Category / CCC Conference

by Matt Noonan

New England Basketball Weekend Watch (Friday, Jan. 17th)

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By Matt Noonan | @NoontimeNation 

Happy Friday, everyone – hope you are all staying warm on this bone-chilly (and windy) day in Boston.

Did I hear there was some snow in the forecast for tomorrow? When does the warm weather arrive?

Well, while we anxiously wait for temperatures that we had a week ago, let’s dish out a brand new ‘New England Basketball: Weekend Watch’ with some thoughts on a few local D-III games.

Colby College at Middlebury College (Friday, Jan. 17th at 7 p.m.): A battle between our top two teams in this week’s Noontime Top 10 Men’s Basketball Poll.

The Mules of Colby enter the contest riding an impressive 13-game winning streak – they extended that streak last weekend with back-to-back wins over Connecticut College and Trinity College. Sam Jefferson is one of two players in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) averaging 22.8 points per game – he will certainly be a player to watch on Friday evening, as well as someone the Panthers will need to locate when he is on the court.

As for the Panthers, they enter this marquee matchup with a 15-1 mark – they lost last weekend to Amherst College but rebounded the following day with a one-point win over Hamilton College. Tommy Eastman highlighted the Blue and White’s win over the Continentals – similar to Jefferson, he will also be a player to watch in this contest.

Noontime’s Prediction: I think the Panthers’ win over Hamilton provided them with some momentum that not only helped them against Albertus Magnus earlier this week but should assist them to make a few more plays than Colby, especially down the stretch. Middlebury will beat Colby, 81-78. 

Tufts University at Amherst College (Saturday, January 18th at 3 p.m.): It may be too early to call this a ‘must-win’ game for both teams, but as two of the top three women’s basketball teams in the NESCAC, this is a VERY important contest.

Since falling to Emmanuel College last month, the Mammoths have won 11-straight – they will attempt to make it 12-straight wins when they host Bates College this evening with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.

Amherst’s Madeline Eck was named the conference’s player of the week on Monday – she entered the week averaging 15.6 points per game. The senior guard, who has played and started in all 15 games this season, has converted 72.1 percent of her free throws while averaging seven caroms per contest.

First-year coach Jill Pace has enjoyed a very successful start with the Jumbos, who enter this weekend riding a 14-game winning streak. Before Tufts visits Amherst on Saturday, they will travel to Hamilton on Friday for a 7 p.m. tip-off.

Tufts opened conference play last week with a 78-60 win over Wesleyan University – it was a game that featured a double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds by Erica DeCandido. DeCandido will be a player to watch on the Powder Blue and White against the Mammoths on Saturday.

Noontime’s Prediction: This will be a good test for both teams, but Amherst has been impressive since falling to the Saints and should find a way to beat the Jumbos on their home court by a score of 63-57. 

Time for some ‘extra picks’ for the weekend! 

MBB: Tufts (MBB) over Hamilton (Jan. 17th): After falling to Suffolk University earlier this week, the Jumbos will find a way to bounce back against the Continentals before hosting the Mammoths on Saturday afternoon.

MBB: Emmanuel College over Lasell University (Jan. 18th): Coach Danny Lawson and the Saints should continue their recent momentum at home against the Lasers and score their first conference win of 2020.

WBB: Smith College over Emerson College (Jan. 18th): The Pioneers scored an impressive road win earlier this week against the Ephs of Williams College and should be able to continue that momentum on the other side of the state against the Lions.

MBB: Endicott College over Roger Williams (Jan. 18th): The Gulls have rebounded nicely since falling to Nichols College earlier this month with back-to-back wins over Curry College and Gordon College. Look for a big game on Saturday from Keith Brown and Jalen Echevarria.

WBB: Rhode Island College over UMass Boston (Jan. 18th): RIC appears to be the team to beat in the Little East Conference (LEC) – they enter Saturday’s match-up riding an 11-game winning streak. RIC’s Willcia McBorrough will be the player to watch in this contest.

