MBB: NESCAC

[el_jefe_90]

On Amherst Men Basketball website there is a preseason video of the team practicing
There is one frame of the team huddling and it is very easy to see that Charlie Randall is practicing maybe

Hard to miss that height! Still very surprised given what happened last year when he announced he was in the transfer portal in January. I'm guessing he either didn't get much interest in the portal or he didn't get what he was looking for. We'll see how valuable he can be given the fact he will essentially miss 1.5 years ie Declan Porter at Williams.

Should be an interesting year in the 'CAC.

[D3BBALL]

Jumbo's worst nightmare. Tufts still a top 15 team but can't give up 80+ plus points to a team with very little inside game.
Babson shot lights out until last 5 minutes of game and tufts starting guards and small forward couldn't have shot it worse.
Same issues, guard, wings shoot terribly (3-23) and couldn't guard.
Gyimesi played great. Should have pounded more down low with Bernstein as well.

[SpringSt7]

I'm sure the anti NESCAC brigade will flock to this one so to be clear, I really don't care if Tufts wins or loses just about any games this year. But man, at Babson against a team that is playing their 3rd game of the season, started practice a week earlier, and gets to participate in real scrimmages, is a tough first game of the year. I don't know that I'll be reading that much into this one given the circumstances, not to mention Babson shot the lights out (14-29 from 3) and you got maybe Morakis' worst game in 2+ years? Not the start they wanted but I'll wait and see before any grand proclamations

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Tufts started the second half really poorly and worked their way back against a good team on the road.  They'll be fine.

[SpringSt7]

Williams starts the season 1-0, returning to opening their season with their customary opening tip off tournament slog, an 89-67 win over Morrisville St. They got off to a hot start, fell asleep for a while, and then put the game away late, but it was a little clunky.

The man of the match was sophomore wing Jackson Rein who paced the team with 19 points and 8 rebounds. I know a lot of people are high on his classmate Aidan Yates but I personally think Rein just oozes potential. He was 5-9 from 3 and I think he has future shooting performances like that in his future but his game is so solid, he can get to the rim, he has a little bit of a post game, just very Williams wing prototype that they have not had for a few years.

Onyeraluobu Chibuogwu deserves a shoutout as well. The senior guard who was essentially a walk on got his first career start and really his first career minutes and had 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, with no turnovers. I don't know that his game seems tight enough to translate over to higher level opponents after New Years but it was cool to see and he deserves to be celebrated. I hope I'm wrong too!

It will take a few weeks for the team to gel like it always does and App clearly does not know his rotations yet - 12 guys played in the first half, perhaps in part because Hudson Hansen was under the weather and Sammy Cooley is injured - but they have a few pieces, so we'll see. I have cautiously optimistic hopes that Rein and Yates can take big leaps but we'll have to go one game at a time.

[toad22]

[quote author=SpringSt7 link=msg=2148496 date=
The man of the match was sophomore wing Jackson Rein who paced the team with 19 points and 8 rebounds. I know a lot of people are high on his classmate Aidan Yates but I personally think Rein just oozes potential. He was 5-9 from 3 and I think he has future shooting performances like that in his future but his game is so solid, he can get to the rim, he has a little bit of a post game, just very Williams wing prototype that they have not had for a few
[/quote]
There are a number of people close to the Williams program who think Yates and Rein will form an historically significant tandem over the course of their careers.

[SpringSt7]

Tufts is 0-2

[D3BBALL]

Endicott played very well. Tufts guards played better today but Gyimesi not a factor. I think 2 points and in foul trouble entire game and fouled out.
More impressed with Endicott than Babson. They have some size/bulk and play tough. Not a knock on Babson but Endicott looks like a more complete team. Great start for both of them.
Tufts has some easier games coming up to right the ship

[SpringSt7]

So looking at Tufts schedule they started the season by playing:

Friday 11/14 @ Babson
Sunday 11/16 @ Endicott
Tuesday 11/18 vs. Suffolk
Thursday 11/20 vs. Emerson
Sunday 11/23 vs. Yeshiva
Tuesday 11/25 @ MIT

Ignoring the fact that they play some pretty good teams because that isn't my gripe - why are they playing every other day for two weeks? They don't get to practice back to back days over this entire unless they choose not to take an off day (against NCAA rules, not the end of the world if they break it but pointing it out) or just don't practice the day before a game which also seems strange. But I don't know how you are supposed to improve early in the season with very limited practice time if you schedule games like that

[SpringSt7]

Williams moves to 2-0 with a sleepy 60-53 win over Alfred. The big story was that Alex Lee hurt his knee in the opener vs. SUNY Morrisville and was on crutches today. If he is out for a while they are in big trouble.

