Quote from: nescac1 on Today at 12:54:42 PM1. Uh-oh, sounds like Rutigliano is, indeed, gone.  What a disaster for Colby:

https://x.com/samurai_hoops/status/2036827713667801392

https://hoopdirt.com/d3-dirt-colby-opens-rutigliano-taking-d1-assistant-job/

Civello in the portal, a second head coaching search in two years, and you have to wonder given the timing if a few of the very much in demand Colby recruits will try to find an alternative option (might be difficult if they have not applied to any other schools, of course).

The best thing Colby could do right now is deliver an incredibly introspective apology and offer a raise to bring back Strahorn. Just an absolute tragedy what the new AD, President, and a few donors have done to the program.

This was an embarrassing season from The Colby Mules.

Not the players at all, nor really the new coaching staff, but a complete embarrassment from the administration, new athletic director, and basketball related donors propping up the new facility and exerting influence on the administration.

President Greene and Colby hired a new athletic director, Amanda DeMartino, in the summer/fall of 2024. DeMartino came to Mayflower hill with a recent accolade as AD of the year while at The College of New Jersey. What I learned is over the course of the 2024-2025 year, DeMartino had two meetings with Strahorn - one friendly introduction at the start of the season, and one two months after the season asking him to step down due to performance related issues. Even though he had a year on his contract left, the administration tried to have him step down and not be paid for the remaining year. Once the word was out the admin was going in a different direction, Strahorn faced the impossible task of fighting and risking his contractually obligated payments over some drawn out process. I don't blame him for settling and getting paid what he was owed on the contract.

Waiting until two months after the season to backstab your coach (an alumni and well respected among his 14 classes of players he coached) essentially forced him to the sidelines of the 2025-2026 season as all the hiring had come and gone. This treatment taints and lessens the position of coach of any sport at Colby College.

Then comes the incoming hire, an up and comer Rutigliano, who I know nothing about personally, but am told has no connection to the area. I suspect this will be a steppingstone job for him. My guess is the minute he sniffs any success that comes close to the 2019-2020 season Strahorn had, he will be off for greener pastures. That season Colby went 24-4, lost in 2OT in the Nescac championship with their All American on one ankle, and lost in the first round of the NCAAs. After that performance, Strahorn could have taken any pick of jobs climbing the coaching ladder - but he did not, he remained committed to Colby and enjoyed another 5 years of success, including another Nescac Finals appearance, in the face of long odds being in Waterville and the Nescac.

The first four years of Strahorns Colby tenure were rough... he got handed a dumpster fire from Whitmore, but built the program up to a level of respectability and was consistently the best team in Maine over his last 10 years. Maybe most importantly to some alumni was Strahorn's 25-12 record against rivals Bates and Bowdoin over his last ten years, never dipping worse than 2-2. Rutigliano went 1-3 this year and was handed off a lot of talent from Strahorn.

Word got back to some of the younger alumni upset with the way the school treated Strahorn that some of the deeper pocket donors had the ear of the administration. When Whitmore retired, there was a split between the younger alumni backing Strahorn and the older a different candidate. We heard that it played a role in ultimate outcome to let Strahorn go.

I suppose it's no surprise that money talks. But shame on you President Greene, AD DeMartino, and the basketball alumni involved for going about it the way they did and waiting two months after the season.

The irony is the results they got after claiming performance was the issue... a mediocre 16-9 record, but 4-6 in the Nescac during a down year for the depth of the conference (WIL, HAM AND MIDD STUNK!) and being unceremoniously dispatched in the quarterfinals. I guarantee you Strahorn doesn't go 1-3 against Bates and Bowdoin and 4-6 in Nescac with the roster as talented and deep as Colby had this year... I also heard the team may have included one more top 5 scorer in the conference (a transfer who was accepted at Colby but went elsewhere once the coaching situation became muddy).

As an alum, I am worried for the program, ashamed of the administration, and saddened by the treatment of my friend Damien Strahorn.

End Rant

Quote from: Conts Fan on March 01, 2025, 05:03:29 PM

Quote from: booyakasha on March 01, 2025, 04:46:20 PMCurious if it is just me, or everyone... The NSN broadcast audio is ahead of the video by about 2-3 seconds. Makes it almost unwatchable

It's always like that for me, watching on the Apple TV app.

It is quite annoying. Women's is fine and in sync.

Curious if it is just me, or everyone... The NSN broadcast audio is ahead of the video by about 2-3 seconds. Makes it almost unwatchable

Quote from: jumpshot on February 28, 2025, 12:35:28 PMMy late input to a recent discussion ... this year's UAA teams of Emory, Chicago, Washington University, NYU would dominate NESCAC semi-finalists of Wesleyan, Tufts, Trinity, and Hamilton in my opinion having seen all of them. This year's UAA leaders simply play faster, shoot better, defend more intensely, have highly skilled bigs, greater depth, maturity, balanced offense, etc. Each season varies, of course.