WBB: Westfield State over Bridgewater State (Jan. 18th): After surrendering 101 points to Framingham State last weekend, the Owls have rebounded with some important conference wins over Fitchburg State and Worcester State. Look for Blue and White to extend their current winning streak to three games on Saturday.

WBB: Eastern Nazarene at Mitchell College (Jan. 18th): The Lions appear to be the team to beat (and watch) in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) – this has the making of a potential postseason preview.

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by Matt Noonan

New England Football Offseason Notebook: FSU’s Kelley Announces Retirement

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By NoontimeSports.com | @NoontimeNation 

Weeks after guiding his team to a ninth Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) title, along with an appearance in the NCAA D-III Football Tournament, Framingham State University football coach Tom Kelley announced his retirement on Wednesday, January 15th, 2020.

Kelley, who is an alum of the program, coached the Rams for 13 seasons. He guided Framingham State to five NCAA Tournaments and four bowl victories, including a 3016 New England Bowl championship.

“I cannot express how grateful I am to have been the head coach of the football program at Framingham State for the past 13 seasons,” Kelley said via Wednesday’s announcement on the Framingham State athletics website.

“As a former player, I could not be more proud of our teams and all the fine student-athletes who have come through the program. I was lucky to be surrounded by great coaches on our staff throughout the years that helped lead our teams to so much success.

“At this point, it is time for me to step away from coaching with the program sitting in a great spot coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.  It’s time to put the horse in the barn.”

Framingham State won 107 games under the direction of Kelley, including 100 games in the last 13 seasons. Kelley has coached two AFCA All-Americans while being named the coach of the year eight times by five different organizations, including the New England Football Writers in 2012 when he led the Rams to a New England Football Conference (NEFC) championship, NEFC Bogan Division title, a MASCAC crown, and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Kelley will remain in his current role as the school’s Director of Athletics while an announcement of a new coach should be coming within the next few weeks.

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Endicott College’s Nick DiCairano will represent the Gulls in The Dream Bowl on Monday, January 21dt, 2020. (PHOTO COURTESY: Nick Grace)

Endicott College senior kicker Nick DiCairano will be representing the Gulls’ football program next Monday, January 21st, 2020 at The Dream Bowl in Salem, Virginia at the Salem Football Stadium, as announced earlier this week on the athletic department’s website.

The Dream Bowl, which started seven years ago, “is a College Football All-Star Showcase of the best FCS, D-II, and D-III players from across the country.”

DiCairano will compete on the 2020 Crusaders team – he will be joined by a few other New England college football players, including Framingham State’s Dwayne Hunter-Parker.

Last month, DiCairano represented Endicott in the National Bowl College All-Star Game after producing an impressive senior season with the Gulls, which included career-bests in field goals (13), extra points made (57) and points (96). His longest field goal of the 2019 season was a 47-yard kick, which he recorded three times against Framingham State, Curry College, and Salve Regina University.

In addition to DiCairano, a few other New England college football players will be competing next Monday at The Dream Bowl, including Sacred Heart wide receiver Kezio Snelling, who was named to the Northeastern Conference (NEC) second team last November.

Also on the Crusaders is Derek Mountain and Corey Stefanik of Holy Cross and Momodou Mbye and Kevin Lawrence of Rhode Island College.

by Matt Noonan

D3 Basketball: Women’s Top 10 Poll (Monday, Jan. 13th, 2020)

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By NoontimeSports.com | @NoontimeNation

Tufts University remained the TOP team in our seventh New England D-III Women’s Basketball Top 10 after winning a trio of games last week, including their conference opener against Wesleyan University. The Jumbos will be on the road this week with contests at Hamilton College on Friday, January 17th and Amherst College on Saturday, January 18th.

