MBB: Little East

Ralph Turner · January 30, 2007, 06:43:18 PM

ballin3131, I have moved this topic into the Little East so its fans can find it more easily.

We outsiders are looking to see how RIC does against Amherst tonight. That may be the game of the night! If RIC wins, it will be the game of the week! You host KSC and RIC, the other 2 road losses that you have not played at home coming in the next 3 weeks. It might just happen.

The members of the LEC seem to be beating each other up!

Ralph Turner · January 30, 2007, 07:44:06 PM

RIC 11, Amherst 8; 15:00

Ralph Turner · January 30, 2007, 07:46:06 PM

RIC 13, Amherst 8; 12:38 left, after a 9-0 run.

Ralph Turner · January 30, 2007, 09:12:29 PM

Final Amherst 62, RIC 48.

MeOak21 · January 31, 2007, 10:12:00 AM

Quote from: ballin3131 on January 30, 2007, 06:27:03 PM
How about the YOung wcsu team. Bob Campbell one of the most successful coaches in the Lec has put together a great team . Even though there record is shaky there only 1 loss out of first place. With umass boston playing better and still having to play keene and ric with a couple wins wcsu could take the Lec. No one on this board has shown any love for wcsu when they arguably have the 3 most talented freshmen in the confrence and are not graduating one player. Anything can happen around this time of year remember umass boston winning the Lec last year they were in third place ladies and gentelmen watch out for wcsu Coach Campbell will have them ready.

Being that there are so few participants in this board representing the LEC you can't be too surprised that WCSU doesn't get much action. There are two or 3 KSC fans, some people who express interest in the talent at RIC, and a few other stragglers who might shoot out a post here and there about any given team in the league.

You have some good points. They are young and competitive and have beaten a couple of decent teams in the LEC but they are yet to beat any top level teams to this point. They also haven't proven they can win 3 games in a row (at least since the first 3 games of the season against a couple of daisies) so personally I wouldn't give them much of a shot at winning the LEC regular season or tourney THIS year.

Anything can happen... nice to see a new perspective on this board

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · January 31, 2007, 10:24:03 AM

Speaking of which, can someone tell Eastern Connecticut that a 26 point victory over Green Mountain isn't a "Rout?"

I mean that probably wouldn't even cover the Vegas spread.

MeOak21 · January 31, 2007, 10:29:34 AM

I wasn't at the RIC/Amherst game and I would like to get someone's POV on why the shooting percentages were so terrible last night.

RIC shot 28% for the game- 18% from 3pt range. (normally 42% and 34%)
Amherst shot 41% for the game- 26% from 3pt range (normally 52% and 42%)

Was the D really that good or were people just tanking open shots?

I saw that Amherst outrebounded RIC by 19 (47-28) but RIC still managed to get off 4 more shots in the game. The free throws were relatively even.

Anyone want to explain what happened for me? Was Amherst shooting poorly because of defensive pressure and vice versa or....

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · January 31, 2007, 10:33:14 AM

The guys from the NESCAC room said both teams were hitting on all cylinders on defense. I'm sure that's true.

MeOak21 · January 31, 2007, 10:38:26 AM

Thanks hoops, I was looking at the NESCAC room too but felt I wanted a more thorough analysis if I could get one.

I posted the same question in the NESCAC room

mrmike88 · January 31, 2007, 12:42:11 PM

I'll post over here to answer MeOak's question so as not to incite the other Amherst fans to dump on me again for hating on my own team...

I think it was a combination last night of decent defense and poor shooting. Both teams did manage to get open looks, but neither could seem to knock them down with any regularity. On the other hand, I think both Amherst and RIC found themselves with fewer of these open looks than normal, thanks to the defense. It almost seemed as if both teams did a good job disrupting the other's offensive flow. Play for much of the game looked stagnant on offense, in my humble opinion.

Amherst dominated in rebounds because RIC went small in the second half. They played 4 or 5 guards at a time once they fell behind.

