MBB: Great Northeast Athletic Conference

[Saint-Paul]

I watched about 15 minutes of the first half of the JWU / Lasell game.  The footspeed and athleticism of JWU was just too much for Lasell to handle.  The JWU quick hands and long arms made Lasell rush many shots that they would ordinarily make.  I am afraid it is a one horse race this year in the GNAC.

[lildave678]

It's certainly looking like that Saint and Falcons. I don't think AMC (or Lasell) will just lay down but the Falcons are just too young this year. I will say that we are better built for the upcoming years assuming what's here is here to stay.

[D3HoopJunkie]

JWU is as good of a team as there is in the Northeast this season. Say what you want about some of the NESCAC schools NEWMAC and so on......There aren't too many programs that have 2 legitimate players who can drop 30 on you on any given night. Most programs have that one superstar who can carry a team but not 2. Greenaway and Garrick are as good as you can get and this JWU team is about as good as I have seen this season. They do have flaws; make no mistake about it.....As I have mentioned in my one of my previous posts the lack of an interior scoring presence will hurt this team if they are fortunate enough to make the Big Dance.

What does separate this team vs a lot of teams that play there style of up and down, run and gun offense with speed and great shooting is there defense. A lot of times you see teams who have this incredible ability to score but they lack good team defense. I will be the first one to admit that even though I am an Albertus fan, specifically with last year's team and even 2 seasons ago the overall team defense was subpar. Sure Big Vic held down the lane and guys like Eian Davis, Tavon Sledge and Darius Watson got the occasional steal but the team defense as a whole left a lot of open perimeter shots that good teams will knock down time after time.

Not this JWU team however, they are tenacious and as Saint mentioned have outstanding foot speed. They play tight defense, switch on high balls screens and most of their players because of their experience are smart enough to know when to hedge over the top of screens or go underneath.  They are very good at closing in on shooters as well (again with foot speed)

While they are the hands down clear cut favorite to take the GNAC title we all have to remember that with this beautiful game we all love ANYTHING can happen. I like Lasells team this year; they beat my Falcons at home straight up but I just don't think they can pull off the upset over JWU in the GNAC tourney. I am not just saying this because I am an Albertus fan but I really think we are the only team capable of shocking the Wildcats because of our athleticism. I still believe it will be the matchup I know everyone is hoping for......JWU Wildcats vs Albertus Falcons for the GNAC Title in Providence

[Saint-Paul]

The 5 - 15 Saints struggled to hold onto a win over the scrappy 3 - 17 Rivier Raiders by a score of 76 - 69 this afternoon.  Defense not a top priority this afternoon as both teams had open looks from the perimeter and also in the paint.  A few free throws at the end of the game decided this contest.  If it were not for playing the bottom teams of the GNAC I don't think the Saints would have any wins at all. I cannot remember the last time the Saints beat an above 0.500 team.  Good thing they play the Norwich Cadets next week.

[Saint-Paul]

Is it too early to start talking all conference?  I have put together a list of the best GNAC players I have seen this year.  However, most of those games were against the Saints so not sure how these guys have done against the rest of the league.

First Team :  Greenaway - JWU,  Garrick - JWU,  Lovell - AMC,  Omanovic - LAS,  Bradanese - AM

Second Team :  Jerrnigan - JWU,  Walters - AMC,  Marchand - LAS, Davis - EMM,  Arsenault - LAS

Third Team :  Delorey - AM, DeFillippi - IDA, Hogervorst - NOR, Wilson - AMC, Lewis - JWU

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'd put Walters on over Lovell for AMC - Lovell has really tailed off the last week or tow - it may be a typical freshman getting tired towards the end of the year.  While Walters seems to be coming on stronger as the season goes along.  I'm not watching every game like you guys, but from what I see, Walters seems to be far more important to the team winning late.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

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

[lildave678]

JWU right about where AMC has been the last couple of years. On the fringe with no real chances to move up unless there's a big move when the vRRO comes into play. JWU beat eastern but did they play anyone else RR?

Albertus losing to Anna Maria made me sad as well haha

[7express]

JWU right about where AMC has been the last couple of years. On the fringe with no real chances to move up unless there's a big move when the vRRO comes into play. JWU beat eastern but did they play anyone else RR?

Albertus losing to Anna Maria made me sad as well haha

Which Eastern??  I don't remember the guys playing each other, but I'm pretty sure the girls played this year.  Could you have gotten them confused Dave??

[AllStar]

JWU right about where AMC has been the last couple of years. On the fringe with no real chances to move up unless there's a big move when the vRRO comes into play. JWU beat eastern but did they play anyone else RR?

Albertus losing to Anna Maria made me sad as well haha

Which Eastern??  I don't remember the guys playing each other, but I'm pretty sure the girls played this year.  Could you have gotten them confused Dave??

J&W beat Eastern 72-59 in Mahwah, NJ at a Ramapo Tournament.

[Saint-Paul]

is the box score correct?  Albertus scored over 100 points and upset JWU?  The freshman knocked down 34 against probably the best defensive team in the GNAC? Wow.  that is why they play the games.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

It might be a holiday for those romantically inclined, but it is also getting down to the end of the Division III basketball season. Just two weeks remain between now and the end of the regular season and nothing has been determined.

On Sunday night's Hoopsville, Dave McHugh will talk to some teams who have emerged from no where to be in a position to surprise when their conference tournaments begin. McHugh also talks to a few teams who can't seem to be knocked off their conference pedestal, but still feel they have something to prove. And the hectic schedule of conference travel can take it's toll.

Sunday's show start at 7:00 pm ET and promises to go well into overtime. You can watch the show here: www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2015-16/feb14

Guests included (in order of appearance):
- Tara Macciocco, Marywood women's coach
- Dr. George Barber, Greenville men's coach
- Ruth Sinn, No. 8 St. Thomas women's coach (WBCA Center Court)
- Rusty Eggen, Northeast Region Report, WPI Sports Information Director
- Angela Santa Fe, Regis (Mass.) women's coach
- Andy Partee, Colorado College men's coach

You can also tune into the podcast(s) after the show has aired:
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
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And a reminder the Hoopsville Fundraising Project is halfway to the deadline but we are not that close to the goal. Please consider helping us cover Division III basketball the way it deserves to be covered: http://igg.me/at/hoopsville-fundraiser/x/6029509.

Thanks!

[lildave678]

Lose to Anna Maria, beat JWU, go figure!

Unfortunately for JWU this is a "bad" loss in terms of the regional rankings and pool C. While they may have had to win the GNAC to get in anywho, any conference loss has proved to be too much to overcome for the at-large.

It would be awesome to part 3 of this series in the finals. Unfortunately, Albertus might have to go on the road to Lasell who they've lost to twice this year.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Lose to Anna Maria, beat JWU, go figure!

Unfortunately for JWU this is a "bad" loss in terms of the regional rankings and pool C. While they may have had to win the GNAC to get in anywho, any conference loss has proved to be too much to overcome for the at-large.

It would be awesome to part 3 of this series in the finals. Unfortunately, Albertus might have to go on the road to Lasell who they've lost to twice this year.

They never had a real shot at Pool C - it's win or go home for them.

[falcons2010]

The GNAC is a one team bid league... I like this jwu team; they have two scoring options, great team defense, a very cool calm coach. They could win a game or two in the tournament if they have the right match-ups. I think the coast to the finals.. Lasell vs Albertus will be interesting; but Albertus is young and could play sloppy; something Lasell will take advantage of.