MBB: Great Northeast Athletic Conference

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I think they are vastly underated all the time by people and get no respect come tourney time.

See, this is what I don't get.  Yes, Dave has said he won't put them above #12, but #12 is still pretty good - and a lot of other people have them higher (even #1).  To me, it's tough to be underrated when you're a top five team in the rankings.

When it comes to regional ranking and tournament schedule, there's no such thing as "underrated" they have to go by the numbers.  They're not allowed to use the eye test or rank based on how good they think a team is.  It's strictly numbers.

Do those number effectively rank the teams in order of ability?  No.  They're usually very wrong in many cases.  It's still the best system we have - even you guys can't tell me you want people just using their best judgement to let teams in.  Sure, it might work out better for you this year, but there's no way it's a better system overall.

[falcons2010]

A possible second round match up with Lasell makes me nervous.

[lildave678]

A possible second round match up with Lasell makes me nervous.

I feel ya Falcons, I'm hoping St Joes takes care of business in that 4/5 game.

[falcons2010]

I don't think there are a lot of suffolk supporters on D3, however, they should be applauded by what they did to this kid and famoly. Great job Suffolk!

http://www.thegnac.com/sports/mbkb/index

Enjoy the video

[Ferraro13]

Back to basketball talk......Great video! No sledge today hope nothing serious. albertus finishes conference play undefeated

[lildave678]

Albertus wins without Sledge. Why did he not play??

[Ferraro13]

Ferraro13, give it a rest already. There are a lot of people out there who care about womens sports. Just because you dont doesnt mean others share the same sentiment. And beleive me I love the Falcons!! I'm with you!! I think they are vastly underated all the time by people and get no respect come tourney time. I have had a few exchanges with Dave on here about the Falcons and we obviously had differing opinions but thats what they are. OPINIONS. Nobody is right or wrong. Whether your joking or not joking doesnt matter really, don't call guys out for having a different opinion on something then you.

At the end of the day Dave and Pat and all the guys at D3Hoops.com do a ton for us the fans to be able to enjoy D3Hoops. Hell you wouldnt be on these boards postings if it wasnt for them. Just because we believe in the Falcons doesnt mean everyone else will. But this year starting Tuesday night in New haven, we will make them start believing. And if you asked Dave I gurantee he would say he hopes we make him a believer too.

Like Shaq and Kobe, just bury the hatchet.

It's done with junkie. I don't agree with everything yiu said, but I agree with most of it. And I didn't have a problem with his opinion, just how he comes off,  and about the Falcons. I'm not the only one on this thread either. It's done with.

[D3HoopJunkie]

Back to basketball indeed Ferraro!! The Falcons finished the regular season 18-0 in conference play. What an achievement! I drove up to the game today and Sledge definitely was being rested for the playoff run. He didn't look visibly hurt at all and I'm glad Coach Oliver decided to rest him. Not his typical style but I think we all agree that it was much deserved rest. The team today certainly wasn't in full gear. They looked like they kind of took it easy out there and still managed to come away with a victory. With the exception of Eian (because there's no slowing him down) everybody kind of went through the motions and I'm glad it gave them a chance to really run their set offense more than how they usually do. Anna Maria is a really tough place to play I must say. Their fans are pretty rowdy and they got into the heads of a couple of our players sometimes but it didn't really make much of a difference. In the end talent still won out and Albertus had the most talented player on the bench which is really saying something about this team and its depth overall!

Can't wait for Tuesday!! Should be a fun tournament!!! The run starts now!!!

[Saint-Paul]

GNAC  Playoff Picks

1  -  Albertus  over  Suffolk     no preview necessary

2  -  JWU  over  Mt  Ida           no preview necessary

3  -  Emmanuel  over  Anna Maria     the Amcats have had a great year, stepping up and capturing 3 rd place with the conference wide open, but they have not played well the first two weeks of February.  The have struggled to beat or lost close games to some of the lower placed teams the last two weeks.  The Saints have had another disappointing season and have nothing to lose by pulling off an upset.  I think they will be playing free and easy, with no pressure, and no expectations.  That mentality coupled with their big man having no defender on equal size on the Amcats makes them a dangerous draw for the opening round.  This is the third time they play the Amcats so hopefully they will be able to stop the flex offense this time.  A close game but the Saints winning by 7 points,  73  -  66.   Let's just hope the Saints are up by more than 3 points with 2.6 seconds remaining.

