MBB: Conference of New England

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Yeah, I was going to say it seemed that he played more of the bench in games previous to this one.  It's common practice to shorten the bench in the runup to the playoffs.

GC has never been a school that uses a lot of bench players anyway.  Schauer seems pretty set on using ten at most (with one or two more getting garbage minutes once in a while).  A lot of the CCC coaches will throw fifteen guys into a game for five minutes or more, GC just doesn't.

[akirk]

24/7/365

You are right in by saying that the team needs to keep up their momentum but I am not just talking about the game last night but since he has been coaching at GC.   Like I said I can only remember two games this season that the forgotten teammates have seen any action.  

[24/7/365]

I can only speculate as to why Schauer refrains from playing the bench when they are up 20+, it might have something to do with allowing his starters/key benchers to get as much game time exposure as possible.  It could be an exercise in lead/ clock management for when the games are closer.  In doing that it gives the players like Mark Beebe, Michael Schnackenberg, Time Deluca and Nick Marino more quality minutes, as well as the coveted experience that comes along with that.

I'm sure though, if a game was so far gone for the other team, that Schauer would have no hesitation in putting the "deep" bench in.  Because lets not forget, they do have the ability to be his future all-stars... maybe.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Yeah, it comes down to coaching style.  Some coaches like to empty the benches whenever possible, while some like to keep tight controls of roles and minutes.  I don't think there is anything wrong either way, although sometimes players are more attuned to one over the other.  It's important to know what kind of coach you're getting in with when going to play ball at a school.  I'd put it in the same category as a yeller vs a teacher and all those other polar coaching philosophies.

[akirk]

So Hoops,  Where did you play?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I only played intramurals in college.  I do not possess, well, any real talent whatsoever.  I worked real hard to barely keep my head above water in high school.

[Maq Diesel]

Guys the the Gordon board is that way ----->.   Just kidding but a quick note about Logan and this new wave leg brace, it is a normal leg brace and with a high black sock.  A note about his injury is was a SPRAIN of his mcl and the brace is temporary.  As for the games this weekend and the rest of the year, does anyone think Curry can go into the post and knock the Gulls off?   I think Curry has the talent but EC plays much to disciplined a game to drop this one escpecially at home.  Anyone else have any thoughts?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

You played for Gordon though right?  I seem to remember an Andy Kirk sometime back when I was in school.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I had some strange feelings about GC's trip to Nichols yesterday, and then I got an email with similar thoughts from someone at GC, so I might as well throw this out there.

I never liked the drive to NC.  It always seemed to be way too long and even if it wasn't the longest road trip in the world, it sure felt draining by the time you got there.  I was wondering if this might have some effect when GC heads there tomorrow.  Also, its easy for this one to get overlooked with all the talk of the post-season looming.

I know GC's playing well and is very team oriented, but it just seems like an innocent enough game against a good scoring team, that it might be a bump in the road that no one is expecting.  We haven't had than annual big-time upset game yet this year.  I wonder when its going to come.

I wouldn't have mentioned it without similar thoughts coming to me from someone at GC.  That Nichols team is very capable, even if they are still learning how to win in the CCC.  What do you all think?

[akirk]

No I only played intramurals at GC but there was an Andy Kirk that was a big time player for EC back a few years.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Maybe that was it.  I thought the name was familiar.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

So do we have any thoughts on the actual games this weekend?



This weekend's games:

NEC @ RWU
CC @ EC
UNE @ SRU
GC @ NC
CSC @ WIT


Curry hung tough with CSC last week and Endicott is not exactly playing well right now; this could be a good one.  Meanwhile the race down South is heating up and Salve needs every win they can get.

[24/7/365]

I made that comment a month ago.  Everyone over looks NC at home.  The game, in my mind, is as much of a trap game as any other game this year.  NC, as we saw against EC, is capable of ohanging with the CCC elite.  And lets not forget they were winning the entire game, until EC's defense finally came to life.  Other than the season finale with CC coming to the Bennet Center, this game worries me something awful.  I hope that GC remains focused, eyes on the prize type mentality, go to NC, get the big win, and continue on to greatness.

[roy_williams]

geez, a little harsh with the insane comment. there is no dobut Gordon is playing its best basketball of the season, and maybe ever in the program's history. can they improve? sure. like hoops said, even a team like UConn has room for improvement. as athletes that is your goal: to improve game to game no matter if you are on a 15 game win streak or 48 game losing streak. but john, wasn't commenting on last night's performance persay, just that overall Gordon is playing their best ball and is the favorite in the CCC.

besides his first year on the job, Schauer has never had a senior dominated lineup/team. i would say you are accurate in pointing out that he doesn't empty his bench as quick or as often as other coaches around the league, though he does do it. Over these last 4 years, with a constant young teams/new teammates, like 24 said, i would speculate coach wanted his players out there for as much game action as possible.  with these young teams he has had i think he wanted to teach them how to play with a big lead and also get them as much game time as possible so they could become a cohesive unit. While it is much harder to teach in a game when you are up by 20, there are still many lessons one can teach, and perhaps a time to try new things on the court with game in hand.

even this year's group, the seniors Beebe, Vogelzang, and Hassler; for most of the season Beebe was the 6th man, backing up guards Kaufman and Logan, and hasn't really started on a consistent basis in his career. Vogelzang has only played 3 years, as well as played soccer for those three years, so he doesn't get into the seasons until late. Same with Hassler. And i'm not saying these players aren't great senior leaders, they are, but they are "young" somewhat in terms of logging consistent minutes, not the typical 4 year senior starter like say a Matty George or St. Clair. So as much time as they can get, together as team in game time, i think is still very beneficial. Until basically this season, Schauer hasn't had a team where there wasn't basically a makeover of starting lineups and "go to" players from season to season. That's why i think he isn't the first one to empty his bench and put in Rudy once the margin is 20+pts.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Roy, where did the level-headed coherence come from?  Bravo.