MBB: United East Conference

[bballfan44]

BBC is always good.  Great coach and he always finds great players. 

THe assistant from Keystone may have walked up and down the side line during games but it was Marc Smith who ran the show.  He controled the team and ran practices.  He hurt his food because he practices with the players to work them harder.  I think if their assistant takes over then they might be hurting.

Ya Keuka will have a tough time.

PSU-Berks might be good because they have Joe Askew who is unbelievable, and if they ever get decent guys to play with that kid they will win.

Caz is a run and gun team.  they got good scores, can't play much Defense.  they can beat alot of teams but only if there on.  And they will have some better kids coming in this year to help them so they might be tough to beat.

[WNYHoops]

This league is changing, as some of the powers are leaving the conference (Villa Julie and Chestnut Hill). I believe some of the NYC-area schools are leaving also. Not sure if they have added anyone.

I like what D'Youville has coming in (remember I asked about the JUCO player going there who was one of the top HS scorers - that would be Greg French who won state titles with Traditional and was a region III player of the year at Erie CC). They have a long way to go, but with French and a couple of the other guys going there I know of they should be a contender for the title. Keuka will be rebuilding, Caz is up and down, BBC is always tough, Keystone has a new coach, Berks is a 1-man show. The Spartans should be a major player in this league next year.

[Pat Coleman]

This league is changing, as some of the powers are leaving the conference (Villa Julie and Chestnut Hill). I believe some of the NYC-area schools are leaving also. Not sure if they have added anyone.

http://www.d3hoops.com/dailydose/2006/09/07/more-conference-dominoes-fall/

[bballfan44]

when did French play at Erie CC?

[WNYHoops]

He played at Erie two years ago. He still has two years of eligibility left. He originally signed with URI out of high school but forced to go the JUCO route. Still lives in B-Lo and wants to continue playing. Another of his backcourt teammates at ECC, Derrick Ware, will also be joining him at D'Youville. With Kowalski and Butler returning in the paint, along with these guards and a couple more recruits Miller has coming in, I think they will be fun to watch again.

I used to watch them play when they had players like Sanquin Starks and Justin Cooke before the NEAC actually started. They were always very athletic and played at a fast pace. It looks like that is the way they will play again based on the athletes they have coming in next year.

[north central]

bball fan your right on. BBC is very well coached. As a former coach in the conference I have a lot of respect for the BBC coach.

And coach Smith at Keystone was also an excellant coach. Keystone is in some trouble now that he left.

Anyone know who will be the next coach at Keystone?

[bballfan44]

What happened to him after ECC? If he is so good why didn't someone else grab him.

I think their assistant coach will take over the job, only because he did do alot of stuff for the team because Marc Smith was hurt most of the year.

Ya  i know not to many people think highly of the NEAC but some of the teams are starting to come around.  Keystone and BBC can compete with alot of programs when it comes to basketball and we know how good Keystone is at baseball(beat Cortland).  Keuka can usually play with  schools.  With Coach Miller back at D'youville you know they will compete once he brings in his kind of kids.  And Caz is starting to come around and beating teams.   And i believe the other teams will start to come around like PSU-Berks because of the area their in they can get some good athletes, i mean look at Joe Askew, if you get a chance you should watch that kid, he can score any way he wants.  So just give it some time and this league will be able to compete with the other leagues in New York specialy since they just got rid of the schools at the bottom who stink(Poly, Bard, Pusrchase).

[WNYHoops]

bballfan44,

     After ECC French had some family issues to deal with. He was going to walk-on at Canisius when Miller was there, but when he returned to DYC it seemed like a good fit for him to get back on the court. He is a terror in the highly-competitive men's leagues around the city I play in. I can tell you this, there will not be a better guard combination in this league than Greg French and Derrick Ware. French can score at will and Ware is the ultimate handle who sees the floor well. Both are solid team players. They should kill it at this level. I know Coach Miller has some other guys coming in to to help their surrounding cast. That is why I think D'Youville will be really tough to handle next year if everyone stays on board.