Jackson Rein was again the offensive bright spot with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Coach App appears to be rifling through the bench in hopes of finding the rest of his rotation as 12 guys got into the game. I have no problem with it if they can get by experimenting while still winning the nonconference games and eventually trimming that down to maybe 8 or 9. One of those 8 or 9 will definitely be FY big EJ Sommers. He looks like he is right off the Karpowicz/Karren line of skilled Eph centers that have come through under App. He had 8 points in 16 minutes tonight and 13 points the night before on 5-7 from the field. He moves well, the ball comes off his hand really nicely, and he clearly has a frame that can continue to physically develop. It is not inconceivable that this team's best lineup features him playing the 5 by the end of the season

[D3BBALL]

So looking at Tufts schedule they started the season by playing:

Friday 11/14 @ Babson
Sunday 11/16 @ Endicott
Tuesday 11/18 vs. Suffolk
Thursday 11/20 vs. Emerson
Sunday 11/23 vs. Yeshiva
Tuesday 11/25 @ MIT

Ignoring the fact that they play some pretty good teams because that isn't my gripe - why are they playing every other day for two weeks? They don't get to practice back to back days over this entire unless they choose not to take an off day (against NCAA rules, not the end of the world if they break it but pointing it out) or just don't practice the day before a game which also seems strange. But I don't know how you are supposed to improve early in the season with very limited practice time if you schedule games like that

Great points. Need time to practice to fix your weaknesses. Playing pretty much every other day for 10 days and the team having to have at least 1-2 days off in the same timeframe is hard on the team. Not easy as a whole to fix their issues during this time.

[nescac1]

Some early-season NESCAC observations, part one.  Overall, not a super-impressive first weekend for the league, with five teams already picking up losses, and several others struggling to put away weak opponents. 

Two teams that seem to be benefiting the most from newcomers are Conn College and Amherst.  Conn beat a usually-decent Emerson team despite a very quiet night from Espinosa thanks to big games from two scholarship-level transfers, James Lafrance and Greg Cantwell, and FY Cole Craffey.  A third transfer, PJ Johnson, also played off the bench.  Seems like a huge talent infusion for Conn, which plays an easy first-semester schedule and could rack up a lot of wins while all the new guys figure out how to play together. They may be a team to watch if those newcomers keep lighting it up.  I saw a few minutes of Amherst and they too seem to be benefitting from newcomers as well as a very different style of play, a ton of dribble-drive and kick on offense.  With Chin, Garraud and solid transfer Adnan, Amherst starts three players who can make plays off the dribble and pressure the ball on defense, FY Woodberry is a shooter, and FY Margolin looks like a solid glue guy off the bench.  Amherst has very little inside on offense or in terms of rim protection, especially with the FY center seemingly out with an injury for now and Randall not playing for at least the first semester, but may not be tested too much by an extremely weak first-semester schedule.  I think both Amherst and especially Conn project a bit higher than I figured based on projections from last year's returnees.   

Conn and Amherst both are, for now, playing smaller, quicker lineups, so it will be interesting to see how they hold up against bigger frontcourts, but really, other than Tufts, there aren't a lot of NESCAC squads who figure to be powerful inside in any event this year.  Nearly the entire conference is playing fairly small. Speaking of very small, Middlebury started a 5'9, 5'10, 6'4, 6'5, 6'6 group in its first game - that's like an average high school team!  I assume yet another NESCAC team that's going to try to play fast with guards who look to push the pace. 

I haven't been able to see much of Williams but SpringSt7 and Toad's takes seem like good ones.  Right now the backcourt is hurt by injuries with Cooley yet to play and Lee out for game two, if Lee is out for a significant period of time, it's obviously a huge loss for Williams.  I think the frontcourt is a strength with Rein looking great, and Hansen and Yates will both get it going I have no doubt, and I agree that Sommers just looks like he belongs already and adds a different element on both ends with his length, and hopefully will get more playing time as the season moves long, a ton of upside there.  That groups offers a ton of length, shooting, and skill up front. 

