MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

That Tufts score against a strong opponent was certainly eye-popping, and they did it without two seniors who if healthy should make them even deeper.  If they beat JHU today, I think they will have established themselves as the early-season favorite in the league. 24 steals and 9 blocks in two games is wild especially without Watt who is another strong defender.

Wesleyan's starting five has looked strong but with six bench guys all playing light minutes and a total of only 11 bench points (vs 17 fouls!) in two games, and a fifth starter who only has five points total, it appears Wesleyan has some work to do figuring out the back of its rotation.  Wes only played six guys in the second half yesterday, and the top four guys are all averaging over 34 mpg, so the team right now is unusually top-heavy. On a happier note, what an insane follow-up dunk by Jaalan Watson, listed at 5'8 and that may be generous:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DfveLn0MoOf/?mdxt=OWk4azd0cjBpdGNk

Watson, unsurprisingly based on flashes he showed last year, looks like a guy who has made a leap, averaging 15-5-5 in his first two games as a starting point guard.  And if he's at 5 apg on the road, we know that will be 8-9 playing at home! 

[D3BBALL]

Tufts is going to be very good this year and more depth as you say coming, but wouldn't judge them on game against Union. Yes they won 19 games but in a bad league last year and Trinity blew them out by 40+ at Union last year. Todays game as you say more telling.

Watson good replacement at point for Wesleyan, going to have a good career there.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The Liberty is not a bad league, but I agree, Tufts is looking insanely good early.  Big wins over Wheaton and Union, now Johns Hopkins today (it's not over, but it's over).

[nescac1]

Zion Watt back for Tufts. That starting five is just so big, physical, and a really veteran group, no easy matchup to pick on for an opposing offense to put it mildly, all five can defend like crazy. 

Williams escapes after a game it would probably love to forget (down eight in the second half at one point) against MCLA, but better to learn from the win.  With a bunch of vets out - Yates, Devine, Shepherd - Williams went with a very young lineup, starting two FYs and a soph, with a FY and a soph as the first two guys off the bench.  Only three upperclassmen saw meaningful minutes, none of them seniors. 

The inexperience showed as the Ephs looked lost at times on defense and had a bunch of ugly totally avoidable turnovers.  Credit to MCLA which played really hard and aggressively, and seemed to hit every open shot, while other than Rein and Dev Williams, the Ephs bricked a lot of open threes. 

HT FY Dev Williams certainly played to his reputation and more, putting up a superior stat line and basically leading the Ephs comeback on his own in the second half (25-3-4 on stellar shooting, including 4-6 from 3), the guy is a natural scorer and looks comfortable at all three levels. Looks like the early favorite for NESCAC ROTY.  Jackson Rein also had a very efficient game, doing his best work as always off the ball, and those two look like they will be a great scoring duo. Especially without Devine and Yates, the Ephs need to figure out the rest of the rotation as loads of guys got an opportunity but no one really popped in this first game.  Elijah Webb did have a very nice first collegiate game, finishing with eight boards, hitting a 3, and looking like a solid back-up C.  Gavin Dodge, the other FY starter, was quiet, but did hit a three for his first collegiate basket and also secured a steal that effectively sealed the win. I suspect those two guys will make bigger contributions as the season moves along.   

I think when Devine returns (soon) and especially when Yates returns (per the Berkshire Eagle, likely not until the second semester) the Ephs will have a lot of offensive weapons.  But the young guys are going to have to learn very quickly on D, as today there were way too many open 3's and easy drives to the rim.  That's App's specialty and I'm sure he will coach them up, but there may be some bumpy moments in the meantime. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The Liberty is not a bad league, but I agree, Tufts is looking insanely good early.  Big wins over Wheaton and Union, now Johns Hopkins today (it's not over, but it's over).

Talk about a jinx.  Hopkins now within 6 - 8 minute to play.

[SpringSt7]

Ephs need Yates and Devine back BADLY. Devan Williams was as advertised and probably better - I don't think anyone was expecting 4 threes, but it is kind of shocking just looking at the box score and seeing the lack of proven veteran players. They have a lot of young talent and App is as good as any at developing and molding a group throughout a season but they need the young guys to mature really quickly and get two of their older guys back soon.