MBB: Conference of New England

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I think EC is such an unknown quantity until they get some games under their belt.  I'll be interested in a report from their scrimmage with Brandeis.  They lost key leadership from a team that depended on leadership pretty heavily.  They lost a true PG and replaced him with a capable player, but not a true PG.  The new coach, from everything I've seen and heard, will do nothing but help them.  Plansky's system wasn't all that complicated, so learning a new system won't be hard.  I put them at #2 just because of history.  They retain most of their strengths from last season and they are a year older.  Gordon never proved to me that they could defend truly great post players, and although I think they will have that problem solved this year, I go by the rule: don't count on it until you see it.  I think that battle for #2 in the North will be fun to watch and I certainly can see GC getting it.  They certainly lost less, but how that translates to the floor is a different story.  They still have to play Marinkovic twice and he tore them up last year.  Not to mention a couple of games with Thorpe and St Clair coming at them as well.

[akirk]

Looking back at the box scores from the two EC - GC games last year brings up an interesting point.

Marinkovic scored 23 in a game that only came down to 3 points but in the second meeting he only scored 16 points which translated into a 15 point loss.

I dont think Marinkovic is the problem.  I would rather have him go off with a couple dozen points and limit the rest on EC production.  He is a good player but there is no way he can be the only one contibuting for EC to win.

[broke_ya_ankles]

well EC just put their roster up, looks like 2 of last years freshmen arent there.....Cam Twiss and Jon Devito, not really sure if its any big loses....they've got 6 new freshmen
   Brandon Diaz   5-8/180      FR   
   JM Ramsey   5-10/165      FR   Penn Yen, NH (Penn Yan Academy)
   Francis Mayi   6-4/190      FR   Lawrence, MA (Lawrence High School)
   Ross Stewart   6-2/190      FR   Palm Harbor, FL (East Lake High School)
   Joe Sheehan   6-4/200      FR   Marshfield, MA (Boston College High School)
   Joe Burgos   6-4/200      FR   Lawrence, MA (Lawrence High School)

a frew 6'4 guys but no real threat in terms of size I know nothing of the newbies credentials but ill see what i can dig up.....

[dwebbs]

if gordon can rebound the ball this year, it is going to come down to them and csc. and they were able to limit st. claire last year. i'm just putting that out there.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

St. Clair was named as the Center on the Third Team of d3hoops.com's Preseason All-America squad.  That's quite an honor.  It means that whoever decides on the team thinks he's the third best center in the country, even though he's really a power forward.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Curry has their roster up: They've got the big five back from last year.  Lamb is on it, but all indications are that he will be sitting out the fall semester.  They've got two huge freshmen, Michael Weaving listed at 6-5, 255 and Robel Ghebremichael at 6-9, 270.  Even if these guys are giant stiffs, they probably will contribute some good rebounding off the bench.  Sophomore Jacoc Choate (6-4, 230) is also a newcomer.  They add Jordan Zukowski (6-4, from Weymouth) and a couple of guards.  It appears that Wynn is planning to win with some big bodies; I would love to get a chance to see this team play early in the season; there seems to be a lot of potential there.  I thought last year's Curry team could have won it all if they had had more than five players.  Very interesting development.

[24/7/365]

GC is having their annual Midnight Madness rally tonight.  Oddly enough it starts at 10 pm, but thats besides the point.  This will be a first look at a team that many have picked to finish #2 in the conference.  With contests such as the 3 point Shoot Out and the Slam Dunk Contest, fans and critics alike will get some form of insight into the athleticism and offense capabilities of this young squad.  While this rally is for sheer entertainment and monitory reasons, there is still some information people can take away from it.  I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on tonights happenings.

[CCC Fan]

CSC has their roster up.  Eight newcomers including two more transfers from NHTI.  A couple new guards but plenty of big men.  Anyone have any news on these guys? 

3 Matt Lemieux Fr. 5-8 155 G Manchester, N.H./Central 
12 Nate Truncellito Jr. 6-2 190 G Manchester, N.H./Central/NHTI 
24 Ryan Murray Fr. 6-3 230 F Killingworth, Conn./Haddam-Killingworth
31 Pat McKinnon Fr. 6-1 195 G Goffstown, N.H./Bishop Brady 
32 Andrew Cousins Fr. 6-4 181 F Portland, Maine/South Portland 
44 Duncan Szeliga Fr. 6-5 230 F/C Newmarket, N.H./Newmarket
45 Andrew Burnell Fr. 6-4 220 F/C Biddeford, Maine/Biddeford
50 Matt Spanos Jr. 6-6 210 F Newport, N.H./Newport/NHTI

[roy_williams]