On the other hand, with the veterans who are out (also senior Ben McGraw remains injured as well), it feels like a trial-and-error hodgepodge at guard, which isn't ideal but there is at least time to figure out more definitive roles over the next few weeks.  With Lee out, Belcher and Devine are the two most dynamic athletes/creators/scorers back there and seemed to have good moments against Alfred, and I do think the upside of the team involves them both playing well in larger roles, but clearly App is trusting other guys who are may be steadier hands right now.  Chibuogwu is a great story and clearly has earned his spot in the rotation with hard-nosed play on both ends (especially defensively), but he's not going to be a big scorer or anything on the perimeter.  Cooley when he returns will add a steady, physical two-way presence with a bit more experience and will certainly play big minutes in the perimeter rotation. Williams clearly has great depth but need to figure out who will pair with Lee in crucial moments, and if Lee is out for an extended period, then Williams desperately needs someone to take a big step up from role player to primary creator at guard.   

[D3BBALL]

Some early-season NESCAC observations, part one.  Overall, not a super-impressive first weekend for the league, with five teams already picking up losses, and several others struggling to put away weak opponents. 

Two teams that seem to be benefiting the most from newcomers are Conn College and Amherst.  Conn beat a usually-decent Emerson team despite a very quiet night from Espinosa thanks to big games from two scholarship-level transfers, James Lafrance and Greg Cantwell, and FY Cole Craffey.  A third transfer, PJ Johnson, also played off the bench.  Seems like a huge talent infusion for Conn, which plays an easy first-semester schedule and could rack up a lot of wins while all the new guys figure out how to play together. They may be a team to watch if those newcomers keep lighting it up.  I saw a few minutes of Amherst and they too seem to be benefitting from newcomers as well as a very different style of play, a ton of dribble-drive and kick on offense.  With Chin, Garraud and solid transfer Adnan, Amherst starts three players who can make plays off the dribble and pressure the ball on defense, FY Woodberry is a shooter, and FY Margolin looks like a solid glue guy off the bench.  Amherst has very little inside on offense or in terms of rim protection, especially with the FY center seemingly out with an injury for now and Randall not playing for at least the first semester, but may not be tested too much by an extremely weak first-semester schedule.  I think both Amherst and especially Conn project a bit higher than I figured based on projections from last year's returnees. 

Conn and Amherst both are, for now, playing smaller, quicker lineups, so it will be interesting to see how they hold up against bigger frontcourts, but really, other than Tufts, there aren't a lot of NESCAC squads who figure to be powerful inside in any event this year.  Nearly the entire conference is playing fairly small. Speaking of very small, Middlebury started a 5'9, 5'10, 6'4, 6'5, 6'6 group in its first game - that's like an average high school team!  I assume yet another NESCAC team that's going to try to play fast with guards who look to push the pace. 

I haven't been able to see much of Williams but SpringSt7 and Toad's takes seem like good ones.  Right now the backcourt is hurt by injuries with Cooley yet to play and Lee out for game two, if Lee is out for a significant period of time, it's obviously a huge loss for Williams.  I think the frontcourt is a strength with Rein looking great, and Hansen and Yates will both get it going I have no doubt, and I agree that Sommers just looks like he belongs already and adds a different element on both ends with his length, and hopefully will get more playing time as the season moves long, a ton of upside there.  That groups offers a ton of length, shooting, and skill up front. 

On the other hand, with the veterans who are out (also senior Ben McGraw remains injured as well), it feels like a trial-and-error hodgepodge at guard, which isn't ideal but there is at least time to figure out more definitive roles over the next few weeks.  With Lee out, Belcher and Devine are the two most dynamic athletes/creators/scorers back there and seemed to have good moments against Alfred, and I do think the upside of the team involves them both playing well in larger roles, but clearly App is trusting other guys who are may be steadier hands right now.  Chibuogwu is a great story and clearly has earned his spot in the rotation with hard-nosed play on both ends (especially defensively), but he's not going to be a big scorer or anything on the perimeter.  Cooley when he returns will add a steady, physical two-way presence with a bit more experience and will certainly play big minutes in the perimeter rotation. Williams clearly has great depth but need to figure out who will pair with Lee in crucial moments, and if Lee is out for an extended period, then Williams desperately needs someone to take a big step up from role player to primary creator at guard.

NESCAC, did Zene play for Conn, was a good pickup for them last year before he got hurt.

[ThumannsOwn]

Now that every team has its pre-season roster posted, thought I'd take a more informed shot at a pre-season ranking, while emphasizing that 3-11 are REALLY tough to peg between personnel losses, coaching changes, and a lot of balance generally in the league after the top two.  I also picked an "x factor" player for each team, a newcomer or returning player who with a big leap could raise the team's ceiling. 

1. Trinity - virtually everyone back, plus added a potential impact transfer.  National title favorite with no glaring weaknesses. X-factor: Nathan Freisthler.

