MBB: Conference of New England

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It's true, CSC has a long tradition of losing their final CCC game to an awful team, but it doesn't really apply this year.  Endicott has a pretty long tradition of dropping the last game of the year, but its always non-conference and presumably meaningless.  In terms of the GC and EC overall records, even the non-confernece matters this year, but nonetheless, it is very probable for one of these teams to run the table.  EC won their final 14 conference games last year, they won their final 11 the year before that and 11 of their last 12 (dropped one to CSC) in the year before that.

I expect if EC beats Gordon, that they'll run it.  If GC wins, I think there is still a hurdle in CSC to get over.  Its my opinion; I could be wrong.  It's just the sense I have.  I'll take the two-time defending champs as the favorites until they are beat (even if most of their fans are unruly and inconsiderate).

[akirk]

The game that I am most concerned with is the last game of the year for GC against CC.  Yeah the EC and CSC games are very big games but they don't scare me like the CC game.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I think the Colby-Sawyer fans may be saying the same thing.  It's not easy to play in that gym or to get back to your car after you've rooted for the opposition.

Shoot, it's not easy to just sit there, when rooting for the opposing team.  I've seen several fights break out during CC games.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I did just notice that EC playss five of their next six games on the road: six games in two weeks is rough.  They play at NEC, at Springfield and at Gordon this week.  I guess it wouldn't be out of the question to drop one with a two week run like that.

[Big Hoss]

You've all made some solid points, and the fact that EC does hold the fate of their season in their own hands is a big deal.  Does this alleviate pressure or add to it?  You could argue either way.  From CSC's perspective, they have to hope for a few late season slip ups from both EC and GC if they want to take the regular season title, but either way they will be around for the tournament.  For Gordon, tuesday is a BIG game.  They've played well and beat CSC, who ususally gives them problems.  But, if they lose to EC at home they will have 2 conference losses, EC will be very close to clinching the north title, and that gives them home court, where they have had success, especially in the tourney.  Regardless of this speculation, the game on tuesday will decide most of this.  Until then, they both have tough matchups to worry about.  EC vs. NEC, NEC might be a year away from shaking things up in the league, and has potential to beat anyone in the league on a given night. 

[akirk]

I just found the tiebreakers

III. TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURE:
In the event of a tie at the end of regular season play, the following procedure will be used to determine seeds for the tournament:
1) Head to Head
2) Record in Division
3) Record top to bottom in division
4) Record top to bottom on other division
5) Record against non-conference common opponents
6) Overall record versus all teams with a .500 or better record
7) Coin toss ( in a three way tie using flip, "the odd toss is out leaving a head to head review of tie breaker

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Yeah, its incredibly fun for three way ties amongst teams with losing records.  Just rediculous.  A few years back the tiebreaker for the #4 spot in the South came down to some state school winning their final game to put them over .500 and thereby changing the results of tiebreaker #6.  If the team had not won, there would have been a coin flip for a playoff spot.  It stinks if your team's invovled, but if not, it's very fun.

[24/7/365]

GC has a good test with arguabley the most schizophrenic team in New England tonight.  Newbury College is either really good, or atrociously disgusting.  They have basicly played a CCC schedule, and have been throttled by the likes of ENC, AMC and NEC.  Yet this is the same team that came one shot away from beating Salem State.  It'll be very interesting to see what Newbury team shows up for tonights festivities.  I think that this will be a good game for GC to grow from, and prepare for EC's athleticism. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

24/7,

You need to stop thinking that way.  I know GC has been a mid-level team for a while now, but if you want to break through, those statements are not going to help.  Newbury has been mediocre at times and the worst team in NE at times, but never have they been good enough to scare a top ten team in the region (which, if you haven't noticed, is where GC sits right now).  Even on a good Newbury night and a bad GC night, Gordon should be able to hang.  I think you'll agree that GC wasn't the same team against Salem as they are now; I'm not sure they can be used as a comparison.  If GC can't win this game tonight, they have no business pretending to be a contender, even in the CCC.

[24/7/365]

I am not worried about GC.  I know that if both teams bring their A game GC would still win.  There is concern however, because I believe that GC is due for a lull.  I don't want that, I don't wish that.  If I had it my way they would play all the way through March and would be holding the DIII Mens Basketball National Championship trophy.  But being a realist, I understand that freak occurances happen.  Teams like Newbury, who are very capable of winning, can catch you off guard and roll to a 20 victory (see RWU).  I know GC is the better team.  In all aspects of the game they are better, from coaches to benches.  But being the better team doesn't equal automatic victories (see Duke).  I still hold my statements to be true of Newbury having enough athleticism to help prepare GC for Tuesdays game.  In my opinion I think GC will roll like a hunch back to a big "W," but the unknown is always plausable.

[broke_ya_ankles]

a top ten team in the region (which, if you haven't noticed, is where GC sits right now).

is this based on numbers or do u truly believe Gordon is a top 10 team in NE right now??

[Maq Diesel]

I am not sure who said Gordon was a top ten team in New England, but being a big GC fan I don't even know if they are a top ten team, although the QQWI index which is used by the NCAA to rank teams did have Gordon in the top ten, as calculated by Hoops Fan as of January 17th.

[Maq Diesel]

GC 57 Newbury 42.  This was an ugly game.  It was 29-28 Newbury at the half, but gordon came out playing better especially on the defensive end and limited Newbury to only 13 second half points.  Gordon was led by Kaufman with 15 points and 7 assists, and Mike Herr had poor shoting night but still finished with 13 points, 7 boards and 4 blocked shots.  Newbury was led by Magloire who had 13 and Stanton who had 11.

An interesting side note is that tonight marks the 5th straight game that GC has held their opponents under 46 points, also GC's SID pointed out that the Scots currently rank 5th in NCAA D3 scoring defense.  This is a good sign, they are winning with D, they are playing great ball right now, they will be fun to watch if their offense round into form and they keep up their defensive pace.

[24/7/365]

I don't want to say I was right, buuuut.  Even though GC won, they were not a good team in the 1st half of last night's game.  Their shooting was hot early but became excessively cold towards the end of the 1st.  The 2nd half was a much different game.  Newbury had the one point advantage going into half but that was their last lead of the game as GC held them to an astonishing 13 points over 20 minutes of playing time.  Vogelzang did a phenomenal job against Newbury's main guy Mitchell, holding him to just 8 points, 12 below his season average.  Other than Vogelzang's defensive presence no one for GC really showed anything to marvel at last night.  Instead it was a full team effort that erased the half time deficit, and notched another win in GC's belt.  They can now focus their full attention on WIT, who's coming into Wenham Saturday.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I was going to post the same thing, even though GC had a ad game, they still won by 16.  I  think they kept their rep alive.  And while I wouldn't necessarily put Gordon in the same league as the top two or three teams in the region, I think they compare favorably to some who will be in the 5-10 range.  And yes, if they get to February with only one more loss, they will be ranked in the top ten in NE.