CCC North

1. Colby-Sawyer [11] ..............71
2. Gordon ............................. 55
3. Endicott [1] ....................... 52
4. Wentworth Inst. ................. 26
5. UNE ................................. 24
6. New England ..................... 22
 
CCC South

1. Curry [6] ............................ 66
2. Roger Williams [6] ............... 64
3. Salve Regina ....................... 49
4. Nichols ............................... 35
t-5. Anna Maria ........................ 19
t-5. Eastern Nazarene ............... 19



pretty standard...will be interesting to see if Gordon can finally climb the hump into the top 2 of the North. Also considering you cant vote for yourself, EC's lone 1st place vote is a bit surprising. I also think Wentworth and UNE will be improved and a tough game this year, instead of the perennial doormats. I'm not saying they will contend with the big three...but they will probably decide how the top three finishes.

the south looks about right, with Curry and Rogers probably finishing that tight. alot will depend on when they meet, as it looks Curry will be a better team later in the year (once Lamb returns) and they heal from injuries.

[Popsman]

Why is everyone, even the CCC coaches poll, picking Curry over Roger W    

Roger Willaims beat Curry all 3 times they played last year.  I'm pretty sure Curry was at full strength all 3 times.  How good are these new Curry freshman?
Roger W has a new player from Maine highly rated.
Surprising polls.

[roy_williams]

i think rogers will challenge curry. its a toss up at best. i can definately see rogers beating curry...especially because of the past. i wouldn't say rogers is getting overlooked...it is just too close to call.

who is the recruit RW has? their roster page (not sure if updated) doesn't list any players from maine?

[broke_ya_ankles]

I know the RWU freshmen from Maine....his name is Conrad Griffin, a 6'2 wingman who was one of the top players in maine last year....division II caliber player who got the looks from D2 schools, but chose RWU for some reason....hes a very very very good player who will play right away, he is extremely athletic and very smart on the court.  He has the ability to stick 6 3's or take it to the whole and dunk it on you, hes just a natural player, I've talked about him in a few posts, but yea hes as good as they say if not better....future all-ccc player without question

[john]

 on sat csc.had a scim. against u of southern n.h. and from what i heard they played them to a tie.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

EC has their roster up now as well.  A bunch of new big men, still no true PG; that's gonna hurt them.

CSC seems to have brought in the successors to the current Senior class.  Foti addressed his lack of depth up front and brought in a couple of decent guards.  I'm sure it will be much of the same.

To address the Curry-RWU thing.  I know the coaches respect Wynn and the talent that returns this year.  Curry has cosistently been picked near the top of the South for quite a while.  The coaches actually get rosters before they vote, so they all got to see the huge bodies CC brought in.  I think RWU has been coasting the last couple of years and now they'll really have to compete.

Salve brought in three freshmen over 6'6"  They had a lot of young talent last year, so if they can gel (something they totally failed to do last year), they might put up a fight as well.

I think there might be a huge improvement overall in the conference this year.  I think we'll see some non-conference games go our way that haven't done so in a while.  Should be exciting.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It seems like we've exhausted the pre-season jabber.  It might be a little premature, but here are the weekend matchups:

Friday
SRU vs #25 Catholic @ UMass-D tourney
ENC vs Lesley
EC vs Fisher (Not St John Fisher) @ Amherst Tourney
GC vs Framingham State (Gordon Tip-off Tourney)
CSC vs ME-Machais @ Keene State
NEC vs Castleton State
UNE @ Wesleyan (Wesleyan Tourney)
NC vs Becker @ WPI (Worcester Tourney)

Saturday
AMC vs Bard @ Rivier Tourney
SRU vs ME-Ft Kent or UMass-D @ UMass-D Tourney
RWU vs Lasell @ Brandeis Tourney
CC vs New Jersey @ Salem State Tourney
ENC @ Connecticut College
EC vs Fitchburg State or Amherst @ Amherst Tourney
CSC vs Husson @ Keene State
GC vs Southern Maine or Westfield State (Gordon Tip-off Tourney)
UNE vs Bridgewater State or Suffolk @ Wesleyan Tourney
WIT vs Lyndon State @ ME-Farmington Tourney

Sunday
AMC vs Johnson St or Rivier @ Rivier Toruney
RWU vs Newbury or Brandeis @ Brandeis Tourney
CC vs Maine Maritime or Salem State @ Salem State Tourney
WIT vs ME-Presque Isle or ME-Farmington @ ME-Farmington Tourney

What's with Keene State and CSC avoiding each other?  They don't like playing twice to start every season?  Also, it seems there is a big shift to Saturday-Sunday tournaments and ignoring the Friday nights... interesting.