2. Tufts - again, virtually everyone back, and may get some extra juice off the bench from a talented group of underclassmen.  Legit national title contender.  X-factor: Dylan Reilly.  Huge gap after these top two teams. 

3. Williams - a top-tier core of Lee/Hansen/Yates/Rein should lead the way, and plenty of young talent to draw upon in support.  Rebounding / interior defense is a question mark as they may feature a very small starting five, depending on how things break. If they can figure that out, strong contender for an NCAA bid. X-factor: Jackson Rein.

4. Wesleyan - Regan and Johnson were the engine of everything they did on offense, who will step up as go-to playmakers? But still have a ton of length and athleticism, defense should again be elite and a lot of Final Four infrastructure returns.  Outside shooting is once again a big question mark.  Contender for an NCAA bid.  X-factor: Oscar Edelman, who needs to provide a ton of outside scoring.

5. Colby - hard team to predict with a new coach, but there is plenty of talent on hand, with most of the team back, a legit go-to guy in Poulton, and a lot of size in the talented rising sophomore class.  Will there be more emphasis on defense with a new regime? X-factor: Dan Civiello.  Long-shot contender for an NCAA bid.

6. Bates - dark horse team, a lot of talent and a team which lost a LOT of very close games last year including three league games on OT.  If Babacar Pouye, who can do it all but needs to do it more consistently, takes another leap and plays to his full potential Bates could be in the mix for third.  A team which could realistically end up anywhere between 3 and 10.  X-factor: Pouye.

7. Conn College - hard team to place - they will be a pain to play as always as the zone throws everyone off.  Espinosa is a top player in the league and Clarr could eventually be an all-league guy as well, but after that, there are a lot of questions on where the offense comes from, especially on the interior.  They have a few transfers who if they are factors right away would raise the ceiling considerably. X-factor: Garrett Clar.
 
8. Hamilton - lost a ton to graduation, Morgan did everything on offense for the last two years and there is no obvious replacement for him, they have a strong junior class but are probably going to have a transition year this season.  X-factor: Garret Keyhani, who needs to return to his sophomore form or ideally better for this team to have a shot at cracking the top four.

9.  Middlebury - losing Stevens and Joseph is a tough blow for the offense, and Brennan created so many extra chances with his rebounding, also difficult to replace.  But the biggest loss is Jeff Brown who never lost a battle of which team was most prepared.  A strong senior class can move them up a few notches if they can finally remain healthy, but this looks like a transition year with a new coach and few proven scorers.  X-factor: Edward Witherington.
   
10. (tie) Amherst - close call between them and Bowdoin for the last spot.  They go from among the biggest teams in the league to maybe the smallest, with only one big guy on the entire roster, and he's a first year.  Only 12 guys on the roster, period, which is dangerously thin, and only three returning players who scored more than 3 points per game (none of whom were in double-figures).  I do like the talent at guard with Garaud, Chin, and newcomers Neville and Adnan, and I assume they will look to push the pace and take advantage of their ballhandling depth in the backcourt, but interior play is a total mystery, and outside shooting looks pretty rough.  X-factor: Ryan Hempfling.

10. (tie) Bowdoin - hard to put a team with an elite player like Cuevas here, but they were 1-9 last year, although they did suffer some tough-luck losses, and lose their other three perimeter starters (including Logue who is not on the roster).  Should be solid at center with the Reeves/Bessire/Simond trio among the most experienced big-man groups around, but Cuevas is going to get a TON of attention on the perimeter and unclear who is going to step up as the second and third creator on offense. Outside shooting again likely to be a problem for this team, and they lost their defensive ace in Achufusi.  X-factor: Ben Chilson.  Edit: Logue is now on the roster, which is enough to bump them into a tie for tenth. 

Seeing Amherst in a tie for 10th/last in this preseason NESCAC poll must be so frustrating for any of the Lord Jeff/Mammoth fans on these boards knowing what the program accomplished between 2000-2019. Quite a precipitous fall from grace and sources close to the program claim there is very little connectivity between the current regime and the very prideful alumni hoops network/brothrehood built by Coach Hixon.

Interesting side story here is the emergence/development and seemingly bright future of Jackson Rein at Williams. His father, Ben, played for Coach Hixon at Amherst in the early 1990s and Jackson apparently didn't even get a sniff from Coach Sears during his recruitment despite some expressed interest on the part of the family. Maybe there is something to these disconnect rumors.

One has to wonder if and when the current AD/administration considers a coaching change.