MBB: Conference of New England

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Per the blog and, I assume, Gordon PR:

"We are extremely excited to have these young men coming to Gordon," Schauer said. "We work very hard in recruiting and are fortunate to be at an institution that is attracts some of the most gifted Christian students in the country."

The incoming freshman class includes (in alphabetical order):

Brady Bajema, a 6-2 guard from Whitinsville (Mass.) Christian School, averaged just under 18 points and five assists per game as the only senior on the team's roster. He led Whitinsville Christian to a 20-4 record and an appearance in the Massachusetts Division III state semifinals this season. For his efforts, he was named Worcester Telegram and Gazette Dream Team All-Star, Metrowest Dream Team All-Star and the Dual Valley Conference Player of the Year as a senior. Bajema won three consecutive Central Massachusetts Division III championships (2004-2006) and the 2005 Massachusetts Division III state championship.

Jeff Derr, a 6-8 forward from Barrington (Ill.) High School, averaged 16.5 points and just over nine rebounds per game while shooting 65% from the field for the Broncos as a senior. He was named all-conference and all-area by the Daily Herald.

Ben Gaskill, a 6-9 forward from Worthington Kilbourne High School in Columbus, Ohio, helped Worthington Kilbourne set new school records for wins in a season in both his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, he averaged 9.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game while converting 70.9% of his field goal attempts, which was the best field goal percentage in Central Ohio and also a school record. He also holds the school's single game field goal percentage record and ranks third all-time in blocked shots. Gaskill was named second-team Ohio Capital Conference this season, honorable mention by the Columbus Dispatch, an Agonis Club All Star and selected to play in the District 10 All-Star game.

Derrick Hughes, a 5-11 guard from Plumstead (Pa.) Christian School, averaged 20 points, 4.5 rebounds, four assists and three steals per game as a senior. He finished his four-year varsity career with 1,371 points. Hughes was named Bucks County Herald first-team all-conference as a junior and senior and the league player of the year as a senior.

Timothy MacDonnell, a 6-3 guard from Mount Mansfield Union High School in Jericho, Vt., averaged 8.1 points, 3.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game as a senior. He was named to the all-tournament team at the Fran Pinard Holiday Classic and played in the Vermont North-South All Star game. With MacDonnell as the starting point guard, Mount Mansfield Union won consecutive Vermont state championships in 2004 and 2005.

Ben Meyer, a 6-1 guard from Millbrook (N.Y.) High School, averaged 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists per game as a senior. He was named all-league and all-section after leading his team to its third consecutive Section 9 championship and an appearance in the New York Class C Regional Championship game. Millbrook concluded the season ranked No. 6 in New York Class C. Meyer brook 1,000 points for his career in his final game. As a junior, Meyer was selected Dutchess County Small School Most Valuable Player and named both all-league and all-section after averaging 21 points and seven rebounds per game. His team finished ranked No. 5 in New York Class C.

Schauer said, "This is a very talented group and, if they are willing to put in the work, has a chance to be special at this level and help our program continue to rise in the Northeast region as well as onto the national scene."

[backboard]

Endicott, Wentworth, Gordon, UNE, and Salve have their schedules up for next season.  Any thoughts?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'll check it out and get back to you later today.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

EC's losing Ellis and George, but they have a solid base and a good recruitint coach.  They will have questions of leadership to answer and with non-cons at Bates and WPI early, those could be costly loses for them if they don't have their chemistry worked out by then.  It will be interesting to see who else will be at the Tufts tip-off tourney.  All-in-all it is a very solid schedule for a highly ranked season, if they come through in conference.  Well put together.

Wentworth is aiming high, adding William Patterson and Coast Guard to the non-con.  They balance it out with Mt Ida and Becker.  It's certainly ambitious, but if they continue to develop, I could see them pulling a few suprises along the way.  It might be a little too tough for my tastes, but certainly a more competitive schedule than they've shown in the past.

Gordon scheduled themselves against Mt Ida in the first round of their home tip-off tourney.  Not the quality opponent they should have if they intend to improve their regional and national profile.  Philadelphia Bible was ok last year and could be a QOWI boon for them, but it's not going to help their rep among national voters.  Mitchell is a joke.    They have traditional rivals Bates and Salem on the list, both at home this year.  They also have what appears to be a provisional from Minnesota coming in.  They might be the class of the conference this year, but they are not going to earn the respect they crave with this sched.  They could have done a lot better.

UNE's sched is way too agressive, but you can't fault them for trying.  Hamilton tourney, Bowdoin, Colby, Middlebury, St Joe's, Bates, and USM.  They should have one of the best non-con opponents winning percentage, but I doubt that gets them much more than a bunch of 6 and 7 point games on their QOWI.  It will hurt the rest of the conference too as CCC teams will be getting less points than they deserve versus UNE.  Props for taking the plunge (I'd rather see a schedule being too tough than too light), but they could have fit their program a little better.

Salve's sched looks a lot like last year's: Wheaton, Wesleyan, RIC, J & W, ConnColl, etc.  This is a push.  I think they do well, especially for their ability, but nothing to write home about.

Again, this is based solely on performance last year.  We'll have to wait until rosters come out before I talk about who will win what.

[Bill Gorman]

Wentworth is aiming high, adding William Patterson and Coast Guard to the non-con.

Wentworth and Coast Guard have played each other annually for the better part of 20 years.  Coast Guard was a member of the original CCC and they two have continued to play after CG left the league.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Wentworth is aiming high, adding William Patterson and Coast Guard to the non-con.

Wentworth and Coast Guard have played each other annually for the better part of 20 years.  Coast Guard was a member of the original CCC and they two have continued to play after CG left the league.

I guess adding was the wrong term there, but its nice to see them aiming high.

[backboard]

I thought WNEC was joining the CCC this year but I don't see them on Gordon's or Wentworth' schedule.  Are they joining next year instead?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I wonder if Pat is monitoring this page?  He might be able to help us out with a press release or a news story.  I too was under the impression they were starting competition right away.  Perhaps something has fallen through??  I don't know.

[Pat Coleman]

I have been but we received no news release on this transaction...

[joehakes]

WNEC will appear on some schedules in various sports in the CCC this year, but will not be a member until the fall of 2006.

[Pat Coleman]

Joe, this is the fall of 2006.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

WNEC will appear on some schedules in various sports in the CCC this year, but will not be a member until the fall of 2006.

Joe, this is the fall of 2006.

Maybe this is where the whole problem started to begin with.  Maybe it was just a typo.

[joehakes]

Sorry, fall of 2007.  Trying to finish up my annual report for 05-06, I'm in a time warp.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

So there you have it.  WNEC has one more year.

So Joe, any word on the NEWMAC?  Or is that really just a rumor?  (He said incedulously as if Joe would ever comment on that here.)

[joehakes]