MBB: Great Northeast Athletic Conference

[GnacAlum55]

Thanks for the update on the state of the league.  I am sad to see WNEC go, but there appear to be some good teams on the horizon.  I would assume that Saint Joe's has the best shot.  I've heard great things about their facilities (not just for basketball).  Mount Ida and Lasall are probably good options too, because they are in Boston.  I think Anna Maria was pretty good once, but have fallen off lately, but maybe it would help them if they were in a new league.  Newbury is obviously out because they have no facilities, so it looks like a 4 school race!  Any predictions?  At least this gives us something to chat about until Oct. 15!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I can't see Anna Maria getting in.  Their facilities stink as well and no one likes driving up there.  I'm sure the CCC would be fine letting them go, but I doubt the GNAC will take them.

[d3bballinboston]

The GNAC needs to find a school with baseball. Only schools with baseball are St. Joe's of Maine , AMC and Newbury.  The need to replace WNEC's baseball team to keep their AQ.  Facilities is not that big of an issues as Newbury uses Hellenic College for all of their events and has a 5 year contract with them.   Hellenic has no teams of their own.  This situation works out fine. It is the Celtics old practice gym.
They also use GNAC Member Pine Manor College's softball and soccer fields for events.  Most of Newbury's game managment is better than a good portion of the GNAC.  I was at a basketball game there this year and was a very good event and actually has play by play for their events.  In just the opposite end I seen an Emerson College home contest that was managed very poorly. 

St. joes facilities are awesome. The only concern is the added travel to boston teams.  The northern schools must be in favor of adding them though.

Next week is the GNAC site visits it will be interesting to see feedback on what everything turns out to be.

[GnacAlum55]

I disagree with Ballin.  Facilities are a big deal.  Emerson finally built a gym, so everone in the league will play on campus.  As a (former) player, it is terrible to go to an off campus site to play.  I'd rather a longer bus ride to Saint Joe's than a bad gym like Newbury or Anna Maria (at least theirs is on campus).  Just my opinion.  Maybe Newbury and Anna Maria should try for the NAC.  Probably better academically for them (a lot of former JC's play there now).
I still vote for Saint Joe's - not that it matters.
Who votes anyway?  Is it AD's or presidents from the GNAC.

[GnacAlum55]

Ok, I have too much time on my hands.........
If baseball is the key, and not facilities, here's the breakdown:
Mt. Ida and Lasell - no baseball
Saint Joseph's - defending NAC champion
Anna Maria - has a roster of like 20 guys.  Looks ok.
Newbury - Club sport.
My vote still goes to Saint Joe's.
I feel even better about it after researching a little more.

[d3bballinboston]

i believe it is the Presidents, but not to sure who votes to be honest. The gym that Newbury uses is not bad.  And has gone over some major renovations and will be continued this summer.  .  Academically Newbury fits just fine with the GNAC except for maybe suffolk and emerson.  But other then that the demographics of AMC , Ida, Lasell and Newbury are nearly the same.  AMC is probally worse then the other 3.  I do agree with you that i think st. joe's is the favorite. but when presidents and AD's or whoever votes look at the cost of increased travel, that will be an issue.  Also The GNAC is actually looking to take more than 1 school.  In fact i have herd them entertaining the idea of taking them all.  They aren't just going to replaces WNEC.  

Newbury's club baseball has about 12 guys this year and will be full varsity next season.

[GnacAlum55]

Ballin:  You play at Newbury, don't you!!!
You guys had a pretty good year.  I saw the kid from Framingham in HS, very good player.  Is that you?

[d3bballinboston]

nah.. i dont play at newbury.  havent played basketball since HS.

[GnacAlum55]

I believe you 
Will Newbury apply for the NAC if they don't get into the GNAC?

[d3bballinboston]

no idea if they will apply to the NAC.. The travel is awful. And the NAC rejected Newbury 3 times already.  There is talk of some teams making a 4th league.. who knows.

OH.. i am a GNAC alum like your screen name.

[sully6827]

To correct a minor point, Mount Ida has had club baseball for the past 6 years, and would probably make it a varsity sport if it joins the GNAC.

[GnacAlum55]

That sounds like it would give them a leg up if the GNAC wants to stay in Boston.  I've never seen their gym, but I heard it is pretty nice.  Which is a better gym, Mount Ida or Saint Joe's?  It sounds like it may come down to those two - still sad to see WNEC go though. 

[d3bballinboston]

mt. ida wont be allowed to make their club baseball varsity due to title 9 issues.. they have to add at least 3 varsity women's sports.

they have football, men's lacrosse and men's volleyball that make their numbers heavily favored in males.

but they do have a nice gym. but st. joe's is way better.

if you were going on these things with remembering that baseball is key.

if you were going on facilties. st. joe's gets the nod

location, newbury gets the nod because ida and lasell don't have baseball.  keep in mind AMC is really only 40 min away and still is closer then WNEC was.

if it comes down to academics:  st. joe's will get the nod.

if they dont care about academics and location and want to keep travel down but facilities is an issue it will be anna maria.

if it comes to game management.  st. joes and newbury are the best.. i been to events at AMC, Ida, and lasell.. it honesty it was awful. 

i'd rate the teams in this order at this point.

st. joes of maine
newbury or anna maria
mt. ida - no baseball
lasell - no baseball

something else to think about. GNAC needs two more men's tennis teams to get an AQ in tennis (newbury is the only one that has this)

Also only needs 3 more teams to get AQ's for Men's Volleyball  (newbury, ida, lasell all have)

so with that being said.. the GNAC could forget about making baseball their spring sport Team AQ and add ida, lasell and newbury and just make men's volleyball their team AQ spring sport, and not even worry about baseball.. this would allow them to add 3 boston schools and really keep travel low.

just wanted to through that whole twist in there to see what everyone's reactions is. The problem with all ths?? who knows what the GNAC ad's and presidents areactually thinking.

[heythere]

Sounds interesting, but your saying to forget about baseball and use mens volleyball, are u kidding me, is that even a sport, and if so who cares about mens volleyball. I am pretty sure everyone else is saying the same thing also, please never put mens volleyball and baseball in the same thought again. your not only embrassing me but your embrassing urself also for even mentioning MENS VOLLEYBALL.

everyone knows st.joes will be the one to get in. they have a awesome gym and were the nac champions in baseball. remember there are only two sports to think about basketball and baseball.

[GnacAlum55]

everyone knows st.joes will be the one to get in. they have a awesome gym and were the nac champions in baseball.

Ahhh....someone from Saint Joe's chimes in!  Good to hear from you.

Seriously, it will be interesting to see who gets in.  Does anyone know when the vote is?

Also, is there any discussion about splitting into 2 divisions?  If Saint Joe's comes in, it could be:

North
Saint Joe's
Norwich
S. Vermont
Daniel webster
Rivier

South
Johnson and Wales
Emerson
Emmanuel
Suffolk
Albertus Magnus

Then you could play your side twice, and the other once.  18 conference games is a lot, so this would cut it down, and give the opportunity for more non-conf. games.  Any thoughts?