MBB: NESCAC

[Hamilton4]

JHU has won 13 of their last 14 but I question the quality of competition in their Centennial Conf vs the level of play in the NESCAC. For that reason I'm expecting the Continentals to continue their excellent play into the Sweet 16.

Although the Centennial may be a top-heavy league, the top of that league is one of the strongest in the country. Swarthmore is one of the best teams we have seen in division 3 in a while and beating them is something that is extremely impressive. Although they did lose in the championship to Swat, it was a great game that could have easily gone either way. I am excited for that game but can't really vision Hamilton beating a team that has played Swat so well.

Good luck to all the Nescac teams this weekend, hopefully all four make it to the next round!

My reasoning is partially based on the fact that JHU has had the same record for 4 of the last 5 seasons but has never made it past the second round. But we'll see thats why the games are played.

[Stretch4]

I think you are definitely selling the quality of competition in the Centennial Conference short. Hopkins and Swat are elite D3 programs, and are as good as any programs in the country. Doesn't mean they are not beatable, but Hopkins in Baltimore is going to be a tough hill to climb for Hamilton. It was great to see Hamilton take the NESCAC tournament title from the favorites, and they are very talented and well coached, but I think if you objectively look at Hamilton you see they clearly benefited from a favorable NESCAC schedule in terms of who they had to play at home vs on the road. If Hamilton can get by a very tough Montclair State team (from another very good conference - NJAC) on a neutral court, then they will have to play Hopkins on their home floor. In my opinion that will be a much tougher challenge then Connecticut College at home and Tufts and Colby on a neutral court. A huge factor could be the health and availability of JHU's top scorer and two time first team all conference forward Tom Quarry who has not played in the last five games. I like to root against Hopkins and Swarthmore, so wishing Hamilton good luck.

[stlawus]

I think you are definitely selling the quality of competition in the Centennial Conference short. Hopkins and Swat are elite D3 programs, and are as good as any programs in the country. Doesn't mean they are not beatable, but Hopkins in Baltimore is going to be a tough hill to climb for Hamilton. It was great to see Hamilton take the NESCAC tournament title from the favorites, and they are very talented and well coached, but I think if you objectively look at Hamilton you see they clearly benefited from a favorable NESCAC schedule in terms of who they had to play at home vs on the road. If Hamilton can get by a very tough Montclair State team (from another very good conference - NJAC) on a neutral court, then they will have to play Hopkins on their home floor. In my opinion that will be a much tougher challenge then Connecticut College at home and Tufts and Colby on a neutral court. A huge factor could be the health and availability of JHU's top scorer and two time first team all conference forward Tom Quarry who has not played in the last five games. I like to root against Hopkins and Swarthmore, so wishing Hamilton good luck.

Quarry is done for the season

[SpringSt7]

I try my best to avoid being a homer, I don't hold the committee to a very high standard, and they could've avoided all of this by playing better, but as the week goes on, I am just struggling to understand why Williams got the draw they got. They lacked a signature win but they beat a lot of very good teams and went 22-4. They have a better winning percentage, a better strength of schedule, and a better nonconference strength of schedule than Tufts but got a significantly worse draw. I don't think this team is deserving of an easy path to anything but I am just confused as to why it had to be this hard.

[SpringSt7]

https://nescac.com/news/2023/3/2/nescac-news-mens-basketball-all-nescac-awards-announced.aspx

All-League awards are out! And they got it right!

Will King certainly played like a first teamer over conference championship weekend but I was a little surprised it was Nate Karren's spot he stole and not Spencer Spivy's, as I still felt like Karren had the greater impact on how the team played. But Spivy certainly had the statistical resume to earn it and was an outstanding two way player as well, certainly that contributed to his selection.

Vetter over Poulton for ROY is a surprise as Poulton was much more efficient (45/38/77) to Vetter's 38/37/75, but perhaps the coaches felt like Vetter meant more to his team. Either way, two much deserving candidates that you could not go wrong with.

[nescac1]

All-league teams out.  Nice job SpringSt7 getting 9 out of 10.  Coaches did a better job than usual this year I'd say, pretty much nailed it. 

https://nescac.com/news/2023/3/2/nescac-news-mens-basketball-all-nescac-awards-announced.aspx

Rood v. Maccoux for the final spot on the second team is to me a toss-up but Maccoux is certainly deserving.

Vetter v. Poulton for ROY also dead even, either a fine choice.  Folks could quibble about placement of guys on first vs. second team squads, but nothing egregious at all. 

[Written before SpringSt7's post but we are on the same page I see ...]

