MBB: Conference of New England

[gullfan]

 It's too bad that nobody from Salve seems to post much. Otherwise, more people would have had an eye out for Matt Grendel. He's not real big, but he's a workhorse like our boy Sully. In fact, they went at it pretty hot yesterday. If I'm coaching Salve, I don't take him off the court unless he can't breathe or he's got bigtime foul trouble!
Tuesday starts the show. Nichols is coming here - grill at 3:00!

[backboard]

Wentworth loses to ENC on their final regular season game.  For a team looking to make some noise in the playoffs, this is very dissappointing.  ENC is one of the worst teams in the nation, by far the worst in the league.  ENC took 27 more free throw attempts, which could be from fouling in the end, or just not being aggressive enough.  It'll be real diffifcult for the coaches to consider Prezzie-Blue for POY due to his poor performance in this game.  They're going to need a comeplete turnaround by Tuesday, otherwise they'll be run out of the gym.  However, they still have a chance since WIT is probably the last team Roger Williams wanted to see in the first round.

Other matchups:

Salve at Gordon - I fully except Gordon to win this game, but it's not going to be easy.  Salve has compariable size to  Gordon, just not the same talent.  As long as Salve can slow down the perimeter shooters for Gordon, then they'll have a chance.  Gordon by 10.

Colby-Sawyer at Curry - This game could down to the final possessions with Curry pulling it out at home.  With the talent for Toby Brittian and Tim Jones (who's only played half the season), I see Curry coming out on top.  Colby-Sawyer will have to make sure the blockout well and crash the boards against Curry's bigs.  And as good as Tyler Fournier may be, he's going to have his hands full with Jones.  Curry by 5.

Nichols at Endicott - The re-match of the February 10th game needs to erased from the minds of Nichols's players.  They were destroyed by the Gulls by 29 points.  Nichols coach is going to have to coach his best game in order to pull this one out.  Endicott is superior in almost every way and Marinkovic is sure to be determined not to let his team lose.  Endicott by 15.

Wentworth at Roger Williams - Also another re-match, but from last year's first round playoffs.  This year RWU seemed to be a power-house in the conference, but then showed weaknesses losing to ENC and Nichols.  Wentworth has been a surprising team, finishing in 3rd in the North, although struggling to finish the regular season.  WIT's backcourt (Blue and Doyle) are one of the toughest matchups in the league; so RWU will have their hands full as they did on February 6th when Doyle and Blue scored 25 and 18 respectively.  RWU needs to feed the ball inside more and exploit WIT's under-sized big men.  Wentworth by 2.

[dwebbs]

Gordon played one of their best games of the year at Salve on 1/13. I think Gordon will win, but I don't know if it will be as easy as some people think it will be. Unless they shut down Grendal somewhat, this one should be a good game.

Wentworth at the U I think it the most interesting match up in the first round. Not only is it a rematch from last year when WIT bounced the Hawks in the first round, but it also features the two teams that ENC owned this year. As I said already, I think WIT is a better team at home, and only has road conference wins at UNE and NEC this year. While I wouldn't be surprised if WIT stole another one from the U, I think Roger Williams will advance. 

Endicott over Nichols.

CSC has a good young talent base and could win, especially with the inconsistency Curry has shown at time, but I think Curry will advance.

[number1chargerfan]

I'm telling you right now, after seeing the stats from Curry-CSC game at the UMass Boston tourney early on..and being at the game in New London later in the season, the Chargers will pull an upset. They started off on fire in the second matchup, Andrew Cousins scored I want to say 6 out of the first 8 points, but Foti continued his strange ways in taking him out. Let me tell you that no matter how athletic those Curry players are and how hostile their crowd might be, if the Chargers come out firing like they did the game before and the treys fall for Cousins and Truncelito, Murray and co. will take care of business on the boards and Fournier will shut down Timmy Jones like he couldn't seem to find a way to do in the earlier matchup. Those three things happen, and Murray doesn't foul out and the Chargers would have been victorious in New London and believe me when I tell you, they won't make the same mistake twice in a row. The first game was early on when the team had no chemistry, the second luck wasn't on their side, third times the charm for my Chargers.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Round up:

NC 108, NEC 97.  Sylvia got 19 and 10, Jaziri got 19, Evans got 16, Quinn got 14 with 5 assists.  Valle had 19 and 11 for NC, Wilcox got 18, Powers got 17, Paquin got 13, Foster had 11 and Riley had 10 with an amazing 11 assists.  NC is looking ready to play and  Endicott better be ready.  Six guys in double figures is a big deal.  They shot lights out and hit FTs.

