MBB: Conference of New England

[hugenerd]

You can find the brackets updated as they are released at :

www.ecac.org

[hugenerd]

The New England Region has been announced:

1. Keene State
2. MIT
3. Emmanuel
4. Rhode Island College
5. Coast Guard
6. Wheaton
7. Plymouth State
8. Colby Sawyer

You guys were right about the NESCAC schools not participating.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

St Clair will get his chance at 1,000 boards.  Also, a game vs Keene is going to be a grudge match.  I can't see CSC dropping this one.

These guys have worked so hard over the last three weeks to get back on form, with the seniors leaving and having nothing to lose, I bet this game will be quite entertaining.

[roy_williams]

ok enough about the NIT? don't get me wrong i'm more than happy for St. Clair---he deserves 1,000 and all the pub he can get--he is the face of CCC. but lets get some talk going about the Dance? i mean it's the first time EVER we have two CCC schools.

i like GC's chances against Utica. I second Hoops in that this is a perfect team for GC. they match up real well and play similar styles. i think Bryant is a 'can't stop hope to contain' type of thing as he is probably the most athletic player they have faced this year. which to me is fine because one guy won't be able to win this game. their games against St. John's are somewhat impressive, but i think alot of that has to do with the fact they are rivals. i'm sure both coaches know each of the systems well and the rivarly factor probably contributed to close games. not saying Utica isn't good, but not sure if their games against St. John's are the best indicator. also, as you said, no one is really taller than 6'4, so this should help Marstaller (though not sure how athletic their inside guys are because that is what would help them defend Jon the most) and Herr who can play back to the basket and is a good leaper. Kaufman is smaller, but strong and very quick, so i don't think he will have a problem. he knows how to score and is quick on defense to make up for some lapses in height. i really think one of the strong suits for GC this season has been their defense, especially with guard play. granted in the last two games GC has basically got run, but if they recapture that form they will beat Utica. travel also favors GC, though not sure how big of a deal that will be. you have to hope that the extra practice time will let Schauer get everything tightened up.

want to thank all the EC fans for giving us some insight on the team this year. 

and please don't come with PB&J not getting any respect; last year he clearly upset Marstaller for ROY

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The only problem I see with GC-Utica is whether the Utica guys will be able to just pull up and shoot over the Gordon defenders.  If they've got 6'4" guys taking threes, it will be tough to stop them (especially since they have a lot of shooting options to choose from).  It's winnable and I'm picking GC out of loyalty to the CCC.  Let's hope they represent well.  No CCC men's team has ever won an NCAA game, so this would be another big step for the league.

I can't say I'll take EC over Tufts though, sorry guys.

[24/7/365]

Both EC and GC have very good shots at moving on in the tourney.  EC definitely has the bigger Gauntlet to get through in that of Tufts, but after talking to a bunch of people in the know, this SHOULD be, blow for blow, one of the best first round match-ups in the tourney.  Tufts is playing as good as any team right now, and if EC can get back into early season form, sparks have the possibility of flying.  Gotta love the fact that two teams, 45 minutes away from each other, have to travel 6 hours to play.

GC is a little different.  This Utica team is an unknown.  They weren't on d3's "in" list, but that doesn't mean a whole lot, because they are still a formidable opponent.  The 4 hour bus ride may not be the best thing for this team, but I doubt it will give GC that great of an edge.  But I think the thing the works in GC's favor, is that right now, everything they do from here on out is icing on the cake.  Here's a team, that has never been to the tourney, led by sophomores and juniors, who are just going to enjoy their experience, and try to make some ripples in the tourney if they can. 

The team hasn't practiced, worked out, or picked up until since Thursday, but the time off has relaxed them, and gave them a good reprieve from the basketball mindset for a few days.  I have to find out more about Utica before I make any predictions, whatever the case though, we should have a good showing from our beloved CCC teams.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

OK 24, your driving pattern has got me confused.

Gotta love the fact that two teams, 45 minutes away from each other, have to travel 6 hours to play.

It's only 20 miles, all highway, unless you're going at rush hour, it would be difficult to take 45 minutes to get there.

Then we get this one:

The 4 hour bus ride may not be the best thing for this team, but I doubt it will give GC that great of an edge. 

If you can get from Wenham to Utica in four hours, on a bus, that might be some sort of land speed record.  You might be able to do it in 4 hours in a Honda Civic, if the State Police looked the other way.  That's a five hour bus trip, if its anything.

[akirk]

Hoops,

It is 4 hrs for Utica to Worcester not to wenham.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Oh, right  I don't know what I was thinking.  I guess too many drives across Upstate New York makes you lose your mind.

[gordon]

Hey what you guys think about Norwich against Elms.   Gordon plays Utica, Endicott plays on of the better teams in the Nescac and ....Norwich against Elms...

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Hey what you guys think about Norwich against Elms.   Gordon plays Utica, Endicott plays on of the better teams in the Nescac and ....Norwich against Elms...

They give conference winners the benefit of the doubt sometimes.  I don't know what to say.  Although I'm picking Elms in the upset.


Honestly, even if it is a lesser known squad, I would not want to be in one of those Thursday games.  Whoever wins-Hamilton, Plattsburgh, Norwich or Elms, will all have to travel on Friday.  The shortest drive is three hours for any of those teams (Hamilton to Amherst).  I'd rather go and be there for both games than have to travel in between.

[Clark Basketball]

"No CCC mens team has ever won an NCAA tourney Game"

Anna Maria under Paul Phillips went to the "Sweet Sixteen"

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Low and behold, Anna Maria beat Babson and Salem State in 1996.

I'm checking to see if they were in the CCC at that point, but they did indeed win those games.

[24/7/365]

Anna Maria was in the CCC when they made their "title" run back in 1996.  Hopefully we can meet or better that feat this year.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Anna Maria was in the CCC when they made their "title" run back in 1996.  Hopefully we can meet or better that feat this year.

They must have been really good.  The CCC wasn't guaranteed a bid back then and rarely got one.