MBB: Great Northeast Athletic Conference

[GnacAlum55]

Saw Suffolk play UNH on Friday night.  Suffolk may be pretty good this year.  UNH put it on them in the first half, but Suffolk came roaring back in the 2nd.  Suffolk was down 71-62 and making a run with under 5 to play when both of their big guys fouled out on almost back to back plays.  If they stay in the game, it would have come down to the wire.  I am not sure how good UNH is this year, but it was a pretty good showing by Suffolk.  UNH could not guard the two BC High kids inside.  Also, the kid #1 is a ridiculous athlete on the wing.  The little PG played well too.  Hit a pretty nasty buzzer beater going into the half.  Should be interesting to see if Suffolk can challenge St. Joe's and Albertus this year.  Did any one see JWU at Brown?  Curious to hear about that one too. 

[deiscanton]

Lasell defeated Brandeis last night, 91-82

Lasell boosted their team's roster this season with a lot of transfers.  3 transfers joined the 2 Lasell captains in the starting lineup for last night's contest.

The 3 other starters for Lasell last night were:

(1)  Arthur Alexander-- juco transfer-- Played last season at Broward College (Florida.)

(2)  Sonny Mello-- juco transfer-- Played last season at Bristol Community College (Massachusetts)-- 2nd team all New England last year on the junior college circuit.

(3)  Nate DiSessa-- Senior-- Played '07-08 season for Elms; Played '08-09 season for Keene State, sat out one year academically + redshirt.  He would have been a grad student this year if he went 4 straight years in college.

Leading bench point scorer for Lasell with 15 pts off the bench in last night's contest was Brandon Ganesh, a DII transfer.  He played last season for DII Salem International University (West Virginia.)

With these transfers, Lasell should be able to have a winning season this year and possibly challenge for the GNAC title.  No team was able to put up 90+ points on Brandeis last season.

[pjunito]

Has anyone seen a season preview of the GNAC?  I've been checking the gnac website but found nothing...

I think the GNAC will have a fun year; it sounds like Lasell, Suffolk have improved their teams. St. Joe, JWU, and Albertus look good as well.

Albertus brings everyone back this year that played significant minutes. They also get back three players who were suspended for violating team rules in February. One of them is Dugas their combo guard who is big and smart. Askew and Watson look to be the horses for Albertus, both can play in the post and shoot the three making it hard to defend Albertus. They also bring in a few more athletic guards and forwards. Look for up tempo basketball from Oliver's team.

They beat Coast Guard at home on Tuesday night. They committed 18 fouls, something they need to clean up. Coast Guard free throw shooting kept them in the game. It also slowed down the pace. Final score was 86-75.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Anna Maria is bringing a strong team over from the CCC, as well.

[pjunito]

Hoops fan.. you usually have a good feel for the gnac.. Any preseason previews?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Hoops fan.. you usually have a good feel for the gnac.. Any preseason previews?

That is undeserved praise, for sure.

I really don't know what to make of the league this year.  I usually try to give it until January and then develop a feel for what's going on.

Lasell gave Brandeis a good drubbing opening night, but I discount opening week games about as much as possible.  Askew is back at Albertus, but I'm a bit "wait and see" on the team they're putting around him, at least from a consistency standpoint.  I love Lamonte Thomas, but I'm very concerned about their severe lack of a post-game; they got torched down low Tuesday.

Anna Maria is new to the conference and they lost a fair amount from last year, but they've been recruiting well of late and Anthony Click is a legit player.

I'm not sure the overall league quality will be as high as it was five or ten years ago, but it should be very competitive.

[7express]

Western Connecticut @ Albertus Magnus on Tuesday night will be a good test for both teams.

[pjunito]

Albertus wins by 19 over West Conn. There is so much to tell, I don't know where to start.....

Albertus is very deep this year; along with the usual names of Askew, Watson, Lora, Jackson - Albertus has a few key new faces...

Dugas - not exactly new, but only played 5 games last season is a force and maybe the best all around guard in the GNAC. He has a very sweet jump shot, but also controls the offense. He is a good decision maker, can run, and has a big body to create match up problems in a league that has smaller guards. He also plays excellent defense.

Smith - He did not play the first game, however,  in his few minutes in his Albertus debut, he the fans some things to cheer about. He had a very crowd pleasing break away dunk after a steal. He is as athletic as Walden St. Jude, we will have to see if he can score like him, but he will play defense on the top scoring options in the gnac.

Saunders - another mid year transfer who was behind walden and Byron Reaves last year. He is long and quick. Good on the ball defender and can hit the 3.

Along with these new faces you have the top 2....

Askew looks better than last year. He can score inside and out and is a work horse around the glass. His free throw shooting has to improve, but he seems unstoppable the first two games... I know he is motivated to return to the NCAAs..

Watson is in amazing shape.. He out runs every person on the court and has an explosive first step this year. He won the GNAC rookie of the year and he said it was his worst year since 9th grade. Last year he was indecisive and didn't attack. This year, very different. He goes to the basket, he pulls up, he knows exactly what he wants to do with the ball.

Look for Albertus to score plenty this year and play a lot of press defense. They look good, but it is early.

[high flyer 21]

URGENT: Why was Lamonte Thomas not playing in JWU's game against Rhode Island College tonight?  He wasn't dressed and sat at the end of the bench.  I'm guessing he's injured...

[7express]

URGENT: Why was Lamonte Thomas not playing in JWU's game against Rhode Island College tonight?  He wasn't dressed and sat at the end of the bench.  I'm guessing he's injured...

He hyperextended his knee Sunday @ Western.  He says he'll be fine, but he can't play until he gets the results of the MRI which should be tomorrow or Thursday.  I'd expect him to be in uniform and starting for Saturday's game.

[Major Hoople]

Anyone know if Lamonte Thomas is still out?

[7express]

Anyone know if Lamonte Thomas is still out?

Yah, he'll be out until after New Year's I heard.

[GnacAlum55]

Nope, he's back.....

Thomas played 36 minutes and had 31 points.  Not enough though - Suffolk beat them by 20 @ JWU. 

[FormerGNACplayer]

This is the best I've seen Albertus. I watch them play against Rivier and Norwich... Both blow outs by a long shot! Far more athlectic than any team in the GNAC and this is Olivers most talented team. See anyone beating them in the GNAC?

[7express]

I don't think they'll go undefeted in conference play, probably won't lose at home, but may lose once or twice on the road (J&W and St. Joes being the most likely).  They completely obliterited a very good West Conn team in November, so I'm impressed.