MBB: NESCAC

[jumbomumbo]

I imagine this is the highest Tufts has ever been ranked in a preseason poll. Excited to see what's ahead for this group this year!

[nescac1]

D3Bball, I've stopped ever betting against WPI so long as Bartley (one of the most underappreciated elite D3 coaches) is there.  At a minimum they are going to be a total pain to play and bring it every single game, especially on the defensive end - virtually every year they are over 20 wins, often well over, like clockwork.  Callahan was clearly their star but they bring nearly all their other major players back and every time they lose a big-time player (Lowther, Adams, etc.) they manage to figure out a solution.  I suspect Justin Molen could take a leap up front and they also bring in a lot of size in the FY class.  Also, NEWMAC seems weaker this year with Babson and Clark losing a ton so WPI may cruise through the league. 

PolarBaller, I've no doubt that Cuevas will have a massive year, despite defenses almost surely loading up to stop him.  He could easily end up first-team all-NESCAC despite a truly special group of seniors in the league this year (Vetter, Okorougo, Gyimesi, Lazarre, Morakis, Bernstein, Espinosa, Poulton, Cormier, Lee, Hansen, among others, it goes on and on, one of the most loaded classes NESCAC has ever had). 

 

[jayhawk]

I have heard that Charlie Randall may be still be at Amherst and on the team this year

[el_jefe_90]

I really thought long and hard about voting Tufts #1.  I think they and Trinity were very even last year.  Trinity doesn't lose much, but they lose a little bit more and the weight of a repeat season is a tough one.  Ultimately, you want to give a team like that the benefit of the doubt, but it's going to be a competitive season, for sure.

I certainly respect your opinion, but I don't believe Tufts was on Trinity's level last year, not even close. Trinity beat Tufts twice by an average of 29.5ppg (81-45 and 74-51). The Bantams also beat up on the Jumbos pretty good the previous year by 16, 12 and 17 in their three games. Until they can at least be in single digits with Trinity, I think they are a distant 2 in the NESCAC. They have the lineup to compete with Trinity, they just need to finally put their feet to the floor.

I think Jumbos fans may agree, this needs to be the year they breakthrough and make an Elite 8, Final 4 run. Three straight NESCAC semifinals appearances with 0 Finals appearances and losing by 23, 12 and 23 those three years. They had that big win over NYU in the 2024 second round but just haven't been able to take that next step. If they can stay healthy, an Elite 8 appearance is the floor for this team. Of course, it's easier said than done in October than March!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Trinity was definitely a bad matchup for Tufts, but the results versus everyone else were pretty similar.

[D3BBALL]

I really thought long and hard about voting Tufts #1.  I think they and Trinity were very even last year.  Trinity doesn't lose much, but they lose a little bit more and the weight of a repeat season is a tough one.  Ultimately, you want to give a team like that the benefit of the doubt, but it's going to be a competitive season, for sure.

I certainly respect your opinion, but I don't believe Tufts was on Trinity's level last year, not even close. Trinity beat Tufts twice by an average of 29.5ppg (81-45 and 74-51). The Bantams also beat up on the Jumbos pretty good the previous year by 16, 12 and 17 in their three games. Until they can at least be in single digits with Trinity, I think they are a distant 2 in the NESCAC. They have the lineup to compete with Trinity, they just need to finally put their feet to the floor.

I think Jumbos fans may agree, this needs to be the year they breakthrough and make an Elite 8, Final 4 run. Three straight NESCAC semifinals appearances with 0 Finals appearances and losing by 23, 12 and 23 those three years. They had that big win over NYU in the 2024 second round but just haven't been able to take that next step. If they can stay healthy, an Elite 8 appearance is the floor for this team. Of course, it's easier said than done in October than March!

100% agree. Tufts has not been close to beating Trinity the last 5 games and Tufts also lost to Wesleyan twice last year where as Trinity beat Wesleyan twice.
Tufts has a lot of talent but has to beat these teams before they can say they are close. As I stated in an earlier post I see Tufts beating Trinity at least once this year as they should meet up twice

[nescac1]

Yeah, I don't see how Tufts can be considered remotely in Trinity's league.  The head-to-head as discussed is standing alone dispositive, but over the past two years Tufts has gone 43-14, has not played in a NESCAC title game, and has not gotten past the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tourney.  Trinity thanks to much of the returning core has a national title, two NESCAC titles, a Final Four appearance, and a 60-5 total record.  I don't see how this is even a discussion.  Tufts is still a legit top 10 team heading into the year, which nine other NESCAC teams would gladly take! 

At this point Tufts is by far the most notable NESCAC program never to have made the Final Four (Williams with 8 appearances, Amherst 7, Trinity 3, and Wesleyan, Middlebury and Conn one each ahead of them on that front) - they've had some tough breaks (losing to a miracle shot by Andrew Olson, getting screwed over by the two COVID years when they were pretty loaded and had a shot), so there is definitely pressure to make a big run with a deep veteran team this year.