MBB: Great Northeast Athletic Conference

[Saint-Paul]

Saints start the new year the same way they ended the old year, getting hammered by Mary Washington 76 - 57.  Perhaps they should have scheduled Martha Washington instead.  Saints tried to surprise MWU with a new starting lineup, all guards, no big men on the court. I guess this was suppose to help the Saints outside shooting.  Well, it's back to the drawing board, Saints shot 29% for the game, and to compound the strategy gave up 56 rebounds to MWU.  This game was over early, with MWU taking a 33 - 19 halftime lead, and pushing it up to 24 points mid way through the second half.  I guess MWU was not caught by surprise with this game plan since the Saints actually did use 7 different starting lineups in their 7 first semester games.  Well, that's why these tournaments have consolation games.

[7express]

So I was able to add Mason Jones to my fantasy team as he was still on the waiver wire when I scooped him up.  Hopefully he doesn't disappoint, but usually when I draft someone they turn to crap, so apologies in advance! 

[Saint-Paul]

Saints get crushed by McDaniel, 77 - 48 in the consolation game of the MWU tournament.  Saints stick with their small lineup starting all guards and small forwards.  The game plan worked because the Saints shooting percentage moved all the way up from 29 to 31% for the game.  The five Emmanuel starters combined for 10 points in the whole game.  That is not a typo, TEN points.  While the
Saints were playing small ball, McDaniel was scoring at will, inside, outside, transition, it didn't matter. It's a long drive from Boston to Virginia just to get to get blown out twice.  The Saints could have gotten blown out closer to home and skipped the long drive.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Saints get crushed by McDaniel, 77 - 48 in the consolation game of the MWU tournament.  Saints stick with their small lineup starting all guards and small forwards.  The game plan worked because the Saints shooting percentage moved all the way up from 29 to 31% for the game.  The five Emmanuel starters combined for 10 points in the whole game.  That is not a typo, TEN points.  While the
Saints were playing small ball, McDaniel was scoring at will, inside, outside, transition, it didn't matter. It's a long drive from Boston to Virginia just to get to get blown out twice.  The Saints could have gotten blown out closer to home and skipped the long drive.

You wish that was a consolation game. LOL I had the "pleasure" of calling that game. Sorry for the tech challenges with the stream - our computer simply wasn't cooperating today.

To be honest, that was an ugly game and I was surprised by how much Emmanuel struggled. McDaniel isn't that great this season and they didn't look that good despite scoring at will. The Saints went about 10 minutes without scoring a single basket/point. Saints also would come down, shoot, miss, and go back on defense. Plenty of times shooting early in the shot clock. Played a better second half, but by the time they woke up the game was already 30 points and out of hand.

[falcons2010]

Any word on the mid year guys for the falcons? I know classes don't start until middle of month, so there is still time.

[Saint-Paul]

The 1 - 8 Saints return home from Virginia to face the 2 - 8 Suffolk Rams tonight.  This game should be a toss up.  Whoever shoots better than 29% should win this game.  Saints are glad to get back to the GNAC where they might actually have a chance to beat somebody. Their adventure into the mid Atlantic region was a disaster, shooting 29 and 31 % in two games and giving up 100 rebounds in the two game tournament.  Saints are better off just staying home and taking their pounding from local teams.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The 1 - 8 Saints return home from Virginia to face the 2 - 8 Suffolk Rams tonight.  This game should be a toss up.  Whoever shoots better than 29% should win this game.  Saints are glad to get back to the GNAC where they might actually have a chance to beat somebody. Their adventure into the mid Atlantic region was a disaster, shooting 29 and 31 % in two games and giving up 100 rebounds in the two game tournament.  Saints are better off just staying home and taking their pounding from local teams.

You know the second game was in Maryland, right? They did not participate in a tournament down at Mary Washington. They played at UMW one night and at McDaniel (Westminster, Md.) the second night.

And most coaches will tell you... to improve as a team and as a program, you have to go out an improve the quality of teams you play and the opponents. You can't just sit at home and wonder why your program is stagnant. You may take your lumps, but there are countless examples of teams that have improved greatly when they stopped playing easy opponents.

[falcons2010]

Saint - good luck this evenings.

Falcons win, Ellis returns but it looked like a lot of guys were missing. Jones and Green-younger didn't play.. but I think only 9 guys maybe 10 were on bench. Unless they didn't want to take the entire team to Norwich; something is wrong. This means trouble for the falcons.