     You are right about the league in general. Some up-and-coming programs. Keuka is always in the mix, BBC has a tradition of good teams and Caz is streaky enough that when they get hot they can beat anyone. Being from Buffalo, I'm just glad DYC is getting back on track so I have some better games to watch during the cold winter months up here!

[bballfan44]

Well WNYHoops, i hope your right about those to guards so it will make games better in the NEAC next year because DYC had a tough time last year.  But we will see2 years off could put a little rust on him plus you never know what shape he will be in, he might be in good physical shape but what about conditioning, teams like keystone, bbc and caz love to run all day.  But if they are as good as you say they are DYC can be good.  I am a big fan of Kowliski(not sure how to spell it).  Big Kid, can take the ball to the hole and can take you in the post.

well its good to see that DYC is getting better,  I know some of the kids caz has coming in so they will be better then last year.  Keuke last some key guards but the freshman they are getting I have checked out and they seem like they can be better then the guys they lost.  I think next year will be a good year for the NEAC

[WNYHoops]

With all respect bballfan44, I can't imagine Caz being able to replace their little point guard Wynans. That kid made them tick! Without him on the floor sharing the ball and getting it to the right spots, they struggled. And I don't know if Keuka will be able to replace someone like Lincoln with a frosh. He played nearly every minute of every game and also ran the show. Guards dominate at this level, and point guards in particular. Losing senior leaders and handles like these two might leave both in a rebuilding mode. That is why I am so high on DYC. They have proven guards coming in next year with legitimate experience and track records. Trust me when I say French is in great game shape. If teams want to play fast against the Spartans next year they are playing right into their strengths. DYC will be dynomite in the open court if everyone shows up to campus who says they are coming (and that is always an issue once financial aid packages are sent out!). Think of the Phoenix Suns at the DIII level and that is how I picture them playing.

[bballfan44]

I know what you mean, Winans is a personal friend of mine and I have known him since he was averaging 30 points agame at  afton high school.  It will be tough to replace him, but they do have a freshman point guard coming in who can do everything winans can but just not as quick. 
And your right lincoln was good but the new kid coming in from HF-L is good, you should look for him and u will notice that during his senior year he will be better then Lincoln.

Well your guards may be able to run and so can the big man Kowalski, but i am not sure about some over the other guys, i am not sure about butler, he didn't play against caz when i saw them play.  but i hope they can run and gun, cause thats the still i like to watch.

[north central]

WNY hoops lets not get carried away with DYU . They wont be like the suns and they wont be contending for the conference title. I used to coach in the conference so I am not a fan just saying this stuff. DYU may be better but not  that good. They were 3-13 last year. And who are these guards with legitimate experience and track records. They had no one in the top ten in assists,assists to turnover ratio, steals  or threes. If your a good guard in any conference you will be in the top ten in your conference in one of those areas or lead a winning team and no one at DYU has.

[bballfan44]

I hear caz is getting JV squad for next year.....anybody else hear that?

[WNYHoops]

millikin 33,

     I do believe DYC will compete for the title BECAUSE I agree with everything you just posted. They were 3-13 last year and the guards on that team were horrible. They did not have anyone in the top 30 in any statistical category ... BUT NONE OF THOSE GUYS WILL EVEN BE ON THE ROSTER NEXT YEAR! The team last year was leftovers from the previous coach who allowed the program to go down the tubes. I would be surprised if more that 3 guys from last year are even on the team, and nobody but Kowalski and Butler will see any time. It is an entire new team with a lot more talent. Again, this is only word on the street and knowledge of guys who say they are going to school there next year. If you are talking about stats, Kowalski was in the top 6 in 5 different offensive categories last year. Imagine how he will do with someone who can actually get the ball down the floor to him. I'm not one to go big with predictions either, but I can tell you DYC will be much better than last year and should content for the NEAC title in 07-08.

And it is great to hear Caz might have JV. Feeder programs for the varsity can only help the program as a whole. They must be bringing in a lot of recuits to field a team of JC's. That is normally done at the larger state schools or Fisher.

[bballfan44]

well thats what caz wants to do they want to work their way to being one of the big programs, and they think JV is the first step towards that.  And they brought in 8 guys this year, and the word is they already have 9 for this coming year.