MBB: Conference of New England

[James]

Billy Barrett is the point for RWU this year.  As far as FT's go. The one thing I notice about successful teams is their 1&2 guards get to the foul line a ton. It usually happens at the end of the game when the other teams needs to stop the clock. I am not sure getting to the FL is a major factor in choosing the All Conference player. The asssit to turn over is a valid point and I am not sure why Barrett's is so low. It doesn't hog the ball and is very efficient with his shots as his stats show. I'll need to think about that more.

As for Barret being the leading scorer and Kaufman being the third leading scorer. I guess we need to look at the minutes the other Hawk players get. Gumb is second leading scorer, 11.2 PPG with only about 18 min per game, and Barranger is third at 10.2 PPG and 22 per game. None of the RWU bigs are getting 30 min per game. If they did Barrett may be in the same situation as Kaufman or visa versa.

As you said, there is a lot of the season to go. Anything can happen!

[the_cru2]

Hoops,

After seeing ENC get so close to winning in so many games, do you see that as a good sign for the future?  I really am at a loss for what they can do to get over that hump! Atleast they have improved from last year.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It's way too early to talk about POY, Raheim Lamb shared POY honors with St Clair a few years back and he only played second semester.  It all comes down to who does well in February.


As far as ENC losing the close games, I think that is the line between an overacheiving team and one's that's just not very good.  If they were really capitalizing on the talent and athleticism that they've shown glimpses of, they'd be winning these games.  The fact is, they aren't.  However, they are sticking in games this year, which just wasn't happening last season.  Cheers to the new coach for that one.  They'd also have a respectible record if they had any crunch time player at all.  As dominant as Jasmin can be at times, he doesn't have another gear to go into when the clock winds down.  Nothing on him; he's just not that guy.

[jj]

Just a couple thoughts to add.

Barrett is a definately a point and always has been whether that be HS or college.  Last year he split minutes with Camobreco at the point but seems to be taking that role over this year and deservedly so.  Any basketball fan who sees Barrett play really likes him, he is kind of a "throwback player."  If you have seen him play you know what I mean.  As far as comparing him to Kauffman, in my opinion Kauffman is slightly better but maybe simply because he is a year older. 

As far as ENC goes, you are right they do not have a go-to-guy.  But typically the end of a close game is won by the team with better guard play.  Handle the press, make FT's, create a turnover, etc.... therefore Jasmins influence on the game, as a post player, will lessen down the stretch of a close game.  As far as being in more close games they are simply still young and trying to learn how to win.  This is basically the same team as last year that got better at the end of last season and is continuing to slowly improve.  We'll see if they get over the hump?   

[glory_days]

Interesting discussion point.  What does it mean to be a "throwback player?"  Does he wear short shorts?  High socks?  Chuck Ts?  Just a little something to get the conversation of POY.  We're trying to predict that already? Really?

[jj]

Funny.  I didn't say throwback "dresser" I said "player."  Meaning he is well-rounded skill-wise, plays both ends and does everything well.  Also he doesn't force his own game like most good players these days and just goes out and plays hard.  Guess I should have been more specific.  Although next time I watch him play I will watch for the Chuck T's!

[GC_Apologist]

GC gave away the Salem game last year. Poor decision making down the latter portion of the 2nd half gave way to Salem being able to emerge victorious. This year however, GC seems to be able to close off games better. Their senior leadership is obviously apparent and their junior play has most definitely helped as well. With the token play they are getting from their young bloods, one has no choice but to like GC in this game.  Luckily they have been tested early in this young year, so they should not surprised by a good Salem team. Plus, the fact that these two teams are so evenly matched, and it'll basicly come down to who makes the least mistakes, and who wants the win more. I wont be able to be there, but I can only imagine it'll be one hell of a game.

I know CSC is having an off year, rightfully so after losing St. Clair. But is RWU that legite? Or are they the CCC's version of the 01, 02, 03, Philly Eagles? In that they get everyones hopes up early, and they look highly promising, only to have the bubble burst when it counts, i.e. losing to WIT in the CCC quarterfinals last year. Just curious.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

RWU will have to continue to prove itself in the second half, but they've always been legit.  Last year there was a 3/4 season hangover after watching that horrible injury to Gumb happen mid-game.  You can't underestimate how much that takes out of a team.  The rebounded well for the CCC tournament, but they were stil la year away.


