MBB: Conference of New England

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I know you probably have stock language to keep these easier to make, but the CCC does every round at higher seeds, so the "remaining" part isn't necessary.  Everyone gets it, I'm sure, but I know there are a lot of conferences who do a final four at one site - this just isn't one of them.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

ENC @ Endicott

WIT @ Nichols

[AllStar]

[AllStar]

I know you probably have stock language to keep these easier to make, but the CCC does every round at higher seeds, so the "remaining" part isn't necessary.  Everyone gets it, I'm sure, but I know there are a lot of conferences who do a final four at one site - this just isn't one of them.

Thank you very much!  These are my own.    But that's what you get when you copy and paste!  I only started posting images a few weeks ago, mostly on the Little East and SUNYAC, but I am spreading the wealth now.   

[D3ball1845]

Called all of the quarterfinal games pretty close. Nichols and Endicott dominated their opening round games. ENC avenged their opening round upset loss last year against RWU. RWU had the jitters from the opening tip and a nearly perfect first half from ENCs Christian Lynch (23 points) put the Lions up by 2 at half time. RWU came out flat after the half and put themselves in a hole by 11 points with less than 10 minutes remaining. They climbed back into the game behind the largest crowd I have ever seen at a RWU basketball game in two years, but could not hit the big shots they typically make and lost 83-78. Unfortunately, we will not get to see a rematch of the 2016 CCC Championship game with RWU vs. Endicott in this years semifinals. As predicted, Wentworth came out with the slim victory at Gordon in a physical, and gritty battle. So, the semi-finals are set...predictions for tonight?

#1 Nichols vs. #5 Wentworth Institute of Technology, 7:00 PM
These two teams split the regular season series with both teams winning at home. The most recent game (@ Wentworth) was dominated by the home team. Apparently, they did not play their Syracuse-esque 1-3-1 zone that they are known for in this game. For Nichols, the POY Ecchevaria struggled mightily in this one, which resulted in a 71-55 loss. In the four out of the five losses for Nichols this year, they have scored under 80 points. They have averaged 91 ppg this season. If the trio of guards for Nichols are all on in this matchup tonight we could see a big victory by Nichols. But, I foresee one or two of their guards struggling from the field tonight. It will be interesting to see who WITs Knollmeyer (Defensive POY) defends in tonights game if they indeed run a man defense again. I could see him guarding Ecchevaria, which would put more pressure on the two freshmen Nichols guards (Bruton and Dion). If Wentworth can execute on offense and contain the Nichols guards I do think we could see an upset in the making. Prediction: Nichols 82 Wentworth 75.


#2 Endicott vs. #6 Eastern Nazarene, 7:00 PM
Endicott took the season series 2-0, albeit only by an average of 8.5 points in the victories. I do not think that ENC will present much of a challenge for Endicott at home. Endicott is peaking at the right time, winners of their last 9 of 10, with their blowout win in the first round against Salve, 110-64, demonstrating just this. Look for Motroni and Walker to have big games offensively in this one. I expect to see Endicott's Stephen Basden to matchup with ENCs Christian Lynch on defense in this one. The only chance I see ENC making this a somewhat competitive game is if both Lynch and Doran light it up from the field. However, even if this was the case, Endicott still has too much experience and depth on the bench for ENC to pull off an upset. If Endicott comes out on fire from deep look for this to be another blowout victory. Prediction: Endicott 87 Eastern Nazarene 64.

[AllStar]

[AllStar]

[D3ball1845]

2 BIDS!!! Glad the CCC is finally getting some recognition. Endicott and Nichols were selected for the NCAA tournament and were both placed within in the same region of the bracket! A potential second round rematch of the CCC championship game could be in the making! Hopefully, this is a sign of good things to come for the CCC in the upcoming years! Will have predictions for both the Endicott and Nichols first round games in the next day or two.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

2 BIDS!!! Glad the CCC is finally getting some recognition. Endicott and Nichols were selected for the NCAA tournament and were both placed within in the same region of the bracket! A potential second round rematch of the CCC championship game could be in the making! Hopefully, this is a sign of good things to come for the CCC in the upcoming years! Will have predictions for both the Endicott and Nichols first round games in the next day or two.

Endicott got rewarded for playing about as tough a schedule as any CCC could manage.  A win over Middlebury got them in.  Without it, they probably didn't stand a chance.

However, if you listened to the Hoopsville interview with the committee chair, he basically said they got put in the same pod because they're not that good.  Moving Oswego or ECSU would've made the pod too tough (or another pod too weak).

