MBB: NESCAC

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Redlands only loses one guy.  A couple of the guys listed as seniors last year have another year of eligibility.  They're also getting a start back who missed most or all of last season due to injury.

But Trinity will be hands down the favorite, for sure.

[Greek Tragedy]

Biggest preseason poll margins

2015 #1 Augustana (23) 161 pts over #2 Amherst
2009 #1 Wash U (25) 99 pts over #2 JCU
2004 #1 UWSP (24) 90 pts over #2 IWU
2014 #1 Whitewater (18) 88 pts over #2 Amherst

Wash U only team to be unanimous #1

Only 3 other teams have had 24 1st place votes.

[Greek Tragedy]

Calvin might be good this season. Some hack, who was hurt all last season, returns, I believe.

[el_jefe_90]

@Greek - Slight correction for 2015-16 preseason. Virginia Wesleyan was ranked #2 behind Augustana. Amherst did receive the other two first place votes however.

https://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2015-16/preseason

[nescac1]

Greek, is Overway (especially coming off a year's injury absence) > than Egekeze + Varnado?  I'm not sure, probably about a wash.  He's certainly enough for Calvin to be a top 25 team, no doubt! 

Given the probable lack of a consensus number two, I imagine Trinity will have one of the highest-ever margins over whoever number two is (Emory, UChicago, Redlands, Lacrosse all will likely get some votes, at least, along with maybe some others). 

[D3BBALL]

Agree with most of these posts. I break down the league into 3 tiers. Don't really know any of the freshman coming in for anyone, so can't say how that will help any teams. Top 2 teams not sure Freshman will play much.
First tier - 2 Teams
1) Trinity - 8 of their top 10, 80% of minutes, 85% of scoring all coming back. (Vetter, Lazarre, Okorougo no need to discuss all will be in running for POY), While the NESCAC doesn't have a ton of height this year as NESCAC stated, Trinity's 2 bigs both play way taller than they are. Davis so athletic and strong. McDonald smart and just as strong, both tough to score on down low on a consistent basis and both can guard on the perimeter. Will be interesting to see who ends up as the 3rd. They lose Macarchuk, can Norris or some freshman fill those minutes. Everyone will be after them as said above, but this group has not won a NESCAC regular season, has not beaten Williams in the regular season. Their out of conference schedule not great, yet again. But they do play Babson (who beat them last year) and St Joes. They have goals to keep them motivated, like winning a 3rd straight NESCA championship and go to a 3rd straight final 4. They have 4 seniors that could go down as one of the best NESCAC classes ever. Watch out for Berry.
2) Tufts a lot of returners, but they seem to lose some of their big depth. Gyimesi as good as anyone in the league, except when he plays Trinity. Not sure any of their bigs really bother Trinity that much. Tufts as I said this past year will come down to their guard/wing play. Can they score consistently from the outside and can guards/wings defend. Can Bernstein be more consistent especially in NESCAC play. Can Morakis step up against Trinity. They should have all the motivation or more than anyone in the league to beat Trinity. They play Trinity at home, probably will decide the league. Reilly may end up being the best player on this team. I say they beat Trinity at least once this season.

2nd Tier - 5 teams not in any order
3-7) Colby - they can score, can the new coach get them to defend. Civello should be a force with Poulton and watch out for Hinman, can light it up.
3-7) Wesleyan - They still have a lot of talent in Cormier, Hauser, Lyttle, Cameron and Polman and Edleman. They will be very well coached and will have motivation to prove it wasn't just a Johnson/Regan team, similar to Trinity when they lost Gold and Smith. Can they close out games without Johnson and Regan. Watch out for Edelman, if he can find a low post game, will be difficult to defend.
3-7) Williams - a ton of talent, will they play to that level, will they stay healthy. Like Wesleyan lots to prove after a down year for that program. Some of their games were just ugly last year. Hanson as NESCAC stated, will have some advantages playing the 5 handling the ball and playing out in the perimeter, but he won't have the same advantage down low on either end. They weren't a great rebounding team even with Roughley. They do have talented guards and wings and they always seem to bring in Freshman that play right away.
3-7) Bates - just like the make up of this team. They bring back 7 of their top 8 scorers. They have some depth, need to have everyone healthy. They played well down the stretch, they are my sleeper pick to get in top 5. Coyne, Psyhogeos, and Pouye are all very good and Pouye is my sleeper for player of the year.
3-7) Conn - Might be a bubble team for this tier. They lose a lot in Schainfeld, toughness smarts, always played hard, was their glue. Tough to replace a player like this. They do have Espinosa, but he can't do it alone and not a great defender. Look for Watson and Clar to pick it up if they are to stay in this tier.

3rd Tier
4 teams fighting for 1 spot, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Hamilton, Amherst. Not in any order
Bowdoin, best Freshman last year, can he get some help, they need height and strength up front.
Middlebury - New coach, can they stay healthy. Can McKersie stay healthy and impact the game on both ends down low. Lose a lot in Brennan, not scoring, but a lot of intangibles. They will need someone to step up and help Joseph and Cwalina with scoring.
Hamilton - Huge loss in Morgan, now a very much unproven roster. Morgan was the only player on the team that scored more than 10 points a game in conference play and teams were throwing doubles at him a lot, so there were lots of opportunities for others and none could step up consistently. Who is going to step up this year, when teams won't have to play off these players. Keyhani, Rideout, will lead but just too many question marks.
Amherst - played well down the stretch and had a shot to take the lead against Wesleyan with 1 minute to play in first round of playoffs. But they lost 5 seniors who played and lose 5 out of their top 8 scorers. Coach plays around with lineups and minutes way too much to breed consistent play.

[D3BBALL]

Greek, is Overway (especially coming off a year's injury absence) > than Egekeze + Varnado?  I'm not sure, probably about a wash.  He's certainly enough for Calvin to be a top 25 team, no doubt! 

Given the probable lack of a consensus number two, I imagine Trinity will have one of the highest-ever margins over whoever number two is (Emory, UChicago, Redlands, Lacrosse all will likely get some votes, at least, along with maybe some others). 

Agree with NESCAC on Calvin. Overway is very good, but they were down close to 15 against Trinity before he was injured and I think he had 1 field goal. He will need help and players to replace Egekeze and Varnado for Calvin to be elite.