MBB: Conference of New England

[jackson5]

That is not completely true RE: Nichols. Yes in the past they won just by out scoring their opponents and not caring about defense. But this year they are different. They are only allowing 64 points a conference game this year. And even in their loss, Salve only scored 73, it's not like they are giving up 80 points a game and only winning because they scored 90 like they were last year. If anything you should be more concerned about Endicott and their lack of defense. Heck even WIT put up 77 against Endicott this year.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

That is not completely true RE: Nichols. Yes in the past they won just by out scoring their opponents and not caring about defense. But this year they are different. They are only allowing 64 points a conference game this year. And even in their loss, Salve only scored 73, it's not like they are giving up 80 points a game and only winning because they scored 90 like they were last year. If anything you should be more concerned about Endicott and their lack of defense. Heck even WIT put up 77 against Endicott this year.

I don't trust Endicott either.  They're the most erratic team we've had in the conference in the fifteen years I've been following.

Without Hanlon there's not a team in the league I'd give better than 50% chance to win a big game.  That's what makes it fun!

[jackson5]

That is not completely true RE: Nichols. Yes in the past they won just by out scoring their opponents and not caring about defense. But this year they are different. They are only allowing 64 points a conference game this year. And even in their loss, Salve only scored 73, it's not like they are giving up 80 points a game and only winning because they scored 90 like they were last year. If anything you should be more concerned about Endicott and their lack of defense. Heck even WIT put up 77 against Endicott this year.

I don't trust Endicott either.  They're the most erratic team we've had in the conference in the fifteen years I've been following.

Without Hanlon there's not a team in the league I'd give better than 50% chance to win a big game.  That's what makes it fun!

What is making it more fun is the fact that even though 6 of the teams essentially have a tournament bid set in stone, we have 6 that are fighting for 3 home game seeds, Nichols being the only one who has a home game set. That'll keep every game except for those against UNE being big games all season long.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

That is not completely true RE: Nichols. Yes in the past they won just by out scoring their opponents and not caring about defense. But this year they are different. They are only allowing 64 points a conference game this year. And even in their loss, Salve only scored 73, it's not like they are giving up 80 points a game and only winning because they scored 90 like they were last year. If anything you should be more concerned about Endicott and their lack of defense. Heck even WIT put up 77 against Endicott this year.

I don't trust Endicott either.  They're the most erratic team we've had in the conference in the fifteen years I've been following.

Without Hanlon there's not a team in the league I'd give better than 50% chance to win a big game.  That's what makes it fun!

What is making it more fun is the fact that even though 6 of the teams essentially have a tournament bid set in stone, we have 6 that are fighting for 3 home game seeds, Nichols being the only one who has a home game set. That'll keep every game except for those against UNE being big games all season long.

Nothing is set yet.  We're barely halfway through the conference schedule.  Nichols could lose four in a row out of nowhere.  It happens all the time, especially in a down year like this one, where no one in the conference is really a great team.

[warriorcat]

And that is what is great about this season, "On any given night ..."

[jackson5]

That is not completely true RE: Nichols. Yes in the past they won just by out scoring their opponents and not caring about defense. But this year they are different. They are only allowing 64 points a conference game this year. And even in their loss, Salve only scored 73, it's not like they are giving up 80 points a game and only winning because they scored 90 like they were last year. If anything you should be more concerned about Endicott and their lack of defense. Heck even WIT put up 77 against Endicott this year.

I don't trust Endicott either.  They're the most erratic team we've had in the conference in the fifteen years I've been following.

Without Hanlon there's not a team in the league I'd give better than 50% chance to win a big game.  That's what makes it fun!

What is making it more fun is the fact that even though 6 of the teams essentially have a tournament bid set in stone, we have 6 that are fighting for 3 home game seeds, Nichols being the only one who has a home game set. That'll keep every game except for those against UNE being big games all season long.

Nothing is set yet.  We're barely halfway through the conference schedule.  Nichols could lose four in a row out of nowhere.  It happens all the time, especially in a down year like this one, where no one in the conference is really a great team.

Even if Nichols went 4-5 the rest of the way out, which will be tough with UNE, Curry and Wentworth all at home, Eastern Naz would still have to go 7-2 the rest of the way out to pass them and knock them out of the top 4. I don't see that happening.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

That is not completely true RE: Nichols. Yes in the past they won just by out scoring their opponents and not caring about defense. But this year they are different. They are only allowing 64 points a conference game this year. And even in their loss, Salve only scored 73, it's not like they are giving up 80 points a game and only winning because they scored 90 like they were last year. If anything you should be more concerned about Endicott and their lack of defense. Heck even WIT put up 77 against Endicott this year.

