MBB: NESCAC

Started by cameltime, April 27, 2005, 02:38:16 PM

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nescac1

#25965
We are now enough of the way into the season to have a clearer sense of where teams stand.  As we've seen in recent years, of course, after late-season runs by Midd, Amherst, and Williams, things can change in a hurry in NESCAC! 

1. Williams - the Ephs stand alone at the top, but that doesn't mean they are invulnerable (as we saw vs. Bates).  On days when either Casey or Heskett are cold from outside or limited by foul trouble, Williams can go through some scoring draughts.  The Eph defense has been so good, though, that even on those days Williams will be very tough to beat. 

2. Wesleyan - the Cards have really been impressive since losing 3 early games.  They are getting a lot of production out of their very physical frosh class, usually a reason for optimism as those guys have so much room to grow as players.  If Bonner can start hitting outside shots the way he did the last two season, Wesleyan will be even tougher.

3. Hamilton - the Conts were struggling a bit in January before blowing out Conn (as most teams will).  Just a blip, or a sign of some issues?  My guess is somewhere in the middle. 

4. Amherst - a two point road loss to Wesleyan proves the Mammoths are for real more than any of their wins.  I think 2-4 are very closely grouped and all can beat each other on any given day.  Amherst, Williams and Wesleyan can all REALLY defend.  But Amherst, as has been oft-noted, needs more consistency on offense from guys other than Grant Robinson.  Amherst can leap a few spots with an upset over Williams in the non-league game (and go a long way towards securing an NCAA spot).  Very tough stretch of three games ahead. 

5. Middlebury - the loss to Tufts was a tough one and already makes things precarious for a team hoping for an NCAA berth. The Panthers can't afford any more missteps vs. the bottom tier and might need an upset of a team ranked above them, as well.

6. Trinity - tremendous defense, often putrid offense; the future is much brighter than the present

7. Tufts - Trinity's mirror, great offense, trouble on defense; and again, the future is very bright

8. Colby/Bowdoin -- they may end being in a fight for the last playoff spot.  Bowdoin seems to have more talent than a few of the teams around them but can't quite seem to put it together. 

10. Bates -- clearly improving as they have looked a lot better over the past four games; getting Coyne and his in-the-gym range back, and getting a few other guys to start hitting some outside shots, has made them a lot more dangerous.  Still, their overall record is what it is.  Could easily see them vaulting into the top eight.

11. Conn -- ugghhh.  Hope they hire someone really, really good! 

In terms of individual honors, the big five continues to be Casey, Hutcherson, Gilmour, Scadlock and Heskett -- in my view, in that order.  Grant Robinson and Jack Farrell lead the potential second team picks, and other than those two, so many guys have been so up and down that it's a big morass.  Labossier, Reynolds, Bonner, Simonds, Jefferson, Folger, Brennan Morris seem like the main guys to watch. 

If there was a sixth man award, Bosco would just about be a lock. 

No one seems to have emerged as a lead ROY contender.  Guys in the mix include Devonn Allen (great D but offense needs to improve), Alex Sobel (needs more minutes), Andrew Snoddy, Noah Tyson, and Tyler Aronson (all good stats guys on teams that have been struggling a bit).  All having solid years, but no one who is having a year like Hutcherson or Gilmour did the last two seasons. 

nescac1

Updated list of committed NESCAC recuits.  Two new additions for Tufts from California, including a 6'10 center.  After a few down years, the Jumbos are going to be a real force in the league again in future seasons, the way they have been recruiting the last few years, and considering they have zero seniors and only one junior making any sort of impact right now. 

Amherst: F Dan Schleckman and F Beluo Oranye

Bates: F Jacob Iwowo

Bowdoin: G Dylan Lien, G Ben McPherron and G Manav Randhawa

Colby: G Kevin O'Boy, F Cooper Wirkala and G Kyle Butler

Hamilton: C Patrick Mogan and F Liam Regan

Middlebury: G/F Jackson Pitcher and G Noah Osher

Tufts: G/F Casey McClaren, G/F Dylan Thoerner and C Jayson Taylor

Williams: G Cole Prowitt-Smith and F Brandon Arnold

jayhawk

A brief personal note
This morning , Amherst Coach Hixon's mother passed away after a long battle with cancer.

quicksilver

Quote from: nescac1 on January 15, 2019, 11:27:47 AM
Updated list of committed NESCAC recuits.  Two new additions for Tufts from California, including a 6'10 center.  After a few down years, the Jumbos are going to be a real force in the league again in future seasons, the way they have been recruiting the last few years, and considering they have zero seniors and only one junior making any sort of impact right now. 

