MBB: Great Northeast Athletic Conference

FormerGNACplayer · January 30, 2014, 09:55:18 AM

Albertus needed a game like this outside of Central. They were virtually out toughed and out played but what makes them a great team is that they found a way to win. Good teams do that. WPI, Williams, and other top teams do that. The crowd wasnt into until the last min. As a fan since the first Championship, Albertus crowd has becoming increasing lackluster. They have went down since 2010 season. There used to be a whole section of students, baseball and soccer guys terrifying the other teams. Now you can hear a pin drop in the nest beside SUNY game.

All in all, St.Joes will be tough as they always are the 2nd time around and up in Maine. This Falcons team is different from years past tho. They are special. They didn't deserve to win against JWU and they did. They keep fighting and Oliver is a tremendous coach. It's hard to say that they aren't a top team in the nation. I don't care wabt people say, this team is special. And forget SOSc they have played Jersey city who was ranked, Elms who traditionally have a great program and Mitchell who should win their conference. Not forgetting Central and Leham had players all over the place. The Gnac kills Albertus. And guys think about this, if your Amherst or WPI, and Albertus wants a game, don't you say no at fear of losing to a Gnac opponent which might hurt you come NcAa time. While it would be great, just think about all the factors to why Albertus can't get those games. It's just my opinion and thoughts. I have this team beating st joes by 10.. Locking up home court in the Gnac.. Trap game is Emmanuel !! They are becoming a tough matchup in the GNAC

pjunito · January 30, 2014, 10:02:05 AM

Quote from: 7express on January 29, 2014, 11:47:50 PM
I'd be worried about Albertus on Saturday. I've never been up to St. Joes Maine, but from what I've been told it's right down (up??) route 202 from Southern Maine in Gorham. That's always a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong trip for Western, RIC & Eastern, and when those 3 teams play @ USM, USM plays them extremely tough, if not pulls off wins. In 6 of the last 7 years, USM has gotten victories at home against at least 1 of those teams in a season, and 4 of those 6 years saw USM finish with either a 3-11 or 2-12 conference record and they were still able to get it done.
SJME was also the last team that defeated Johnson & Wales before AMC did, and that was also in Maine. IF Albertus is sloppy/comes unprepared, SJME could definitely and easily win, because that team will be ready to play, and after 2 grueling wins vs. Purchase & J&W and you combine that 5+ hour road trip, I'm not entirely sold.
I think they'll win in the end however because AMC has better players, but I wouldn't be that surprised if it went the other way.

7, you hit it right on the head.. A month ago, I told GNAC that this is hell week for Albertus. It started with on the road at Lasell, who isn't a bad team (not a great team, but decent). Then home versus the two best teams they've played this year. St. Joe's a long trip, very good at home, very well coached, very big (gives our bigs trouble all the time). I am concerned about this game. Albertus is tired and beaten up. I would think practices will be light, to get guys rested. Wiggins has been off the last two games, I think he is getting fatigued. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they lose in Standish, ME.

lildave678 · January 30, 2014, 10:11:42 AM

Quote from: FormerGNACplayer on January 30, 2014, 09:55:18 AM
As a fan since the first Championship, Albertus crowd has becoming increasing lackluster. They have went down since 2010 season. There used to be a whole section of students, baseball and soccer guys terrifying the other teams. Now you can hear a pin drop in the nest beside SUNY game.

Yeah when my class graduated...that first GNAC title game, the place was ROCKING. Not to mention we went to Willy P and we're just as loud, if not louder in our little section haha

pjunito · January 30, 2014, 10:15:38 AM

Dave,

to answer some of your questions..

Darius did a great job on Greenway.. He played excellent defense. Greenway made him work and it effected his offense. But, if he can play defense like that, Albertus will have an opportunity every night.

You are right, they don't show the killer instinct to put a team away. But, what I like about last night was that they were not the better team on the floor. JWU, out played them. The coach used time-outs to slow the game down. They wore the Falcons down defensively, and made them work on defense with every possession. I think the JWU coach, said we need to win this game in the 70s, we can't run with these guys. And he did it. But with the game on the line, tied at 70 with under 3 left. JWU only scored 4 more points.. Great toughness and heart.

The crowd is clueless.... There is no defense chants, no loud roars during big free throw attempts, no energy. It is sad when you can hear the home team bench chanting defense from the stands. The crowd doesn't understand how they can feed energy to the team. Hopefully, someone gives them a lesson.

Saint-Paul · January 30, 2014, 10:40:11 AM

Final Score : ST Joe 72 / Emmanuel 70

In earlier posts I was making a joke of the fact that the Saints shoot the ball much better in away games than they do at home. I am afraid that it is no longer a joke. The team is just much more relaxed, play loose, and play much better when they get away from their home court. There must be a reason for this but I don't know what it is. Maybe the coach puts so much pressure on them not to get embarrassed at home like they were against J&W that it has the opposite effect and causes them to play poorly on their home court. Maybe they are so afraid about what will happen at practice the day after a home loss that they just can't shoot the ball effectively. Whatever the reason, the stats say they play much better on the road.

