MBB: Conference of New England

[backboard]

And Wentworth by 5

[high flyer 21]

Gordon is the better team.  They're playing at home.  I pick GC.  Even if the game is close, which it may be, it's tough pick against GC if you're looking at it rationally.  That being said, an upset wouldn't really surprise me.  The only thing that would be a surprise is a 15+ point CSC victory.

A surpise 15+ point CSC victory isn't too big of a surprise for me considering Colby-Sawyer beat Gordon's by 16 in 2006 when Gordon was 15-1.  And to respond to number1chargerfan, I agree with you that Gordon has a postseason curse no matter what way you look at it.  Every year they're at the top of the conference but find a way to lose in the semifinals (past 4 years).  I think Gordon's finally got it this year though. Gordon by ?

[backboard]

On a side note, congrats to Coach Malcolm Wynn for earing his 100th victory as Curry's coach in Tuesday's win over UNE.  The CCC is a better league with him coaching here.

[Sideline Fan]

Long-time, first-time. Couldn't resist chiming in on the GC-CSC matchup.

I do not like the Gordon draw (EC-->CSC-->Finals WIT/CC). The records might not reflect it, but I think this presents the most challenging path to the championship for Gordon. That being said, you play the hand you are dealt. Gordon established during the regular season that they are the best team in the conference this year.

The Endicott game was a big win and very encouraging for the rest of the tournament because they broke the Gulls will. That team, while not as talented as the Plansky era teams, still had Montrod and Whitelaw among others. Gordon is by far the best team in the CCC this year in my opinion. (I believe the regular season established this pretty well.) However, the regular season in the CCC only gets you seeding for the 3 games that matter for the NCAA Tournament. The EC game demonstrated the Fighting Scots recognize they have to play like the best team.

The Colby-Sawyer matchup brings back memories of 2005-2006. It's a dangerous team, a very dangerous team. The Chargers just handled Nichols at home. However, as is often the case in New London, the Chargers are much more dangerous at home (8-3 home, 5-6 road). They enter the game having won 4 of their last 5, but 4 of those games were at home. (Incidentally, the lone loss in that span happened at home to Wentworth.) Colby-Sawyer also has a very talented group of seniors playing with a sense of urgency. Chaloux is legit. Not Andrew St. Clair (who is?), but easily one of the best players in the CCC this year. Foti is one of, if not the, best coaches in the league (in any year) and always very good in a one-game scenario.

In the regular season matchup, Trigg and Bajema were indeed below their typical performance. I look for that duo to be solid and the frontcourt (Gaskill, Derr, Walker, and Dempsey) to play well. Gordon shot just 21.4% (3-14) from 3-pt. range compared to 50% (9-18) by the Chargers. (Note: This created an 18-point scoring differential in favor of the Chargers, who won by 11.) I expect the Gordon percentage to improve and Colby-Sawyer's to come down, at least a little bit. Gordon outrebounded Colby-Sawyer 44-33 as well (31-22 on defensive rebounds, 13-12 on offensive). I look for the rebounding to possibly be tighter, but still go in Gordon's favor. If Gordon controls the boards and the team's perform equally (35%-40%) in 3-pt. shooting, Gordon wins.

Gordon stands at No. 8 in New England in the latest regional rankings. This is actually lower than the 2005-2006 regional ranking for the Fighting Scots.There is no chance for an at-large bid. The committee will take 3 NESCAC teams before them. It's win the CCC or your season is over for them.

All that being said, apparently everyone is offering predictions for tonight.
GC by 8 (in the range of 72-64)
WIT by 4 (in the range of 80-76)

[Word Life]

I might blow my head off if i hear another comparison to the Colby Sawyer team of 2006.  That Colby Sawyer team was far superior to this years team...not to knock what this years team has done.  Also, that was a senior heavy team with one of the best players this conference has ever seen against a younger Gordon squad.  This year Gordon has the senior heavy team, and they know what it takes to win at this stage of the year. 
And the fact Gordon lost to CSC earlier in the year doesn't really concern me seein as the game was played at CSC where they are an extremely tough team to beat...no matter how good or bad their team is.  Gordon has a deeper, more talented team.  There two best players can both shoot the lights out, and last time I checked shooters shoot pretty well at home...going to be much tougher to contain them playing at Gordon.
Foti is the best coach in the conference though, Gordon by 8.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm just going to chime in with this:

We love new posters on this board.  We want lots of people weighing in.  But if you're gonna show up a day or two before the semi-finals and then disappear five days later, you're not contributing much.

Obviously people are worked up for their teams and want to make points about strengths and weaknesses.  The problem is that its tough to judge the rationality and acumen of posters with no history.

CSC fans like CSC and Gordon fans like Gordon.  Big news.

Create a track record then start fighting with each other.

[Word Life]

Wow Hoops.  Directed at me???  I understand your point though, I did actually post the entire 2008-2009 season.  Not in front of a computer much any more.  Having played 4 years in the league, I more wanted to stand up for that Colby Sawyer team than anything.

[scout]

Moving onward, Gordon is the only game we can watch tonight.

Curry does have live stats.

www.gordon.edu/athletics

Click on the 'Watch Live' link on the left hand side.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Wow Hoops.  Directed at me???  I understand your point though, I did actually post the entire 2008-2009 season.  Not in front of a computer much any more.  Having played 4 years in the league, I more wanted to stand up for that Colby Sawyer team than anything.

I suppose its directed towards whoever feels as if it describes them, but no one in particular.  I just get fed up with the board getting crowded with smack talk five days a year, drowning out most of any real information.

We can move on; there's two games going right now.  Both games are close in first half.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Gordon is playing no defense, but the refs are helping them out, calling the game pretty tightly.  CSC wants to be more physical, probably a good tactic - we'll see if the refs loosen things up in the second half.

Curry's up 33-20 with 2 minutes to go in the first half.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Curry's up 11 at the half.  Both teams shooting poorly.  WIT has 14 turnovers to Curry's 3.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

GC by 5 at the half.  This Gordon team is not going to win any NCAA games if they get that far.  Too much difference from Tuesday to today.  Any tournament team with even a little scouting will be able figure things out.  My take: a slightly oversized fish in a small pond this year.

[backboard]

Curry completely dominating at the half, up 11. Wentworth is playing right into their hands.  The Curry zone is very active and are feeding off of turnovers

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I do have to give Gordon props on their video feed.  It's fantastic.  I've tried to watch some other games this week with mixed results.  I can't even get the Bridgewater State game to come in for more than three seconds without buffering.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Curry's now up 16 with 14 minutes to go.  They're shooting better and taking care of the ball.  CC seems to be playing the best ball of the four teams going tonight.