Amherst: F Dan Schleckman and F Beluo Oranye

Bates: F Jacob Iwowo

Bowdoin: G Dylan Lien, G Ben McPherron and G Manav Randhawa

Colby: G Kevin O'Boy, F Cooper Wirkala and G Kyle Butler

Hamilton: C Patrick Mogan and F Liam Regan

Middlebury: G/F Jackson Pitcher and G Noah Osher

Tufts: G/F Casey McClaren, G/F Dylan Thoerner and C Jayson Taylor

Williams: G Cole Prowitt-Smith and F Brandon Arnold

NESCAC1- You can also add 6-8 forward Jack Garza to the list of Bowdoin recruits.

Vandy74

Middlebury's hard fought 103-92 decision over a good Albertus Magnus squad tonight marks the 400th victory in the head coaching career of Jeff Brown.   His record at Middlebury presently stands at 370-201 (.667).  To put this in it's proper perspective, when he arrived here twenty-one and a half seasons back the Panther basketball program had a record of 568-906 (.385).  I'm sure Old Guy, Middhoops, Middfan along with Panther fans and ex players in general agree that "Thank-you" hardly seems adequate.  This has been the kind of ride we never expected to enjoy.  Congratulations to a good coach and a good man, and thank-you. 8-)

P'bearfan

Quote from: quicksilver on January 16, 2019, 12:44:45 AM
Quote from: nescac1 on January 15, 2019, 11:27:47 AM
Updated list of committed NESCAC recuits.  Two new additions for Tufts from California, including a 6'10 center.  After a few down years, the Jumbos are going to be a real force in the league again in future seasons, the way they have been recruiting the last few years, and considering they have zero seniors and only one junior making any sort of impact right now. 

Amherst: F Dan Schleckman and F Beluo Oranye

Bates: F Jacob Iwowo

Bowdoin: G Dylan Lien, G Ben McPherron and G Manav Randhawa

Colby: G Kevin O'Boy, F Cooper Wirkala and G Kyle Butler

Hamilton: C Patrick Mogan and F Liam Regan

Middlebury: G/F Jackson Pitcher and G Noah Osher

Tufts: G/F Casey McClaren, G/F Dylan Thoerner and C Jayson Taylor

Williams: G Cole Prowitt-Smith and F Brandon Arnold

NESCAC1- You can also add 6-8 forward Jack Garza to the list of Bowdoin recruits[/url].

Good news for the Polar Bears who are going to need some help in the front court after this year.

granddaddyhoops

Nice win for Midd last night against a very gritty, athletic team...Congrats to Coach Brown on #400. Midd came out with a new tweaked starting line up and abandoned their man to man D in favor of a 2-3 Zone. Big man Alex Sobel had a very good night (16 points, 12 Rebs, 4 blocks ) he must continue this type of effort for Midd to make some noise down the stretch. Another solid night for Bosco & Farrell combining for 44 points against a smothering defense.   

JEFFFAN


Line on tonight has to be Williams giving five points to Amherst.

nescac1

After a poor first semester (by NESCAC standards) vs. non-league teams, NESCAC is a scorching 15-1 since January 1 in games vs. out-of-conference opponents.  The competition, to be fair, has for the most part not been great, but still, those are important wins for the entire league, since each out-of-league win helps the SOS for every other team in the conference.  Seven out of 11 league teams already have 11 wins or more, and most of that group are likely to end up with very strong overall records. 

It seems like the rest of New England is for the most part a morass, with very few real Pool C candidates.  CCC is strong at the top with Nichols and Gordon, but NEWMAC is down in large part to some brutal injury luck for expected-powers MIT and Springfield (and Babson has suffered through some injury woes as well).  LEC is once again Eastern Conn and everyone else, but Eastern Conn is not quite as strong as it has been for the past few years.  MASCAC is absolutely terrible this year, and Albertus Magnus, often the best of the rest, doesn't have one of its power squads. St. Joseph's CT is clearly on the rise, but probably two years away from being REALLY interesting.  All of that means that NESCAC is very likely to have 4 NCAA bids this year, maybe as many as 5. 

