MBB: Conference of New England

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

So is Nichols more invested in the athletic program now?  I keep hearing they only have a part-time head coach, but they hired this guy from MIT who you'd think would have better options.  Now they seem to have non-students doing the play-by-play (or else their communications program is fantastic).  Not sure what to make of that.

Pretty much what I figured with a Nichols win tonight over Endicott.  I'll be interested to see what Nichols does with ENC; I imagine that's a more difficult match-up problem for them.

[jackson5]

It's probably just the SID or someone else who works in the athletic department doing the play by play. That's how most schools do it in D-3.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

ENC hosts Nichols, winner leads the conference.  I'm very interested in how this plays out.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Halftime in Quincy.  Both teams seemed to stifle the others' offense pretty well.  ENC got sloppy at the end of the half and Nichols capitalized to push a one point lead out to 12 (42-30).  Nichols' pressure is very tough and they're getting lots of boards against the undersized Lions.  It really seems like Nichols is the better squad, more disciplined, more focused, more size.  The talent drops off pretty quickly when they go to the bench, but they haven't really missed a beat because of it.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Nichols is definitely a first half team.  ENC is a second half team.  It was 70-71 with a minute to play and that's how it ended.  Refs refused to bail out ENC on an off-balance last second shot.  Nichols has a two game lead in the conference, with a tiebreaker.  It's theirs to lose.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Exciting game at Endicott, likely deciding the 2nd place position (and a home semifinal) - Endicott over ENC 73-70.  ENC was down 11 with about 6 to go, went on a 12-0 run and kept it close throughout.  Jaylen Owens scored 32, but couldn't get a good look to tie at the end.

If ENC could only put together a decent first half, they'd be unstoppable, because the second half is always fantastic.  They're only losing one guy, so I guess there's always next year.

Should be a fun playoffs for sure, though.

ENC, Nichols, and Endicott have all clinched playoff berths at this point.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Regional Rankings are out: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2015/02/11/first-regional-rankings-released-today/

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Nichols isn't in this week, but if they continue to win, they'll be in next week.  I'm guessing they're 13, 14, or 15 right now.

[jackson5]

Nichols should be on here

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Nichols should be on here

They don't have the SOS for it just yet.  I suspect they're just off the page.  Williams' SOS is just too high to deny them right now.

Nichols still has Endicott and ENC on the schedule, so that will help the SOS a bit.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Nichols definitely not getting ranked now.  Endicott with the win.  If ENC beat Nichols, EC wins the conference (assuming all the other games are wins for everybody).

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Big game tonight.  If ENC wins, Endicott is in the driver's seat for the regular season championship (due to tiebreakers).

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Nichols took a 14 point lead early in the second half.  ENC came all the way back to tie it at 62.  Then there was a technical foul on the Lions - I didn't get to see the play - but that killed all the momentum for ENC.  Nichols pulled out to big lead, then things got sloppy.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It's that time of year again - one conference game remaining for everyone.

1 - Nichols with a win, Endicott with a win and Nichols loss.
2 - Whoever doesn't get #1
3 - ENC
4 - WIT
5 - Gordon
6 - WNE with a win or RWU with a WNE loss
7 - Whoever doesn't get #6
8 - UNE

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

(1) Nichols hosts (8) UNE
(2) Endicott hosts (7) WNE
(3) ENC hosts (6) Roger Williams
(4) Wentworth hosts (5) Gordon