MBB: Conference of New England

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Now the round-up:

GC over CSC by 59-56.  Fouriner had 14 and Trunciletto 10.  Murray had 14 boards and will now officially be called Andrew "the rebounding machine" Murray.  CSC could get 20 rebounds total and he'll still have 14 of them.  Gordon got 19 and 10 from Marstaller and 11 from Bajema, along with 7 assists from Logan.  Kauffman and Herr both came off the bench in this one.  After a pretty even first half, CSC fell off in the second and couldn't capitalize on their rebounding advantage.  GC improved their shooting and made up for their lack of boards.

Salve tops Wentworth 67-58.  Doyle had 20 and PBJ had 19.  Salve's talent finally woke up and the starting five scored all but two points in this game.  They seem to have dominated WIT, winning the rebounding battle and getting to the line 20 times more.  Woodworth had 18, Grendal, Hazzard and Wirth each had 12 and Goodridge got 11 to go with 5 assists.  The WIT bigs were forced to throw it back out to the guards, who played well, but not enough to compete in this one.

Endicott kicked the crap out of Nichols 101-72.  I didn't think EC had a hundred point game in them against anyone, but they sure scored well here.  NC got 13 from Wilcox and 12 from Vallee as they had to rely on their bench for the bulk of the scoring.  EC got 12 from Marinkovic, 14 a piece from Burton and Sullivan and 11 from Corbett.  Their bench got emptied as well.  EC shot 65% from the floor, 50% from three and went to the FT line 36 times.  They dominated the boards and led by 23 at the half.  This was a big statement from them.

Curry tops NEC 93-85.  Jaziri had 25, Sylvia came back for this one with 21 and 10 off the bench.  Evans and Quinn had 11 a piece, Quinn also had 7 assists.  Curry came together in a scary way.  Jones had 25, Brittian had 21.  Bowers got 23 and 11 and Mastrullo had 14.  Curry went 12-19 from three and went to the line a ton, not to mention a big rebounding advantage.  NEC once again scored well, but their defense was suspect.

And the big story of the weekend (big enough to get a mention on the front page of d3hoops.com) ENC over Roger Williams 71-63, in Rhode Island!  Which means likely no one from ENC actually saw what might be their only victory this year.  Jean-Noel led ENC with 23.  Jasmin had 17 and 10, and Andrew Brown had 11.  Duda got 11 boards.  RWU got 15 from Barranger, 13 from Gumb and 12 each from Barrett and Camobreco.  ENC won the rebounding battle 39-23 and actually hit free throws down the stretch.  ENc's shooting was still off from deep, but the FT's and rebounding were apparently enough to get a win.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Marstaller last year, 14 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.7 blocks.  This year 16.5 points, 6 rebounds, 2.2 blocks.  That looks like an improvement to me.

2.5ppg and half a block is barely any growth in numbers and nothing when you factor in the schedule is easier this year.  I'm not knocking him; he's a great player and a good contributor for GC, but he just didn't become the POY caliber player he could have been this year.  I don't think he or anyone else will care, especially if GC gets back to the NCAA tournament.

[Maq Diesel]

Nemanja 13.3 ppg 8.7 rebounds-freshman, 12.8ppg 8 rebounds-sophomore, 13.8ppg 8.7 rebounds-junior, 13.3ppg 8.7 rebounds-this year. 

I am not saying based on stats Marstaller should be the POY versus Nemanja but if your argument is elevating ones game Marstaller has shown improvement Nemanja has remained steady.  If your vote for POY is based on elevating ones game PBJ should be the winner.  But I like POY to be the best player from the best team, so that would be Marstaller, he is the most consistent player on the Gordon squad although Logan has had a great year.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Marinkovic's numbers are a bit skewed by the non-conference season.  He's averaging 16 and 10 in conference games and shooting 50%, which amounts to 20% of his team's points and 25% of their rebounds.  He's stepped it up big time during CCC play, that's why I give him the nod, although Prezzie-Blue would probably be a worthy vote as well.  I'm still inclined to give it to the guy who is clearly the one responsible for his team winning games.  The other guys both get good support from other places.  That's just me, though.  I understand other people see it other ways.

[gullfan]

The debate seems to be more about the difference between"POY" and "MVP". In this conference, the names seem to come down to Marstaller, Prezzie-Blue and Marinkovic. You have to make the choice between a best player/highest stats guy (POY) or the person whose stats and impact had the biggest impact on the team's season.
For this posting alone, I will stay neutral.
There is the very real possibility that your Player of the Year and the conference Most Valuable Player could be two (or more) different people. Decide which you are in favor of, then make your case. I'll let you know what I think later.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

If you go by the numbers, honestly, you have to give the award to Ryan Jaziri, but I doubt any of us would argue for him to pick it up.

[gullfan]

But I like POY to be the best player from the best team, so that would be Marstaller, he is the most consistent player on the Gordon squad although Logan has had a great year.

