MBB: Conference of New England

[scout]

A few TCCC schools have live video, so I plan on watching some games this year. UNE was a blast to watch last season and some others have added it as well.

Immediate impressions from the Gordon game:

- Husson is, and always has been, impeccably coached. They hustle. They execute screens and cuts well. Just a pesky defensive team that runs their offense well.
- The first real game for both teams. Lots of fouls and lots of turnovers. Not necessarily bad decisions, but rather that I think the defenses are ahead of the offenses right now.
- Gordon can rebound and defend the post when in position. Coach Murphy has big man experience and even in one game, I can tell that it is rubbing off.
- Trigg and Bajema looked as if they had a silent game. That is, of course, until Trigg nailed that clutch three from the corner. The stats will say otherwise, I'm sure. While the offense looks like it's still running through the guards, the post men got a lot of work.
- Gordon can deal with pressure. They should be able to do so with the veteran lineup, but it never hurts to see tangible evidence.

[akirk]

Gordon vs Husson

It was an ugly game for most of the night.  Gordon went down by 10+ early and it looked like they were struggling to run the new system.  Then there was a stretch of about 6 minutes about half way through the first half that the GC defense was lock down.  If the offense was able to hit some open shots and easy put backs they would have been up by 10 at the end of the half.  I can not wait to see GC when they truly have a complete handle on Coach Murphy's system.   

[scout]

This won't get as in-depth as the recaps from later this winter will, but here's the lowdown on the Gordon-Husson matchup.

Aaron Trigg led all scorers with 17 points on 5-13 shooting. He was 3-6 from behind the arc and 4-5 from the line.

Greg Walker has 12 points and freshman David Dempsey had 8 for Gordon.

Overall, Gordon shot a paltry 33% from the floor, hitting 39% from downtown. Their saving grace was the commanding differential on the boards. They had a 19 rebound advantage, pulling down 20 offensive boards.

Seniors Matt MacKenzie and Brock Bradford led Husson with 17 and 12 points each respectively.

Husson shot 40%, 27% from 3 and hit only half of their free throws.



I'm still trying to work out the systematic differences between previous Coach Schauer's and Coach Murphy's offenses. Both seem to be a lot of motion, but Murphy's seems to rely a little more on post play and crashing the boards. This, of course, can lead to fast break layups (which there were quite a few for Husson tonight) if you don't come down with the board or score.

Overall, it was a solid win for a number of reasons. First, Coach Murphy got the jitters out. First time head coach, with some expectations not only of the squad but on him because of his pedigree. Second, Husson is the favorite to win the NAC this year and returned a majority of its team from last year. Thirdly, it's important to show that a team can win close games.

[scout]

The Commonwealth Coast Conference Pick'em - Week 2 - 11/22 through 11/28

Week One is just under way, but considering we started late... It's time to pick for next week's slate. Have your picks in by Sunday.

Sunday 11/22

Suffolk @ NEC

Tuesday 11/24

Keene State @ WNEC
UNE @ Bowdoin
Gordon @ Salem State

Saturday 11/28

Roger Williams @ Rhode Island College


I will be attempting to get a variety of teams in. There are just some compelling games early on that involve UNE, Gordon and the like.

[yeah buddy]

suffolk, keene, bowdoin, gordon, ric

[backboard]

Keene State, Bowdoin, Salem State, RIC

[scout]

Keene State, Bowdoin, Salem State, RIC

You're missing one. I'm assuming you'll choose Suffolk over NEC?

My picks:

Sunday 11/22

Suffolk @ NEC

Tuesday 11/24

Keene State @ WNEC
UNE @ Bowdoin
Gordon @ Salem State

Saturday 11/28

Roger Williams @ Rhode Island College

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Suffolk @ NEC

Keene State @ WNEC
UNE @ Bowdoin
Gordon @ Salem State

Roger Williams @ Rhode Island College

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Tonight:

ENC @ Mt Ida
NC hosts Worcester State

[backboard]

Keene State, Bowdoin, Salem State, RIC

You're missing one. I'm assuming you'll choose Suffolk over NEC?

My picks:

Sunday 11/22

Suffolk @ NEC

Tuesday 11/24

Keene State @ WNEC
UNE @ Bowdoin
Gordon @ Salem State

Saturday 11/28

Roger Williams @ Rhode Island College

Yes, thanks

[GC Oldtimer]

Suffolk, WNEC, Bowdoin, Gordon, RIC

[hooktonhoops14]

...Getting in a week late.  Gordon's first game was sloppy, but it's good to see that they can win a close game, not to mention a game where they get out-shot and turn the ball over so much.


I'll take:

Suffolk, Keene State, Bowdoin, Gordon (only because I don't want to accept that I might never see them beat Salem State), and RIC



Gordon Tip-Off Tourney starts tonight.  Shouldn't have too much trouble against Maine-Maritime, but win or lose they're looking at a tough saturday game against either Westfield State or Baruch...

[scout]

I'll take:

Suffolk, Keene State, Bowdoin, Gordon (only because I don't want to accept that I might never see them beat Salem State), and RIC

I completely understand your reasoning. In my four years at Gordon, I never had a chance to see Gordon play Salem State. Something big always came up, and that's saying something considering I'm the one who saw every other men's basketball game my senior year (except for their traveling tournament).

I'm trying the reverse psychology route. Maybe if I believe hard enough that Salem State is undoubtedly going to win, Gordon can pull it off...

In all seriousness, though. If Gordon cannot somehow find a way to win at Salem State next week, it will be a few years before they have another solid shot at it.

[scout]

Results from last night:

ENC 71 - Mt. Ida 82

Stats were pretty close in this one. Mt. Ida guard Keith Jones went 10-10 from the line and led all scorers with 20 points. Michael McCoy and Jonathan Georges led ENC with 18 and 17 points each respectively. Keith Branch came off the bench to contribute 15. Outside of a few players, ENC lacks any depth to pose much of a threat. Their big men will have their work cut out for them this season.

Nichols 84 - Worcester State 59

In a rematch of just a week prior, Nichols put a thumping on the Lancers. Nichols lost by 11 the first go around and clearly made some adjustments this time. Worcester State shot just 28% on the night and hit only 68% from the charity stripe. Maurice Horton of Worcester State led all scorers with 18 points. But Nichols posted four players that hit double-digits in scoring. They hit 46% from the floor and nearly76% from the line.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Their big men will have their work cut out for them this season.

What big men?