MBB: Conference of New England

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · February 07, 2007, 09:12:28 AM

It's going to be a tough decision to determine the all-conference first team this year. I've just been thinking about who the best players are and there are some battles.

I think Marinkovic is the only no brainer and maybe Tim Jones. Then you've got guys like Sylvia at NEC and Vallee and Marstaller competing for the other post position. You've got Jaziri and Logan and Goodridge and Doyle and PBJ for guards.

Usually we've got about six guys in the mix, but this year there are a ton. It will be interesting.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · February 07, 2007, 09:21:28 AM

Let's talk playoff implications:

UNE is out up north. NEC is still alive, but they'd have to win out and hope one of the other three schools loses out and then loses the tie-breaker. So any loss by NEC means they're done.

Tiebreakers are undoubtedly going to factor into things in the North. WIT split with both Gordon and Endicott, but lost both games to CSC. CSC has a win over Endicott and a loss to Gordon and still has to play each one once more. EC's got a loss to CSC and GC and plays them each once more. Things will get crazy up there.

As for the South, RWU has three relatively easy games left (home vs AMC and ENC, at Nichols) as well as a 2.5 game lead. Curry split with Salve and RWU, but has two wins over Nichols. Salve's still got five games to go and is in a tough position versus just about everybody. Nichols is starting to rebound, but their final four are pretty touch. Surprisingly, AMC is still alive in this thing, but they've got a gauntlet left to run and nothing short of divine intervention will get them in.

It could be just down to seeds by the end of the week. All eight teams could clinch after the next set of games.

akirk · February 07, 2007, 10:10:48 AM

Hoops Fan,

I saw the game last night between GC and Bates. It was less a win for Bates and more of a loss for GC. Gordon missed key free throws down the stretch. Logan shot 45% from the line - well below what he normally does. GC lead for most of the game but couldn't get a break. The big guy for Bates bought real estate in the paint all night long. Consistently he stayed in the paint for 5 to 6 seconds with out a three second call. This is the main reason why he put up good numbers.

I have to give Bates credit - they are a very good team. I just feel that Gordon beat themselves last night.

backboard · February 07, 2007, 10:32:20 AM

Congrats to Prezzie-Blue for winning Player of the Week, second time in three weeks.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · February 07, 2007, 02:21:10 PM

Quote from: akirk on February 07, 2007, 10:10:48 AM
Hoops Fan,

I saw the game last night between GC and Bates. It was less a win for Bates and more of a loss for GC. Gordon missed key free throws down the stretch. Logan shot 45% from the line - well below what he normally does. GC lead for most of the game but couldn't get a break. The big guy for Bates bought real estate in the paint all night long. Consistently he stayed in the paint for 5 to 6 seconds with out a three second call. This is the main reason why he put up good numbers.

I have to give Bates credit - they are a very good team. I just feel that Gordon beat themselves last night.

I definitely see how they had a shot to win and blew it (1-6 from the field in overtime for one). However that doesn't change my perception. The fact that they led the whole game is very impressive, but just playing well enough to take Bates to OT was a success in my book. Perhaps they could have actually pulled it out based on the way they played, but just being in this game was huge.

gullfan · February 09, 2007, 08:38:31 AM

Nice win for the Gulls! JOEY B!!!! Way to fly! Nemanja doin' his thing - just being the best all-around player in the CCC. Hands down! Player of the year! Done deal. Gary C. shooting the eyes out the last couple of games. Mike Sullivan is "da man" in the middle.
Keep it going boys. No let up for Saturday. My tailgate's ready for Tuesday - but only AFTER you take care of business against Nichols.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · February 09, 2007, 09:01:20 AM

UNE goes down to St Joe's 64-81, which could be a tournament team if they win out. They've got an impressive record and it's much easier to get in as an independent. Anyway, UNE got 12 from Belmonte, 11 a piece from Farynaz and Marriot and 11 rebounds from Tom Button. Stickney played well, but he only got 20 minutes off the bench.

