Quote from: ccd494 on May 27, 2026, 10:10:48 AM

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on May 18, 2026, 01:55:50 PM

Quote from: Stickthe3 on May 18, 2026, 12:20:56 PMWow, that's big news about Ippolito.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised given the current climate of college basketball, but that's a tough loss for Trinity.

On an unrelated note, Bentley HC Jay Lawson just announced his retirement.  It's probably too late for Nolan Ames to make any changes at this point, but got to feel for the kid as he initially committed to Colby, only to decommit after their coaching change, and now the coach he was planning on playing for is retiring (assuming he did not know about Lawson's plans).

I think that Bentley timing is weird.  Very late to make that announcement.  I'm watching this in conjunction with the rumors that more of the NE10 are exploring d3.  If (and I have no reporting on this at all) a school makes the decision to go that direction, it's often during this time of year.

No chance Bentley goes D3.  They have D1 hockey, just built them a brand new arena, and have been to the NCAA tournament two years in a row.  The barn door has closed on D3 play-ups.  If anything, they'd move up to D1.

I hope Bentley goes D1, it would be a shame if they ended up D3. They would fit best as a UAA school but Brandeis already has that occupied. I love D3 but it would make no real sense for Bentley to be playing NEWMAC schools.

Makes a lot of sense to leave late if you want your kid to get the job

Where can I get an Ephraim McCook jersey

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on April 23, 2026, 09:48:23 AM

Quote from: SpringSt7 on April 23, 2026, 09:41:56 AM

Quote from: NEhoops on April 22, 2026, 06:23:10 PMWill Davies (NE10 player of the year) from Saint Anselm is rumored to be transferring to Vermont ($100K+) and will have two years of eligibility remaining. He would have had D1 interest regardless of the upcoming transition from D2 to D3. I'm sure a handful of other players on the roster will be on the move too - with some potentially making moves to D3 schools in New England. 

Their whole rotation is already transferring to D1 schools this offseason and I don't think the transition down will affect anyone on the current roster. The entire staff will probably leave too. This will have as much effect on the NE D3 scene as Hartford did IMO

I'm curious why you think the staff will leave.  I doubt the pay scale will be much different in d3 than it was in d2, especially if they aim to be on par with top schools in New England.  I'm not saying they won't look elsewhere, but the lead assistant came from Trinity and graduated from Springfield and the other assistant is a St. A alum and definitely in the second half of his career.  What they're paying the HC might be on the higher end of d3 salaries, but I doubt it's outrageous.

They might all leave, but there's also plenty of reason to stay.

https://saintanselmhawks.com/news/2026/5/1/mens-basketball-saint-anselm-announces-leadership-transition-in-mens-basketball-program.aspx

The main argument for Coach Santos staying is that he is an alum and that could be very valuable/important to him. But he has spent his entire career in D1/D2 and usually that doesn't scream D3 lifer or guy who really wants to be there. Ryan you are right that if there is still a commitment to athletics then it is a different story but I am just skeptical about the whole thing.

It will be interesting to see what kind of kids they attract/recruit. There isn't really a like for like contemporary in the northern part of New England.

What schools have dropped down a level and have shown any sort of ambition? And what will make St. Anselm's a good D3 program?

Quote from: NEhoops on April 22, 2026, 06:23:10 PMWill Davies (NE10 player of the year) from Saint Anselm is rumored to be transferring to Vermont ($100K+) and will have two years of eligibility remaining. He would have had D1 interest regardless of the upcoming transition from D2 to D3. I'm sure a handful of other players on the roster will be on the move too - with some potentially making moves to D3 schools in New England. 

Their whole rotation is already transferring to D1 schools this offseason and I don't think the transition down will affect anyone on the current roster. The entire staff will probably leave too. This will have as much effect on the NE D3 scene as Hartford did IMO

How would the NESCAC police intraconference transfers? The students are not on scholarship, they receive no sort of benefits from the school as athletes. Non athletes transfer all the time, I don't see how this would be much different.

Re: LaFrance in particular, this is very much "make your bed, lay in your bed" as far as Conn should be concerned. You took a kid who went to St. Thomas More for prep school, a national power that is basketball basketball basketball, that transferred from Eckerd College, a middle of the road D2 school in Florida. I don't know the kid from a hole in the wall so I don't want this to come across any slight on his character but it should've been pretty obvious academics are not driving the ship here. You should've known that him transferring again was always a possibility.

Maybe Sweeney knew that and was willing to live with it and try to replace him again, if that's the case then good for him, it's definitely against the grain in the NESCAC but if the admin will play ball then go for it, more power to them. But this should've surprised nobody

At this point you just kind of have to feel bad for the kids at Colby. I've always been impressed by their team chemistry and the way they interact with each other and carry themselves. Part of the appeal to a NESCAC school or most/all D3s really is knowing that you are going to play 4 years with your teammates and with the coach who recruited you and get to come back and feel that sort of tradition and connection. Instead of playing for 3 coaches in 4 years

Civello to Dartmouth is a great landing spot but I'm much less excited about his fit at that level at an Ivy League program that has much more limited offseason hours as a team where he would really be able to work on his body in the weight room. Can't knock the decision obviously but would've loved to see him at a Patriot program or similar level that is not limited outside of the season in development

Ironically enough if his grades are half decent that sounds like a Babson player to me. To this point, Trinity and Conn have been the only players to take transfers in the past few years unless I am forgetting some key ones. Amherst took Adnan, but can't remember any notable others in the portal era

I will push back on Robinson being clearly about everyone else just because he's only 6'2 and did a TON of his scoring at the free throw line. He is definitely a D1 guy and the second year is helpful but I don't think he is like clearly ahead of Overway or Glogovac. Same with Cleveland as a non shooter to be honest.

A great offseason project that maybe we should dig into would be to look back on which D3 to D1 transfers had the best success and see if there is any sort of predictor of success.

Kye Robinson -> portal

Quote from: CNU85 on March 23, 2026, 08:12:49 AM

Quote from: BaboNation on March 22, 2026, 11:33:08 AM

Quote from: CNU85 on March 22, 2026, 10:40:52 AMTime to become a Mary Wash fan for 1 game!  Congrats to the Eagles.

CNU hung tough for most of the game and just didn't have enough in the tank for the last few minutes. Emory is too good of a team to mount a comeback.

We will be back.

I would think (before seeing final rosters) CNU would be preseason top 3.

Could be. CNU loses one senior. UMW has zero seniors. There's always the transfer portal issue, but I'm not too worried about that. I'm not sure about the other top teams. Maybe I will do some research in the off season.

Kye Robinson has entered the transfer portal

Back of napkin power rankings - assuming for now that everyone in the portal leaves, although I guess that's only Civiello and Watson.

1. Wesleyan
2. Tufts
3. Trinity
4. Bates
5. Amherst
6. Williams
7. Conn
8. Colby
9. Bowdoin
10. Middlebury
11. Hamilton