MBB: Conference of New England

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Where are all the Endicott guys?  I know you just lost badly to an inconsistent squad, but this is the Gordon game.  I miss the entertainment of this time of year; you're stealing it from me by staying quiet.  I want to hear all the crazy smack talk.

Isn't EC going to win by 50?  Isn't Marinkovic going to score 42 points with 27 rebounds?  Won't they pull the starters five minutes into the game?  Give me something.

[ccc #1 player]

Sorry to disapoint you with our lack of trash talking.  I guess we just have better things to do than talk smack with all you.  You get on us when we do anyways and you're the one that antagonizes everything, just looking for a reaction and a reason to trash us.

[akirk]

I have to say.  I am excited to see what happens tonight between EC & GC.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to make the game, but I am sure everyone will do a good job of summing it up for me.  I can never say that GC will loose.  Maybe I am just to much of a homer.  I hope it ends up being a classic like discussed earlier.  I don't know if I would be able to take another blow-out.  It should be closer than before, since GC has picked up there defense over the last couple weeks, but you never know. 

[24/7/365]

For everyone who is expecting a barn burner on the offensive side of tonight's game, don't count on it.  Both squads are either 1 or 2 in the CCC defensive stats, with GC being the 5th best defensive team in the nation.  While I agree with Maq on his previous post of EC being more athletic and more veteran savvy, I don't feel as though those two components will be the deciding factors in tonight's game.  The thing that I think will be the biggest key tonight is what team will take the other one out of their game faster.

Can GC limit EC high paced first 5 minutes of the game?  Can EC shut down GC's perimeter threats?  Can GC finally keep Darko off the offensive glass?  These questions, as well as numerous other ones, will be essential to either an EC win or a GC win.  In spite of all that, this game will just be flat out fun.  Both teams hold the key to their own destiny, and their destinies manifests themselves tonight in Wenham.  I am simply looking for 40 minutes of hardnosed, balls to the wall basketball tonight.  This game has all the makings of being the game of the year, and I hope it is all it's built up to be.

GC by 4.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I don't care who wins as long as it goes to triple overtime.

[Big Hoss]

I hear that, a good game is what everyone wants tonight, regardless of the respective favorite.  EC hasnt lost to Gordon in the last 3 seasons, and as much as you dont want to admit it, Nemanja and the EC posts have really thrived in that flex from hell. (half joking half serious).  Gordon refuses to give any weakside help and always front, the result, Nemanja over the top for two.  It will be interesting to see if they address this problem.  Also, I'm sure Gordon will shoot better at home, which is one of their strenghts....It will be interesting to see which team can grind out this match up.  EC is the favorite in my book, but im sure someone will refute that

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Gordon has the better record right now, but I'd have to agree that its EC until Gordon can actually beat them.  They might have come a long way this year, but there are still a couple of big hurdles left to get over.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

By the way, I was just teasing you guys (well not you guys, the actual guys I was teasing still haven't shown up).  It's just amazing that we're "irrational EC banter"-free thus far, and on gameday even.

[roy_williams]

gordon has to win this game. they can't fall 3 games back in the loss column to EC, especially with more than half the CCC schedule gone. i agree EC is the favorite much like new england was when indy came to town in week 8. much like indy i think gordon is the hotter team (not based on EC loss to springfield which i think means nothing) but simply the fact that gordon is blowing the competition out of the gym with their defense lately. however, since its been 3 years, EC is the fav til GC beats them.

ironically i think GC needs to hit the three tonight to open up their offense. at EC they couldn't create any space in their half court set, and i think if they can hit 3's early, this will allievate some of the congestion. not to mention get the crowd into a frenzy. marstaller can have his way inside if there is space.

obviously containing EC on the glass and limiting pts in the paint  is big and i think if one team can get a significant amount of pts in transition it could be a deciding factor.

the bennett center crowd could be a big influence if they get alot of students as a big time atomosphere in that place gets it pretty loud. the sound reverberates. the home students are also RIGHT on the court. in the past the crowd has been wine and cheeese type (though its changing), so EC needs to get out  big so they can take them right out it.

the wilcards for each team are marino/vogelzang for gordon and corbett/burgos for Endicott.

i think darko did have 42 and 27 against gordon or if he didnt it certainly felt like it.

gordon by 2 in OT

[Maq Diesel]

WOW a huge monkey is now off Gordon's back as the down EC 72-67.  Gordon was ON FIRE at the start going on a 20-3 run to start the game.  At one point in the in the first half GC led by 20 but Ellis hit two threes just before the half making the halftime score 44-30.  The lead stayed in double figures for most of the second half and was only trimmed late when Gordon missed some free throws and EC hit some shots at the end.  As for scoring Gordon had an extremly balance first half and for the game Marstaller had 17, Herr had 13 and 9 and Kaufman chipped in with 11 points.  Although they did not reach double figures Vogelzang and John Beebe were huge tonight providing great senior leadership.  As for EC Nemanja had another big stat night against GC with 21 and 11, our friend GSMIZZLE22 had a solid game with 12 points and George chipped in with 9pts, 5rebs and 8ast.  Rebounding was much closer this time with EC 33 and GC with 27 and foul shooting was bad for both teams EC shooting a shade over 50% and Gordon shooting 66.7% (many of those misses came late on 1 and 1's and while EC was fouling which caused the score to be closer than it should have.)

Gordon travels to AMC on Thursday lets hope the don't have a let down and then they have a big test in New London agianst CSC.  EC hosts NEC on Thursday and travels to Nichols on Saturday.

These two teams are the class of the CCC and there is no doubt about it, CSC had their time but, I would be very disapointed to not see an EC @ GC championship game. 

