WBB: Little East

Started by Allen M. Karon, March 09, 2004, 03:53:08 PM

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Lloyd Christmas

I'm not from USM, I'm over from the NESCAC board to give you a little love, since this board is a ghost town.

When a player gets shut down against the only good team she plays, it's a solid bet she will not get first-team All-Americans. She'll be lucky to make any national team. Time will tell, though.

Bowdoin went 29-1 last year. I'm sure the addition of the former Ithaca assistant was a boon to the team, but methinks Bowdoin would have handled Cleary okay, regardless. That's what good teams do.

But back to the upcoming game. The reason I don't think it will close can be attributed to one of your statements above: "She's expected to carry the entire load for that team..." When a team is as clearly imbalanced as Ithaca is, it's a lot easier to cause them problems in the postseason.  

USM lost to Bates and Bowdoin very early, and that's it. I'll take a stab and say 75-59, USM.

And I'll take the under on your line.

ttn

great game between usm and bates. either team deserved to win. its about time usm and bowdoin got to play later in the tournament rather than sooner.  i am surprised the ncaa didnt put  usm, bates, and bowdoin in same bracket  to save money.  
i am sure ncaa counted on bates  winning as well.  
usm may prove like the pats do that this is a team games.  one  player doesnt make or break the team.

Allen M. Karon

According to the http://www.ncaasports.com" target=_top>http://www.ncaasports.com Div. 3 scoreboard--

Due to the inclement weather conditions in the Portland/Gorham, Maine area which forced the closing of the Univ. of Southern Maine campus today (Saturday), the S. Maine/Springfield sectional final originally scheduled for tonight at 7 PM Eastern has been postponed to tomorrow (Sunday, March 13, 2005) at 2 PM Eastern.

All other women's sectionals are currently scheduled to tip tonight at 7 PM Eastern.

Gordon "Marco Scutaro" Mann

USM confirms.

We'll play tomorrow.

Kayla Johnson

Does anyone think Springfield has a chance?  Or is USM too strong at home?

Allen M. Karon

Kayla--

At home, USM should be favored to win today.  However, although the last two meetings between the Pride and Huskies took place at Blake Arena in Springfield during (1) the first round of the NCAA tournament in the 2000-2001 season, and (2) the finals of the Naismith Classic in the 2002-2003 season, the Springfield Pride won both of these previous meetings.

I would pick USM today at Warren Hill Gym, seeing as they beat Bates on Friday, but I would not be too surprised if Springfield pulled off the upset again.

Allen M. Karon

Congrats to Gary Fifield and the University of Southern Maine Huskies on their defeating Springfield today and advancing to the "Final Four".  Although no game is easy to win at this stage, USM surely made this game look easy in the way they played today against Springfield.

It will be interesting on Friday to see how Ashley Marble and Megan Myles of USM will match up against the taller Millikin post players of Joanne Conner and Lindsay Ippel.  Also of interest will be how Donna Cowing of USM will match up against the taller Laura Zimmerman of Millikin.

The Millikin starters not only can shoot well, but also pass the ball well.  4 of the 5 starters for Millikin have at least 75 assists each on the season.

I would suggest to Coach Fifield that he spend a lot of hours this week breaking down the Millikin game tapes.  I want to listen to a great match this Friday.  http://discus.d3hoops.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0>

Paul Clancy

USM has an awesome program and a fantastic coach.  The team's performance without the offensive force of Jones speaks to their depth.  And, I doubt there's another 5'9" post player (namely, Marble) who rebounds and generally plays that position so well.  Myles offensively plays more like a guard.  I suspect the "uncommon" approach these two bring to the game confound many defensive schemes.

My heart may be in the NESCAC and the UAA, but I grew up halfway between the two USM campuses (or is it campii?).  So, go Huskies, and with all your Maine players, bring back a championship to the Great State of Maine!

Steve

Fifield will at least have the advantage that Ippel will not sneak up on them. She really has only played the last ten games of the season. Wheaton beat Millikin at home by 17 and lost by three on the road, but Ippel barely played in either game.  She has come out of nowhere.

Steve

Expect USM to work hard on breaking Millikin's press this week.  They run a couple of full court presses, but their most damaging one is a 3/4 court press that creates huge turnovers around the half-court line. They crush teams that can't handle the press, and now they have a two-headed post combination.

Allen M. Karon

Congratulations to:

S. Maine coach Gary Fifield--

WBCA DIII Coach of the Year-- 2004-2005 season.

This is the second year in a row that a coach from a Maine DIII school has won this prestigious honor.

News courtesy of http://www.usm.maine.edu/~athl" target=_top>http://www.usm.maine.edu/~athl

News also courtesy of http://www.mainetoday.com" target=_top>http://www.mainetoday.com

Allen M. Karon

The WBCA released the following press release this morning on the Coach of the Year award.  According to the press release, Jim Murphy of Bates College had been selected as the top candidate of this region (Region 1) for the award before the NCAA tournament began-- however, Gary Fifield automatically got nominated for the WBCA Coach of the Year award by virtue of being a coach of a DIII women's basketball national semifinal team upon USM's winning the sectional over Bates and Springfield, and advancing to Virginia Beach, VA.   Fifield then picked up the most votes this week to win the Coach of the Year award.

The press release can be read at:

http://www.wbca.org/releases/05DIIICOYrelease.asp" target=_top>http://www.wbca.org/releases/05DIIICOYrelease.asp

Steve

Millikin 66, USM 60- Not that any of you care, but I have mixed feelings about it. I am a fan of the CCIW, and even though Millikin is our big rival, I am happy for them. On the other hand, I grew up in Gorham, so I always feel bad when USM loses.  Another great season, though.

Allen M. Karon

Congrats to S. Maine and Scranton on a well-played third place game.

S. Maine 55, Scranton 53 Final

As the fourth place team, Scranton will receive their team trophy and other respective awards first in the ceremony to be held at the conclusion of the national championship game.

Southern Maine will get their team trophy and otehr respective awards from the NCAA immediately after Scranton.

Then, the national runner-up will get their team trophy and awards, followed by the national champion.

Tip-off of the national title game is at 3:05 PM Eastern.  Game will be televised on College Sports Television in addition to the D3Hoops.com/NCAAsports.com audio webcast.

Snowman

Heard that So Maine did not fair to well at Brandeis over the weekend? Is that true? Did everyone play?