MBB: Great Northeast Athletic Conference

[Saint-Paul]

Saints get crushed by JWU 116 - 74.  This game was over early with JWU scoring 56 points by halftime, and then another 60 points in the second half just for good measure.  Obviously teams have scouting reports on their opponents, so I just don't understand why the Saints were trying to run with this team?  You know how quick and athletic the JWU players are, and you also know the uptempo style they are going to try to play, so why not use some basic coaching tactics to try and slow them down.  If you can slow down a running team, get the players frustrated that they are not going to get their point totals, it might be possible to goad them into taking bad shots.  At least you are keeping your team in the game with a shot at a last second bomb to steal the win.  I have never seen the Saints try anything close to this basic coaching strategy.  With the Saints running and launching quick 3 's, this game just looked like a lopsided pick up game.  It will take a very well coached, patient, hot shooting team to upset the Wildcats this year.

[D3HoopJunkie]

Ferraro, Hoops and anyone else who may have asked regarding the D1 transfer.......Unfortunately I think I may have been hornswoggled here as I have tried to get more info but have come up empty. I haven't seen anyone at the games either so I think this may have either been smoke and mirrors or something else may have happened that caused whoever it may have been to change his mind? Sorry for the misinformation.......I may just keep all info I hear to myself until I have concrete evidence from here on out LOL.

As for the last few games, the Falcons have rebounded nicely in my opinion since the blowout loss. But like most have noticed (Hoops, WPI)......JWU is simply destroying everyone right now. With that said I think this team being as young as they are have responded quite nicely. Ups and Downs....Sure. Will they struggle to play complete basketball from time to time......Absolutely but again the fact that this team comes out hungry and eager shows me a lot considering that they have 1 senior (Marc Wilson) on the entire roster who I would consider an actually game contributor.

I have to say this.....I love Ryan Pittman. True Freshman PG who is going to be a great player for Coach Oliver over the next 4 years. I haven't realized till recently what a nice shot he has from the outside. He needs to improve his strength an ability to finish strong in the open court and around contact but he is going to be special. He reminds me of Arshad Jackson when he first came to the program. As Arshad got older and a bit stronger he turned into a really nice player for Coach Oliver and I can see Pittman doing the same thing and maybe even being better by the time it is all said and done.

Chaunce Dunbar!!! He needs to step up and find his stroke from deep. He is struggling mightily right now and we need him to find it within himself to step up and bring back that sweet stroke we were all accustomed to seeing in the beginning of the season and last year as a freshman. If he can start hitting shots again that will help this team GREATLY going forward. I have a feeling if he doesnt find it he may begin to lose minutes to Dayron Caldwell who is shooting the ball extremly well. He is undersized and an absolute liability on defense but at this point if Chaunce cant find his range I have no doubt that Oliver will make the change and sacrifice defense for a little more offense.

JQ is a beast an clearly the leader and focal point of this offense. He just need to play smart and keep doing what he is doing.

Shonteay Lovell has slowed up a bit. I think this just may be a bit of freshman fatigue. He is still outstanding but he needs to keep his effort up as the season goes on. Pretty amazing.....if you look at his stats and say where Ray Askew or Darius Watson was there freshman years.....This kids are far superior. He has a chance be perhaps the best player ever in terms of scoring and rebounding that this school has ever had. Pretty outstanding stuff!

[Saint-Paul]

With ten games left in the season the Saints stand at 3 - 12.  The only three wins coming against GNAC teams.  Over the last several years the Saints have very few wins against non GNAC opponents.  The Saints hopes for a top four finish are fading fast. 

     A quick check of the Saints roster shows only four players, two freshman and two upperclassmen, have left the team so far this year.  That is a big improvement over past years when a lot more players have quit during the season.  One interesting addition to the Saints roster is a player who was recruited four years ago, quit on this coach after his freshman year, took two and a half years off, and apparently returned to the team for the last ten games of his senior year.  I guess the reward for quitting the team is a two and a half year vacation and an instant roster spot and a wonderful senior night.  Not sure what kind of message that sends to the underclassmen who have been working hard since October.  Interesting coaching philosophy.  Can't wait to see how that plays out in the locker room.   

[Ferraro13]

No no Junkie, your info is as good as it gets. And guess what? Grant Ellis appears on the albertus roster today. A 6'5 guard/forward, transferring in from Iona. Don't know much else, but I'm hoping that maybe we may have a different game next time we face JWU!

[D3HoopJunkie]

Unbeliavable! It appears my info and source was right! Outstanding to have a player with his experience on a squad who is overall inexperienced. I did some digging and it looks like he started at Iona and was then a member at Southern University. Both obviously D1 programs. Hey it never hurts to add depth with a talent like this. Only helps!!

[7express]

+1 D3HJ 

Does Coach Oliver eventually settle down during a 50 point loss - or does he just get angrier and angrier?  I love how animated he is, but I just can't wrap my head around him on the bench for this type of game!

I'd always think it's much easier to take the 60 point beating.  Imagine if they were up the whole game and lost on a buzzer beater??  The HS team I assist with lost by 1 last night on a made field goal with like 5 seconds left....I would have rather lost by 50.

