MBB: NESCAC

[el_jefe_90]

Amherst - 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and again this year in 2026
Bates - 2015 and 2026
Bowdoin - None
Colby - 2020
Conn College - None
Hamilton - 2018, 2019, 2023 and 2025
Middlebury - 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023
Trinity - 2015, 2016 and the last three years as NESCAC1 said (2024, 2025 and 2026)
Tufts - 2016, 2017, 2020 (still in when COVID hit), 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026
Wesleyan - 2015 (I believe their first ever), 2017, 2018, 2022, 2025 and 2026
Williams - 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024

[el_jefe_90]

Looking at all the NCAA Tournament appearances got me curious on another thing. I was wondering how many times in that same span did the #1 seed in the NESCAC Tournament actually win it. It's not many!

2015 - #1 Trinity lost to #6 Wesleyan, 55-52, in NESCAC Semis (#6 Wesleyan won title)
2016 - #1 Trinity lost to #4 Middlebury, 70-58 in NESCAC Semis (#4 Middlebury won title)
2017 - #1 Tufts lost to #6 Williams, 81-65, in NESCAC Semis (#2 Middlebury won title)
2018 - #1 Amherst lost to #4 Wesleyan, 65-63, in NESCAC Semis (#2 Williams won title)
2019 - #1 Middlebury lost to #8 Tufts, 85-76, in the NESCAC Qrts (the only time a #1 seed lost in the quarterfinals) [#3 Amherst won title]
2020 - #1 Tufts defeated #2 Colby, 102-94 (OT), in NESCAC Championship
2022 - #1 Wesleyan defeated #4 Williams, 78-75 (OT), in NESCAC Championship
2023 - #1 Williams lost to #6 Colby, 66-51, in NESCAC Semis (#2 Hamilton won title)
2024 - #1 Williams lost to #2 Trinity, 59-52, in NESCAC Championship
2025 - #1 Wesleyan lost to #2 Trinity, 75-67, in NESCAC Championship
2026 - #1 Wesleyan lost to #2 Trinity, 80-55, in NESCAC Championship

I went back to all of the tournaments as well. Only 10 times since the NESCAC tournament started has a 1 seed won the tournament. Amherst did it in 2005, 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Williams did it in 2004 and 2010. Middlebury did it in 2009. The aforementioned Jumbos in 2020 and Wesleyan in 2022.

Other notes show that from 2001-2014, the #1 seed appeared in every NESCAC title game except 2008. As noted starting from 2015, that's happened 6 times.

Sometimes, you get bored before the NCAA Tournament fun!

[jumbomumbo]

Don't forget to submit your brackets to d3challenge.com. I will say, not sure mine is submitting. Site is cool but a bit glitchy

[D3BBALL]

Looking at all the NCAA Tournament appearances got me curious on another thing. I was wondering how many times in that same span did the #1 seed in the NESCAC Tournament actually win it. It's not many!

2015 - #1 Trinity lost to #6 Wesleyan, 55-52, in NESCAC Semis (#6 Wesleyan won title)
2016 - #1 Trinity lost to #4 Middlebury, 70-58 in NESCAC Semis (#4 Middlebury won title)
2017 - #1 Tufts lost to #6 Williams, 81-65, in NESCAC Semis (#2 Middlebury won title)
2018 - #1 Amherst lost to #4 Wesleyan, 65-63, in NESCAC Semis (#2 Williams won title)
2019 - #1 Middlebury lost to #8 Tufts, 85-76, in the NESCAC Qrts (the only time a #1 seed lost in the quarterfinals) [#3 Amherst won title]
2020 - #1 Tufts defeated #2 Colby, 102-94 (OT), in NESCAC Championship
2022 - #1 Wesleyan defeated #4 Williams, 78-75 (OT), in NESCAC Championship
2023 - #1 Williams lost to #6 Colby, 66-51, in NESCAC Semis (#2 Hamilton won title)
2024 - #1 Williams lost to #2 Trinity, 59-52, in NESCAC Championship
2025 - #1 Wesleyan lost to #2 Trinity, 75-67, in NESCAC Championship
2026 - #1 Wesleyan lost to #2 Trinity, 80-55, in NESCAC Championship

I went back to all of the tournaments as well. Only 10 times since the NESCAC tournament started has a 1 seed won the tournament. Amherst did it in 2005, 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Williams did it in 2004 and 2010. Middlebury did it in 2009. The aforementioned Jumbos in 2020 and Wesleyan in 2022.

Other notes show that from 2001-2014, the #1 seed appeared in every NESCAC title game except 2008. As noted starting from 2015, that's happened 6 times.