They'll have to prove themselves.  Nichols can absolutely beat Neumann - that's a paper record for them.  I saw Neumann in person earlier this year and while they have all the talent in the world, they weren't very disciplined and they didn't play hard the whole game.  Overconfidence could kill them - not to mention spotty defense against a team with two 20ppg scorers.  I would expect one or both teams to break 100, though.  Everybody likes to run in this one.

Endicott has the much, much tougher matchup - mostly because Salisbury has really good bigs, lots of experience, and a really high quality perimeter defense.  Walker will be hard pressed to get shots off against these long arms.  Not a lot of depth for Salisbury, though, especially with ball handlers, so if EC can jump on them in the back court and drive the lane to draw fouls, they've got a prayer.  I'm not picking them, though.

[D3ball1845]

Obviously my knowledge about the Division 3 basketball is pretty much limited to the CCC. I will obviously have to do some research on Neumann and Salisbury before I can make any predictions. At this point, I'd have to agree that Endicott has drawn a very tough match and Nichols is the more likely of the two to come out of the first round with a victory. I highly doubt my predictions will be as accurate as the ones I provided for the CCC tournament 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Obviously my knowledge about the Division 3 basketball is pretty much limited to the CCC. I will obviously have to do some research on Neumann and Salisbury before I can make any predictions. At this point, I'd have to agree that Endicott has drawn a very tough match and Nichols is the more likely of the two to come out of the first round with a victory. I highly doubt my predictions will be as accurate as the ones I provided for the CCC tournament 

Keep at it.  I went to a CCC school and started out in that room, too - back in January of 2000 - it's all about getting a handle on your conference, then your region, then you can begin to figure out some of the national conversations.  You just need reps.

[northeasthoopfan]

Wow! The league has to be ecstatic about tonight's results. Huge congratulations to Endicott and Nichols getting wins against really good teams tonight. Either way you slice it, there will be a CCC team in the sweet 16! Should be a good one tomorrow.

[Falcons 25]

Kudos to the CCC! Way to go ENDICOTT & NICHOLS from your GNAC supporters, especially at ALBERTUS MAGNUS COLLEGE!

[D3ball1845]

Wasn't able to make my detailed predictions yesterday before the games, but boy am I happy with the results of the games. CCC showing up in the NCAAs and both getting the upset wins in the first round. I am beyond ecstatic that Endicott and Nichols pulled these close games out and maybe just maybe turned some heads about the CCC in general. It's a bitter sweet moment that these two teams will meet today in the second round. It is a game that I would love to be at in person because I know it's going to be an intense CCC championship rematch that comes down to the closing minutes once again. We can officially say we will have one team moving on to the Sweet 16....not sure when the last time that has been accomplished? Predictions about the game tonight are below.

Endicott vs Nichols (03/04/2017, 7:00 PM)

This is such a great matchup. We are going to experience a tournament game to advance to the Sweet 16 between to opponents that have already played each other three times this year. I cannot wait too see the intensity and effort that will be put into this game by both teams. The most recent matchup, the CCC tournament championship, POY Marcos Echevarria pretty much willed his team to the championship win with 8 points in the finals two minutes to complete a comeback where Nichols was down 7 with 1:41 remaining in the game. There is no doubt that vengeance will be on the mind of the Gulls today. For the Gulls to pull this one off they are going to have to keep the 'Small 3' (Echevarria, Bruton, and Dion) in check. They did so for a majority of the game until the final minutes. Echevarria has been struggling the past few games. It's only a matter of time before he gets hot and has a huge game. Will that be tonight though? I don't think so. Bruton has done a good job of stepping up when Echevarria isn't knocking down his threes. The only way I see this being a game where the outcome is separated by more than 10 points is if Echevarria does have a game where he scored 35+. I wasn't able to watch the CCC championship so I don't know how the Gulls defended their guards throughout the game. They will also have to control Jerome Cunningham on the glass. Offensively for Endicott, I see Kamahl Walker having a big game. Additionally, Endicott needs to see some production from their big, Daquan Sampson. If he can get involved in the offense and show some aggression on the boards I think Endicott stands more than a good chance. Max Motroni continues to play well and if Endicott's shooters on the bench find a way to hit some big shots and contribute I think they will pull this one out. Prediction: Endicott 78 Nichols 74

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Apparently Nichols misunderstood my NCAA Tourney Preview and thought I was dogging them with the comment about Neumann winning by 20 - they used it as motivation.  I'm fine if that's how it went, I was just trying to say the game would be exciting whether it was close or not, since both teams like to score.

It was indeed pretty exciting.  I can't believe we'll get a Sweet Sixteen team.  I'm not sure that's ever happened before.  I know the ENC women made the Sweet Sixteen in 2000, but they had a bye the first round, so they only had to win one game.