Unless Tim Jones gets back to Curry fast, I think RWU will be the major hurdle for Gordon this year.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Tonight's games:

CSC hosts Bowdoin
EC @ WPI
NEC @ Daniel Webster
NC @ Worcester State
ENC @ Emerson
SRU hosts RIC
RWU @ UMASS-Dartmouth
CC @ WNEC
WIT vs Coast Guard at Suffolk

Some tough match-ups for the CCC out of conference tonight.  It will be interesting to see how Roger Williams does against a very good Dartmouth team.  It's a wierd night when Nichols and New England College are our best shots at wins.

[dwebbs]

For the record, I didn't say a thing about Player of the Year. I was just comparing stats and mentioned last year First Team snub on Kaufman.

[CCC Talk]

Lets take a spin around the league:

In the South:

Roger Williams is certainly looking like the class of the South thus far. Nice to see Dan Gumb back playing and Billy Barrett is emerging as a premier player in the league, good times for them.

Over at Nicholls the kids are contributing and will give Lewis and Valleee enough to help them get over the hump this year and be in the final 4 come CCC  tourny time, I strongly believe that.

Salve is a tough team to figure out. Losing Matt Coute is a bear but Grendel and Goodridge should have them in a lot of games.

Curry - whose playing when? Is Jones coming back? Is Oneychi going there? Are Toby Brittain and John Bowers gonna behave themselves? This is the total wildcard team for the whole league.

ENC- DaSilvia out, meaning the Amcats may win a conferance game.

AMC- Certainly have much better spreads this year than last year plus the return of Poccaro is good to see.

In the North:

Gordon is the class of the league right now and I have nothing bad to say about their team. Their fans on the other hand dominate this forum and theres really nothing I need to say that hasn't been said. Also I'm pretty sure the average Gordon fan will tell you the all conferance team should be all 5 Gordon Starters.

Colby-Sawyer is starting slow but the kids are contributing they showed the order of things in the north is still pretty standard by beating Wentworth and I'm eager to see what Jon Chaloux can do over a long period of time.

Endicott is struggling at the moment. The win over UNE was expected but a win is a win and they needed one. Not sure where the scoring punch is going to come from for these guys.

NEC- Winning some games, Oneychi rumors still flying around. There is a lot of talent up there, I like their chances 2nd semester.

WIT- I cannot figure this team out, I was kinda expecting them to take a leap this year and so far they just haven't. That being said they played a tough early season schedule a team to keep an eye on in the 2nd semester as well.

UNE- Out gunned but will play hard every night this team will beat someone they aren't supposed to

[threeball23]

I have enjoyed the recent banter fellas, keep it up.  Not to be overlooking the CCC games tonight, but would a convincing GC win over Salem State on Sat be enough to put them in the top 25?  I know it may depend on what some other top 25 teams do, but I was just thinking.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Gordon probably won't get in until well into January.  I think a good number of teams ahead of them will have to lose twice.  The GC schedule isn't all that stacked, especially from a national perspective.  Obviously, if they stay undefeated it is only a matter of time until they get in, but recall that Baruch had a fantastic record last year and only got into the top 25 at the end of the year only to burn the voters by stinking it up in the tournament.

I think GC's got a little more cred than Baruch, but the voters are vary wary of the smaller conferences (like the CCC).  Salem's been down the last couple years; a win there isn't even going to be a blip on the national scene.

GC still isn't back up to the number of vote points they had in the pre-season poll.  They already have the respect of the NE voters, but it will take a good amount of time to work their way up to the top.  Right now they are on par with teams like Carthage and Hampden-Sydney, who not only play tougher schedules, but have more national recognition.

[Maq Diesel]

CCC Talk I agree the board is flooded with GC supporters, I wish other schools would get as interested in basketball; we used to see that on the CCC board.  That is not intended to be a knock on other fans just a statement.  As for you comment about GC fans thinking the CCC first team should be the Gordon starting five, lets not get outrageous.  I am not defending D-Webbs in this instance, but I will pose this question, Do you know of another conference that does not award all-conference teams by position?  Last years CCC first team had four forwards and one guard (St. Clair, Marinkovic, Marstaller, Lamb and Coute).  It can be argued that Kaufman was the best point guard in the conference last year and he should have been on the first-team.  With all this being said we are talking about end of season awards and it is December 7th lets put that off until we hit the middle of the conference season at least.

In answer to another question, I think if some other ranked and receiving votes team lose Gordon could slide into the 25 slot or at least get close with a win over Salem State.  They haven't beat enough good teams to really deserve to crack the top 25, but Salem State sure would help, it will be a great afternoon in the Bennett Center on Saturday.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

d3hoops.com awards their all-american teams by positions, as do some conference, but not all and I would say there is enough discrepancy that I couldn't tell you which way of doing it is more appropriate, especially in the revolving face of basketball where positions mean less and less every year.