MBB: Conference of New England

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

ENC took down Curry tonight - perhaps taking courage from their highlight on d3hoops.com this week.

UNE somehow took out Endicott at EC. 

Nichols snuck by Salve.  Three road wins in three games tonight.


CC    7-1
ENC  6-2
GC    5-3
WIT  5-3
NC    4-4
SRU  4-4
WNE 3-5
EC    2-6
RWU 2-6
UNE 2-6

[Chantastic]

I have no idea who is going to win this league.

Curry still seems like the favorite - well coached, veteran, good core - but they are by no means unbeatable.

Is Endicott done?

What team has the most upside at this point ...i.e. whose best game would be the best?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It's going to be hard for EC to come back from 2-6, not impossible, but if they don't get Magee back (I still have no idea whether its grades or injury or if he's even going to come back) there's no chance they win, at least based on performance so far.

Salve seems to have peaked already.  They were winning games early they probably shouldn't have won.  Pringle isn't going to be able to put them on his back the whole season.  He's already playing well about reasonable expectation.

Nichols has the offensive talent, but has repeatedly shown they won't defend anybody.

WIT died, apparently.  They were a really solid, disciplined team, but they're not getting results.

Curry is not as good as they were with Stephens (no idea if he's coming back either), but I think they're still the best team.

I didn't think ENC was a contender, but if they can beat Curry at Curry, they at least have a shot.

Of course, they didn't look great against Gordon.  It seems like Dempsey has Ezeigbo's number and GC is playing much better currently, but by no means great.

That's seven teams I could see winning - and we forget, they're only 8 games into an 18 game conference schedule.  Things will get crazier before they get clearer, I suspect.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Gordon beat up on Nichols pretty good.  Sheehan only had 9 points.  Hans Miersma is starting to come on for GC now.  He's begun to have the kinds of scoring nights he showed last season.  Added to his defense, that will help immeasurably.  They might be playing the best ball right now.

ENC is up 8 on EC at the half.

UNE is up on WNE at the half.

Curry has almost doubled up WIT 27-15, still early in the first half.

Battle of RI is tied at 31 just two minutes to go in the first half.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

ENC topped EC by 18 or so. 

UNE - WNE are deadlocked with 4 to play.

Curry's up 12 on WIT with 6 to play.

RWU and SRU are even with 2 to play (Pringle is 1-10 on the day so far).

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Salve pulls it out 71-69, RWU missed the last shot.

Curry's up 13 with 20 seconds to play at WIT, that one's over.

WNE 62, UNE 60, in OT.

At the halfway point in the conference schedule:

CC  8-1
ENC 7-2
GC  6-3
SRU 5-4
WIT 5-4
WNE 4-5
NC   4-5
UNE 2-7
EC  2-7
RWU 2-7

Those tiebreakers are correct thus far (SRU beat WIT head to head, WNE beat NC head to head, and UNE beat Gordon, breaking the three way tie, EC over RWU head to head).

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Just noticed ENC is going to UMPI for a game Monday.  Not sure who decided an 800 mile round trip would be a good move for an off-day from conference play, but I do not envy them.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Also, it seems as though Magee played for Endicott today.  It didn't help them much, but he should be an asset moving forward.  For a team currently outside the playoff picture, it's a good sign.

Chima Ezeigbo went out of the game four minutes in - he lost a tooth.  He'll miss the UMPI game on Monday.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

ENC managed to overcome the drive and the absence of Ezeigbo and won at UMPI 70-68.

WNE is hosting Lyndon State tonight.

[Chantastic]

Gordon is starting to make a strong move and has won 10 of 11.  This Saturday's game in Milton should give us a solid idea of where this conference is headed.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

So I take off for two days and all hell breaks loose:

Nichols beats Curry, ENC loses to Roger Williams.

Craziness.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

ENC, not yet back to full strength, lost at home to Wentworth, 71-74.

Curry beats Gordon. 

The other three coming down to the wire.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Nichols over WNE.

EC comes from behind over RWU.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

UNE managed to beat Salve - that leaves us:


Curry  9-2
Gordon 7-4
WIT     7-4
ENC     7-4
Nichols 6-5
Salve   6-5
WNE    4-7
Endicott 3-8
RWU      3-8
UNE      3-8

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

We have a ton of big games tonight.  Outside of Curry, every team needs to win tonight.

ENC hosts Nichols.  ENC badly wants a home playoff game.  This is one game they need to win to help that cause.

EC hosts WIT.  EC is struggling and WIT needs to prove they're in the top tier.

UNE is fighting for the last playoff spot and hosts a Curry squad with a two game lead.  Best chance to take the lead in a three-way tiebreaker is winning this game.

WNE hosts Salve.  A WNE win brings them only 1 game from the #6 spot (possibly #5).

RWU, on a tear of late (if you can call 3-8 a tear), hosts Gordon.  Both teams want to distance themselves from the teams with which they're tied right now.