MBB: Conference of New England

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

conference play is finally getting under way and we'll begin to see who will be the movers and shakers this season...

I don't want to disparage you.  I'm really just saying this because it struck me as funny, not to make fun.  But this statement was made below a list of games from which only one was a conference game.

[scout]

you got me...

i guess i was paying a little too much attention to the fact that i was planning on being at the regis - gordon game...

which, by the way, was an ugly game with virtually no flow for either side...
don't let the final score (81-60) fool you into thinking it was a game completely controlled by gordon...
while gc certainly had the advantage both in height and talent, the game featured a high number of fouls and turnovers...
phil alibrandi of regis actually posted a double-double... of course 9 of those points came from the free throw line...

it wasn't until 10 minutes into the second half that gc found some semblance of rhythm offensively...
a lot of this could be attributed to the referees calling FORTY FIVE fouls during the span...

in the other games...

Salve Regina      65   Worcester St.      71
Endicott      56      Bridgewater St.      65

and at this time, the other results have not been posted yet...

i'll be sure to look more closely at things in the future...
thanks for catching that, Hoops...

[akirk]

The refs at the Gordon-Regis game last night have to be the worst crew I have ever seen in the nine years I have been following Gordon.  GC is lucky they finally took control.  Regis looks nervous with the ball.  They picked up their dribble way to soon consistently and only two players looked like they wanted to take it to the hoop.  The major reason being the entire team are freshman except one soph and one junior.  I hope Gordon can play a lot better this Saturday when Wentworth comes to the Bennet Center.

[broke_ya_ankles]

is anyone else at least somewhat impressed with Regis this year?  For a program in their first year ever being 6-7 through the first 13 games of the season is very impressive, I  havent had a chance to see them play although they must be doing something well to be .500 heading into conference play, now given they are likely to finish the season under .500 what they have done to this point is quite impressive.  their only win that jumps out is their 1 point victory over Fitchburg state the rest are over some pretty terrible teams, but if they can pull out 4 or 5 conference wins somehow to muster up 10 wins in an inagural season that deserves some credit....

[scout]

broke_ya: am i surprised? quite... i have had conversations with numerous people from various institutions in the ccc and they were surprised that regis jumped right into the ccc... it's quite usual for a brand new program to have a probationary year before entering into a conference... i'm not entirely sure if it was regis who made their case strong enough to be allowed in, or whether because of the expanse of the conference, the conference needed another school to make the numbers work...

either way, regis has certainly started off well... as well as a new program could... watching them last night, they certainly didn't look stellar and it was obvious that they focused their play to one or two of their better players, but it certainly looked like they at least belonged... offensively, they have a mixed bunch of role players and one or two guys with a decent jumper... again, i'm not going to get carried away labeling them as a contender, but clearly the coach and the team have done well enough to win almost half their games...

on a side note...

New England Col.  72      Wheelock  62
Western New Eng. 50      Westfield St. 55
Mass.-Dartmouth  67      Roger Williams 60

[backboard]

Some great match-ups for tomorrows games.

Nichols at Roger Williams
UNE at NEC
Wentworth at Gordon
Colby-Sawyer at Regis
Endicott at Eastern Naz
Anna Maria at Salve
Curry at WNEC

The Gordon-Wentworth game might be the best game to watch.  It's a re-match of last years semi-final game in Gordon where Wentworth pulled off the upset on route to their championship.  I'm sure Gordon will come out firing and play with intense energy.  Wentworth is finally healthy but haven't had much time to play together this year.  Gordon on the other hand seems to be in mid-season form and looking strong already.

It'll also be interesting how the Curry-WNEC game plays out.  Both teams are strong and we still don't know much about WNEC.  I've only seen them play once and they look formidable and play well as a team.  Curry as we all know is led by Tim Jones who appears to score at will and Bowers who is always a tough match-up.  WNEC has played some good competition this year (Amherst, RIC) so it should be a good game.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Regis has been in the conference for a while in women's sports, so it's not like they're entirely jumping in new.  This is the first year they're fielding a men's team.  From everything I've heard, they would have been allowed in this season with no problem had they made the decision before the conference schedule had been completed.

Initially this was going to be a probationary year for men's basketball, but they managed to schedule a game with every team in the conference, so they decided to make them all official.  It seems to have worked out for everyone.

