MBB: NEWMAC

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Really nice to see Jake Ross and Heath Post play well last night. Both were efficient scorers, rebounded the ball and limited turnovers. Probably not what the rest of the NEWMAC wants to see but these two might have something to say during their senior years... Hopefully the Pride can stay healthy this year and they can get some solid contributions from the rest of the team, no one else was in double figures or played more than 25 minutes. Will be something to watch for sure.

58 of 90 points combined.

[BaboNation]

Babson 99. Anna Maria 60

[Never want to make too much from one game]

Both teams played with a self-imposed 15 sec. shot clock.

It would have been nice to play Endicott in the Invitational to see if Babson could hold Keith Brown under 35.  Did the AD take me seriously when I suggested they dis-invite Endicott after losses 2 years in a row?

Well, Crew Ainge looks legit.  Finally, finally, a point guard who can run the offense, distribute the ball on the break, and most importantly, not turn the ball over.  And it doesn't hurt that he shoots FTs as well as his dad.  He cheated a lot on defense and got burnt a few times, but that's being picky.  He's the best PG they've had since Kenny Ross (coincidentally another D1 transfer), but plays the up-tempo game better.  And, he did it all with zero turnovers.

The offense will be solid.  Oftring and Jaworski are both able to operate inside or outside, but now they've got 2 spot shooters in Coolahan and Gao (frosh starter) to spread the floor better.  Gao looked like he belonged - good recruit.

My concern will be the interior defense after Oftring.  He needs a blow against better competition.  Bradanese needs to improve on footwork and denying the low block.  Maybe Gussen or Smith will step up.

Even though the starters got pulled at the 12 minute mark of the second half and Brennan went to the end of the bench, 4 guys never saw the floor, including Dolan who has fought injuries from his arrival on campus, Gussen, Sourlis, and frosh Corey.

For Anna Maria, Rapoza is a nice throwback, low-post weapon.  It's good to see D3 basketball still has a place for his skill set.

It may be a while before the non-conference schedule gets competitive, but there could be as many as 5 NESCAC opponents in play.

I like this team a lot.

[D3 Junkie]

All of those guys who didn't play are hurt. Not sure if that's what you were insinuating or not by saying they didn't touch the floor.

Agree, I like this team a lot. They have so much depth. Seems that some of their top players (Jaworski and Oftring in particular) are in much better shape.

Ainge is a great addition and seems to fit in well with the team. Between him, Welch and Urlickson, they have 3 legit point guards who all have their own individual specialities.

I know the competition has been weak this weekend, but I heard they looked good in scrimmages before the season as well. They will be legitimate contenders for the NEWMAC this year.

[BaboNation]

Babson 97  Suffolk 70

Almost a carbon copy of yesterday's game with Anna Maria.  Babson built up a 25 point lead just 11 minutes into the game and substituted liberally thereafter.  The bench was emptied, save for the 4 players who weren't dressed.

I realize full well that Babson won't be taken seriously until at least games 5-7 (all NESCAC foes), but even given the level of competition there are some very encouraging signs.

Crew Ainge continues to impress.  One turnover through 2 games.  He's finding every open man and even with his pass first-shoot second attitude he led the team in scoring.  He's such a pure shooter that it opens spacing for everyone else.  You have to respect his shot and ability to drive and finish.

A direct byproduct of Ainge running the offense:  2 straight games with single digit team TOs.  I could look it up, but I doubt any Babson team has done that in recent years.

Jaworski looks even stronger this year.  I love his game.  Nothing is forced.  Rebounds very well for a guy his size.

Coolahan will thrive playing with Ainge.  He's got a terrific stroke from the wing.

Bradanese played a lot better defensively and contributed more in relief of Oftring on the inside.

Until they face a team with a more formidable front line I'll have concerns about the interior defense.  But Babson's starting 5 spaces the floor so well they may force the opposition to go smaller.

Massey's preseason forecast had Babson losing 9 regular season games.  I'll take the under.

[Smitty Oom]

As the resident West Region NEWMAC correspondent... I will give my thoughts on my two favorite teams (Sorry to BaboNation and WPI89, I like all things NEWMAC but I do have some I favor over others).

Is Emerson a real offensive powerhouse? I know they were predicted to finish second in the coaches poll after WPI, but a lot of people seemed to disagree with that (as did I at the time). I know that Worcester State and Gordon isn't the greatest competition, but their two outings so far this year have been quite successful.

Another win for the Springfield Pride on the backs of Post and Ross. This one was 106-101 over Keene St in OT. These two combined for 71 of their 106 points (67%) which is somehow more than their last game (58/90 for 64%). These two studs are real sick, but in order to really compete this year I feel like they need some scoring help. They wont be able to be this efficient all year long... probably?

Either way, excited to watch the NEWMAC play out this year, a lot of talented teams!

[BaboNation]

I actually think they got the preseason poll correct for the time the picks were made. 

Any team that sleeps on Emerson could get steamrolled, particularly if the game is played in Boston.  Sure, they'll miss Gray, but the sophomore class is one of the best in the region IMO.  With Gray gone Martin now gets more minutes, Waterhouse gets more minutes, McLean is starting, and Houston (who I viewed as a project last year) is a force in the paint with the ball.  They are starting 4 Sophs along with the Senior leader O'Connor.  They are loaded offensively.  They brought in a freshman, Beckwith, who is playing well off the bench.