This posting from Maq Diesel makes the point I was hoping for. MVP or POY - you still need another guy or two to make things happen. Jordan had Pippen, Shaq has DWade etc. Marstaller is a very good player, but he's not putting those numbers up without another "inside/outside" option. Logan is his Pippen.
Marinkovic has his too - I think it's Gary Corbett. Now that Corbett is being recognized as a shooter, the other teams can't lay off on Nemanja and he's gone crazy with the double doubles!
If Marstaller or Marinkovic win it, they ought to spring for dinner, cause they didn't do it alone.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

But I like POY to be the best player from the best team, so that would be Marstaller, he is the most consistent player on the Gordon squad although Logan has had a great year.

This posting from Maq Diesel makes the point I was hoping for. MVP or POY - you still need another guy or two to make things happen. Jordan had Pippen, Shaq has DWade etc. Marstaller is a very good player, but he's not putting those numbers up without another "inside/outside" option. Logan is his Pippen.
Marinkovic has his too - I think it's Gary Corbett. Now that Corbett is being recognized as a shooter, the other teams can't lay off on Nemanja and he's gone crazy with the double doubles!
If Marstaller or Marinkovic win it, they ought to spring for dinner, cause they didn't do it alone.

So what you're saying then is that it should come down to Luc Jasmin and Quincy Nunnally, who are doing quite a bit with no help at all?

[gullfan]

I don't have a problem with those choices if you can make the case strong enough. If it is "player of the year" then it's a numbers thing. If it's "most valuable player" you go with impact! That's what I'm saying.
But even the numbers guys get are not always a way to judge their own talents because other guys contribute to the total team.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I don't think you have to make that distinction.  It's all just semantics.  Coaches vote however they feel and I'm sure some feel one way and others feel differently.  There is no definition of the award.

[backboard]

I think it'll really come down to Prezzie-Blue, Marstaller, and Marinkovic.  All three have lead their teams to their respective standings.  Some may argue that WIT has over-acheived and that Marstaller has a great support system.  The coaches have a real tough one this year.  It will most likely come down to how teams/players perform down the strech and into the playoffs.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

And, if history is any indication, coaches often vote for the guy who played the best against them, so it could all be subjective anyway.

[dwebbs]

I'd like to support my team's player, if that's possible without losing anymore karma...

I don't think you could knock a player because of his support cast. St. Clair had Bray and Thorpe to compliment him and still won it. He was a dominant player, but that should tell you that you can win it with numbers.

We've already been over Marstaller's numbers, 16.5 and 6 with 2.1 blocks per game. But if you want to talk about elevating your game -- Marstaller made 9 3PT's last year on 30 percent. This year he's sank 25 on 44 percent. It makes him that much more complete.

On the other end, people always knock Marinkovic for his lack of defense. He has 20 steals and 3 blocks. Marstaller -- 39 steals and 47 blocks. I know there is more to defense than those stats, but Marstaller just put up 7 blocks in a game decided by 3 points, that was most likely the most important game of the year.

It's not fair to knock Marstaller by saying he has support. The fact that he scores in spite of those players make him that much better. Imagine what he would do on EC or WIT.

That being said, this is just for argument sake. Blue and Marinkovic are both great players, but Marstaller should get some respect too.

[gsmizzle23]

Calling....CCC Fan and anEC Fan....its rivalry week baby and we bout to see the gulls roll on gc. Let's get the banter going. Start it up get fired up!!!!! If james bartelle were here he would get fired up as well, he is a competitor (and poster) and so are my gulls.  Let the talk begin.. Please Jim Rome if you were ever to weigh in on any game...please come back to the board. Bartelle if you are out there....everyone needs some AND 1 insight into this game...please post. If roy Williams, marv and 24/7 365 would come to the table we need their pathetic insights regarding the GC faithful and other frivolous comments (just to make this interesting). This game is for the #1 seed in the north....get amped!!! With the inside outside combination posted ever so gracefully by my boy gull fan. GC will not be able to stop the Marinkovic/ Corbett duo.
Inviting everyone to the Battle of Exit 17
This game will come down to whether or not Gary C shows up or not. If he does and he shoots lights out. game over. Goodbye scots you will be known as the grapevine shame. 

CORBETT FOR POY!
The prophet has spoken.

[ccc fan13]

Marinkovic in CCC this year: 16.1 points (6th), 10.8 rebounds (3rd), 3.17 assists (6th), .753 percent free throws (11th), steals 1.33 (13th), Assist/Turnover ratio (7th), 3.67 offensive rebounds (2nd), 7.08 defensive rebounds (3rd)

Marstaller in CCC this year: 15.8 points (7th), 6.1 rebounds (14th), Field goal percentage (3rd), 2 steals (7th), three point shooting (9th), 2. 31 blocks a game (2nd), 5.23 defensive rebounds (8th).

Marinkovic much better in CCC, and that is more relevant stat to look at since EC plays much harder schedule during the year than GC.