Nichols beat Salve 76-74. Vallee hit a shot at the buzzer to win it for NC. Vallee, Paquin and Riley each had 14 points and Wilcox had 17. I can't believe this team has rebounded so well after losing their leading scorer halfway through the year. Good job for them. Salve continues to struggle getting 18 from Woodworth, 16 from Hazzard, 15 from Walsh and 11 boards from Grendal. Nichols was hitting 50% all game and shot 12-23 from three. It just seems like the SRU players aren't really that serious about these games, almost like they're phoning them in. This team has the talent to beat just about anyone in the conference; they just don't seem to have much desire to do so.

EC over Colby-Sawyer 70-61. CSC is running headlong for a losing season, which I think would be Foti's first since he's been there. The CSC box score has the EC women's names with the men's stats on their site. I wonder if there is any bad blood going on there. CSC was led by 14 from Szeliga, 12 from Rosso, 11 from Cousins, and Murray with 10. EC got 19 and 11 from Marinkovic, 14 from Corbett and 10 from Burgos. EC killed Colby-Sawyer on the boards and shot almost twice as well from the floor. Lots of extra free throws for EC as well. Good win for them and a good chance to lock up second place up north.

RWU knocks out AMC 74-57. Parrish got over 1,000 points in the game. Adam Richards led AMC with 17; Nunally had 11. RWU got 15 from Barranger and 11 from Billy Barrett. The game was close for the first few minutes, but Roger Williams eventually pulled away by double digits and maintained the lead throughout.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · February 09, 2007, 09:03:12 AM

I've been hearing there are coaches really sold on Prezzie-Blue for POY because of how well his team has done despite the adversity and how consistent he's been.

I still think this is Nemanja's award, but it might not be unanimous.

gullfan · February 09, 2007, 11:13:09 AM

I agree. Endicott is nowhere without Mr. Double-Double!

backboard · February 09, 2007, 11:57:49 AM

The same can be said without Blue, where would Wentworth be? Probably battling out with NEC for 4th place again.

gullfan · February 09, 2007, 12:31:57 PM

Good win for them and a good chance to lock up second place up north. - from Hoops fan regarding Endicott's win over CSC.

If the Gulls run the table, which would include a win over Gordon Tuesday night, - what does that do to the standings and first place?

backboard · February 09, 2007, 12:35:56 PM

It looks like if Endicott were to win on Tuesday against Gordon, then there would be a tie for first place. Then all the tie-breaker situations would come into effect. Just my prediction.

dwebbs · February 09, 2007, 01:24:01 PM

Since tie breakers in the north come before tie breakers in the south, Gordon can all but seal the no. 1 seed with a win over CSC this Saturday. That would make GC 2-0 against them, EC would be 1-1, WIT is 0-2, and obviously, CSC is 0-2 against the Scots. Should Gordon lose Saturday, then the winner of the GC/EC game would most likey win the number 1 seed, since EC beat RWU and GC lost to them.

so we'll have a better idea after Saturday.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · February 09, 2007, 01:25:13 PM

Yeah, I thought about the EC winning out thing; they could still come back and surprise Gordon and take the title, but there are still too many games left to worry about tie-breakers. Why don't we wait until after the game to delve into those?

When I said "locked up 2nd place" I guess I really meant that they locked up at least second place, which isn't mathematically true either, but whatever.

backboard · February 09, 2007, 02:03:03 PM

Quote from: dwebbs on February 09, 2007, 01:24:01 PM
Since tie breakers in the north come before tie breakers in the south, Gordon can all but seal the no. 1 seed with a win over CSC this Saturday. That would make GC 2-0 against them, EC would be 1-1, WIT is 0-2, and obviously, CSC is 0-2 against the Scots. Should Gordon lose Saturday, then the winner of the GC/EC game would most likey win the number 1 seed, since EC beat RWU and GC lost to them.

so we'll have a better idea after Saturday.

WIT is 1-1 against Endicott