I don't trust Endicott either.  They're the most erratic team we've had in the conference in the fifteen years I've been following.

Without Hanlon there's not a team in the league I'd give better than 50% chance to win a big game.  That's what makes it fun!

What is making it more fun is the fact that even though 6 of the teams essentially have a tournament bid set in stone, we have 6 that are fighting for 3 home game seeds, Nichols being the only one who has a home game set. That'll keep every game except for those against UNE being big games all season long.

Nothing is set yet.  We're barely halfway through the conference schedule.  Nichols could lose four in a row out of nowhere.  It happens all the time, especially in a down year like this one, where no one in the conference is really a great team.

Even if Nichols went 4-5 the rest of the way out, which will be tough with UNE, Curry and Wentworth all at home, Eastern Naz would still have to go 7-2 the rest of the way out to pass them and knock them out of the top 4. I don't see that happening.

Oh, I agree its unlikely, I've just learned over the years that likelihood doesn't really matter in the CCC.  Nichols and ENC play each other to make up the snowed out game; if ENC wins that, they're only two games apart.  Not a done deal.  Not likely.  In fact, I don't see how it will be possible even if ENC beats Nichols.

But if there's one thing I've learned with the CCC it's that nothing is guaranteed (unless you have Andy St. Clair).

[warriorcat]

Wentworth 80   Salve Regina 66

Good second half by Wentworth taking a four point halftime lead and turning it into a comfortable road win.  Good three point shooting by Wentworth who were consistently the better team tonight.   Salve played hard but they did not have the horses to compete.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

ENC handles UNE

WNEC gets another win - by 13 at Curry.

Gordon wins at Endicott

Nichols up 10 win two to play - big halftime lead, just trying to hang on

[jackson5]

Saw the second half of the Endicott-Gordon game, next crowd there.  Endicott had a chance to win with 5 seconds left, they got Gordon to miss the 2nd foul shot, got the rebound only to have it be poked away and go back to Gordon after a toss around. Gordon then made the free throws to go up 5.

It's not a good night for Roger Williams, WNE and Curry's shot at a home game in the tournament. Two of them lost, and even though WNE won their odds went down significantly with Gordon winning. Now with just 7 games left they have to make up a 3 game deficit, or 4 games in Curry's case.

On the flip side, we now have 5 teams that are within a game of each other for the 2-6 seeds. It's very possible that we could go into the final week with a team not sure if they are going to be a 2 seed or a 6 s

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Saw the second half of the Endicott-Gordon game, next crowd there.  Endicott had a chance to win with 5 seconds left, they got Gordon to miss the 2nd foul shot, got the rebound only to have it be poked away and go back to Gordon after a toss around. Gordon then made the free throws to go up 5.

It's not a good night for Roger Williams, WNE and Curry's shot at a home game in the tournament. Two of them lost, and even though WNE won their odds went down significantly with Gordon winning. Now with just 7 games left they have to make up a 3 game deficit, or 4 games in Curry's case.

On the flip side, we now have 5 teams that are within a game of each other for the 2-6 seeds. It's very possible that we could go into the final week with a team not sure if they are going to be a 2 seed or a 6 s

We had a five way tie one year.  If not for a freak upset in the last game of the season, there would have been the unheard of scenario of a four-way coin flip.  I'm not even sure the logistics of such a thing.  Alas, we never found out.

Maybe this year.

[jackson5]

WIT vs Gordon, Nichols vs Salve, Eastern Naz vs Curry tomorrow. Very good chance we'll be up to 4 teams with 7 wins, and 1 more with 8 after tomorrow.  Then Roger Williams vs WNE, winner looking at a possible two game cushion away from Curry for the 8th seed.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Nichols now up 3 in the loss column with seven to play (six for everyone, but NC and ENC).  They're looking pretty solid.  I may have to finally admit they put it all together.  I'm gad it happened before Sheehan graduated, he's had an impressive career and deserve a chance at the tournament.

Any word on Hanlon's injury.  Is he expected back this season?  That will make a huge difference for the tournament.

[warriorcat]

Still unknown if he will return.  I feel bad for Hanlon after he spent the entire year at the end of the bench at Bentley ( one minute of play).
Salve has struggled mightily in his absence to the point that you feel he could have been the difference in a few of the games.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Still unknown if he will return.  I feel bad for Hanlon after he spent the entire year at the end of the bench at Bentley ( one minute of play).
Salve has struggled mightily in his absence to the point that you feel he could have been the difference in a few of the games.

If both he and Pringle come back next year, that is going to be one dangerous squad.

The injury does, it seems, all but give the POY award to Sheehan, though.  He's been among the best defensive players in the conference all four years.  With Hanlon out and Magee starting slow, there just doesn't seem to be any other candidates.