St Joe is a quality team who runs their sets well, hits open shots, defends and rebounds , and takes advantage of transition opportunities. The Monks really move the ball to the open man showing 20 assists on 26 field goals. The Saints once again they shot the ball much better in an away game than they do at home. Shooting 45% from the field and 50% from behind the 3 point arc helped them keep this game close. It was a 10 point deficit with 3 minutes to play when the Saints hit three desperation 3's to make it a one point game. Ever since the Saints started using senior guards in their starting lineup and in the rotation in general they have been much more competitive team, at least in away games. The Saints now stand at 4 - 13 with 8 games remaining.

GnacBballFan · January 30, 2014, 11:26:34 AM

As the former ringleader of the albertus student section, I am extremely disappointed, I really having nothing else to say except that I wish this team was there when I was there.

I'm not too worried about st joes, and if albertus loses I will be shocked, so I disagree there guys. Last night albertus missed some open threes thru usually knock down, and had some just head scratching turnovers, about 7 of them. I just kept saying win this game on no legs and energy and we're gonna run the table, and they did. Albertus will have a much better performance up in Maine Saturday. They will be rested, and they will be ready to go. They literally looked fatigued yday, but got thru it. What a win

FormerGNACplayer · January 30, 2014, 04:00:13 PM

Gnacbball I couldn't agree more! They are sorry and as bad as Albertus played, you feed off your crowd energy ! They give you another source of life. the Falcons did it without that help. Maybe the last minute. Terrible. St joes will be a good game. I still see the falcons +8 in a tight game until late.. Remember they will be on two days rest and a long drive to play at 2:30.. Plenty of time.

7express · January 30, 2014, 09:36:16 PM

Quote from: GnacBballFan on January 30, 2014, 11:26:34 AM
As the former ringleader of the albertus student section, I am extremely disappointed, I really having nothing else to say except that I wish this team was there when I was there.

I'm not too worried about st joes, and if albertus loses I will be shocked, so I disagree there guys. Last night albertus missed some open threes thru usually knock down, and had some just head scratching turnovers, about 7 of them. I just kept saying win this game on no legs and energy and we're gonna run the table, and they did. Albertus will have a much better performance up in Maine Saturday. They will be rested, and they will be ready to go. They literally looked fatigued yday, but got thru it. What a win

It's comparing apples to oranges, but the 2012 Western team with DaQuan Brooks, Mike Kennedy, Gary Robinson, lost on the road to Southern Maine when Western was clearly the better team. They got completely hosed by the Maine zebras that game (the reach in on Brooks that have USM 2 free throws for the win) was an ultimate joke call and would've been a terrible call at 19:30 in the first yet alone 4.1 seconds of a tie game in the second, but the result was the same none-the-less. Western took them lightly, and ended up losing a game which cost them a chance at hosting the LEC tourney that year. I still think J&W plays at an underrated Lasell, but J&W still has the return game in Providence later this year. The Falcons aren't totally in the clear yet, they have to realize that, and realize the Monks aren't goin go lie and play dead just because AMC is ranked 17th in the country.

pjunito · January 30, 2014, 10:11:22 PM

7,

I couldn't agree more.. The sad part is that Albertus gets no wiggle room playing in the GNAC. A lost to any team could really hurt their regional ranking.

GnacBballFan · January 30, 2014, 10:40:52 PM

No doubt 7, I def hear what you're saying. But like former said this albertus team seems special. After watching albertus control st joes at home with basically no Davis for 3/4 of that game I will be shocked if they lose. However, that is why they play the games

GnacBballFan · January 31, 2014, 02:19:45 PM

Looking at some box scores for JWU, they've only lost 2 games when Touze plays, st joes (first game for Touze of the yr, 6 points), and albertus. They clearly are a different team with him. I still think albertus is about 6-12 points better when rested but JWU is a top team in this region(albeit a little weak the region this yr). But they can beat anyone in the gnac and it's a two horse race in my opinion

D3HoopJunkie · February 01, 2014, 08:29:00 AM

Big Game today in Standish. With a win this should really put Albertus in the driver seat for 1st place and home court advantage in the GNAC tourney.

Anyone taking the drive or watching online today?? From what it looks like St. Joes has a professional video feed with play by play commentary. For the price of 10.95 LOL.

7express · February 01, 2014, 10:27:05 AM

LOL $10.95?? I know it's a big game and all, but that seems like an extremely high price. Better be "out of the ballpark" quality for that price. There's a lot of division 1 schools I know that don't even charge that high of a price for the video.

GnacBballFan · February 01, 2014, 03:08:40 PM

7, shows you how much I know lol 44-22 st joes at half

pjunito · February 01, 2014, 03:22:00 PM

Albertus 0 assist at the half, shooting 1-10 from three point range. They scored 22 points, they average 89.

St. Joe's has hit 9 threes..

How badly does Albertus want to stay undefeated in conference?

They can get back into this game. But, they need to shoot the ball better and defend better. Can they do it? Honestly, I don't think so. St. Joe's is too well coach. I think it is matter of not getting blown out.

But, I am rooting for them just as hard.. Let' go Falcons!