MBB: NESCAC

[D3BBALL]

Not a great day for NESCAC. Conn, Wesleyan both losing as clear favorites and Bates losing badly to Emory. Who was the dope that was so high on Bates🤨. Didn't see them winning but getting killed didn't see that either. Travel could have had something to do with it but Pouye and the entire team played like the didn't believe they belonged.
Quick turnaround against Maryville, but they get a chance to rebound against a good team.

[D3BBALL]

Outside a couple seasons under Glenn Miller Conn has never historically been an upper tier team. I wonder if Sweeney is thinking about whether or not the grass has been greener at Conn than it was at Hobart. I'm pretty sure he took the Conn job because he was frustrated about not getting at large selections, but all things considered he had a pretty good thing going at Hobart. His first full recruiting cycle made the sweet 16 (and could have gone further if not for covid) the season after he left for Conn, and it's been fairly mid at Conn outside of 1 season where they still didn't make the tournament.  Now Hixon's protege just took Conn down and seems to be building something at Hartford.  I don't know how much priority the Conn administration places on men's hoops, but one has to wonder about that situation if it doesn't end up great this season.

Didn't watch the game but looks like the gave up some offensive rebounds in the last minute, which can easily happen playing zone. I like Sweeney as coach except he is so stuck on playing zone most of the time. It just doesn't work unless he has a good big on both ends and even that didn't work a few years ago. I wonder if that team would have made the tourney based on NPI, guessing they would have made it or close. Losing Schainfeld has got to be hurting them, he was very good and not given enough credit. So many new key players and looks like Zene is back, will be interesting to see where they stand at the end of NESCAC play. Don't think Sweeney is in any sort of trouble there no matter what happens this year.

[orangeballfan]

My Post Xmas rankings. Strength of Schedule is from Massey and out of 409 teams
1) Trinity 8-0 - No Change- Strength of Schedule 217. Blah Blah Blah zero change, best team in NESCAC, maybe best team in D3. No one can touch their top 7.
2) Wesleyan 8-2 - No Change - Strength of Schedule 106 - Playing well and a tough schedule. Until someone beats them in the NESCAC, they are my #2. They have already beaten Williams as well.
3) Bates 9-0 - Up 2 Spots - Strength of Schedule 323 – Every time I watch Pouye, like him more and more. Upcoming Emory game will tell a lot.
4) Tufts 9-2 - No Change – Strength of Schedule 155 – Have won 9 in a row, but not very convincing against average teams. Injuries issues continue to grow. Clark & WPI upcoming, they can make their case to move up.
5) Colby 7-1 – Down 2 – Strength of Schedule 275 – Not a good loss to St. Joes of Maine, who I believe were still missing some key players. Still early, new coach, different system, will take time.
6) Conn 8-1 – Up 1 – Strength of Schedule 219 – New players really helping this team. Espinosa shooting better, loss to Western NE not great.
7) Williams 8-2 – Down 1 – Strength of Schedule 264. Injury issues and still questions on guard play, rebounding and shooting. Haven't really beat anyone below 150 in rankings except Suny Oneonta.
I think NESCAC could get 4-5 in the NCAA, 2-6 all have a real shot, Williams at this time Bubble at best.
8) Bowdoin 7-3 – Up 2, Strength of Schedule 161. Cuevas playing well, just need others to step up.
9) Amherst 7-1 – Down 1 – Strength of Schedule 395 out of 409. Loss to Springfield bad. Play no one until out of conference Wesleyan game.
10) Middlebury 4-3 – down 1 – Strength of Schedule 103. They have played the toughest rated schedule in NESCAC but haven't really beaten anyone in top 150 rankings. Lost a ton of talent, new coach, new system, not looking great.
11) Hamilton 2-8, No Change – Strength of Schedule 199. They just don't have enough talent.

Middlebury clearly still has a great deal of talent, both veteran and new, but adjusting to a new coach and a new system is understandably challenging. Players such as Flaks, McKersie, and Witherington are solid contributors, yet they are not receiving the kind of consistent minutes seniors typically saw under Coach Brown. It is especially difficult for players to develop rhythm and confidence when they start games only to be subbed out as a group after three to five minutes. As someone who has watched nearly every game, the new system is not entirely clear to me, and it may not be clear to the players either. Offensively, Midd is shooting a low percentage, which seems to stem from a lack of clarity about how the team is trying to generate high-percentage shots.