MBB: Conference of New England

[uconn05]

I completely agree with you.  Going by points isn't the best way to do it, that is why i'm surprised you like jones for poy.

[scout]

Roger Williams shouldn't have won last night...
I give them credit because they did pull out a win and much thanks to CSC for giving it to them...

RWU shot 16-48 from the floor... 33%
In the first half, they were 6-24... 25%

Going into the break, CSC had only a 7 point lead even shooting 46% in the first half...

CSC finished the night 41% from the floor...

Rebounds wise, it was even...
34-31 RWU...

Unfortunately for CSC, it seems they only had two players who could score for them...
Credit RWU for their consistent perimeter defense in every game this year...
Szeliga and Rosso both put up 20+, but no other CSC player hit double-figures...

For RWU, Baranger, Fava, and Bashaw all hit double-figures, and Baranger added 11 rebounds as well...
But Baranger only had double figures because he was 9-10  from the foul line...
Otherwise he was 4-11 from the floor...

It seems like it was a poor shooting night for both teams (although RWU kind of sparked in the second half a bit)...

CSC had three chances with 15 seconds left to tie it with a three... Two offensive boards and two more 3-attempts later, they couldn't put it in the hoop and RWU escaped one...

I don't expect RWU to go cold again, especially against Gordon on Thursday...

Gordon hasn't beaten RWU since 2006...
And their last two losses to the Hawks have been by double figures...
By the way, both of those last two games were played in Bristol...

Gordon better be on...

[scout]

The WNEC-UNE game appears close...

The best players on each team did their thing and WNEC came out on top...

Kyle Fredette had 20, Ryan Hernandez and Matt Maynard both posted double-figures for WNEC...
WNEC as a whole shot near 50% from the floor on the night...
They were also 33% from 3-point...

Jaykyri Simpson led UNE with 16, and Isaac Stickney and Schwartzenberg also had double-figures...


The biggest disparity of the night, and what I think played the biggest role in the outcome was UNE's consistent attempts to hit the three-point shot...
They put up 15 treys... They hit only one of them...
This most likely forced them to go inside with their offense... (Hence Simpson and Stickney leading scoring for UNE)...

Missing so many threes gave WNEC a 9-rebound advantage over UNE, giving the Golden Bears more chances offensively, where they could drive to the hoop and get fouled...

WNEC went to the line to shoot a free throw 25 times... Converting only 64%
UNE went to the line 11 times, converting 82%...

It seems like WNEC did what they wanted offensively and controlled the boards to win this game...

It was a remarkable season for UNE...
They did more than most of us expected and credit the coach, the team, and UNE fans for supporting a program that hopefully will continue to challenge the rest of the TCCC...

For WNEC, the newcomer will face Curry on Thursday...
Again, if Tim Jones et. al. get hot early, WNEC could be in trouble, but expect Defensive Player of the Year Asif Abdul-Wadud (WNEC) to shadow Jones all night long...

[dwebbs]

Why wasn't Jefferson in the game last night for UNE?

[scout]

Why wasn't Jefferson in the game last night for UNE?

i'd be interested to know that as well...
he had a great month and was on a roll...

[broke_ya_ankles]

wonder if it had anything to do with his ejection from the gordon game....

[witfan]

Gordon came to play.  I'm sure their memory of last year was front and center.
The percentage difference in 3's was not as bad a Scout mentions,

"Gordon was 76% from 3 in the first half and 33% (i think) in the second half...
WIT was around 20% the whole game..."

in fact the percentage was about the same in the first half, but WIT's 5 of 7 all came from PB while Gordons 9 of 13 came from 4 different players.  There was a stretch about mid-1st half that Gordon seemed to rain 3's.  To their credit WIT weathered the storm and closed to 6 at the half but I think that run of 3's took a mental toll (some defensive confusion ensues when your opponent is hitting the shot you want them to take).  WIT had a chance to take control during the almost 5 minute scoring drought but nobody could convert.  Gordon played a classic "bend but don't break" D and never let WIT get back into it.  Great strategy on both sides, chess match b-ball.

Kudo's to the Ref's, some minor discussions from both benches but nothing to affect the outcome that I could see.  Marstaller was the only player to foul out.

Last thoughts on this game...Kerr off the bench was a big factor (no pun intended) and from my experience The Pit is the only TCCC crowd I've seen which might be considered a "6th" man.  Well organized, not obscene, they know the game and they're loud.  Nice work!   Unfortunately I agree with Gullfan regarding a few in the Curry crowd, CC needs more staff in the close quarters bleachers with eject authority.

PB played like a POY.  Even shadowed as he was all night, he was masterful.  I don't think there is another player in TCCC who could score 29 with the attention he got last night.

Back to lurking...Out.

[scout]

The percentage difference in 3's was not as bad a Scout mentions,

you're right...
again, i was doing my best to recall from memory...
WIT was 1-7 from three in the second half, so i probably confused things...

i'm surprised i forgot SPB draining like 4-5 threes in the first half off of a quick screen... it was a beautiful thing to watch... but scary for the pit...

[backboard]

Prezzie-Blue finishes his outstanding career with 1,781 points, 288 assists, 165 steals, and 195 3-pointers made.

[akirk]

I love this time of the season.  There is a lot of input.  Why is there not as much activity during the regular season. 

Any thoughts on tomorrow.

GC over RW
WNEC over CC  (this is more of a deam/I would like to see GC get a home game for the championship)

[scout]

i love all the input as well...
the more the better...

i'm going to wait to make my predictions until tonight or tomorrow afternoon...
let things settle a bit...

a few more points on Prezzie-Blue, as he deserves all the attention he can get...
he had one of the most impressive careers in the CCC in memory...
he carried his team on his back so many times and is a man of class...
best of luck to him in whatever future pursuits he encounters...
(there is a rumor that he might play in Ireland or England next year)

SPB... Here's to you!

[akirk]

He sure has had a great career but it does not even come close to Andrew St Clair out of CSC.  He was dominate in every area of the game.  I also heard that he played in Italy.  Not 100% sure of that.

[backboard]

Prezzie-Blue would have driven right past Andrew St. Clair and gotten the and 1 call

[scout]

In the 2004-5 and 2005-6 seasons, they did play against each other...
Can't find stats though...

No biggie...
Two amazing basketball players...

[akirk]

And St Clair would have backed PB down and Dunked on him everytime.  My point was geared more towards toatl dominance in the CCC:

Career stats:
2043 points - more than PB
1007 rebounds - more than PB
206 steals - more than PB
142 blocks - more than PB
I could not see an assists stat so I can not compare.