[scout]

gordon down WIT 81-67. after beginning the game with a 10-0 run, WIT went into halftime with a five point lead. aaron trigg and gordon came back in the second half to pull away with the win. trigg had 25 second half points, notching 32 altogether.

prezzie-blue was guarded extremely well by justin kauffman, being held to 3 points on 1-9 shooting. west and doyle were the only two leopard players in double digits.

marstaller and bajema both chipped in 13 points.

gordon's offense was shut down for most of the first half. with a hot hand and better execution, they battled back and pulled away with an impressive win against a talent wentworth team.

p.s. i don't know how long it would take, but i can't remember the last time a gordon player scored 30 points in a game... i'm sure it's been done, but not within the past 5 years... at least, that's my guess...

[dwebbs]

1/8/05: Sir Michael Herr put up 31 vs. ENC.

Truth be told though, this was a big game for someone to score 30. PB did it last year in this late developing rivalry. But for Trigg to miss only a three and a free -- he stepped up in a big way for the Scots today.

Also, WNEC beating Curry by only four. I know a lot was said about them coming into this year, but I guess this shows they're not going to come into the TCCC and blow everyone out.

[broke_ya_ankles]

I'm rather surprised WNEC hasnt made a bit more noise to this point in the season however they are 7-5 and have won all the games they would be "supposed" to win they just havent been able to steal one that they werent "supposed" to win.  Their 5 loses are against:  Amherst, Rhode Island College, Keene State, MIT, and Westfield State.  I'm expecting WNEC to give everyone in TCCC a game and finish as high as 2nd or 3rd in  TCCC.  I can definitely see them finishing the season 17-8 overall and 11-2 in conference play as they have a very favorable schedule from here on out (Gordon, WIT, and Tufts being their tough games)

[dwebbs]

Different.

First, WNEC's loss to Westfield St. doesn't rub me as a game they were supposed to lose (the other ones, I agree with). But when Westfield St. played Gordon, they were impressive, but not awe inspiring. WNEC should have been able to go on the road and win that game.

But I do agree that they can rattle off a good conference record. WNEC's conference games on the road are Salve, Nichols, ENC, NEC, Anna Maria, and then finally have a challenge up at Colby Sawyer. They definitely have an advantage. We'll know more in the coming week though after they play Roger, WIT and Endicott.

[CCC Talk]

The way WNEC plays they're really not going to "blow everyone out" they play a slow tempo grinding kind of game where they will win a lot of games by 7,10, etc.

WIT has to be disapointed with their performance in Gordon, you can't give up an offensive half like that to a team that isn't the Gordon of old.

I'd have to rank the balance of power as 1. WNEC 2. Gordon 3. Wentworth right now probably

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

ENC lost to EC by a bunch, but they have Luc Jasmin back in the starting line up.  He played 28 minutes and they seem to be working him back in.  Depending on how well he's healed, this could have an impact on the bottom of the pile.  All of those teams at the bottom of the pack should be good enough to get the 8 seed, although only one of them can.  Even Regis and AMC can put up good games at times.  Nichols gave RWU a game yesterday.  I think TCCC will be exciting from top to bottom.  I don't see anyone running away with anything.

[broke_ya_ankles]

I can see Gordon finishing conference play with only one loss or maybe even zero going into the postseason with the top seed in rather convincing fashion, It really looks like they have hit their stride and appear to have a very favorable schedule from here on out, the battle i think will be for the 2-5 spots with any number of teams capable of finishing 2nd.  I think that UNE could surprise a lot of people this season as they are 1-0 (be it a victory over NEC but it was by 25) and they played Wentworth earlier in the season and lost by only 3... 
without question TCCC appears to be as competitive as anyone can recall in recent memory there isnt the dominant colby-sawyer or endicott teams like in years past but unfortunately that appears to be due to the drop off of top teams as opposed to the rising of the basement

[backboard]

The only reason UNE lost by only 3 to Wentworth is because Todd Doyle did not play in that game.  He's good for another 15 points at least.  Gordon could possibly be the most overrated team in recent years, constantly making so much noise in the regular season and constantly coming up empty in the playoffs.  I'm more than willing to say that they look better this year than previous, but it's hard to expect anything from them in the playoffs.  Endicott certainly matches up well against them as well as WNEC.  Both games are on the road (although Endicott isn't far).  I agree that the CCC appears to very competitive this year.  Hopefully the conference winner can win one after March 1st.