The Mammoths of Amherst opened conference play with back-to-back wins over Middlebury College and Williams College to extend their current winning streaks to 10-games. Amherst is in action three times this week, including Tuesday, January 14th when they host Wesleyan.

Similar to Tufts, Bowdoin College enters the week riding an impressive 14-game winning streak, which will be put to the test three times this week against Maine-Presque Isle, Middlebury, and Williams.

WPI joined the poll this week following a few impressive regional wins over Westfield State, Williams, and Western New England. The Engineers will host Middlebury on Tuesday before hopping into conference play eight days later against Clark University.

And finally, Rhode Island College checked-in fifth overall after picking up their tenth-straight win this past weekend against Keene State. RIC visits ninth-ranked Eastern Connecticut on Wednesday for an important conference clash.

New England D-III Basketball Women’s Top 10 Week Five Poll| Monday, January 13th, 2020

1. Tufts University 14-0, 1-0 NESCAC Last Week: No. 1
2. Bowdoin College  14-0, 2-0 NESCAC Last Week: No. 2
3. Amherst College 13-1, 2-0 NESCAC Last Week: No. 3
4. WPI  10-4, 0-0 NEWMAC Last Week: Not Ranked
5. Rhode Island College 13-1, 6-0 LEC Last Week: No. 8
6. Brandeis University 10-2, 0-1 UAA Last Week: No. 6 
7. Williams College 12-2, 1-1 NESCAC Last Week: No. 4
8. Smith College 13-1, 0-0 NEWMAC Last Week: No. 5
9. Eastern Connecticut 11-2, 5-0 LEC Last Week: No. 9
10. Western New Eng. 11-3, 4-1 CCC Last Week: No. 7

ON THE RISE: Babson College, Bates College, Emmanuel College, Middlebury College, Springfield College, Trinity College, UMass Boston, University of New England, and Wesleyan University,

Previous Polls: Preseason Poll |Week One| Week Two| Week Three|Week Four | Week Five| Week Six 

 

by Matt Noonan

D3 Basketball: Men’s Basketball Top 10 Poll (Monday, Jan. 13th, 2020)

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By NoontimeSports.com | @NoontimeNation

Middlebury College remained our TOP team in our seventh New England D-III Men’s Basketball Top 10 Poll after a 2-1 week for the Panthers, which saw the Blue and White beat Hamilton College and Plattsburgh State.

Yes, the Panthers did lose their conference opener to Amherst College, but they were able to turn around one day later and score a one-point win over Hamilton. Both Amherst and Hamilton remained on our weekly poll this week, checking in eighth and ninth, respectively.

Colby College stretched its winning streak to 13-straight, thanks to back-to-back conference wins last weekend over Connecticut College and Trinity College. The Mules visit Middlebury on Friday, January 17th in what should be a very exciting (and interesting) contest.

Babson College remained our third team, despite falling to fourth-ranked Springfield College in their conference opener. The Beavers rebounded with an impressive win on the road against WPI.

Finally, Brandeis University returned to the poll following a 76-71 win over New York University. The Judges, who have won four straight, will look to continue their recent momentum this weekend against both Rochester and Emory.

New England D-III Basketball Men’s Top 10 Week Six Poll| Monday, January 13th, 2020

1. Middlebury College 14-1, 1-1 NESCAC Last Week: No. 1
2. Colby College  13-0, 2-0 NESCAC Last Week: No. 2
3. Babson College 11-2, 1-1 NEWMAC Last Week: No. 3
4. Springfield College 11-2, 2-0 NEWMAC Last Week: No. 8
5. Albertus Magnus  11-1, 0-0 GNAC Last Week: No. 4
6. Tufts University 11-2, 1-0 NESCAC Last Week: No. 6
7. WPI 10-3, 1-1 NEWMAC Last Week: No. 5
8. Amherst College 10-4, 1-1 NESCAC Last Week: No. 7
9. Hamilton College 11-3, 1-1 NESCAC Last Week: No. 9
10. Brandeis University 9-3, 1-0 UAA Last Week: Not Ranked

ON THE RISE: Endicott College, Nichols College, Rhode Island College, and Western Connecticut 

Previous Polls: Preseason Poll |Week One| Week Two | Week Three| Week Four| Week Five |Week Six

by Matt Noonan

New England Basketball Weekend Watch (Jan. 10th-12th)

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By Matt Noonan | @NoontimeNation 

Another busy weekend of New England D-III college basketball is set to tip-off this afternoon and evening – hope you are ready for some great games to watch and follow!