[Saint-Paul]

Saints and Rams played a fairly even game tonight with Suffolk coming out on top 80 - 69.  Both teams came out playing zone defenses, clogging the lanes, and daring the other team to take outside shots.  The game went back and forth for 36 minutes until Suffolk put together a couple of stops and grabbed an 8 point lead with 3 minutes to play.  Suffolk showed some good clock management at the end of the game and ran very deliberate plays until they got a few good looks at the end of the shot clock. Rams guards showed a good understanding of time and score.  Two steals by the Saints guards in the final minute kept the score close, but Suffolk ended up making free throws to ice the win.  Saints shot 36 % for the game, but Suffolk shot 52%.  Other than that  a fairly even game.

[Saint-Paul]

Heartbreak City for Emmanuel.  Saints turn a 10 point halftime lead into a two point heart breaking loss to St Joe, 85 - 83.  Saints led the game for 39 min, 32 seconds.  St Joe hit a jump shot with 28 seconds left to take a one point lead.  Saints in bounded the ball quickly and pushed up court.  Saints point guard faked a pass to the wing, caught his defender sleeping, and drove to the basket for an uncontested layup.  Before he could release the ball the Emmanuel coach called time out.  Officials ruled no basket. On the ensuing inbounds play the Saints guard got striped of the ball and St Joe headed down court.  Saints were forced to foul.  St Joe missed the first free throw.  Saints threw the ball downcourt and hit a foul line jumper to take a one point lead with 6 seconds.  St Joe threw the ball right back down the court and hit a 3 with 1 second remaining to win the game. 
     Many opportunities for the Saints to win this game.  Nursing a 7 point lead with three minutes to play the Saints did not show good clock management. They took quick shots, not from the result of running any play, did not run the shot clock down, did not get to the foul line.  This was the point were they could have used a time out to settle them down.
     Inspite of the outcome this was still a very interesting game to watch.  Two contrasting styles of play.  Saints played a tight zone all game, while St Joe played straight man to man the whole game. Saints had their best offensive game of the year shooting 42% from the field.  St Joe matched them shot for shot, shooting 52 % from the field.  St Joe is a fun team to watch.  They are not big, not quick, not athletic, but they run their sets with precision, really move the ball, and see every open man.  Their passing is the best i have seen in the GNAC.  They are just not big and strong enough to keep opponents out of the paint.  Overall a good college basketball game.

[Saint-Paul]

Tonights game between the 1 - 10 Emmanuel Saints and the 2 - 10 Anna Maria Amcats is another one of those GNAC toss up games.  This is a very even game.  Neither team has a high shooting percentage, or a dominate big man.  Anna Maria runs their sets a little bit better, but Emmanuel might be a little more athletic, with slightly better foot speed.  This game will be so close it may go into overtime.

[Saint-Paul]

Well, perhaps predicting an overtime game was a tad premature.  Saints defense took the night off and gave up another 90 point game, this time to Anna Maria.  Saints got crushed 90 - 67.  This game was close for about 12 minutes and then the Amcats put the game away with a 19 point run just before half.  Saints shot 35% for the game while the Amcats shot 58% for the game.  Saints gave up 46 points in the paint to the Amcats who don't really have a dominate post player.  Amcats get their third win of the season.  Emmanuel is still winless against GNAC teams.   

[PeterEscobar]

Well, perhaps predicting an overtime game was a tad premature.  Saints defense took the night off and gave up another 90 point game, this time to Anna Maria.  Saints got crushed 90 - 67.  This game was close for about 12 minutes and then the Amcats put the game away with a 19 point run just before half.  Saints shot 35% for the game while the Amcats shot 58% for the game.  Saints gave up 46 points in the paint to the Amcats who don't really have a dominate post player.  Amcats get their third win of the season.  Emmanuel is still winless against GNAC teams.   

I wouldn't say that the AMCATS lack a post player -- Mike Rapoza has 10 doubles doubles on the year.

[lildave678]

Any word on Jones or Ellis? I know Ellis was playing but didn't yesterday, and Jones has been MIA since the break.

[falcons2010]

I haven't heard anything about snyone. And Albertus doesn't update rosters or provides any information via releases. I think Jones is gone. Ellis might have gotten hurt. No word on mid years; they would play next game if there were any.