[dwebbs]

Gordon opened up with a 17-1 lead.

[Maq Diesel]

Salve over Curry 78-55.  What happend to Curry?

[24/7/365]

Last nights game was just surreal.  To think that GC would ever be up 17-1 after 6 minutes of play is something I don't think anyone on this board could wrap their head around.  GC was just scorching hot offensively, and defensively they were their normal selves.  GC shot a combined 75% from behind the arc in the 1st half and 65% from the field as a whole.  Any team that shoots like that, no matter who they are or where they are, is going to win. 

In spite of the massive leads GC accumulated, there was still nervous tension in the air.  There was a feeling that at any point EC was going to go on a serious run and bring this game down to the buzzer.  While EC was successful at chipping away at the once 20 point lead, it came too late in the game, and the last minute push came to no avail. 

Yes Darko had a big game, but his stats were not an indicator of how he performed.  He was D'd up by Marstaller hard, and many of his buckets came when Marstaller was sitting.  Darko just has the ability to be in the right place at the right time.  Last night there were two separate occasions when he had been volleyball blocked, but somehow, amongst the scrum, he emerged with the ball and went up for an uncontested lay-up.  George, other than being the only EC player sweating, did not seem to be his typical self.  He hesitated more often than not on offense, and defensively he was average.  Ellis, minus his two 3's to end the 1st half, might as well have been selling concessions with the softball team.  He could never get open or create his own shot.  GC's perimeter D had it's biggest effect on him.

GC was solid all around last night.  Their starters were ready from the word go, and the bench was there to pick up the slack when called upon.  Both Beebe brothers hit 2 3's in the first, with Herr and Marstaller having a big presence down low.  Freshman Deluca made a clutch fade away with a hand in his face to stop a mild EC run.  Vogelzang, though plagued with foul trouble, did well on George defensively, forcing him to second guess himself all night.  Kauffman has really been picking up his play amidst GC's 10 game win streak.  He is so confident with his game right now, I'm not sure anyone in the CCC has a player that could slow him down.  But the scariest thing about this GC team is Logan hasn't even been playing the last 2 weeks.  Imagine what they'll be like when they get back the guy many feel is their best defensive player.

The GC party can not last long however.  They have to go into AMC and face the hometown ref's and the atrocious rim situation that gym possesses.  And assuming they win that game, they then have to travel to NH and try to steal a win on CSC's home court.  That is much easier said than done.

If GC can go through this week undefeated, man, you have to favor them for the rest of the season.  Plus that would mean they would host their first ever playoff game, with the possibility of winning their first ever playoff game.  But I'm not saying any of that right now.  I'm just waiting to see what they do Thursday.

[akirk]

It sounds like the GC game wasn't as good as we all thought it would be.  Despite the final margin being 5 points it sounds like it was the complete opposite of the first meeting.  If it does come down to a championship rematch between GC - EC it will be hard to pick which one will be the favorite.  Maybe it will just come down to Home Court Advantage.  Although I would like to see GC go into the NEST and take it with the hostile environment.  That could only help prepare them for the tournament.  Yes I know I am getting well ahead of myself but I can dream cant I?  The fact of the matter is we still do not know who will take the 2005-2006 crown.  All three teams in the North still have legitimate chances to grab the honors.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The rundown:

GC 72 EC 67.  Both teams showed their stuff last night.  GC finally killed the orangutan on their back and EC proved their toughness fighting back to make it respectable.  Going down by twenty early on could knock even a great team off their game.  21 and 11 for Nemanja, 12 pts for Corbett and 8 impressive assists for George.  17 from Marstaller, 13 and 9 for Herr, with 11 from Kauffman.  Both team overcame the solid defense from the other, with Gordon just tearing the net up.  Only ten turnovers per side is also impressive.  These are two very, very good teams.  I can't imagine how good GC will be when Logan gets back into form (word is he is clear to return to the court).

CSC 81 UNE 54. McManus had 19 and 11 for Marriott.  Stickney just got totally shut down by Thorpe and St Clair.  St Clair had 22 and Thorpe had 15, with 9 rebounds each.  Bray had 11.  CSC forced a lot of turnover and shot very well (over 50%), while holding UNE below 40%.  These guys really seem to finally be getting it together.  With home games against EC and GC still coming up, there could still be a three-way tie for first place.

NEC 63 AMC 60.  Anna Maria is coming together as well; this game was much closer than expected.  No stats, of course.

ENC 76, Nichols 66.  The d3hoops.com scoreboard is backwards.  ENC stays alive for the playoffs.  Keep the faith Chewning, I may owe you some money after all.  Valle had 19, Butler 11 and 13 a piece from Lewis and Powers for NC.  Jasmin had 10 and 13 for ENC, Noel had 16, and Corey had 11.  Nichols couldn't hit any threes and didn't play any defense allwoing ENC to shoot over 50% from the floor.  ENC committed 24 fouls with Nichols shooting 24-35 from the line!  That's rediculous, especially when ENC was 10-11 from the stripe.  ENC hit the boards well, but still committed 20 turnovers.  Apparerntly ENC didn't play any better than normal, but Nichols couldn't hit any shots.  ENC's playoff hopes remain alive, if ever so tenuously.

SRU 78 Curry 55.  What happened to Curry was that they gave up when the whole Bartelle deal went down.  As much as the CC apologists want us to believe they are trying hard, no one I've spoken to agrees that they are giving full effort in these games.  Their talent level is too high to be playing like this.  Mohrin had 19 and Lamb had 14 with 6 assists.  Six players hit for double figures as Salve rounds into form for a playoff run.  Walsh had 15, Coute and Goodrich had 12 each; Grendal and Woodworth had 11 each and Rego had ten off the bench.