MBB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[NJBALLERZ]

I think what happened to William Paterson with their head coach being let go during their season after they were off to an amazing start is a lot tougher than people make it seem. I give tons of credit to Bright Mensah stepping up as a senior leader and going into every game and playing his hardest and getting the most out of the guys around him.  It says a lot about his character and about his leadership.

That being said they are still in a tough hole, especially since they forfeited a game against Ramapo... does anyone know if that game is going to get made up?

Lots of action this week as most teams in the league have 3 games because of the snow cancelling last Saturday's games. Huge win in the NJAC for playoff seeding. By Saturday night we will have a better feel for who will be in our out of the conference tournament.

Good luck to all. Excited to watch some of these games and stream them.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

That being said they are still in a tough hole, especially since they forfeited a game against Ramapo... does anyone know if that game is going to get made up?

No. That game is gone. It is a loss for WP and a win for Ramapo 2-0. The conference already ruled on it and then the NCAA followed with the same ruling a few weeks after the game. There are no grounds to make it up. Decision by the team put them behind the 8-ball.

[NJBALLERZ]

Interesting.. Looks like it is going to cost them down the road.. Thanks for the info.

[TheOsprey]

d-mac is correct.  The team should never have forfeited that game.  That game should have been a statement game for the team.  WPU should have took their frustrations out on the rest of the league by bonding together.  However, the season has unraveled and the rest of the league is not going to cut them any slack.  Most of the teams are looking for payback from all the success that Willy P. has had against them in recent years.

This is certainly a big week in the njac and the pecking order should be clear soon.

[NJBALLERZ]

Big game for Rutgers Newark tonight.. looking to get revenge in the Golden Dome against the Ospreys after they got run out of the gym earlier in the  year against Stockton. After losing twice to NJCU and once to Stockton, Newark looks to prove they can beat the best tonight at 8 PM. I've been looking forward to this game for a while.

I predict Newark answers back and looks to keep their foot on the pedal heading towards the playoffs. Newark over Stockton, 73-67.

Great way to start off the week with some NJAC Hoops!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

For the third consecutive year, Hoopsville will air for 12 hours as the regular season enters the final four weeks. Dave McHugh will chat with coaches, administrators, student-athletes, and others involved in Division III basketball from around the country. Other guests will include those who have Division III roots or appreciate the division and the game along with the student-athletes who play the sport.

Hoopsville will air from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (and maybe later) on Thursday, February 4 live from the WBCA/NABC Studio. You can see what guests are scheduled, get more information, and watch the show here: http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2015-16/feb4

You can also read the press release about the show: http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/hoopsville-marathon-2016

Here is the guest list as we speak. All times are Eastern and subject to change. Additional guests to be added if and when necessary:


   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Time	Guest	School
10:15am	Connie Tilley	St. Norbert (WBB) - WBCA Center Court
10:40am	Jamie Purdy	Peidmont (WBB)
11:00am	Keri Carollo	UW-Whitewater (WBB) - Nat'l Committee Chair
11:20am	Brent Pollari	Saint Mary's (Minn.) (WBB)
11:40am	Kent Madsen	No. 21 Wheaton (Ill.) (WBB)
12:00pm	Russell Loyd	Rose-Hulman (MBB)
12:20pm	Kevin Broderick	Nazareth (MBB)
12:40pm	Justin Scott	Arcadia (MBB)
1:00pm	Sam Hargraves	No. 12 Alma (MBB)
1:20pm	Lenny Reich	Mount Union (SID)
1:40pm	Maureen Webster	Clarkson (WBB)
2:00pm	Betsy Witman	York (Pa.) (WBB)
2:20pm	Sara Lee	Denison (WBB)
2:40pm	Klay Kneuppel	Wisconsin Lutheran (MBB)
3:00pm	Brian Van Haaften	Buena Vista (MBB) - Nat'l Committee Chair
3:30pm	Sydney Moss	No. 1 Thomas More (WBB)
3:45pm	Aaron Rousell	Bucknell (WBB) - former Chicago coach
4:00pm	Tim Shanahan	Staten Island (WBB)
4:20	Pat Cunningham	Trinity (Texas) (MBB) - NABC Coach's Corner
4:50pm	Bubba Smith	Sewanee (MBB)
5:15pm	Ben Strong	Former Guilford All-American
5:30pm	Kevin Connors	ESPN SportsCenter Anchor - Ithaca alumnus
6:00pm	Kristen Dowling	Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (WBB)
6:20pm	Allison Coleman	Sage (WBB)
6:40pm	Landry Kosmalski	Swarthmore (MBB)
7:00pm	Dave Niland	No. 23 Penn State-Behrend (MBB)
7:20pm	Aaron Galletta	Lasell (MBB)
7:40pm	John Baron	Gwynedd-Mercy (MBB)
8:00pm
8:20pm
8:40pm	Melissa Hodgdon	Wheaton (Mass.) (WBB)
9:00pm	G.P. Gromacki	No. 2 Amherst (WBB)
9:20pm	James Wagner
9:40pm	HAPPY HOUR	Free-for-all of calls, tweets, and fun!

