NE Region General Questions

[mass_d3fan]

I do know that Jake Nelson was on the WPI team when official practices started, but I do not have any insight into what the issues were that led to him no longer being on the the roster.

I do not know anything of Justin Hojlo and can't help with you his situation other than to say just having a big HS career has nothing to do with doing well in college.  You have to remember that when you get to college, you are now competeing with team full of guys who all had high end HS careers.  The college game is very different from high school & some very good HS players have problems stepping up to it. Sometimes you have to wait and work hard behind an older player.

I did look at the Plymouth stat sheet for last year and he only played in 10 games out of 26 for a total of 83 minutes.  He scored a total of 10 points on 3 for 21 (14%) from the field.  He is listed on that stat sheet but not on the roster, which means he was not an active player at the end of the year.  I am not sure why you think he would have been a very good D2 player.  Did he recieve any scholarships offers for D2, or even any real interest from any D2 teams?

I do know the WPI has a history of getting very good talent from NH.  They currently start 2 players from NH, Ben Etten & Matt Carr, and have a 3rd, George Tsougranis, on the roster.  In the recent past they have had also Ryan Bourque & Adam Lirette from NH. 

[jhawk]

 You are correct ,

College ball is  different .

Many  kids have great stats and perform well in HS
pariculary in New Hampshire

  I must recalibrate my eye balls .

I was at Stonehill last weekend and no way could Nelson and /or Holjo match up defensively against these guys .
 
Thanks for the guidance 

BTW  La Rosa had a nice opening at Save Regina . He is another kid small but quite a shooter .

[nescac1]

A shot at an early season New England ranking:

1. Williams ... not convinced they are any better than Amherst or Midd right now, but until they lose, they deserve this spot.  Have three top-notch guys in Whittington (the best player in the region), Wang (not far behind) and Klemm, but need some other guys to step up and establish themselves as scorers.

2.  Middlebury ... very big, deep, and experienced, and always play tough defense.

3.  Amherst ... still need to prove they can get it done against tougher competition, but no one can deny the talent or depth.  Meehan and Waller being healthy is a huge difference from last year, as is new addition Aaron Toomey.  

4.  MIT ... strange early season loss to Framingham, but still one of the most talented teams in the region.  Injury to star center is a concern.  

5.  Western Conn ... lost a few key underclassmen in the offseason, but Daquan Brooks is one of the top players in the region

6. WPI ... also suffered an unexpected early season loss, but lots of experienced talent on hand

7.  Brandeis ... impressive early season run for a very young team.  Next year, watch out.  

8.  RIC ... if Antone Gray returns, they could rocket up these rankings.  

9.  Keene State - most improved team in New England?  Star Dererk D'Amours has not played this year (injured?) but if he returns, watch out.  Undefeated without him, and added a big-time transfer who is off to a strong start:

http://www.keeneowls.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/bios/Wright_Rashad

10.  Southern Maine ... impressive win over a solid Bates team enhances the resume

HM: Bates ... probably the only NESCAC team with ny sort of shot of breaking into the top three in the conference, other than Amherst/Williams/Midd.  Brian Ellis having a huge start to the season.

[Rick Vaughn]

This early loss to Framingham could come back and bite MIT if they can't win the NEWMAC and need an at-large.  While the three NESCAC teams are clearly the top of the region all have had early struggles, so this should be a wide open and fun year.

[nescac1]

Looking a bit more into Keene.  They could be VERY interesting this year, if D'Amours returns.  In addition to the impressive 6'10 transfer noted above, they have two other top notch scholarship transfers playing key roles right now ... those three plus D'Amours and returning LEC ROY Anthony Mariano sound like as talented a core group as any in the region, potentially.  If they become cohesive early on, could be a dark horse than no one is talking about.  And, no seniors on the roster, so the future is doubly bright:

http://www.keeneowls.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/bios/Hunter_Ollie
http://www.keeneowls.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/bios/Martin_Ryan
Martin was Mr. Basketball in Maine as a senior in high school.  

