NE Region General Questions

[D3HoopJunkie]

Dave, I dont recall the Falcons playing a regualry season game at Amherst or Williams ever in the Oliver era.

That said I agree with your post and I can only hope that in the coming years this team will be able to schedule better......but for now will just have to prove it to you on the court!!!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I might be thinking NCAA tournament then... brain is jumbled right now. I apologize for the confusion.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Calling Stockton a final four contender is pushing it. They aren't going to get there with this team right now. You might want to reconsider that thought process because Stockton might not get passed the Sweet 16 at this point.

Not that I think any team should be called a "contender" right now - but who else do you see coming out of the Eastern part of the country?  Amherst, Williams, Albertus, Dickinson - maybe an ODAC team if they do the bracket right.  There's a lot of flawed, talented teams in the region, but no one I'd put in a "cut above" Stockton right now.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Oh I would put a couple of ODAC teams above Stockton right now: Randolph-Macon, Virginia Wesleyan, Hampden-Sydney (though, I didn't vote for them in my Top 25 this week). There is also Emory down in Atlanta. F&M just proved they could beat Stockton, though they pretty much blew a 20-point lead. I think Stockton would be surprised if they faced Amherst, Babson, or WPI. I even think the MAC Commonwealth has a couple of teams Stockton would struggle against. They are not anywhere close to a "cut above" anyone on the east coast.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Oh I would put a couple of ODAC teams above Stockton right now: Randolph-Macon, Virginia Wesleyan, Hampden-Sydney (though, I didn't vote for them in my Top 25 this week). There is also Emory down in Atlanta. F&M just proved they could beat Stockton, though they pretty much blew a 20-point lead. I think Stockton would be surprised if they faced Amherst, Babson, or WPI. I even think the MAC Commonwealth has a couple of teams Stockton would struggle against. They are not anywhere close to a "cut above" anyone on the east coast.

I just don't think anyone is.  Most years there are teams you'd be shocked if they didn't at least make the Final 8.  This year I doubt there's one, right?  All I'm saying is that Stockton has as good a chance as anyone right now.  I think there just isn't a Top Tier at all right now.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I have stated all season that those who get to Salem will have survived, not necessarily been ones we picked. That being said, I have seen Stockton in person as well as F&M, Randolph-Macon, Hampden-Sydney, Amherst, WPI, and a few MAC Commonwealth teams and Stockton is in my poll at 15 right now... and that feels too high.

Not one team in this year's tournament is going to avoid an early-round challenge.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I have stated all season that those who get to Salem will have survived, not necessarily been ones we picked. That being said, I have seen Stockton in person as well as F&M, Randolph-Macon, Hampden-Sydney, Amherst, WPI, and a few MAC Commonwealth teams and Stockton is in my poll at 15 right now... and that feels too high.

Not one team in this year's tournament is going to avoid an early-round challenge.

Which is why it's the best tournament there is.


Also, I imagine Whitewater is the only team people don't feel they're overrating when they vote.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

No... I think everyone (at least me) thinks teams are too high. Wash U feels strange at #1 to be honest. I have joked before about starting at #10, but that is based on the fact that no one feels like a top ten team.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

No... I think everyone (at least me) thinks teams are too high. Wash U feels strange at #1 to be honest. I have joked before about starting at #10, but that is based on the fact that no one feels like a top ten team.

That's what I meant, sorry if I implied otherwise.  I look at that Top 25 and everyone seems too high.  Just a funny year.

[nescac1]

I just don't think there are that many great teams this year, as opposed to last year, which I think was very strong at the top --- that was a heck of a Final Four, talent-wise, last season. Which makes polling at this point of the season less reliable than ever.

Teams like Amherst, Williams, IWU, Wash U. (which amazingly has so far not seen an ill-effects), Stevens-Point were just decimated by veteran all-Americans leaving.  I think you'd be hard pressed to find many years when D3 in the aggregate lost a better group of players than (in no particular order) Tillema, Toomey, Robinson, Mayer, Suderdley, Peters, Schleigh, Woodmore, Ziemnik, Klimek, Haas and so on.  There were not a lot of clearly elite players around heading into this season, and most of the elite guys don't have other remotely elite guys surrounding them.  There are going to be massive changes in the polls over the next few weeks as surprise teams emerge and if some of the big-name teams that were hurt by graduation but are still polling well (like Amherst, IWU and Stevens Point) keep struggling relative to reputation.  A real opening for a dark horse to make a run.  Although most likely, a WIAC team, probably Whitewater which DOES have two elite guys, will still be there in the end ...

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

It is going to be wide open this year. That is both thrilling and baffling LOL

[pjunito]

Hey guys, love reading the posts and opinions. Sorry I haven't been on much, work is kicking my rear.

I think that division 3 coaches have a tough job; they don't offer scholarships, they work with smaller budgets, they usually have part time jobs or part time assistants. It is tough. I applaud all the coaches in division 3 for their hard work in making Division 3 basketball so enjoyable.

I think not having a clear cut top 10 is a good problem. I think this makes for a very fun conference season and a better post season tournament. It would be unfair for me to try to rank teams right now (because I have only seen one play). But, I trust the other posters. I know Albertus is very talented this year (even better than last year's team). But, they have flaws. They play unorganized and undisciplined at times. They are a horrible free throw shooting team. They can get out rebounded at times as well. Over the next 6 weeks, if these things don't improved than I don't know if Albertus can content for an elite 8 spot. Albertus does have 9 seniors, 7 who play. Sometimes having a senior led group can force the team to work on those little areas. Being composed, running the offense, crashing the balls, working on free throws, etc.

I look forward to a great second semester, and lots of debate.

Happy 2015 everyone!

[Ferraro13]

Typical Dave not giving Albertus credit. They beat WPI and purchase on a neutral and away court last yr in the tourney. Then were beaten by the natl runner up, in a game they cut a 22 point deficit down to 7 in the second half. So judging by this they exceeded your expectations last yr since you had them like 8th in New England. I get it, you don't like coach Oliver and the way he goes at refs, or the other stuff as you call it. Last time I checked they were trying to win games not sportsmanship awards. This may come off stand off ish, but I don't intend it to be. It's just how I feel. Sorry if I'm coming off a certain way

[D3HoopJunkie]

Ferraro13......come on over to the GNAC thread. There are a few Falcon fans on the thread and we can always use more!

Judging by your first post here I think you'll fit right in with the group 

Welcome

[WPI89]

F13 - coming out of the box firing!