The data strongly contradicts the claim jumpshot. They have common opponents:

Emory beat Bowdoin by 10 (neutral). Avg margin of victory for top 4 Nescac schools was 20.5 (all but Tufts at Bowdoin)
Emory beat Midd by 13 (neutral). Avg margin of victory for top 4 Nescac schools was 17 (only Tufts at Midd)

Chicago beat bates by 17 (at Chicago). Avg margin of victory for top 4 Nescac schools was 13.75 (all but Tufts at Bates). Of course, Chicago caught Bates early before their big late season improvement

Wash U beat Colby by 12 (at Wash U). Avg margin of victory for top 4 Nescac schools was 16 (all but Tufts at Colby).

Quote from: nescac1 on February 26, 2025, 02:02:38 PMI'd be STUNNED if the Bowdoin job opens.  Alex Lloyd was a seemingly great hire who inherited a really tough situation and a depleted roster at Bowdoin.  It takes time to build a winning program (heck just ask Jeff Brown at Middlebury) starting from around the bottom in a loaded league, and I think Lloyd's teams always seem very well-coached.  The results haven't been there, but Lloyd has brought in some good players (including this year's presumptive POTY) and Bowdoin has also had among the worst injury luck in the league over the last few seasons. 

Alex Lloyd is from VT... I have no inside info, just an observation

Quote from: nescac1 on December 02, 2024, 01:31:05 PMKeene is region 2.  Keene and WPI are, for now, the overwhelming front-runners in region 2, with Brandeis probably third.  WNEC, Clark, Babson, and Eastern CT are other teams to watch in region 2.

Got it, thanks. Do you happen to know where I can find a listing of conference by region?

Quote from: nescac1 on December 02, 2024, 12:41:01 PMTurning back to region one, this is the weakest non-NESCAC season I can recall for region one teams.  While NESCAC has six teams in the Massey top 40 and a crazy nine in the top 92, GNAC has St. Joe's (CT) at 49 and no one else in the top 100, the NAC's highest ranked team is 248, and MASCAC has no one above 167. The first regional rankings are a LONG way away but just based on early results, I would expect NESCAC to own the first five spots in the regional ranking, at least six spots in total, and potentially all seven, unless St. Joe's pulls off a major upset against Trinity. That's a lot of potentially regionally-ranked opponents for every NESCAC squad to play against.   

Are you forgetting about Keene St? Are they not region 1?

Quote from: Greek Tragedy on February 17, 2023, 08:56:30 AM

Quote from: Bucket on February 16, 2023, 05:40:26 PM

Quote from: Greek Tragedy on February 16, 2023, 01:57:20 PM
Tufts should be in, even if they lose this weekend.

They're below Wesleyan in the regional rankings, so I don't think that's a given with a loss, at all.

I think if they both lose, Tufts could jump them because they'll have another vRRO playing Middlebury, while Wesleyan's opponent, Colby, is not. That could override Wesleyan's win over Tufts. If they both lose in the semis, both would get another vRRO, but Tufts' 2 vRROs are more impressive playing Middlebury and (assumed) Williams, while Wesleyan only plays one vRRO in low-level Hamilton. If both make the final, both are in, in my opinion.

If they both lose, that means Colby wins and almost certainly becomes ranked next Tuesday, likely to jump Trinity if they lose to Williams. Lots of moving pieces to consider! Exciting times!

Quote from: nescac1 on May 19, 2021, 01:18:23 PM

QuoteAdd Jack Lawson to Colby's list of 2025 recruits: https://t.co/lpV1GD9szb?amp=1

Looks like a potential impact player. Skilled and athletic 6'7" player with shooting range out of St. Louis.

My man, Lawson looks good but even Steph Curry doesn't have shooting range out of St. Louis! 

But for real, there has been a lot of talk on the football board about Colby really amping up recruiting, and of course the new athletic facility certainly can't hurt.  Seems like the same thing is happening in hoops ... two straight ROY winners, and just a massive influx of hoops recruits over the past two years ... at least 12 in total.  Especially with so many other programs in transition, Colby should be a fixture in the top half of NESCAC for awhile.  The Colby administration definitely seems all-in on athletics in a way some other NESCAC schools have not been of late ...

Nescac1,

I think my fellow Colby fan was saying Lawson had shooting range, and hails from St. Louis .

Either way, looks like another good addition for the Mules.

Quote from: Colby Hoops on June 25, 2020, 10:49:47 AM

Quote from: saratoga on June 24, 2020, 08:50:15 PM
https://www.recorder.com/Keeping-Score-Amherst-College-lacrosse-34048451

From the sounds of this, the Amherst president made a horrible situation about a million times worse in her zeal to prove athletics are the root of all evil in the Western world.



Clearly, someone had their itty-biddy hands all over this.

I''l quibble with the lede -- "a mountain has grown from a molehill..." Using the n-word in any way is despicable and I think making a big deal out of it is warranted. It's not a molehill, that's for sure. Martin probably went too far, but, I think erring on that side is easily the better side to err on.