Look at the pedigree / balance of a potential starting five: 6'10 center / shot blocking and boarding specialist Rashad Wright, a D-1 transfer; 6-5 forward Derek D'Amours, first team all conference and LEC leading scorer as a sophomore, had a ridiculous year statistically last season; 6'3 SF Hunter, defensive specialist and D-II transfer; 6'3 SG Mariano, LEC rookie of the year; and 5'9 PG Martin, tremendous deep shooter / D-1 transfer.  That give them three stellar shooter / scorers to go along with two potential lock-down defenders. 

Keene has made a few deep tourney runs in the past, but this group sounds like a true national power in the making.  Definitely worth keeping an eye on.  

[leelowlang]

Very early look at how league's are doing:

Rank-League-Record-Win%-Notable Win;Loss

1.  LEC - 26-8 - .765 - WCSU 86 vs. Plattsburgh 80; Paul Smith's 65 vs. Plymouth 59

2.  NESCAC - 24-11 - .686 - Midd 86 at UMD 62; Colby 71 vs. Curry 73

3.  GNAC - 17-16 - .515 - Emerson 69 at Babson 66; Albertus 72 at CGA 97

4.  NEWMAC - 14-14 - .500 - Babson 84 at Rochester 74; MIT 70 at Framingham 73

5.  TCCC - 26-33 - .441 - Anna Maria 91 vs. Ursinus 76; Gordon 42 at Husson 88

6.  NECC - 13-19 - .406 - Becker 67 at RIC 53; Fisher 75 at Daniel Webster 67

7.  MASCAC - 10-15 - .400 - MIT 70 at Framingham 73; Bridgewater 69 at King's 75

8.  NAC - 7-18 - .280 - Springfield 59 at Castleton 72; UMF 89 at Amherst 90 (OT)

[leelowlang]

Current NE Region Undefeated and One-Loss Teams:

Brandeis - 8-0
NEC - 7-0
Williams - 7-0
Middlebury - 6-0
Keene - 6-1
MIT - 6-1
West Conn - 6-1
Bates - 5-1
Becker - 5-1
Husson - 5-1
RIC - 5-1
WPI - 5-1
Rivier - 4-1
St. Joseph's (ME) - 4-1

[nescac1]

How I'd rank 'em (which actually aligns fairly well with D3Hoops' rankings):

1. Williams  2.  Middlebury  3. Amherst  4. MIT  5. Brandeis  6. WPI  7. Bates  8. Western Conn  9. Keene State  10. RIC

Not sure that any other New England teams are close to that group.  I'd say there are the top three which are basically a toss-up (and MIT may well join them, but have to knock them down a peg for a bad loss), and then 4-10 are likewise a toss-up.  Brandeis has been very impressive in the early going but at some point being so young figures to cost a game or two.  Outside of these ten, I don't think anyone in New England is a threat to do much this year. 

[uconn05]

Roger Williams is 5-1, too.  Not that it matters, they aren't a top 10 team anyway.

[KSCfan]

Looking at everyone's ranking it seems that the top of the class this year is in the NESCAC, and the Little East.  Looking at the teams in NE I think that this year it is really wide open.  I dont see anyone running away with NE anytime soon.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Williams seems like the best team right now, but I'm not sold on them being dominant this year.  We'll have to see how it plays out.

MIT could be fantastic if they can get the injuries figured out.

I'm also not sure what to make of Brandeis; they lost a good amount from last year, but they've started really well so far.  Their conference games will be interesting - the UAA is down this year, but still strong enough to provide a challenge for them.

[leelowlang]

My sincere apologies to RWU peeps for their ommission from that list...

Williams, Amherst, NEC, Keene, Bates, MIT, and Becker all won off that list last night.  WPI, albeit at Harvard, and RWU both lost.  Becker's win at Bridgewater was probably the 'best win' of the night for that group.

