MBB: NESCAC

[rdanie03]

While Rookie of the Year is normally given to first years in the NESCACn, does anyone know if transfers are eligible? The two Conn players (LaFrance and Cantwell) would probably be the favorites if that's the case.
[/quote]

Transfers who did not exhaust a year of NCAA eligibility elsewhere are eligible, but those who have already used eligibility are not considered rookies.

[el_jefe_90]

Thank you for clarifying! I say Dawkins is still my pick with Dominick Ducree from Middlebury as second. Great shooter. He is averaging the most points among first years to my knowledge (14.3ppg, 3rpg, 0.9apg, 0.7spg), but he missed a couple NESCAC games which could hurt him. He has a pretty rough A/TO ratio too, 12 assists to 31 turnovers. His all around numbers aren't quite as high as Dawkins', which is why Dawkins is my pick.

[redbirds]

Is it safe to say that Wesleyan has the best crowd in the Nescac, if not the entire country?

[D3BBALL]

Is it safe to say that Wesleyan has the best crowd in the Nescac, if not the entire country?

Not sure if it is the best crowd, but it certainly is by far the best atmosphere, certainly in the NESCAC!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Is it safe to say that Wesleyan has the best crowd in the Nescac, if not the entire country?

Won't/can't comment on the NESCAC, but the only team in New England with even a prayer of being in the national conversation is Keene State.

[rdanie03]

Is it safe to say that Wesleyan has the best crowd in the Nescac, if not the entire country?

Not sure if it is the best crowd, but it certainly is by far the best atmosphere, certainly in the NESCAC!

It's very interesting, because Wesleyan absolutely has the most packed gym, which is the opposite of outdoor sports, when the crowd at Bello is the best in the nation

[Painter66]

It is worth noting that even in a down year, after a few not great seasons, Middlebury still leads the league in average home attendance by a considerable margin over Wesleyan with the others far behind. The data is in the stats on the NESCAC webpage. Not too much to do up there, and there never was. But the students and town folk really support the team and show up. Terrific atmosphere.

[Greek Tragedy]

Obviously never been to Wesleyan. Seats 1200 but they had 2100 vs Trinity? Average about 500 in 8 games. Hardly packing the gym? Atmosphere could be really good even if the gym is less than half full.

[JungleCats]

After a hard fought, back and forth, emotional senior night victory over their blood rival (a relatively bad Williams team), Middlebury heads down to New York City and drops a game to [checks notes] a 4-14 CCNY team without their best player. Meaningless game I suppose, but still......

[SpringSt7]

It is worth noting that even in a down year, after a few not great seasons, Middlebury still leads the league in average home attendance by a considerable margin over Wesleyan with the others far behind. The data is in the stats on the NESCAC webpage. Not too much to do up there, and there never was. But the students and town folk really support the team and show up. Terrific atmosphere.

I don't trust any of these numbers ever. Have any of you ever walked through a turnstile into a NESCAC game? Or talked to an assistant AD whose job it is to walk around and take attendance?

For my money the best atmospheres are some combination of Middlebury, Wesleyan, and Tufts. Pepin when rocking is #1 I think pretty easily but I might be biased because they hosted Williams in the Elite 8. Wesleyan is great but the seats are a little too far back - their fans used to say some really really vulgar stuff from the crowd that crossed a line which I guess helped/hurt the atmosphere depending on your point of view. Tufts great crowd, love the bleachers, usually going to get the most neutral fans too being in Boston.

Worst to me is some combination of Hamilton, Colby, and Trinity before they added the bleachers to the other side of the gym and before they turned into the best team in the country. I haven't been to the new set up post pandemic and it looks great but before it was bleak in there.

[Painter66]

My comment was not meant to say anything about any other school. As an old Midd player, I remember being on the floor in the "old" gym at Wesleyan when a dead chicken was thrown at us! It was crazy but we all remember how great their fans were. My only point was we average over 750 a game all winter long in a place that "seats" 1200. I have seen over 1500 for big games or NCAA games. It is a wonderful place to play or visit. The amazing thing is it is still the old gym from the 1940s with upgrades. We all love it, and it is very special to go to games and step out on that same floor. That's what D3 and NESCAC should be about.

[jmh21]

Attendance numbers aren't actual numbers. They are random guesses from whoever is keeping live stats and has to enter the attendance before submitting the final box score. At least that was my experience doing live stats for NESCAC games over the last 4 years

[stlawus]

When is the last time a CUNYAC team beat a NESCAC, let alone Middlebury?

[D3BBALL]

After 3rd week of Conference play. The below Strength of Schedule is from Massey and out of 409 teams.
Based on NPI, 4 teams make NCAA Trinity, Tufts, Wesleyan, and Bates. Colby is first team out.

1) Trinity 17-1 (4-1) (NPI #2) Pool C #1- No Change- Strength of Schedule 132 was 200. Lost to Wesleyan. Still #1 in NESCAC, lets see what happens this weekend. They better get their offense going. Too much one on one and too many bad shots.

2) Tufts 16-2 (5-0), (NPI #4) Pool A - No Change – Strength of Schedule 71 was 92. Nice win against Conn, 17-0. They can take the league with 2 wins this weekend.

3) Wesleyan 12-4 (5-0) (NPI #22) Pool C #8 – No change – Great win against Trinty, can take the league with 2 wins this weekend.

4) Amherst 13-5 (2-2) (NPI #66) Pool C #41– No Change – Strength of Schedule 151 was 280. Could have easily put Bates here but until we know how long Pouye is out, going to leave Amherst here. Colby and Bowdoin at home win both and they are in the mix for NCAA.

5) Bates 14-4 (2-2) (NPI #19) C pool #11 – Up 1 - Strength of Schedule 116 was 163. 2 wins, playing well without Pouye, but need him back and quick. Williams and Middlebury at home, should be 4-2 in conference after this weekend.

6) Conn 11-4 (2-3) – (NPI #55) C pool #32 – Up 3 – Strength of Schedule 181 was 215. 2 wins and a close loss to Tufts. Need at least 1 win this weekend against either Wesleyan or Trinity both at home.

7) Colby 13-5 (1-3) (NPI #39) Pool C #22 – Down 2 – Strength of Schedule 143 was 178. 2 losses, teams seem to be defending Civello well. Needs at least a 1-1 weekend to stay in contention for NCAA especially with Wesleyan and Trinity down the line.

8) Bowdoin 12-6 (2-2) (NPI #48) Pool C #29 – Down 1 - Strength of Schedule 101 was 122. NPI rating is not bad. Right there for NCAA.

9) Middlebury 7-10 (1-4) (NPI #175) Pool C #134- Up 1 – Strength of Schedule 24 was 70. Beat Williams, great SOS but not winning any of those games.

10) Williams 11-8 (0-5) (NPI #125) Pool C #91 – Down 2 – Strength of Schedule 92 was 177. Maybe should have had them at 11.

11) Hamilton 5-13 (1-3), (NPI #270) Pool C #228 C pool) No Change - Strength of Schedule 61 was 149. They gave Trintiy a game for a while at Trinity, last weekend might determine 10/11 in league.

[D3BBALL]

Picks for this week, last week 3-2 overall 15-10.

Friday games

Colby 60 at Amherst 66
Bowdon 71 at Hamilton 60
Trinity 73 at Conn 59
Wesleyan 64 at Tufts 78
Willams 62 at Bates 75

Saturday games
Wesleyan 59 at Conn 65
Trinity 71 at Tufts 63
Colby 77 at Hamilton 64
Bowdoin 64 at Amherst 67

Sunday
Middlebury 64 at Bates 76