[toad22]

Good luck to the four NESCAC teams still in the tournament! My Ephs are in a very tough pod, but I remain optimistic. It will be fun to play Pomona, a team we would be unlikely to ever play by accident. They look to be a very solid team, and Williams will need to play very well to beat them. I am not unmindful of the fact that this is a big opportunity for Williams, and all the teams still left standing. We are only 64 of 400+ D3 teams. Let the best teams win!

[JEFFFAN]

I wonder when the last time was that Amherst was not represented on either the first or second team All-NESCAC teams?   Deservedly so this year, of course, but has to have been a long time.

Only one person on the NESCAC Women's team as well - second team sophomore.   And an awful football team ...

Something bad in the water up there in Amherst!  Or the admissions office ...

[Conts Fan]

I wonder when the last time was that Amherst was not represented on either the first or second team All-NESCAC teams?   Deservedly so this year, of course, but has to have been a long time.

Only one person on the NESCAC Women's team as well - second team sophomore.   And an awful football team ...

Something bad in the water up there in Amherst!  Or the admissions office ...

Welcome to what life is like for most of the NESCAC.

[nescac1]

I believe the only prior time Amherst has had no one represented on the all-league teams was 2010.  Amherst hoops did OK the next four years as I recall thanks in significant part to the arrival of Aaron Toomey.  Sometimes it just takes one dude to change things up dramatically.  Of course that was also when Hixon was in the absolute prime of his HOF career ....

But it does seem like Amherst still has plenty of strong team sports - hockey, soccer, lacrosse, etc, notwithstanding down years for football and hoops.

Good luck today to all four Nescac teams, especially the Ephs!

[jayhawk]

Jefffan you seem really down about Amherst Basketball

I think one of the reasons David Hixon was so succesful was that he put a high premium on recruiting talented point guards. Point guards run the show and importatly can make something happen when it seems nothing is happenning on offense

Can not predict what future freshman can do
But have seen Johnny McCain who is a senior at Canterbury play and make 6 3 pointers (his high school team has a future D1 point guard) he has the potential to be one of the best shooters (not necessarily scorers) ever at Amherst (hopefully his defense can be good)

Also saw Marc Garraud who is a point guard at Nobles play and an Amherst commit
Nobles other than him is not that good and saw him against Rivers School which has probably four or so future D1 players
Garraud however was a point guard on the Middlesex Magic AAU (coached by a former Williams star)
The Magic is loaded with really good D1 players and Garraud did a fine job
probably more like 5'10 than 5'8 but really good athlete, fast, with good hands, able to shoot outside , and seems to be a good passer
He is more like Nicky Johnson at Wesleyan (former rivers school players) not saying he is as good but could be an improvement
that said very diffcult to bank on freshman

[nescac1]

Spencer Spivy in street clothes and on crutches for the Ephs. 

[middhoops]

Pomona-Pitzer in the first half looks not so very athletic by NESCAC standards.  The Ephs hit threes and played effective D to establish a big lead early and hold it right up to the half.(43-27)
If Williams can maintain their defensive intensity they should hold off any spurt by P-P in the 2nd half.  I like the Ephs chances against St Joe's should they both win.  Kevin App devised a winning strategy against Whitman 4 years ago (I think) when Whitman's full court press was too much for everyone they faced.  I'm betting on App.

[SpringSt7]

The difference between preparation for Whitman is that they had a week to do so, and it was a zone press. They were able to use their size and their 6'4 point guard to pass over it quite easily, all things considered (as easy as you can in a game where you turned it over 29 times).

The preparation for St. Joe's will be done in less than 24 hours---surely an assistant coach will have a scouting report ready, but they won't be able to practice against it or anything, and it will be a man press, something the Ephs have struggled with in a different way. They have good ball handling but not great when the opponent gets up in their face. And this group has faced these guards before and it did not go well.

[SpringSt7]

Williams puts together a terrific all around game to defeat Pomona 78-53 and advance to the 2nd round. Nate Karren played an outstanding game--20 points, 9 rebounds on 7-10 shooting and Evan Glatzer played arguably his best game as an Eph, just all over the floor--12 points 3 rebounds, 5 assists, while also drawing one of Pomona's two leading perimeter scorers and making life very difficult for them.

I had more words to write on this game and a look ahead to St. Joe's, but unfortunately the only postgame story is the health of Cole Prowitt-Smith who appeared to turn an ankle with just under 5 minutes left in the game and had to come out. He had been having arguably his best game of the season, 20 points on just 12 shots to go along with 5 rebounds, but now his status will be in doubt in addition to Spencer Spivy who does not appear close to return from his ankle injury either. It will really really really be an uphill battle without both of them tomorrow.