MBB: NESCAC

[D3BBALL]

My list

First Team - definites - 4
Gyimesi, Tufts
Morgan, Hamilton
Regan, Wesleyan
Johnson, Wesleyan


In running for last 3
Vetter, Trinity
Lawson, Colby
Morakis, Tufts
Espinosa, Conn

Second Team have 1 from above plus all these fighting it out
Cuevas, Bowdoin - My Pick
Pouye, Bates - My pick
Okorougo, Trinity - My Pick
Lazarre, Trinity - My Pick
Joseph, Middlebury - He or Brennan get in not both, I would lean Brennan
Brennan, Middlebury - My Pick
Schainfeld, Conn - My Pick
Poulton, Colby
Hansen, Williams
Scherer, Amherst

10 players for 6 spots. Can make an argument for anyone of them on or off. I wrote "my pick" next to the 6 right now I would go with.

Singh is out for me, just has not played well all conference play, if he gets in it will be based on past performances

[SpringSt7]

I think it's pretty hard to come with a top 7 that doesn't include Vetter. Almost all of his stats have increased from last season when he was an All American. Probably a good case study for winning maybe being a little overrated when it comes to these things? If I needed to win one game he is probably still the player in the league that I would pick first.

[jumbomumbo]

I think it's pretty hard to come with a top 7 that doesn't include Vetter. Almost all of his stats have increased from last season when he was an All American. Probably a good case study for winning maybe being a little overrated when it comes to these things? If I needed to win one game he is probably still the player in the league that I would pick first.

Vetter should be in 1st team. and Bernstein should make 2nd team

[el_jefe_90]

I think it's pretty hard to come with a top 7 that doesn't include Vetter. Almost all of his stats have increased from last season when he was an All American. Probably a good case study for winning maybe being a little overrated when it comes to these things? If I needed to win one game he is probably still the player in the league that I would pick first.

Vetter was a NESCAC 1st Teamer last year but he was not an All-American according to D3Hoops.com or NABC. D3Hoops had David Murray as their only All-American from the NESCAC. NABC had Murray and Ben Callahan-Gold.

https://www.d3hoops.com/awards/all-americans/men/2024
https://nabc.com/awards/allamerica/divisioniii/

Vetter was a Preseason All-American for this year though! Shane Regan and Scott Gyimesi also made the list.

https://www.d3hoops.com/awards/all-americans/men/preseason-2025

[nescac1]

Barring something absolutely crazy this weekend, I have to think Vetter and Morakis are both (deservedly) locks for first team. There are really no other players who have been consistent enough to be first-team worthy but gotta pick someone.  Lawson, Pouye, Okorougo, Lazarre, Espinosa, Hansen and Cuevas are all very closely grouped statistically, with Lawson having a slight edge but Trinity's team success gives those guys a bump if one of them really stands out on the final weekend. Okorougo and Lazarre are both second team locks, I'd say, but if one of them has two big games this weekend, I'd lean towards them.  If Colby pulls at least one upset behind a big game from Lawson, then I'd say he's earned the final spot.  Espinosa also would make sense with a big final weekend.       

I know Brennan is a tough dude and a great rebounder but in league play he's averaging a 3-10-2 on 48 percent shooting and 3-9 from the line with no three pointers made.  Compare that to say Hudson Hansen who's at 13.5-4.5-2 on 49/33/81 splits, plus is an excellent defensive player.  Unless he was averaging 20 boards a game, you can't put a guy who is averaging 3 points a game, who can't shoot from outside five feet, and who isn't an elite rim protector, for a team that that is not in the top half of the conference, on an all-league team. 

My guess for how it ends up ... Morgan, Gyemisi, Morakis, Johnson, Regan, Vetter, and either Okorougo or Lazarre on the first team, and then Okorougo/Lazarre, Hansen, Pouye, Lawson, Stevens, Espinosa, and one guy who stands out in the final weekend from the Cuevas, Lee, Schainfeld, Bernstein, Poulton and Joseph group in the last spot.  I'd say Cuevas is most deserving from that group, but again, I think coaches will be more inclined to give a veteran that spot if it's a close call, especially given Bowdoin's struggles as a team. 

[D3BBALL]

I forgot Cormier and Reilly off my list. Cormier a definite in. Guess I would take Schainfeld off of my definite pick.
I get the David Brennan thoughts, but no way does Bernstein get it before Brennan. Bernstein doesn't even average 20 minutes in conference play. No way should he be on first or second team.
Vetter, has come on of late. But just look at his shooting stats, especially percentages, hard to make him a definite first team at this point. Still two games left.

