.  Other game in this field is Western New England @ the home town squad Westfield Owls.  Warriors on a neutral court are a slight 1 point favorite, and I always say "on a neutral court, the better team usually wins."  Both teams will be good in February, but I think the Warriors are a better team now and they'll get the win.  Eastern 75-71.

Mitchell @ UMass-Dartmouth.
Now that the book is out on Jordan Rezendes, let's see if he can sustain his 23.5 ppg average he averaged last season, as he might have to carry the Corsairs this year as is the only one of the top 5 scorers from last year that returns to the squad this year.  Jake Laga (13 ppg) and John Genkos (11 ppg) both graduated while Wale Abraham (10.4 ppg, 9 rebounds per game) is a senior this year but isn't listed on the roster to start the year.  The Marines meanwhile will have to replace 37 points per game lost between seniors Joshua Ford and Parris Hill, but the leading returner scorer from last year, Donavan McClean, averaged 18.8 points per game last year, so it may not be entirely grim as it appears for the Marines.  They finished 12-13 last year and 9-7 in the NECC.  Other game in this tournament is Fitchburg State vs. Springfield.   Corsairs are a 10.5 point favorite.  I think they'll win, but less than double digits.  Dartmouth 94-85.

[7express]

Western CT's roster is finally up. Lots of Freshmen, 9 on a roster of 14 and their good shooter Kendall Marquez is not listed on the roster. Young team. Lets hope Coach Campbell did a good recruiting job.

LOL Luis Briddter seems like the guy that's gonna keep playing for 10 years.  I thought he was a senior the year I graduated (2014).

[warriorcat]

Western CT's roster is finally up. Lots of Freshmen, 9 on a roster of 14 and their good shooter Kendall Marquez is not listed on the roster. Young team. Lets hope Coach Campbell did a good recruiting job.

LOL Luis Briddter seems like the guy that's gonna keep playing for 10 years.  I thought he was a senior the year I graduated (2014).

Looking back on the last four years statistics , Briddter played all four years but it looks like he may have received a redshirt year for 2013-14

2014-15     26 Games   23 Starts
2013-14       9 Games    9 Starts
2012-13      26 Games   17 Starts
2011-12      28 Games     1 Start

[ECSUalum]

Did the LEC forget to do the annual M/W Basketball ranking this year or did I miss it   Not that it means very much anyway, but they are really late this year!  Anyway best of luck to all the M/W LEC teams and pray the teams stay away from injury!!!  LET THE SEASON BEGIN!!!!

[warriorcat]

Did the LEC forget to do the annual M/W Basketball ranking this year or did I miss it   Not that it means very much anyway, but they are really late this year!  Anyway best of luck to all the M/W LEC teams and pray the teams stay away from injury!!!  LET THE SEASON BEGIN!!!!

The ranking must have come up this afternoon.  No surprise ECSU #1  7 of 8 first place votes

http://www.littleeast.com/sports/mbkb/2015-16/releases/MBKBPreSeasonPoll2015