WBB: Little East

ramfan · February 23, 2013, 11:09:46 AM

Western should have declared for the ECAC's. With 19 wins would have been a lock. Would have gotten another game or two...

7express · February 23, 2013, 01:49:20 PM

Quote from: ramfan on February 23, 2013, 11:09:46 AM
Western should have declared for the ECAC's. With 19 wins would have been a lock. Would have gotten another game or two...

Usually I'd agree but a couple things
1) they didn't declare last year (had about same record I think finished 17-10), and last year would have been more beneficial to them playing a few extra games, since they were a fairly young team
2) after losing in that heartbreaking fashion and seeing the seniors who gave it their all for an NCAA bid I don't think they'll be motivated. ECACs should be used for young teams, not veteran teams that were picked high preseason and fell short.

RIC however should DEFINITELY declare for the ECACs. The extra practice and games they'll get (if they get bid) would be emmense full. 2/5 of their starting 5 are freshmen.

ramfan · February 23, 2013, 04:43:42 PM

ECAC's should be used for young teams.....that's bull....get off your high horse.....

7express · February 23, 2013, 04:59:33 PM

At the half USM leads 48-27. Nicole Garland just not miss from outside. She ended the half with an off balance 3 hits all of the rim before dropping in

7express · February 23, 2013, 11:45:12 PM

Quote from: ramfan on February 23, 2013, 04:43:42 PM
ECAC's should be used for young teams.....that's bull....get off your high horse.....

The Western senior class has won 2 LEC regular season & conference tournament titles, are 2-0 in the LEC championship game finals, 2 NCAA apperances (if they didn't lose to Eastern and RIC late and beat regis in January might be 3), made at least the semifinals all 4 years. This team will not be motivated to play in an ECAC game. Last year was a better year and if they didn't apply last year they sure as hell ain't applying this year.

Sure enough, here's the declared teams: http://static.psbin.com/1/h/5kj45l944zb7nw/Women-s_Bball_New_Declared_Teams_Feb_W_Bskb.pdf and I think the deadline to declare has past already.

7express · February 24, 2013, 02:34:49 AM

And in case you were wondering/cared USM went on to demolish Dartmouth 90-66 accuretely predicted in this space. Nicole Garland finished with 18, Jordan Grant with 24. Go into the NCAA's 27-1 and with the right matchups (like paired against East/Atlantic teams) could very well be playing 2 Fridays from now in the regional semifinals if not longer.

7express · February 24, 2013, 03:05:31 AM

Anyways, even losing Colleen Moriarty likely the player of the year Dartmouth is going to be really good next year. Get Erika Bordemann back, Kelsey Garrity's only a sophmore so she still has 2 years of eligibility left. USM likely takes a step back (Garland, Grant, Jordan all seniors Knight has 2 more years) but should still be near the top, RIC has 4/5 of their starting 5 returning they should still be up there. Eastern has pretty much no juniors or seniors that played major minutes, Boston only loses 1 senior, Western will be the wildcard (Zilnicki, Murphy, Eanniello gone and heard Palmer was thinking of transfering). I'll have an offseason preview a couple days after the last LEC game, but this looks like it can be an extremely competitive league in 2013-14.

7express · February 25, 2013, 03:02:20 PM

USM is hosting first and second round matchups; USM gets Smith Ithaca vs. Colby-Sawyer is the other matchup in Gorham. I hope Ithaca is ready for that LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG trip up there. Actually get a very decent draw (much better then the RIC men got). Ithaca's a tough matchup, but since it'll be in Maine I think USM can take them out. Rochester/Emmanuel/Scranton & Williams are the teams directly above them. Even though the sectionals will probably be in Rochester, USM can take out all of those and the bottom half of the bracket is West/South teams so not a clue how any of them are. Lewis & Clark & Emory have the best record. Saw Emory @ Brandeis last last year, but I think that's a whole different team. I say USM definitely advances onto next weekend. Assuming my 4 picks hold up (Rochester, USM, Emory, L&C) that sectional will either be in Rochester or USM since the NCAA will pay less to fly 2 teams out East then fly 3 to Emory/L&C. If it's in Rochester I think USM's run ends in sweet 16, if it's in Maine, they lose to DePauw in the semifinals. Can't complain about their bracket, did fairly well. Did much better then Babson (vs. New Paltz then @ Tufts most likely) or Bridgewater (vs. UNE @ Amherst) did and those teams were ranked higher last week and all 3 won their conferences. Could USM somehow have passed both of them??

bsc73 · February 25, 2013, 07:31:24 PM

Interesting that USM could pass both of them. Any thoughts on why that might have happened?