EC beats Salve by 1, 68-67.  Grendal had 16, Goodridge had 14, Hazzard had 13, and Woodworth had 10.  EC was led by Burgos with 18, Sullivan, Whitelaw and Marinkovic each had 12.  EC hit the boards well to make up for poor three-point shooting.  Good win for them.

RWU beat Wheaton 83-73 in their final regular season game.  Bashaw had 25 to lead RWU and continue his late-season surge.  Billy Barrett had 20 with 5 assists and McGinn had 12.  RWU looks to be playing a little better this weekend.  They might not roll over to WIT.

Speaking of WIT, they go down to ENC 87-76.  Doyle and Gaine had 16, PBJ had 13 and Bynes had 10.  ENC was led by 23 from Ryan Seaberg, Christian Corey had 18, Jasmin had 13 with 6 assists and Duda and Carr had 10 a piece.  Only 7 turnovers and a ton of free throws wins in for ENC.  Maybe there is some hope for next year with a good off-season of work.

Curry crushes AMC 73-48.  DiTullio had 13 and Porcaro had 10 for AMC.  Curry got 21 from Tim Jones and 20 and 19 from Bowers.  Curry is looking strong right now and it should be a bruising game against CSC on Tuesday.

Gordon destroyed UNE 76-38.  Ouch.  Farynaz and Marriot had 10 each.  Stickney had 14 boards.  Herr had 15 for GC, Bajema had 14 and Deluca got 12.  GC's bench got a lot of minutes in this one.  They also appear to be ready for the playoffs.  Tuesday night will be awesome.

[BrianScalabrine]

NC 108, NEC 97.  Sylvia got 19 and 16, Jaziri got 19, Evans got 16, Quinn got 14 with 5 assists.  Valle had 19 and 11 for NC, Wilcox got 18, Powers got 17, Paquin got 13, Foster had 11 and Riley had 10 with an amazing 11 assists.  NC is looking ready to play and  Endicott better be ready.  Six guys in double figures is a big deal.  They shot lights out and hit FTs.

[akirk]

Awards are in:

First Team
Ryan Jaziri New England Col., Jr., G, Norwich, Conn.
Tim Jones Curry, Jr., G, Brookline, Mass.
Nemanja Marinkovic Endicott, Sr., F, Belgrade, Serbia
Jon Marstaller Gordon, Jr., F, Naples, Maine
Sherrad Prezzie-Blue Wentworth, Jr., G, Norwalk, Conn.

Second Team
William Barrett Roger Williams, So., G, Fairfield, Conn.
Todd Doyle Wenworth, So., G, Mystic, Conn.
Matt Grendal Salve Regina, Sr., F, Foxboro, Mass.
Jerry Logan Gordon, Sr., G, Marietta, Ga.
Chris Vallee Nichols, Jr., G, Fitchburg, Mass.

Honorable Mention
Chris Goodridge Salve Regina, Jr., G, Merrimack, N.H.
Luc Jasmin Eastern Nazarene, Jr., C, Pawtucket, R.I.
Ryan Murray Colby-Sawyer, So., F, Killingworth, Conn.
Isaac Stickney U. of New England, Jr., F, Rumford, Maine
Mike Sullivan Endicott, Sr., C, Marshfield, Mass.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sherrad Prezzie-Blue, Wentworth

CO-ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
Tyler Evans, New England Col. & Ryan Wilcox, Nichols

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jerry Logan, Gordon

SENIOR SCHOLAR ATHLETE
Jerry Logan, Gordon

COACH OF THE YEAR
Tom Devitt, Wentworth

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Eastern Nazarene


How does the DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR not make the first team?