Sometimes, you get bored before the NCAA Tournament fun!

Good stuff, home court is an advantage except for finals.

[toad22]

What are the chances of all 5 teams making it through the first game? The first weekend?

[el_jefe_90]

Trinity will have a tough 2nd round matchup no matter who it is (Babson or St. Joes Maine), but I think they'll advance.

If Tufts is fully healthy, which no one seems to know the status of Gyimesi, they'll get to the Sweet 16.

I think if it happens, watch out for a hot Gettysburg team against Wesleyan. They have currently won 13 of their last 14 after starting 5-8 after their coach booked it to MIT shortly before the season started. I do think Wesleyan can survive, but wouldn't be surprised if Gettysburg pulled the upset if they get past NYU. NYU isn't as strong as last year, but they have some players who can shoot it.

Bates in my opinion can get romped by 20 against Yeshiva in a few hours, or they can make it to the Sweet 16. They have a very winnable pod of 4. If I remember reading correctly, Coyne might be hurt? If he is, I think their season ends today.

Amherst is a worry because they haven't played in nearly two weeks and have a tough draw against a really solid WPI team. They've also lost their last two so they aren't going in on the best of runs. WPI isn't as great defensively as past years, but they have 4 players in double figures. And their three point defense is still really solid. I personally don't see Amherst getting past this team, but for the NESCAC sake, I hope I'm wrong! If they do, I don't see them winning at Mary Washington.

[nescac1]

Toad, I'll say 35-65 on all five getting past the first game, 10-90 (at best) on the first weekend.  There are a lot of tough second round games ahead if folks survive, and Bates and Amherst both have first round games that could definitely go either way.

On another note, shout-out to Chris Bianco of Bates. In this age of early specialization, it's rare to see two-sport athletes in NESCAC hoops who actually play in the rotation - used to be far more common.  In fact I can't think of any other basketball player who is currently a major contributor (as a FY no less!) to two NESCAC teams.  Bianco was second on points for Bates soccer, and his role has been increasing on the hoops teams in recent weeks.  I haven't seen him a ton but he's popped as a quick Jose Alvarado-style pest of a guard who is not fun to play against.  Clearly, one of the best overall athletes in the league. 

With Coyne likely out for Bates, I expect that he and fellow first-year Jamari Robinson will play an increased role.  They will really miss Coyne's shooting and leadership especially against a team like Yeshiva who can light it up, but that duo offers a degree of quickness that Yeshiva rarely sees and could give them trouble. 

[D3BALL13]

Friday picks for NESCAC teams

Bates 76 Yeshiva 70

Tufts 80 Penn St Harrisburg 65

Trinity 86 Keuka 58

Wesleyan 83 Lehman 68

Amherst 64 WPI 60

[jumbomumbo]

What are the chances of all 5 teams making it through the first game? The first weekend?

With the help of Claude using data from Jacob Schauer's tweet on spreads for round of 64 games. There is a 43% chance all NESCAC teams win today. I would personally take that bet. It most likely hinges on both Bates and Amherst winning. Too bad I can't find a sports book to place "the NESCAC parlay"

[nescac1]

Zamet absolutely torched Bates that half.  They are going to need to shade some help his direction or fight harder to keep the ball out of his hands, as he is in the zone and he's too good a shooter to get any kind of clean look in rhythm.  Bates also needs to get Pouye more involved on the interior on the other end.   Really poor end of half execution for Bates as they took a needlessly tough shot with 8 left on the shot clock allowing Yeshiva to get way too easy a shot for a score as time expired.   

[el_jefe_90]

@nescac1

It certainly isn't helping that Coyne isn't having a great shooting day. And agreed, Pouye taking 5 shots in 29 minutes is not enough. They are hanging around though. O'Leary to me is having the best all around day for the Bobcats

[nescac1]

Agree that O'Leary has been the best player for Bates.  He's been everywhere on both ends, playing stellar D on Zamet and also helping out on other guys, plus has been tough in the post on offense, his physicality and energy have been key to the comeback.  Robinson has been stellar, just too quick for Yeshiva, and Bianco is another guy whose energy is infectious.  Bates has a talent advantage but Yeshiva can really shoot it, they've hit some clutch 3's, and Bates with some needless turnovers and rushed shots. 

And no sooner does Bates finally take the lead that Zamet hits an insane perfectly-contested deep 3 over the outstretched arm of Pouye.  Nothing more you can do on that. 

[el_jefe_90]

Regardless of the outcome, this has been a great start to March Madness!

[D3BALL13]

No way they called that!!!!!!!!!

[nescac1]

That is a horrific call.