Ain't that the truth.

When some of the dinosaurs around here who fail to see the problem with the lacrosse incident fade into distant memory, Amherst and the NESCAC as a whole will be better off.

4
Mt Union
Randolph Macon
Neb Wes

3
Colby
UW-Eau Claire
Elmhurst

2
Yeshiva
St Joes CT

Quote from: Bucket on February 13, 2020, 04:05:00 PM

Quote from: booyakasha on February 13, 2020, 01:21:25 PM

Quote from: lumbercat on February 13, 2020, 11:11:20 AM
Are you really saying that Furbush is on the refs as much as Strahorn? Thats not accurate.
No straws, Ive watched Strahorn for 8 years.

BTW--There have been a couple of T's on Bates players this year, I think that is what you are seeing.

Agreed Colby Hoops - this is a bit pointless, but Bucket and Lumber seem to time and time again have it out for D and I think it is better to have the record straight.

Time and again have it out for Damian Strahorn? I don't think I have ever offered an opinion about him. Ever.  And my post was more about Furbush—who is practically a saint on the sideline—than Strahorn. Perhaps you're confusing me with someone else.

Apologies - it was Old Guy complaining about Strahorn in the past and I recalled incorrectly.

Quote from: MiddWatcher on February 13, 2020, 08:32:57 PM
Thanks, Jefffan for the story on Duncan Robinson. What a great blog when an Amherst fan can send along a story on the former Williams player : )  Kudos to you, Duncan will be in the three point shooting contest on Saturday night !  ( May have to wear purple for that one ).

So, Tufts - Middlebury on Friday night. Hope all can catch some of it. Two really good teams right now !  Tufts is so balanced. Power Inside, a slasher and a great shooter on either side with several excellent guards to handle and a terrific coach. Am reminded of Bill James and his Baseball Abstracts from the 80s. One of his theories was to always watch out for an MLB team in September that would have a very good record and just miss out on the playoffs ..... look out for them the next April. That would be Tufts. That was a good team that beat Middlebury last February; not a fluke win at all. They have kept that momentum going all year.  And, Middlebury, especially coming off of last Sunday at Wesleyan.  Finally back to being healthy, with just about everything clicking right now. They are good ! The three big guys have been awesome: Folger able to get lift again off his feet, Eastman ( BTW - you all may want to just think about plugging he and Farrell for First Team All NESCAC next year ) has been tremendous and Cahill has added a lot. A very fine shooter. And Charley Moore has chipped in, too. Look out for him next year. The two primary subs, Ingram and DeLorenzo have done their thing: play some D, don't throw it away and chip in with a shot or two along the way. But, mostly, the 3 Designated Point Guards have really been awesome. Never better than last weekend. Farrell takes the teaching of " get a hand in the passing lane " to new heights..... " Get your whole body in the passing lane and just steal the thing ". He  has done it over and over again. Bosco gets to more key hoops late in games and is crazy at the foulline ( 34 of 35 at one stretch ). And Kornaker - how about 19 assists in two games ? Including what I thought was the Play of the Year at Wesleyan when he drove baseline, beat one, drew another looked for two receivers ( both covered ) and finally found the available beyond the arc and threw a bounce pass from underneath the basket out to Farrell for a three pointer !  You can have your dunks - that was Basketball. With all due respect to those mentioned as MIP for NESCAC - to me, it is Kornaker.  Has played great defense all year, usually guarding opponent's best - and is spunky and feisty when guarding people. Has improved his shooting form and results, and is always looking pass First to help out his team. Just an opinion.  Yes, the three smaller guards may get beat up a bit by taller guards, but the Big O at 6'5 is not waiting to come onto the court.  More power to them - and if they can just keep running and running, maybe Midd can spring the upset tomorrow night and really make things interesting the next few weekends. Hope you can watch the game.

I will bow out of this blog at this time. Many thanks for reading stuff. As a former player, coach and now dad ( my son is #13, P. DeLorenzo for Middlebury ) it is a bit tenuous being a fan and writing on blogs. I am not a social media guru ... never been on Facebook or Twitter and probably have screwed up several of these posts the past year or so. But it is a good blog, the people are intelligent and excited about basketball, so thanks for the good reading ! This weekend ( and, hopefully, a bit beyond for Middlebury ) will mark my swan song after over 50 years in the sport. It has been a wonderful love affair - not only with a round ball, but with the qualities of Division III in particular. The Midd guys are a joy - as I am sure are virtually all of the players at the other schools you all write about. Sports are a joy beyond all delight and remain a constant in an ever changing and challenging world. Best to the folks at D3Hoops.com.  You add a lot to the sport.

I hven't watched a ton of Midd over the last few years, but he kept Midd in the game against Colby with some crazy tough shots. As a Colby fan I was happy he didn't touch the ball more. Congrats to him on a fine season.

By the way, let me make it clear. I think both Strahorn and Furbush are perfectly fine on the sideline. OK by me to show a little emotion every now and then. I sure as hell did when I was playing.