So since I've posted this: the HS team I coach lead by 3 in the final 60 seconds and lost by 1, and in the 2 preceding games beat the reining conference champions, and a team that lost by 1 in state final last year by 13 (after trailing at halftime) and then beat a team that was unbeaten in conference coming in, and receiving votes in the state poll. 

So, can you guys give me Tabasco/Sriracha sauce or at the minimum barbecue sauce to make the crow taste better

[lildave678]

I'd imagine anyone who was playing D1 would make an immediate impact in the GNAC, but he did only play 1 game for Southern it appears. Played 7 minutes and scored 5 points. Think Mr. Sledge had any influence on this haha?

[Ferraro13]

http://hoopgroup.com/elite-blog/elite-camp-updates/grant-ellis-leads-the-pack-at-hoop-group-elite-basketball-camp/

he should make an immediate impact if hes in game shape

[lildave678]

Just noticed he went to the same high school as Marc Wilson as well

[D3HoopJunkie]

LilDave,

Just saw he attended high school with Marc Wilson and Med Fofana and I am certain he knows some of the other players as well. He should make an immediate impact. He was recruited by a number of D1 schools. Coach Oliver has strong ties with the Iona program and as we have seen over the last few season he has been able to establish good relations with players who are looking to finish there careers on a high note with playing time in a high octane, fast paced offense.

I love Chaunce Dunbar but I can certainly see him losing minutes now that this kid is here. Unfortunately you cant blame Coach Oliver because Chaunce just hasn't been able to find his range as of late. With this kids ability to get to the hoop and score I can really see the lane opening up for Lovell and JQ. His ability to get to the hoop should open up for more offensive rebounds and second chance points. The GNAC isn't the most disciplined of conference so he will be able to draw defenders away when his shot goes up leading to more and more put backs.

[Saint-Paul]

Very quietly Lasell is putting together a very nice season at 12 - 4.  Non conference wins over Brandies and RIC, along with GNAC wins over Anna Marie ( twice ), St Joe, Albertus, and Mt Ida.  They have good scoring balance with 5 or 6 players getting close to double figures every night and a nice mixture of inside outside production.  That is what I was hoping to see  out of the Saints this year but it appears Lasell is just a better run program.  Lasell still has to play Emmanuel twice and JWU twice, which will say a lot about their playoff status.

[Saint-Paul]

Lasell scored an easy 96 points rolling to a never in doubt 96 - 85 victory of the Emmanuel Saints this afternoon.  Lasell is not an exceptionally big or athletic team.  The have one decent big man with a nice touch touch around the basket but the rest of the team is just average size players who move the ball well, make open shots, and defend the basket very well.  They have good team chemistry and play a very smart half court game.  The Saints on the other hand, used their trademark full court press to hand easy baskets, wide open jump shots, and many free throws to Lasell.  Again the Saints came out of the halftime locker room and gave up another 50 point second half.  That is the fourth or fifth time that has happened this year.  Don't understand why teaching defense is so hard at the college level.  Lasell hands the Saints their 13 th loss of the season.

    The Saints new addition to the roster is now in the starting lineup.  That didn't take long.  If he was that good four years ago why did he quit the team and take a two and a half year vacation?

[Saint-Paul]

Lasell is now 10 - 0 in the GNAC conference and doesn't play JWU until Feb 3.  By that time they will most likely be 12 - 0.  That is be a very telling week since Lasell must play JWU, Albertus, and JWU again all in a six day time frame.  Getting up for one big game is difficult enough but 3 big games in one week will really tell what Lasell is made of.  May skip the Saints games that week and tune in to the Lasell games to see some great D3 basketball.

[D3HoopJunkie]

It has been a long layoff for the Falcons as they enter tonight's GNAC contest with Suffolk. With the cancelations of last Saturdays game the Falcons haven't taken the court for game action since Martin Luther King Day and I for one think this "break" came at the perfect time.

Albertus played a brutal stretch of games including the blowout on the road at JWU and I just feel the rest was much needed for this young, inexperienced squad. I also think the extra time will allow our new D1 transfer Grant Ellis ample time to get acclimated to the offense and bond with the teammates he will be sharing the floor with. I have no doubt Oliver worked this team hard in practices with all the time off and I think it may pay dividends going forward the remainder of the season.

Sometimes a young squad just needs to step back, relax and get a good run of practices in to help them understand all aspects of what they should be doing on the court together as a collective unit

Can't wait to see this kid play tonight! He hasn't had a lot of opportunities at both Iona and Southern but regardless of that he was recruited for a reason to these D1 programs so now that he has a chance to be a full time participant we could see something special tonight!

[lildave678]

http://sportzedge.com/2016/01/26/despite-entirely-new-starting-five-albertus-magnus-basketball-keeps-on-winning/

Good to see us still getting notice from WTNH. With the way it's presented you'd never know JWU kicked us in the teeth but it does point out how young we are. I also like how in a "down" year the highlight reel items of practice are what was shown. That will get a kids attention even if we don't make it back to the NCAAs this year.