4  -  Lasell  over  St Joe   again St Joe has had a great year and are playing at home but Lasell is just on fire right now.  I have never seen a GNAC team turn around their season like Lasell did this year.  They were not a lock to even make the playoffs a few weeks ago, and then they started raining 3 's on teams like I have never seen before.  Who shoots 60 - 65 % from behind the arc game after game ?  It does not appear to be a fluke,  the games I have watched show them running a very deliberate offense to get open looks.  They are a very exciting team to watch and I think they will pull off the upset over St Joe  83  -  72.

[falcons2010]

Saint,

I agree with your first three game results. However, I think St. joes wins on Tuesday. They will be playing at home and will prepare to defend the three much better this time around. I think it's a closer game but St. Joe wins by 5 or 6. The pave will be slow and battle won in the paint. I think St. Joes keeps the score in the low 60's. 64-58 my prediction.

[D3HoopJunkie]

Well guys tonight is the night! A clean slate for every team who is fortunate enough to still be alive!

No matter what I will always be nervous for the Falcons. I believe in this team and Coach Oliver 100% but basketball is just like any other sport. Anything can happen on any given night which is why this team needs to come out tonight and every game forward and play like its last game they will ever play in their lives.

I think Eian is going to have a HUGE post season! He is without doubt the most passionate player I have seen this year in D3. He lives to play this game, you can just tell how much he loves being on the court and how much he loves playing with his teammates. His energy and enthusiasm will be the driving force for us going forward. Lemar Larsen and Julian Sanders are going to step up as well. Both are 4 year players who have an opportunity that few have and ever will have and that's to capture 4 consecutive GNAC Championships and make 4 straight NCAA tournament appearances. Truly an unprecedented opportunity. Marcus Walker will contribute off the bench with his ability to rebound and his overall understanding of the offense. I love Marcus's unselfishness; he seems like a tremendous teammate. Big Vic and Tavon Sledge! What else is there really to say about these two that hasn't already been said. If Vic can control the post and play superior defense like he has been without getting into foul trouble then this team can go perhaps farther than any before them. Sledge just needs to keep his emotions in check and play the way he knows how to play which is basically better than anyone else on the court. There isn't a player in the country NOT ANYONE who can stop this kid if he gets off to a hot start. Try and guard him close he will dribble right by you, give him space and he will pull up with a jumper, give him too much space and you will get back screened and shortly followed by a dunk on your head. He is a rarity in D3 Hoops and I really hope this team can go on a run so that everyone can see him on the brightest stage!

LETS GO FALCONS!!!  THE SEASON STARTS TONIGHT!

[lildave678]

What in the freaking freak is happening with the camera lol?

[lildave678]

Well this game got out of hand quickly. Granted it's Suffolk but Albertus showed what kinda run they can put on you in a hurry. As it started developing I wrote down the series of plays...

Suffolk was hanging around and cut the lead to 13 at 42-29. The ensuing possession Julian hits a 3 and gets fouled, cashes in the FT. Vic has a huge block on a backdoor cut that leads to a Davis layup. Suffolk commits an offensive foul and Lemar gets a layup underneath. After a miss Vic hits 1 of 2 at the line. A Suffolk turnover leads to a Sledge dunk, and another Suffolk turnover leads to a Vic dunk. Just like that it's 55-29.

Again, I know it's Suffolk but in that first half I liked the way Walters attacked the basket. If he has a smaller defender on him and he's out there with Vic and Tavon (drawing attention) he can get to the rim at will. I think he becomes something special next year.

As I type this JWU is up 18-12 on Mt Ida with 12 left in the 1st, Lasell is up 40-39 with 15 to go in the 2nd half, and Emmanuel leads Anna Maria 41-38 at the break.

[lildave678]

Glad the St. Joes/Lasell game was available on video. St. Joe's with a late rally to force OT (sort of). Simonds hits a go ahead bucket with a few ticks remaining 68-66. Lasell gets fouled taking the buzzer beater. Kid who took the shot goes off with injury and Jeremy Daniel takes the FTs and nails both.

This is my first time seeing Simonds in person as their go-to-guy and he's a flat out scorer. I think the St. Joe's team as a whole is less scary, but Lasell certainly doesn't have someone who can drop 35 on a night.

[lildave678]

St. Joes hangs on in OT.