[leelowlang]

With the first semester schedule basically done, a glimpse at how league's are doing:

LEAGUE - W/L - PCT. - Top League Record - Top Overall Record
NESCAC - 61-24 - .718 - NA - Amherst (9-0), Williams (9-0), Middlebury (6-0)
LEC - 49-22 - .690 - Keene (2-0), WCSU (2-0), RIC (2-0) - Keene (8-1), WCSU (8-1)
NEWMAC - 36-28 - .563 - NA - MIT (9-1)
GNAC - 34-40 - .460 - Albertus (2-0) - St. Joseph's (5-2)
NECC - 33-40 - .452 - Daniel Webster (2-0) - Becker (8-1)
TCCC - 51-72 - .415 - NA - NEC (9-1)
NAC - 23-36 - .390 - NA - Husson (6-1)
MASCAC - 23-37 - .383 - NA - MCLA (6-3)

TOP 15 NE WIN %:
1.  Amherst - 1.000 (9-0)
     Williams - 1.000 (9-0)
     Brandeis - 1.000 (8-0)
     Middlebury - 1.000 (6-0)
5.  MIT - .900 (9-1)
     NEC - .900 (9-1)
7.  Becker - .889 (8-1)
     Keene - .889 (8-1)
     West Conn - .889 (8-1)
10. Husson - .857 (6-1)
11. Bates - .778 (7-2)
      East Conn - .778 (7-2)
      RIC - .778 (7-2)
      WPI - .778 (7-2)
15. Bowdoin - .750 (6-2)

RUMBLIN', BUMBLIN', STUMBLIN'
WNEC - 0-9 (.000)
Green Mountain - 0-3 (.000)
Mitchell - 1-9 (.100)
Lyndon - 1-8 (.111)
Newbury - 1-8 (.111)
Worcester - 1-8 (.111)
Curry - 1-7 (.125)

[leelowlang]

With the first semester schedule basically done, a glimpse at how player's are doing:

NE Region Leaders in Points Per Game:
1.  Lamonte Thomas - Johnson & Wales - 25.8
2.  Ray Askew - Albertus Magnus - 23.4
3.  DaQuan Brooks - West Conn - 22.4
4.  Lance Spratling - Southern Vermont - 21.5
5.  Sedale Jones - Curry - 20.9

NE Region Leaders in Rebounds Per Game:
1.  Ray Askew - Albertus Magnus - 13.4
2.  Matt Pepdjonovic - Suffolk - 12.8
3.  Mike Russell - Colby - 12.6
4.  Juan Alverio - Elms - 11.2
5.  Ben Naaktgeboren - Southern Vermont - 11.1

NE Region Leaders in Assists Per Game:
1.  John Sanchez - Lesley - 6.6 
2.  Ryan Birrell - Salve Regina - 6.4
3.  DeAngelo Alston - Eastern Nazarene - 6.0
4.  Mitchell Kates - MIT - 5.6
5.  Billy Harkins - Springfield; Kyle Pierce - Wheelock - 5.4

NESCAC Leaders:
Scoring - Sha Brown (Wesleyan) - 19.9
Rebounding - Mike Russell (Colby) - 12.6
Assists - Randy DeFeo (Bowdoin) - 5.3

LEC Leaders:
Scoring - DaQuan Brooks (West Conn) - 22.4
Rebounding - Pat Joseph (UMB) - 9.3
Assists - Rob Bentil (West Conn) - 4.8

NEWMAC Leaders:
Scoring - Brian Vayda (Clark) - 19.5
Rebounding - Matt Cavalieri (Springfield), Will Tashman (MIT) - 9.0
Assists - Mitchell Kates (MIT) - 5.6

GNAC Leaders:
Scoring - Lamonte Thomas (Johnson & Wales) - 25.8
Rebounding - Ray Askew (Albertus Magnus) - 13.4
Assists - Zach O'Brien (St. Joseph's) - 5.1

NECC Leaders:
Scoring - Lance Spratling (Southern Vermont) - 21.5
Rebounding - Juan Alverio (Elms) - 11.2
Assists - John Sanchez (Lesley) - 6.6

TCCC Leaders:
Scoring - Sedale Jones (Curry) - 20.9
Rebounding - Chima Ezeigbo (Eastern Nazarene) - 10.1
Assists - Ryan Birrell (Salve Regina) - 6.4

NAC Leaders:
Scoring - Jarrad DeVaughn (Thomas) - 19.5
Rebounding - Josh Jones (Husson) - 11.0
Assists - Dom Drake (Maine Maritime) - 5.3

MASCAC Leaders:
Scoring - Brian Clark (Salem) - 18.8
Rebounding - Jon Greenberg (MCLA) - 10.9
Assists - Judah Jackson (Bridgewater), Apollos Wade (Salem) - 3.7

[Hugenerd]

Nice work