NAC

buck1053 · January 15, 2009, 02:16:58 PM

Quote from: leelowlang on January 13, 2009, 01:50:56 AM
League play, essentially, gets under way on Tuesday...

Thomas at Husson
Johnson at Castleton
Lyndon at Green Mountain
Farmington at Maritime

UMF picked up a 1st semester win over Thomas...should be interesting to see who plays well on opening night in a wide open NAC.

Johnson State (7-4, 1-0) 77, Castleton State 61 (1-10, 0-1)
Husson (4-8, 1-0) 75, Thomas (3-7, 0-2) 72
Maine Maritime (5-7, 1-0) 67, Maine-Farmington (3-7, 1-1) 64
Lyndon State (4-3, 1-0) 70, Green Mountain (7-3, 0-1) 66

After the first group of league games, it does indeed appear to be wide open, though it seems like a certainty that Castleton will be bringing up the rear. 1-10 is pretty bad, and I don't think they've played that strong of a non-conference schedule.

Green Mountain's got the best overall record, yet they lost to the 4-3 Lyndon St. Husson did get the win, but their record is perplexing -- 4-8 -- when they were picked to win the league, and they only beat Thomas by three. All in all, it does look like things are pretty even, with the exception of Castleton, which, again, seems like it is easily the worst team in the league.

Just wondering if there are any midseason losses/gains that could make the second semester a different story for any of these teams.

leelowlang · January 30, 2009, 11:32:45 AM

Mid-season...LSC added three solid guards to bolster their backcourt led by Ben Sackett...can really score/shoot w/range.

Tonight's Games:

Husson (4-1 NAC) at Lyndon State (2-3 NAC)
MMA (1-4 NAC) at Johnson State (3-2 NAC)
UMF (4-2 NAC) at Green Mountain (2-3 NAC)
Thomas (4-2 NAC) at Castleton State (1-4 NAC)

buck1053 · January 30, 2009, 11:48:48 AM

Quote from: leelowlang on January 30, 2009, 11:32:45 AM
Mid-season...LSC added three solid guards to bolster their backcourt led by Ben Sackett...can really score/shoot w/range.

Tonight's Games:

Husson (4-1 NAC) at Lyndon State (2-3 NAC)
MMA (1-4 NAC) at Johnson State (3-2 NAC)
UMF (4-2 NAC) at Green Mountain (2-3 NAC)
Thomas (4-2 NAC) at Castleton State (1-4 NAC)

Thanks leelowlang, I think we're the only two posting on this board.

How do you see this weekend's games shaking out?

leelowlang · February 06, 2009, 11:54:49 AM

You got it Buck...

So last night a few non-league games...

GMC plays West Conn tough in Danbury, LSC just misses a season-sweep of Plymouth, and JSC gets stunned at home by St. Joseph (Vt.).

Husson appears, still, to be the team to beat although Farmington appears more than capable of slaying the Eagles in the playoffs. Thomas is so dangerous with their offense. Johnson could make some noise but haven't had any signature win in or out of the league. Lyndon and Green Mountain are both capable of beating anybody in the league. MMA has been a bit of enigma. Big win at Thomas last week but also lose at home to CSC. Castleton is struggling with W & L's but playing better lately.

As it stands...

#1 Husson Bye, #2 UMF Bye, #3 Thomas hosting #6 MMA, #4 Johnson hosting #5 Green Mountain

Long way to go though...

buck1053 · February 06, 2009, 02:07:24 PM

So, do six teams make the NAC playoffs? I'm new to following the league and was assuming only four made it in.

leelowlang · February 10, 2009, 01:09:30 AM

Correct, I believe.

POY Candidates?

Castleton...nope
Green Mountain...Fabian Ferreira
Husson...Brock Bradford, Matt McKenzie
Johnson...John Foley, Bobby Shedd
Lyndon...Brad Durr, Caesar Martinez
Maine-Farmington...Josh Tanguay, Eric Taylor
Maine Maritime...nope
Thomas...Andrew Duncanson, Isaiah Brathwaite

At this point:

1. McKenzie - Husson
2. Duncanson - Thomas
3. Bradford - Husson
4. Ferreira - Green Mountain
5. Durr - Lyndon

buck1053 · February 22, 2009, 11:33:15 AM

NAC Conference tournament is set.

First Round:
No. 6 Maine Maritime (9-16 overall, 5-9 NAC) at No. 3 Maine-Farmington (12-11 overall, 10-4 NAC)
No. 5 Johnson State (12-13, 6-8) at No. 4 Green Mountain (15-10, 7-7)

Semifinals:
Johnson St./Green Mountain winner at No. 1 Thomas (14-10, 11-3)
Maritime/Farmington winner vs. No. 2 Husson (14-11, 11-3)

Thomas Won 4, 8-2
Husson Lost 1, 8-2
Maine-Farmington Won 1, 7-3 , Green Mountain Won 2, 5-5,

In the first round, both sets of matchups produced splits during the regular season. Farmington lost at Maritime and Maritime lost at Farmington. With Green Mountain-Johnson State, each team won on the road.
I'll have to go with the top seed in both matchups, as both are sporting better records over the last 10 games than their opponent.

In the semis, that would have Farmington facing No. 2 Husson. They split during the regular season, each winning on the road. Husson dropped its last game of the season, but reeled off four wins in a row prior to that, all by big margins. A week off will give them what they need to top Farmington and reach the final. (If Husson's mentality is fragile, though, a week off to ponder the loss, could help Farmington score the upset)

Thomas beat Green Mountain during both of their meetings this season, but only by six and seven points. Both teams are on a bit of a roll, Green Mountain winning its last two, including knocking Husson from the top seed, while Thomas has won four in a row heading into the tournament. Being at Thomas, the edge has to go to the No. 1 seed. (If Green Mountain can show the kind of performance that helped them top Husson on Saturday, then they could upset Thomas)

In the final, the top two teams should meet, with each winning at home during the regular season. The edge has to go to the home team, Thomas, who also had the last victory between the two teams.

