MBB: Great Northeast Athletic Conference

[pjunito]

Dave, I agree with you. There is no number 2 scorer; that hurts them in a big spot (i.e. at suffolk). But, this isn't the start of the season, this has been the case all year long. And Albertus did win a game without Watson playing. So, I don't think not having the number 2 scorer is the reason they have lost two GNAC games. I think teams aren't afraid. Most of these teams, looked at Albertus and knew they were losing. Not the case anymore.

And Albertus did play solid team defense. They create a lot of steals and force bad shoots (it's not Wisconsin defense), but it is affective. It allowed them to run and get easy points. They need to get back to that. Big game this weekend at home and next week in Providence to finish out the year.

[lildave678]

Appreciate the insight! Now that I'm not on campus and 45 minutes away from any home game my opinions come off of box scores and recaps!

[Jonny Utah]

I know it isn't the GNAC, but I worked at the Newbury/Wheelock game last night.

Wheelock had only 8 players dressed for the game, but hung in their for about 35 minutes before losing by about 20.  Neither team has a home gym, and the game had to be played at Pine Manor College.

Either way, not a whole lot of talent or size on either team, but Newbury could run and drove the hoop pretty hard.  They also have a 6'7 300 pound big man who takes up a lot of space.

[pjunito]

6'7 300 pounds... The kid should have signed his letter to play for Ole Miss yesterday like everyone else did.

[pjunito]

The first Regional Rankings:

Northeast
1 WPI 21-0 21-0
2 Amherst 20-2 20-2
3 Williams 18-2 20-2
4 Middlebury 16-1 19-1
5 Rhode Island College 18-3 18-3
6 Brandeis 15-5 15-5
7 MIT 15-4 16-4
8 Curry 15-6 15-6
9 Westfield State 15-4 17-4
10 Springfield 15-7 15-7
11 Eastern Connecticut 14-4 14-7
12 Albertus Magnus 20-2 20-3

What this means is that Albertus nor Anna Maria will make the NCAA tournament without winning the conference. Too many teams ahead of them; so, win the conference and your in. Lose it and you go to ECAC.

[lildave678]

With all the hoopla going over on the NESCAC boards, Albertus went on the road and beat Coast Guard. Surprised to see their record is so poor. They're usually a decent squad and regardless the sport, CG is always a different team at home. Good to see the Falcons get the win despite the break with all the snow.

Was curious to what you think pjunito (or whoever else wants to chime in), in the latest top 25 AMC was the first team out - If they roll through the GNAC tournament and dispatch Anna Maria on the way, think there's ANY shot they could avoid the host team of a pod in the first round? If they win out I'd imagine they'd creep to 20ish right? Or does the loss to Suffolk pretty much cement them playing a host team regardless?

Obviously this depends heavily on who ultimately gets in, but what do you think?

[GnacAlum55]

The losses to Suffolk and Anna Maria hurt them for 2 reasons....
1) Anna Maria will finish first and host the championship game (if they get there).
2) If Albertus wins in the first round (vs. Rivier), they could have a rematch with Suffolk (the #6 who will face #3 Emerson).
It should be interesting.....

[pjunito]

Hey Dave, I don't think Albertus sees the top 25 again this year... They won 7 games in a row after the Yale lost and moved up one spot while all these teams around them were losing. Look at Boise State and Gonzaga, they never really move up when other teams have tougher schedules. Albertus doesn't have a great win and has a bad lost. This keeps them from moving up into top 25 in my opinion.

I agree with you GNAc, very interesting. Anna Maria can clinch first place with a win at home this week. They should beat Mt. Isdda easily.. Albertus clinches the two seed with a win.  Here is something that is interesting.. Would you rather play JWU/St. Joe's in second round or Suffolk/Emerson? I think Albertus matches up very well at home with Suffolk or Emerson; they beat Suffolk by 19 and Emerson by 24 at home this year. Anna Maria will have a tough test with JWU or St. Joes.

What do you guys think?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Albertus may be the first one out of the Top 25... but their point total is really low which means a lot of the voters have to buy in to put them in. There are too many other teams that could get votes to move AM back into the Top 25... and I agree that I don't think that will happen before the NCAA tournament.

[pjunito]

D-mac, at this point in the year, the top 25 doesn't mean much, regional rankings are the key. Albertus is ranked 12 in the Northeast, which let's face it means they need to win their conference tournament. No way they get a at large bid.

[pjunito]

GNAC conference tournament set:

First round: Tuesday, Feb 19
Semi Finals: Thursday, Feb 21
Championship Game: Saturday, Feb 23

All games at higher seed

#1 Anna Maria host #8 Emmanuel
#2 Albertus Magnus host #7 Rivier
#3 Johnson and Wales host #6 Suffolk
#4 Emerson host #5 St. Joe's

[7express]

GNAC conference tournament set:

First round: Tuesday, Feb 19
Semi Finals: Thursday, Feb 21
Championship Game: Saturday, Feb 23

All games at higher seed

#1 Anna Maria host #8 Emmanuel
#2 Albertus Magnus host #7 Rivier
#3 Johnson and Wales host #6 Suffolk
#4 Emerson host #5 St. Joe's

What happened to St. Joes this year??  Normally their near the top of the standings not going on the road in round 1.  Something in the water up there in that area??  A perennial LEC bottom dweller Southern Maine gets a first round home game and a perennial GNAC top team goes on the road for a first round game.

[pjunito]

7,

St. Joe's always played great defense and run a strong triangle offense. In the games they lost, they shot the ball awful from the perimeter. They lost a lot of road games, some to really bad teams, and are not the same team away from Maine. However, they will beat Emerson.

I think we will see JWU at Albertus and St. Joe's at Anna Maria on Thursday.

[GnacAlum55]

My predictions...

Anna Maria beats Emmanuel
Albertus beats Rivier
Suffolk beats JWU
Emerson beats St. Joe's

This would set up pretty interesting 2nd round match-ups -

Emerson already beat Anna Maria earlier in the season and Suffolk beat Albertus by 1 a few weeks ago - pretty interesting games if it plays out this way!!

[7express]

I'll take Anna Maria, Albertus, J&W & St. Joes tomorrow.

I say St. Joes beats Anna Maria, Albertus beats J&W in the semi's, then Albertus beats St. Joes in the finals.

Semifinal and final predictions subject to change based on how tomorrow plays out though.