MBB: Great Northeast Athletic Conference

[Peddler]

With an impressive 10 point win over MIT last night, I think it's time Emerson College cracks the nation's top 25. They are 7-0 with statement wins against William Patterson, Vassar, Babson, Wheaton and MIT.

This is a "no brainer".

[atn alum]

Perhaps...

they got 21 points in the last poll (a jump from the 1 point that I gave them for a 25th-place vote the week before), which I think is respectable. Those are good wins, but none of those teams were Top 25.

Keep in mind that a GNAC team is gonna be a hard sell to the voters, because that is a league that doesn't historically do well against upper-level NE teams. Emerson may prove to be an exception to that, so I think people are taking a wait-and-see approach. But I think our voters are keeping a close eye out...

[Pat Coleman]

It is anything but a no-brainer. Most of those teams you spotlight wins against are decent but none are Top 25 and probably none are even Top 50.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm not sure Emerson's proven themselves ready for the national Top 25, but they have shown they will be a formidable force in the NE region, which is a good step for the program.  If they continue to play at this level, their due will come in time.

[Peddler]

It is anything but a no-brainer. Most of those teams you spotlight wins against are decent but none are Top 25 and probably none are even Top 50.

I would think that going 7-0 with good (if not great) out of conference wins would be enough to break in to the Top 25...maybe I'm wrong. How many 7-0 teams are there right now???...I honestly don't know but I doubt there are many.

There is now question that the ARE at Top 25 team. Will they get VOTED into the Top25...who knows.

[Marty Peretz]

For the record, Babson is better than their record indicates. They gave Wash.U. a tougher test than Platteville or IWU. Granted, Mcdonald went off for 32 on 10 of 13 shooting (5 of 6 from 3) and WU played  its worst game of the year, but they still hung tough and had very good guard play. Emerson beat a team by 12 which lost to Amherst by 6. True, it's more than a numbers game but I'd give them votes. Without Messinger, however, they might run into trouble.

[Pat Coleman]

It is anything but a no-brainer. Most of those teams you spotlight wins against are decent but none are Top 25 and probably none are even Top 50.

I would think that going 7-0 with good (if not great) out of conference wins would be enough to break in to the Top 25...maybe I'm wrong. How many 7-0 teams are there right now???...I honestly don't know but I doubt there are many.

There is now question that the ARE at Top 25 team. Will they get VOTED into the Top25...who knows.

But this isn't standings, it's a ranking. And many teams could have gone 7-0 against that schedule.

[goldenpipes]

For the record, Babson is better than their record indicates. They gave Wash.U. a tougher test than Platteville or IWU. Granted, Mcdonald went off for 32 on 10 of 13 shooting (5 of 6 from 3) and WU played  its worst game of the year, but they still hung tough and had very good guard play. Emerson beat a team by 12 which lost to Amherst by 6. True, it's more than a numbers game but I'd give them votes. Without Messinger, however, they might run into trouble.

Marty, your last statement may be true - they might run into trouble with Messinger but they beat Wheaton and MIT without Messinger and Jeremy Shannon only played 15 minutes apiece due to in-game injuries.

If the Lions are at full strength for the 2nd half of the season then they will have the ability to let their play do the talking in 2008.

The goal is to gain a bid to the DIII tournament, but it has been great to see Emerson win games vs. the NEWMAC - those are very good teams year in and year out and we have been so close to winning a number of those games over the last 4-5 seasons and to win these games convincingly is a great achievement to start the season.

Happy holidays everyone.

[Peddler]

It is anything but a no-brainer. Most of those teams you spotlight wins against are decent but none are Top 25 and probably none are even Top 50.

I would think that going 7-0 with good (if not great) out of conference wins would be enough to break in to the Top 25...maybe I'm wrong. How many 7-0 teams are there right now???...I honestly don't know but I doubt there are many.

There is now question that the ARE at Top 25 team. Will they get VOTED into the Top25...who knows.

But this isn't standings, it's a ranking. And many teams could have gone 7-0 against that schedule.

Pat, You are making it sound like they were playing a bunch of tomato cans every night. They played some good teams. Bottom line - I'd take them over a #20-25 team. If the freshman shooter is playing, I'd take them against anyone outside the top 10. Have you seen them play?

[All-around]

I must agree with Peddler. If you look at the records of the teams they have beaten they add up to something like 32-26 or something...probably the best out of all the top teams. A tougher schedule than alot of these teams have faced. And I believe that earlier this year someone said that EC had scrimmaged I think Brandeis and stayed with them. While there are other undefeated teams or one loss teams, I would have to say that the records of the teams they have played solidify's the opponents.

[ILive4This]

I would say that Emerson has a legit shot at not losing a game this year after getting by MIT. And yes they did scrimage at Brandeis and stayed with them, even beating them one of the halves(mini games) but then got beat by 8 in the 10 minute 3rd mini game.

[Pat Coleman]

It is anything but a no-brainer. Most of those teams you spotlight wins against are decent but none are Top 25 and probably none are even Top 50.

I would think that going 7-0 with good (if not great) out of conference wins would be enough to break in to the Top 25...maybe I'm wrong. How many 7-0 teams are there right now???...I honestly don't know but I doubt there are many.

There is now question that the ARE at Top 25 team. Will they get VOTED into the Top25...who knows.

But this isn't standings, it's a ranking. And many teams could have gone 7-0 against that schedule.

Pat, You are making it sound like they were playing a bunch of tomato cans every night. They played some good teams. Bottom line - I'd take them over a #20-25 team. If the freshman shooter is playing, I'd take them against anyone outside the top 10. Have you seen them play?

Nope, there are 400 teams in Division III and that's reality.

[All-around]

Peddler---the likelihood that you have seen teams 20-25...ehh not so good. However i like the enthusiasm

[Peddler]

I think you guys misinterpreted the intent of my question. I honestly wanted to know if Pat had seen them play.

[#44]

Its the nature of polls that when a "new" team like Emerson comes along... it's met with skepticism.  It's like joining a club.  Once Emerson cracks the top 25... it's much more likely they'll make it in again in the future.  Right now... they have to prove their worth and that they belong. 

So it will take Emerson longer to make the top 25 than a team that's been there before.  My only hope is that the guys on the team understand not to get caught up in it.  The only thing they need to do is keep winning and the poll will take care of itself.