NE Hoop Guy · February 25, 2013, 07:51:17 PM

That is an easy question. NCAA politics. Remember when your kids played local sports and a few parents made all the decisions, etc? This is the same thing, just with big people. (Notice, I did not say adults).

The fact that Babson has been the indisputable number 2 team in the northeast the last three years, (D3 hoops final rankings, NCAA success) and can make a strong argument for this year and has never hosted is outrageous. It has not hurt their performance but something stinks when you look at the stats. Five straight years of NCAA play, first round in a NESCAC gym four times and in western NY the fifth. Yes they were sent 450 miles to western ny, with a 27-0 record. Two times in the regional, two NESCAC gyms. Babson's record over that time 129-19. NCAA record 7-4, two elite 8's. Never hosting. I challenge anyone to find a team with that success that never hosted.

NCAA loves NESCAC of course, and this year it was so obvious that USM would nudge out Babson. Why? NCAA politics.

Long answer to an easy question.

7express · February 25, 2013, 08:22:08 PM

Quote from: bsc73 on February 25, 2013, 07:31:24 PM
Interesting that USM could pass both of them. Any thoughts on why that might have happened?

Actually I just looked. USM was 4th behind Amherst (1), Tufts (2) & Babson (3). Bridgewater was 5th. My mistake, I thought USM & Bridgewater were swapped. I don't see how they could have jumped Babson. Is Dartmouth beating Western to get served up to USM in the finals REALLY enough to pass a Babson team that had no control over Smith losing to Wellesley and getting a worse opponent in their conference finals??

LORENZO123 · February 25, 2013, 09:55:19 PM

"The more things change, the more they stay the same"
1. A French proverb making the observation that turbulent changes do not affect reality on a deeper level other than to cement the status quo.

It goes back to the fourth grade. The more you complain, the more you get punished.

It's really sad, there was no justification for Babson going to Oneonta two years ago then to Amherst last year in an obvious snub. This year, ranked third in the region they go to Tufts, and USM hosts. Not only does USM have the refs in their pocket, now they have the NCAA, too? For all of their effort and success, the Babson women deserve more respect than they've been given, especially this year!

7express · February 25, 2013, 10:18:19 PM

I thought it was Medaille that they got sent to back in 2011?? I don't even remember Oneonta making the 2011 tournament...

And about that, it sucked that they got sent there, but at least they were the best team of the 4 there. I'd rather get shipped 500 miles unneccessarly, but be the best team then stay at home and get the #1 and #4 ranked teams in the NE region.

MVP · February 25, 2013, 11:06:37 PM

Very disappointing news that Babson gets snubbed once again in their bid to host the 2013 NCAA tourney.

What does Babson have to do? This basketball program and it's athletic facilities are in an elite class.

This Babson WBB program deserves the chance to host. This basketball program and this 2013 team represent what D3 basketball is all about.

Their 5th consecutive bid to the tourney w/ 2 elite 8 appearances the last 3 years along with a conference win streak of 85 games justifies awarding this team a 1st round host. There is no satisfactory explanation as to why Babson wasn't chosen to to be a host venue. Babson has to travel to Tufts , yet lower seed USM gets to host. We all know what happens in Gorham w/ the refs.

Can anyone explain that?

Despite the disrespect and being placed in a pod w/ #1 and #4 seed in the region Babson, NEWMAC Champs will be well prepared and ready to go against Suny-New Platz on Friday night.

remsleep · February 25, 2013, 11:15:23 PM

Quote from: 7express on February 25, 2013, 08:22:08 PM
Quote from: bsc73 on February 25, 2013, 07:31:24 PM
Interesting that USM could pass both of them. Any thoughts on why that might have happened?

Actually I just looked. USM was 4th behind Amherst (1), Tufts (2) & Babson (3). Bridgewater was 5th. My mistake, I thought USM & Bridgewater were swapped. I don't see how they could have jumped Babson. Is Dartmouth beating Western to get served up to USM in the finals REALLY enough to pass a Babson team that had no control over Smith losing to Wellesley and getting a worse opponent in their conference finals??

I would think that one of the reasons that Babson has not hosted is that their gym stinks.