[scout]

a couple of things....

the awards are pretty much on-target...
even for POY, it is warranted to have Prezzie-Blue as the recipient, especially for what he did for his team...
All-Conference teams were pretty solid... I agree with most of the picks...
Rookie(s) of the Year were my only qualms... While these guys are certainly worthy, I feel like Brady Bajema and Aaron Trigg would have been just as worthy... Bajema has been a solid contributor offensively over the second half of the season and Trigg has been, in my mind, the best overall freshman in the conference...
Still, solid picks overall...

But now it's on to the tourney...
I'm surprised at the lack of banter over the games this evening...
Hoops, what are your picks?

[dwebbs]

1. I still think Valle was first team caliber. Nichols was a preseason pick for no. 4 in the South with Justin Lewis, and Valle lead them to number 3 without Lewis. Does anybody want to defend Tim Jones?

2. Personally, I think Marikovic should have won POY. My own personal feelings about EC aside, Prezzie-Blue just doesn't play the defense to win top honors. He scores a ton and lead WIT to a successful seaon, but I think Marikovic was dominate all around, especially in conference play.

3. Someone said EC and WIT would split POY and COY. EC got shafted on both.

4. If Trigg and Baj were one player, they could have won ROY. Trigg was hot early, and Baj took over late, but neither of them had a solid full year, unlike Evans and Wilcox who got a starting role most of the year.

5. I still don't think Stickney belongs on there anywhere.

[Maq Diesel]

Gordon downs SRU 63-56.  Marstaller lead the way with 20 and 11 and then everyone that played for Gordon contributed nicely.  Gordon will go on to face WIT, who for the second time in 2 years knocked off RWU @ RWU in the playoffs.  WIT won 81-78 in overtime.  Should be interesting.  Curry downed CSC by about 20 and the wait the winner of Nichols and Endicott, still no score.

[Maq Diesel]

Endicott wins by 10, 67-57.  By the box score it looks like it was a sloppy game, but I can't say for sure without seeing it in person.  Also an interesting not I heard Brian Gaine sprained and ankle and is out for the playoffs, can anyone confirm?

WIT @ Gordon Thursday at 7:00
Endicott @ Curry

[dwebbs]

Also... I caught the end of the Endicott webcast, and they said Corbett went down early and didn't return. Which one of the Corbett apologists wants to update his status?

[gsmizzle23]

corbett is fine, he will be back in action on thursday....no worries

go GC

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Sorry guys, work picked a poor week to have a conference.  I should be back to normal by Friday, but for now, my internet hours are few and far between.

[anECfan]

Wow what a win from the Gulls.  I was in attendance and will try to give an ubiased opinion.  It was a very ugly win for the Gulls, but we'll take it.  The officials seemed to let everything go to a point in the first half, including some elbows down low, including one from Vallee on Corbett right in front of the official.  This seemed to take him out of his game.  However, Vallee kept fighting his way to the basket and coming up short and not scoring in the first half.  He finished with 8 points I believe, with a three and a lay up or something in the final minute of garbage time. Not bad.  Joey Burgos has finally decided to play some serious D. He shut down Logan of Gordon, and tonight he decided to D up Vallee and gave him some serious trouble.  Vallee looked annoyed that he was unable to get a shot off against the athleticism and height of Burgos.  I love to see this coming from the young guy!

Also at one point in the second half the foul situation looked like this. Endicott 9, Nichols 1.  The officials seemed to be letting things go for Nichols, but calling Endicott for touchy fouls, including one in which Burton posted a kid up and the kid fell down, and one where Sully was boxing someone out and this person also fell down. Can you say weightroooooom? This made it very interesting for Nichols down the stretch, when in order to keep time on the clock and foul, they only had 3 fouls or so and had to foul a bunch of times to get EC to the line.Oh well, it's a win.  It looks to be a challenging night thursday at Curry for the Gulls, and I hope to make the trip and be able to post about it when I get back. I'll keep you updated.