Let’s begin with one game to watch in Medford, Massachusetts this evening as the Tufts University women’s basketball team welcomes Wesleyan University to Cousens Gymnasium for a 7 p.m. tip-off.

Friday’s clash between the Cardinals and Jumbos marks the official start of New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play.

Tufts enters tonight’s contest riding an impressive 13-game winning streak, which has included recent wins over UMass Dartmouth, SUNYIT, and Wheaton College. Emily Briggs highlighted the Powder and Blue’s effort against the Lyons on Wednesday by connecting on 7 of 10 field goals for 19 points – she also made all three freebies. Erica DeCandido chipped in 13 points on six of eight shooting.

Wesleyan should certainly provide Tufts with some challenges on both ends of the court – the Cardinals have won eight of 11 contests thus far, including an early January clash with Babson College. The Cardinals began their 2019-20 campaign with six-straight wins.

In their last outing against SUNY Geneseo, last weekend, Caleigh Ryan and Katy O’Connor combined for 24 points, while Emma Roush added 10 points off the bench. 

A few other NESCAC women’s games to watch tonight and this weekend include Bowdoin College at Trinity College (1/10 at 7 p.m.), Amherst College at Middlebury College (1/10 at 7 p.m.), and Amherst at Williams College on Saturday, January 11th at 3 p.m.

On the men’s side of the NESCAC, keep an eye on Friday’s clash between Middlebury and Amherst. The Panthers have won 13-straight contests, including three consecutive 2020 meetings with Colby-Sawyer, Springfield College, and Plattsburgh State. This particular outing should be a good test for the Panthers, but also the Mammoths, who began the new year with a 116-44 win over Lesley University before falling to Wesleyan three days later by a score of 79-77.

My prediction for Friday’s Amherst-Middlebury game is the following: The Mammoths will prevail and receive some major contributions from Grant Robinson, Fru Che, and Eric Sellew.

Tomorrow (Saturday, January 11th), WPI will entertain Babson in a very enticing New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) contest. The Engineers began conference play earlier this week against MIT, while the Beavers were edged on Wednesday by Springfield.

It’s too early to say this a must-win for the Beavers (or Engineers) as all eight teams play each other twice in a single-season, but this could be a potential preview of the conference championship game next month.

Other Games to Watch (and Follow) this Weekend: 

  • WBB: Framingham State at Westfield State (Saturday, Jan. 11th at 12 p.m.): The Rams can begin conference play with a win on the road against an Owls team, which has not won a game since beating Plymouth State in mid-to-late November.
  • WBB: Western New England at Wentworth Inst. of Technology (Saturday, Jan. 11th at 1 p.m.): Look for the Golden Bears to bounce back after losing to WPI earlier this week. A win over the Leopards would provide WNE with their fourth conference win and keep them within at least one or two games of the University of New England.
  • WBB: Brandeis University at New York University (Saturday, Jan. 11th at 1 p.m.): The Judges face another 10-1 squad in an important conference meeting. Brandeis has won 10 of 11 contests this season so I expect that momentum will help them against the Violets.
  • MBB: Keene State at Rhode Island College (Saturday, Jan. 11th at 3 p.m.): This is an important meeting for both teams as the Anchormen and Owls are in a three-way tie with Western Connecticut for the top spot in the conference. Look for the Anchormen to bounce back after losing to Western Connecticut earlier this week.