MBB: NESCAC

[el_jefe_90]

My thoughts on Ray Cuevas, he's as good as gone from Bowdoin. With that much interest from D1 schools already and announcing your in the transfer portal about 4 days after your season ended shows he would like to go to greener pastures. It always sucks seeing a great talent leave the NESCAC, but I hope he excels at the next level if/when he leaves.

Looking forward to the best time of the year, starting with the NESCAC Championship weekend! Not that it matters, but my picks are Wesleyan over Bates and Trinity over Tufts on Saturday. I think Trinity finds a way to knock off Wesleyan for a second year in a row in Middletown for the NESCAC title. With no dog in the fight, should be a fun weekend!

[D3BBALL]

Interesting Greek.  Checking in on NESCAC teams headed to the NCAAs:

Trinity is two overall in NPI, already a lock to host for the first two rounds and I think one more win vs. Wesleyan locks them in as a top seed hosting throughout the tourney (and honestly probably already a lock for a top seed no matter what).

Tufts is number 7 and Wesleyan number 8.  I think both are probably locks to host a pod at this point regardless of what happens tomorrow.  Two wins this weekend for either could conceivably put either in a position to host until the final four, but I think a few teams ahead of them would have to lose for that to happen.  Still, NESCAC having three first-round hosts (almost surely) is impressive.

Bates is at 26 overall, currently at large number 12.  I don't think a loss to Tufts hurts them very much at all and they should be a lock to make the tourney.  Probably would need two wins this weekend to potentially host a pod, even that probably does not do it.  But have a good shot at being a "2" seed in a pod.   It will be only Bates' second tournament, after making it all the way to the Sweet 16 in 2015.  By the way, is anyone better at hiring coaches than Bates?  Jeff Brown, Joe Reilly, Jon Furbush, not too shabby for the last three head coaches!  And going way pack, future Williams AD Bob Peck. 

Amherst is the one who has to worry at 32 overall, at large number 17 (Greek I think they are 17, not 18?).  The winners of Carthage-Elmhurst and Virginia Wesleyan-Roanoke almost surely move ahead of them.  So that puts them down to 19, getting very close to the bubble.  Still in pretty good shape for now, but if several of St. Thomas / Montclair / Endicott / Hood / Trinity(TX) / Gustavus get knocked off in their conference tournaments (any teams who win those leagues would be bid thiefs), then it starts getting more and more dicey. 

Speaking of the Bates Sweet 16 run, it inspired me to do a bit of research - every NESCAC team has made at least one Sweet 16 (since 1994, when they first became eligible) other than Colby and Bowdoin (both of whom have made it to the second round).   Colby certainly would have made a few in the Matt Hancock era but alas not yet eligible for the tourney.  Not too shabby! 
[/quote]
You do know that Trinity plays Tufts and Wesleyan plays Bates

[Stickthe3]

Saturday picks (3-1 last week, 41-18 on the year)

Trinity 73 vs Tufts 66 - does anyone know if Gyimesi is fine?
Wesleyan 77 vs Bates 70

[D3BALL13]

Weekend Picks

Trinity 75 vs Tufts 70

Wesleyan 80 vs Bates 76

Trinity 71 vs Wesleyan 77

Wesleyan gets pay back after last year! Even though they already beat em this year...