MBB: NESCAC

[formerbant10]

Personally, I really never understood why out of region games didnt count in the NCAA's eyes.  If a team takes an 11 hour bus trip to play a couple of games and wins both of them, they should get some credit.  Teams from the Midwest that come East are playing with completely different refs and styles of play and should get some credit for overcoming that adversity.  I understand the simple logic, but why would Trinity's possible game against F&M not count regionally, yet 2 years ago Amherst won the F&M region in the tourney.  They didn't play any games in that region, so technically they shouldn't have made the tournament in that region if the NCAA wanted to really go by their rules.  I know they split Williams and Amherst so they wouldn't have to play each other, but Trinity had to be in the same bracket as Williams with just as good a regional record as Amherst.  None of that ever made sense.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The NCAA never makes sense.  Let's get that settled right away.  We won't even mention the "national" tournament.  The regional thing was put in place to try and encourage teams to stay closer to home.  The D3 philosophy of stressing academics over athletics is interpreted to mean that the less class time missed, the better for everyone.  So in terms of the team that takes an 11 hour bus ride, the NCAA doesn't want to reward them, however it is a good opportunity for a team to lose two games to better competition, improve team chemistry and gain experience without sacrificing any post-season position.

If it were up to me, and god help me, someday it will be, they'd put an "out-of region" limit on games.  In D-I, the teams get to do a pre-season tournament every three years, why can't they do something similar with out of region games on a semi-yearly basis?  I think maybe two games out of region per year, or six over a two year span.  Something along those lines would be best for everyone involved and certainly better than the current system.

[Mr. Ypsi]

There is the innovation (whose SPECIFIC details elude me at the moment) that games played while the school is not in session for at least 7 (?) days WILL count as in-region (in most cases, of course, this would mean the Christmas/New Year's break).

Pat (or someone): did this pass or is it only a proposal, and, if it passed, when does it take effect?

[formerbant10]

That would be a very very very good improvement.

[ephoops]

Pat - Williams schedule is posted on the Williams web site.

It appears that the Ephs open the season playing Whittier in the Babson Tournament.

No trip over the XMAS break...rather the Ephs play at Clark on 12/30 and then host Southern Vermont in the Purple and Gold Invitational (no listing of the other two teams in the tourney).  MCLA is the sacrificial lamb in the first round of the Williams Invitational on 12/02 (again no listing of the other two teams in the tourney).

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The 2006 handbook is out and there is no clause making holiday games in-region, the same criteria is still listed: either geographic region or within 200 miles as determined by Microsoft Streets and Trips.

[Pat Coleman]

It is still just a proposal, which is why we haven't written any stories or anything about it. Just a thought in someone's head that made it onto paper.

[formerbant10]

Does anyone else hate how the rest of the world has already started official practices, but the NESCAC waits till Nov. 1?  I liked it as a player, but I can't believe the coaches like it very much.  16 days to prepare for the first weekend of games is not a lot of time.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Yeah, I can see the disadvantage, but at the same time, I'm sure its easier for coaches to mandate fitness workouts and lifting.  There isn't the cloud of suspicion over coach-player interactions.

[formerbant10]

Oh there are many clouds of suspicion over coach-player interactions.  The NESCAC unlike everyone else in the world does not allow any type of instruction from coach to player in the off season.  No outside competition can be brought in to play a team in the off season.  No captains practices or any other mandatory team meetings in the off season.  There have been a couple of recent "scandals" investigated by schools over the interaction of players and coaches in the off season.  Teams can not even play pick up by themselves if somebody else wants to play, the teams are supposed to incorporate everyone in.  Granted at some schools, the rest of the student body does not look to play with the team, but the coaches in no way can mandate fitness workouts and lifting.....but I'm also sure that every coach finds a way around this.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

That's more what I mean.  Certainly an NCAA investigation carries more weight than a NESCAC investigation and probably is tougher to avoid.  I know the offseason contact is restrictive everywhere, but I'm saying that, as you put it, every coach can get around that during this two weeks where the NCAA says its ok to practice and the NESCAC says its not.

[formerbant10]

Getting around it usually just means playing pick up as they have been doing all fall.  It is nowhere close to running a 3 hour practice and starting to implement the team's strategies offensively and defensively. 
I don't know about the other teams in the conference, but with Trinity having 4 new starters from last year's opener, they could definitely use these extra 2 weeks to start to figure out each other's roles. 

[nescac1]

Doesn't Trinity have both Rhoten and Taylor back as starters from the beginning of last season? 

Other than WPI and Springfield, any thoughts on who might challenge the NESCAC from elsewhere in New England?  Sounds like Salem State lost some of their top players, but they are usually the class of the MASCAC.  WPI could be right there with Trinity and Amherst.  Springfield will be tough although their big man graduated and they don't have a lot of experienced size.  Western Conn and Plymouth State both graduated their top guns.  Lasell lost some good players.  Brandeis is probably a year away from contention.  Not sure if anyone else has a chance in the New England region??? 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Colby Sawyer returned four starters for essenitally their fourth year starting together.  They've underacheived the previous few, so if they get it together they'll be a force.  Good year for Amherst to not schedule them.

Also, I think Brandeis will be better than people think this year.

[broke_ya_ankles]

WPI and Springfield will both be top teams, but 1 team no one is really talking about is Keene State, only having graduated 2 sr's and briging in one BIG very talented recruiting class this team could be as good as they've ever been.  This team has as much experience as any team with a good number of the players still remaining from that elite 8 run a couple years ago.  Sullivan is a terrific player, sontag is a star in the making, they brought in a very talented recruit in Nate Anderson who should see some minutes right away.  Ben Maynard will return for his 3rd season as the Owls starting Center and if he can pick up where he ended last season Keene will have one of the top front courts in New England.  In comparison to what PSU and WCSU lost Keene should roll through the LEC with RIC being their toughest competition.  They'll be tested early out of conference with 3 of their first 4 games being Endicott and Colby-Sawyer twice (more than likely).  Depending on how those games though Keene could have a great season if they can avoid a rocky start thats slowed them down in the past