Leelowlang, what do you think?

buck1053 · February 25, 2009, 12:51:42 PM

NAC First Round results (from Tuesday night)

No. 3 Maine-Farmington 58, No. 6 Maine Maritime 53:
Farmington cruised into halftime with a 35-22 lead, and hung on in the second half for the victory.
Eric Taylor was dominant with 20 points and 12 rebounds for Farmington (although he did have six turnovers), which also got 10 points and five rebounds from Andrew Dean. Derek DiFrederico led Maritime with 15 points, while Jake Manner added 10 points.

Neither team seems to have shot the ball very well; 38 percent for Farmington for the game, 31.4 percent for Maritime from the field. Maritime was 4-16 from 3 (25 percent), while Farmington went 6-21 (28.6 percent).

No. 4 Green Mountain 86, No. 5 Johnson State 77:
It was 40-27 at halftime, another 13-point halftime lead for the winner (just like Maritime and Farmington), and Green Mountain was able to keep scoring for the win (despite giving up 50 points to Johnson in the second half).

Rui Carmo paced Green Mountain with 20 points and 11 rebonds, while Rich Bailey scored 18 points and dished out six assists. Other double-figure scorers were Scott McGuinness (11 points) and Abraham Saccoh (10 points), while Gerard Johnson led all rebounders with 13 boards to add to his nine points.

Bobby Shedd led Johnson with 20 points and nine rebounds. Ian Passino and Leandro Martinez both finished with 15 points, and Michael Bosch also reached double figures in scoring with 12 points, to go with eight rebounds.

This weekend is the NAC semifinals and finals, starting Friday at 6 p.m. with No. 1 Thomas (14-10 overall , 11-3 NAC) taking on No. 4 Green Mountain (16-10, 7-7 NAC). That will be followed by No. 2 Husson (14-11, 11-3) vs. No. 3 Maine-Farmington (13-11, 10-4).

The finals, I believe, will take place on Saturday.

I'm still sticking with my prediction that No. 1 Thomas and No. 2 Husson will meet in the championship game. Based on the low-scoring (and poor shooting) in Farmington's game against Maritime, I don't think they have what it takes to top Husson. Green Mountain has shown the ability to score plenty of points, but they've also shown their propensity for giving up plenty of points as well and seem to not be able to close games out effectively. They will have to be able to do that to overcome Thomas.

buck1053 · February 27, 2009, 05:17:44 PM

Leelowlang,

Since I think you're the only other person posting on here, I thought I'd share the link to livestats for tonight's games. I am assuming this will work for the championship game as well.

Here's the link:

http://livestats.prestosports.com/nacathletics/

Game 1 -- No. 1 Thomas vs. No. 4 Green Mountain -- 6 p.m.
Game 2 -- No. 2 Husson vs. No. 3 Maine Farmington -- follows game 1

Championship Game is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.

buck1053 · February 28, 2009, 11:46:39 AM

Well, it's No. 1 Thomas vs. No. 2 Husson in the NAC championship today.

Thomas got out to a big halftime lead and held off a Green Mountain comeback attempt in the second half for a 90-84 win.

Husson was able to get a layup at the buzzer to pull off a 67-65 win.

I'll take Thomas over Husson in the championship.

leelowlang · March 01, 2009, 04:53:23 PM

I had Thomas as well. The more experienced, whether that had a real effect or not I'm not sure, Husson squad gets it done. McKenzie was again the man essentially as he was all year long. Perras had a strong, strong last month or so of the season and was an X factor in the semi's and finals.

I haven't yet taken a close look at the statistics or find out how Husson pulled away as at my last check Thomas led by one at the break.

Both of the teams, along with Farmington, should be right back in these similar spots next season with Thomas as the favorite losing only Liebowitz I believe. Husson loses Perras, Kissinger, and Figueroa I think and Farmington graduates Neil, Howell, and Kerschner. Most of the rest of the league, except maybe Castleton but even they lose arguably their best player in Cayea, has significant loss with regards to seniors.

I'm sure Husson will draw a Middlebury or maybe even old conference nemesis in Elms. Certainly no at-large love for Thomas. I wonder if any other NAC schools will get a invite to the ECAC's.

Got to go Top 3 in the Northeast as:

1. Middlebury/Elms
2. Elms/Middlebury
3. Dartmouth

larry_u · March 02, 2009, 04:41:40 PM

Can someone post your NCAA team's profiles in here:

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=6299.0

leelowlang · March 31, 2009, 11:40:00 PM

Coach Shipley stepping away from hoop at Castleton

http://www.csc.vsc.edu/athletics/news/03272009.htm

buck1053 · April 06, 2009, 12:15:58 PM

Quote from: leelowlang on March 31, 2009, 11:40:00 PM
Coach Shipley stepping away from hoop at Castleton

http://www.csc.vsc.edu/athletics/news/03272009.htm

Any word on potential candidates?

broke_ya_ankles · April 06, 2009, 01:37:06 PM

how desirable is the Castleton State Job? I mean yes its a DIII job so it has its appeal in its own right, however, how appealing is it on the scale of a DIII job in New England?

Please no one take this as a shot at CSC because its not, its simply being unfamiliar with the NAC and CSC in general, I do not want to base too much on just this 2-20 something season. Is it truly that difficult of a place to win/recruit good enough players to be competitive at the top of one of the lower conferences in D3 New England?