Really fun week of rivalry games ahead: Williams-Amherst, Midd-Williams, Bowdoin-Colby.  And while not a rivarly game, Amherst-Hamilton will have huge implications for both the NESCAC seedings and for both teams' NCAA prospects. 

amh63

Jayhawk...thanks for the news.  Remember meeting Hixon's parents in Salem, Va. 

grabtherim

#25975
Quote from: Vandy74 on January 16, 2019, 02:23:27 AM
Middlebury's hard fought 103-92 decision over a good Albertus Magnus squad tonight marks the 400th victory in the head coaching career of Jeff Brown.   His record at Middlebury presently stands at 370-201 (.667).  To put this in it's proper perspective, when he arrived here twenty-one and a half seasons back the Panther basketball program had a record of 568-906 (.385).  I'm sure Old Guy, Middhoops, Middfan along with Panther fans and ex players in general agree that "Thank-you" hardly seems adequate.  This has been the kind of ride we never expected to enjoy.  Congratulations to a good coach and a good man, and thank-you. 8-)

Well put.  As good a coach as I think Jeff is, his innate sense of fairness, right and wrong, and simply being a good guy are far more of what makes him what and who he is.  I know many guys who played with and against Jeff going back to his high school days. Decades later, his reputation as a tough, talented and very strong player remains fresh and clear with all of them.  Congrats to Jeff and his wonderful family. 
       

amh63

Besides the first Amherst vs Williams game....in LeFrak, there are several other games of interest to me.  There is the Springfield vs MIT game in Cambridge.  Springfield really needs this win to jumpstart it's chances...if any...into the postseason.  There is also the Swarthmore game.
Was listening to Hoopsville, the other night....the one with Williams' HBC was interviewed by the Host.
The Host was discussing his D3 ranking "thoughts" with another voter...Ryan S.  The Host was really impressed with Swarthmore's team.  The latest men's ranking has Swarthmore jumping up to 10th from the 15th spot....big jump for a 2-lost team, IMO. 
The other interesting thing on the broadcast was that the Host preferred to be at the Amherst vs Williams game tonight ....over Ryan S.  Heck, there is no charge for the game...both should cover the game.  Ryan's is an alum from a School in NEngland :).

middhoops

With all due respect to my friend amh63, there is really only one game in D3 men's basketball tonight.
I've been waiting for this game. 
The Ephs are constructed specifically for this season.  A midwinter's trip to LeFrak has all the elements of an upset.  The rivalry?  Hixon?  Yikes!!
My head tells me that Williams is so ridiculously good AND they got their stinker game behind them in Maine last week...they really should win this game by 10-15 points.
But then, that's why they play the games (sorry, Herm Edwards).
Amherst will give the Ephs all they can handle.  Maybe not for 40 minutes, but if anyone is going to put a blemish on Williams this year; tonight's the night.
In my highly uninformed opinion.

middhoops

Yup, Amherst gave Williams all they could handle for the full 40.
Congrats to Aaron Toomey and the LJs.  Huge win.
Hard fought, clutch finish.

nescac1

Lefrak continues to be a regular season house of horrors for Williams as Amherst wins by one after Bobby Casey's last-second attempt which looked pure just barely rimmed out.  Unreal.  Simply put, the Ephs could not buy a bucket today.  Amherst played tremendous defense, no doubt, but Williams missed countless uncontested or barely contested 3s.  Meanwhile, Amherst shot the ball beautifully from deep, hitting some REALLY difficult and deep jumpers, especially late in the game. 

For Williams, Casey had a spectacular game despite the heartbreaking miss at the end, 19-4-4 with only one turnover.  James Heskett had a nightmarish shooting game, Fru Che and Cherry played awesome D on him but he also just missed a number of shots that were gimmes for him.  To his credit he hit a huge 3 late that was ALMOST the game-winner and even with a brutal offensive game, had a great day on defense with 4 steals and 2 blocks. 

Williams was very strong in the paint, with an incredible 10 blocks, but in the end, Amherst just shot the ball too well, and Williams too poorly, for the Ephs to pull this one out.  Glad the game that counts in the standings is in Chandler, because the Ephs seem absolutely jinxed in games that go down to the last shot in Lefrak. 

Amherst got a lot of balance, Grant Robinson was electric early but the Ephs contained him in the second half.  Day was enormous down the stretch as he was on fire hitting really clutch 3s.  Fru Che was great on both ends of the court all game.