MeOak21 · January 31, 2007, 01:13:35 PM

mrmike- thanks for the response. I'm really just trying to get a read on how the LEC (most importantly Keene) stacks up with #1.

It is very possible in my opinion that Keene or RIC runs into Amherst in regionals.

Keene is up and down as of late but when they are on top of things they can cause some serious problems for opposing teams. Their big men are way better than RIC's and their personnel are more capable of bothering the tall guard/forwards of Amherst.

I know I'm looking pretty far ahead but I would sure like to see that matchup when Keene gets back into top form. (they aren't currently but they will be)

mrmike88 · January 31, 2007, 01:23:42 PM

From the casual observer it seemed last night as if RIC's main defensive aim was to disrupt the perimeter and to front in the low post. They tried a lot of double teaming Amherst's guards coming off of screens, and left the big men with space on the inside. I don't think I've seen a team try that on Amherst yet, so I'm wondering if that is a normal strategy from RIC, since they're obviously stronger in the back-court, or if this was specially designed for the Jeffs.

MeOak21 · January 31, 2007, 01:32:06 PM

That sounds like a pretty typical approach for RIC. It had worked against all of their opponents this year except for Keene who has strong, athletic big men down low who can punish them- like Amherst.

ballin3131 · February 05, 2007, 01:10:03 AM

HOW about wcsu down 20 points with 7 minutes to go and still getting the job done. I think they might be reayd for RIC AT home. Its for 1st place .

Quote from: MeOak21 on January 31, 2007, 10:12:00 AM
Quote from: ballin3131 on January 30, 2007, 06:27:03 PM
How about the YOung wcsu team. Bob Campbell one of the most successful coaches in the Lec has put together a great team . Even though there record is shaky there only 1 loss out of first place. With umass boston playing better and still having to play keene and ric with a couple wins wcsu could take the Lec. No one on this board has shown any love for wcsu when they arguably have the 3 most talented freshmen in the confrence and are not graduating one player. Anything can happen around this time of year remember umass boston winning the Lec last year they were in third place ladies and gentelmen watch out for wcsu Coach Campbell will have them ready.

Being that there are so few participants in this board representing the LEC you can't be too surprised that WCSU doesn't get much action. There are two or 3 KSC fans, some people who express interest in the talent at RIC, and a few other stragglers who might shoot out a post here and there about any given team in the league.

You have some good points. They are young and competitive and have beaten a couple of decent teams in the LEC but they are yet to beat any top level teams to this point. They also haven't proven they can win 3 games in a row (at least since the first 3 games of the season against a couple of daisies) so personally I wouldn't give them much of a shot at winning the LEC regular season or tourney THIS year.

Anything can happen... nice to see a new perspective on this board

MeOak21 · February 09, 2007, 12:46:02 PM

So as far as hosting the LEC tournament this year- here is how it looks.

RIC (9-2) games left:
at Southern Maine
home vs. UMD
at UMBoston

I'm going to show my bias: RIC, please lose to UMB or USM. I never cared much for UMD and don't care to see them win any in conference games really. Obviously, the odds are in RIC's favor to host the tourney but their schedule is more difficult than Keene's. If Keene wins out and RIC drops a game the tournament goes to Keene with the tie breaker.

Keene (8-3) games left:
at WCSU
home vs. Plymouth
home vs. Southern Maine

Just win out. Thats all I ask. Unfortunately for the LEC (in some cases) there aren't any awful teams that you can count on beating. Even Plymouth and USM (both 2-9) can put together a very solid performance.

WCSU (7-4) games left:
home vs. Keene
at ECSU
home vs. UMD

Tough schedule. I can't see them winning all 3 games. Even if they do they have no chance unless Keene and RIC fall apart. They really needed that last W vs. RIC to have a chance. Could move into second place if they can get past Keene but I doubt that too. Keene would need another loss besides WCSU to fall to third.

UMD (7-4) games left:
home vs. ECSU
at RIC
at WCSU

Tough schedule... 2 aways vs. good teams.

The greatest possibility for any change in the 1-4 rankings is for Keene to take the top spot.