We hope to get at least the full show on a podcast, or several podcast, during the on Friday. You can find it here:
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hoopsville/id1059517087

Don't forget you can always interact with us:
Website: www.d3hoopsville.com
Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #Hoopsville
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville
Email: hoopsville@d3hoops.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/d3hoopsville

And a reminder the Hoopsville Fundraising Project has begun yet again. Please consider helping us cover Division III basketball the way it deserves to be covered. If you can not donate, please don't worry about - we understand. At least share the campaign with anyone you think might be interested: http://igg.me/at/hoopsville-fundraiser/x/6029509

Also, if you know any advertisers interested in promoting their company or products on the show, send them our way: hoopsville@d3hoops.com

Thanks!

[NJBALLERZ]

Stockton has been my pick all year long to win the NJAC. It appears to me, that they are starting to click as a unit and figure it out a little bit, just at the right time.

I was able to make it down to the game this Saturday @ Stockton as they totally dismantled a very athletic and good Ramapo basketball team. The Ospreys were playing with energy and a motor that we have yet to see for a full 40 minutes from them. They were knocking down everything, but more importantly doing it on the defensive side of the basketball.

Stockton has a huge game this Wednesday as they travel to Jersey City and look to get some payback on the Gothic Knights. If Stockton can find a way to carry over their performance from Saturday on the defensive side, they are a very dangerous team come this Saturday and tournament time. Stockton has not been swept by a team all year in the NJAC and I do not see it happening this year. Stockton over NJCU in the NJAC Game of the Week, 73-66.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Regional Rankings: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2016/02/10/first-2016-regional-rankings-released-today/

[Knightstalker]

NJCU wrapped up the regular season title, first round bye and home court for the tournament on Saturday against Montclair.  The Knights are peaking at the right time and I hope I get a chance to catch a playoff game.  It has been tough the last few years getting to a game.

Since it has been a while a Stalkerette report, she is now 14, 5'7" with long arms and the starting center on her Rec and AAU team.  She has long arms and is an outstanding defender and rebounder and finally putting it together on the offensive end.  Coaches are starting to put their best defenders on her or running out players to foul her.  She plays with no fear and her teammates hate practicing against her because she is so physical.  She will take on players that have 3 or 4 inches and 50 pounds on her, even the boys don't want to play against her.  Proud dad bragging over.

I doubt she will end up playing for an NJAC team, she has only one college in mind right now, the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. She wants to become a Navy doctor. 

[hoya73]

Good luck to her Knightstalker.  Lofty aspirations indeed.  It's my first year in the NJAC and the competition is fierce, to say the least.  Looking forward to the tournament.

[phil]

Kinghtstalker ... !4? Good lord, where has the time gone??? Mine are 15 & 11 and both are softball players. The youngest already has won two national championships and plays on teams in Tennessee and Texas. I remember meeting you at a TCNJ v. NJCU game before we had any kids!

[bulk19]

Knightstalker -
I remember reading the occasional Stalkerette updates back in the day when you'd give her a mention in the old political forum boards here... 

Best of luck to her in her admirable pursuits; the world needs more Navy doctors than we do power forwards! 

[Knightstalker]

NJAC tournament is set.  The first round has 1 seed NJCU and 2 seed Stockton with byes, 5 TCNJ at 4 Ramapo and 6 WPU at 3 Rutgers Newark.

Link to NJAC website bracket page.
http://www.njacsports.com/news/2016/2/17/MBB_0217161445.aspx?path=mbball

[Knightstalker]

Phil, we are getting old.  The Stalkerette is playing rec softball again this year, probably starting at first base.  She is also running track for her middle school, she did the long jump last year and cleared over 13 feet by the end of the season, she tried the shot put but is too skinny for it, I was a shot putter and she wanted to try.  She is also going to run hurdles this year and maybe the 400 and 800.  She can't wait until next year when she can start high jumping. 

[NJBALLERZ]

First round of the NJAC Playoffs today. Two games on slate this evening as #5 TCNJ travels up north to #4 Ramapo and #6 William Paterson heads to #3 Rutgers Newark.

Ramapo swept TCNJ in the regular season and is looking to continue that trend tonight. TCNJ a pre-season #8 team in the conference has surprised some teams this year and found a way to get in the playoffs, kudos to them. Ramapo has done a terrific job with a starting lineup that consists of 4 Sophomores and 1 big time senior in Frank Nock.

William Paterson might be the best 6 seed this league has seen in a while with Mensah and Bridgeman leading the way. Newark shouldn't be too concerned though as they have a couple solid seniors themselves in Snow and McDaniel who can fill it up. Snow and McDaniel just combined for 70+ points this past weekend at Ramapo.

Excited for the first round to kick off. First game is at 6PM while Newark hosts WP at 7PM. I will have both my laptops up streaming simultaneously. PLAYOFF TIME BABY!!!