Emerson's 3 non-conference games to watch will be Tufts(H), Amherst(H), and Nichols(A).  That Amherst game should be fun.

As for Springfield, as much as I love watching Ross and Post, there's been too many members of the surrounding cast who have left through graduation without being replaced with incoming talent.  I'd love to be proven wrong, but I see them as a NEWMAC 4th or 5th seed, needing to win the postseason to get to the tournament.

[amh63]

I watched the Springfield vs Keene State last night.  I left when Springfield was behind in the "4th quarter".   Smiled a bit when I saw that Springfield won in OT.  Springfield seemed to be dominated by the inside game of Keene...especially by the Keene center.
Ross is deserving of his preseason press.  Springfield has given Amherst fits ever since Ross's Freshman year.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Jake Ross is now 19 points from 2000.  If he hadn't been injured last year, he would've done it in three season, which is an extremely rare feat.  Someone asked me last night where he might end up.  If he keeps scoring like he has been (unlikely, but possible) fourth or even third all-time is within reach.  At the very least, presuming good health, he should get close to or pass Joey Flannery for the NEWMAC scoring record.

[nescac1]

Ross is averaging a 37.5-8.5-6.5 with 5 spg and only 1 TOPG in the first two games.  Those numbers are crazy.  Heath Post has been just as good, absolutely shooting the lights out to start the year.  Ross is by a wide margin the best player in New England.  Post is very likely in the top five.  But they will need a bit more help than they have been getting, because as good as they are, those numbers are not sustainable, and it's unclear who else can consistently help out both in terms of scoring and rebounding.  Especially with Babson and WPI looking very good early, and Emerson also in the NEWMAC mix. 

Ross is my first choice for "current D3 player who would easily succeed at a mid-major D1 program."

[SpringSt7]

You can say what you want about the rest of Springfield's supporting cast but with those two on the court (even just with Ross to be completely honest), this is a team that absolutely no one is going to want to play, at any point in the season. We will certainly learn more about them when they get Trinity, @ Williams, and @ Amherst, in a 6 day span at the beginning of December. Although Ross/Keith Brown matchup on Saturday will be an absolute shootout.

[BaboNation]

There are, seemingly, better New England non-conference games than in recent memory - not confined to the NEWMAC.  Maybe it's just that so many programs within the region have improved, even though the schedules haven't changed.

There are good games to watch most every night.

[BaboNation]

Babson 93  Lasell 70

For the 3rd straight game the Babson starting 5 raced out to a 20+ point lead in the first 10 minutes.  But, to give credit to Lasell, they got off the canvas and played well the rest of the way, closing the deficit to 10 on two occasions.

Here's a stat that tells me this season will be far different than the last 2:  through 3 games the Babson turnover total is 19.  Last year they committed 24 in their first game against J&W.  The difference is the PG.

Like the first 2 games, Ainge was a big part of the story.  He now has a ridiculous 15.0 A/TO ratio (7 last night).  He threw a gorgeous fast break bounce pass to Bradanese in traffic for a layup in the early run.  In the 2nd half he lost his composure a bit.  He got hit in the mouth after a rebound (bleeding?) with 9 minutes left (looked like an inadvertent elbow to me) and continued to plead his case with the refs down the court.  Then he got an aggressive 4th foul and went to the bench, firing up the Lasell fans.  When he returned with under 3 minutes left the game was out of reach but it looked like he wanted to make a statement.  He took his man from half court in the set offense with a combination of crossovers and between the leg dribbles, finishing at the rim with an uncontested layup.  He's definitely Danny's son, who used to find himself in the midst of scuffles himself.

Jaworski had a double-double and helped settle the team in the 2nd half when Lasell was making its last run.

I'm still waiting to see whether 4 players will see the court any time soon.

[WPI89]

Great stuff here.  Love some new tags on the NEWMAC page.  NEWMAC is deep this year.  Ross is a beast.

[BaboNation]

Babson 92   Salve Regina 68

SR hung tough early on but lost a key starter (Collins)  in the 1st half to an ankle injury and never returned.  They lost another rotation player in the 2nd half.
Babson had a double-digit lead at the half and despite SR keeping it respectable, the lead never slipped below 10 points.

Coolahan had a strong game shooting.  Frosh starter Gao continues to demonstrate he belongs.  He plays strong fundamental defense and shows great overall basketball sense.

The schedule will start getting tougher.  Hopefully some of the guys in street clothes will be healthy by the time Amherst rolls in.

[Elsewhere in the NEWMAC]

Wow.  MIT barely ekes out a win after squandering a 13-point 2nd half lead.

Jake Ross was as good as it gets last night.

Nice bounce back win by WPI over Eastern CT after a surprising loss to NEC.  Go figure.  You just never know.  Eastern had a lot of preseason promise.  Should be good for WPI's SOS down the line.

[WPI89]

Finally got to watch some video last night - of yes a still very young WPI team - feel like that has been the case for a few years.  Seems the NEWMAC is deeper this year than most - with maybe (maybe) WPI and Springfield having a chance to separate themselves - even from Babson and MIT - we shall see?

Clearly Springfield has the front runner for POY in the NEWMAC - but do not sleep on WPI (not that you were).  Pretty easy statement here - but if they shoot even decently - watch out.

They are not only bigger, but stronger in the paint and seem to be making a point of attacking the rim, rather than settling for 3's - which is a great to see when combined with their intense man-to-man D.

Will be a fun year. 

Stay healthy boys and have fun.