[nescac1]

Ultimately the case for either Bernstein and Thoerner is pretty close, but irrelevant, since neither really has any sort of case for second team (especially when Tufts will have two first-teamers and will likely be the third seed in the conference tourney) ... Bernstein, 9-5 on 65/61 splits (no three pointers attempted), Reilly, 9-3 on 43/45/71 splits, both very good defenders, but neither is much of a creator for other players on the team.  (I threw Bernstein in the mix myself just because of his physical presence, but he's had too many very quiet games in league play and sometimes the team does seem to play just as well if not better with Gettings out there). 

Cormier I think gets DPOTY.  He has a marginal case for the last second team spot with 9 ppg and 8 rpg on 52/31/80 splits in league play plus elite defense, he's very clearly the third most important player for Wesleyan, and I could see the coaches wanting to reward Wesleyan with a third spot after such a dominant year.  But if they get COTY, DPOTY, possibly POTY, and two first-team all-league spots, that's certainly accolades enough to reflect the season they have had. 

[D3BBALL]

Agree on Cormier, did the same thing with Smith last year, DPOY but didn't make first or second team.
My issue is not sure how trinity and tufts can get 3 players each and Wesleyan only gets 2.
Rest of the list for 2nd team we can make arguments for and against, for pretty much the last 4 picks.
Again just wish they would do 5, 5, and 5 would make it simpler and be more meaningful to the players on first and second teams.

[jumbomumbo]

Ultimately the case for either Bernstein and Thoerner is pretty close, but irrelevant, since neither really has any sort of case for second team (especially when Tufts will have two first-teamers and will likely be the third seed in the conference tourney) ... Bernstein, 9-5 on 65/61 splits (no three pointers attempted), Reilly, 9-3 on 43/45/71 splits, both very good defenders, but neither is much of a creator for other players on the team.  (I threw Bernstein in the mix myself just because of his physical presence, but he's had too many very quiet games in league play and sometimes the team does seem to play just as well if not better with Gettings out there). 

Cormier I think gets DPOTY.  He has a marginal case for the last second team spot with 9 ppg and 8 rpg on 52/31/80 splits in league play plus elite defense, he's very clearly the third most important player for Wesleyan, and I could see the coaches wanting to reward Wesleyan with a third spot after such a dominant year.  But if they get COTY, DPOTY, possibly POTY, and two first-team all-league spots, that's certainly accolades enough to reflect the season they have had. 

Thoerner graduated tufts 2023 and played for a strong UCI team last year. Are you thinking of Morakis?

[nescac1]

Whoops I meant Reilly - wrong sweet-shooting big Tufts wing! 

And by the way, Thoerner is another player with a case for being one of the best catch-and-shoot players in recent NESCAC play... in three seasons (one COVID-shortened), the majority of which was spent as Tufts' top option offensively and thus receiving a ton of defensive attention, Thoerner made 113 total threes at an elite 42 percent clip.  And of course, he got minutes as a legit D1 rotation guy after leaving Tufts. He was also money from mid-range and the free throw line.   

Big weekend ahead - will Wesleyan complete the second 24-0 regular season in the NESCAC NCAA era? I thought it would be the first, but I forgot about the Conn College 28-1 final four team!  They will be heavily-favored in both games, but will they feel the pressure?  Can Tufts and Trinity position themselves (I think just about lock down, but both might need one more win) hosting rights in the NCAA tournament with weekend sweeps?  Can Hamilton lock down a Pool C bid with a weekend sweep (two losses would on the other hand probably put them on the wrong side of the bubble)?  Williams has the most wild range of outcomes possible - with a sweep, get into the very back end of the Pool C picture and likely get a home game in the NESCAC tourney; with two losses, perhaps gets knocked out of the NESCAC tourney entirely and obviously end any Pool C chances.   

[jumbomumbo]

Whoops I meant Reilly - wrong sweet-shooting big Tufts wing! 

And by the way, Thoerner is another player with a case for being one of the best catch-and-shoot players in recent NESCAC play... in three seasons (one COVID-shortened), the majority of which was spent as Tufts' top option offensively and thus receiving a ton of defensive attention, Thoerner made 113 total threes at an elite 42 percent clip.  And of course, he got minutes as a legit D1 rotation guy after leaving Tufts. He was also money from mid-range and the free throw line.   

Big weekend ahead - will Wesleyan complete the second 24-0 regular season in the NESCAC NCAA era? I thought it would be the first, but I forgot about the Conn College 28-1 final four team!  They will be heavily-favored in both games, but will they feel the pressure?  Can Tufts and Trinity position themselves (I think just about lock down, but both might need one more win) hosting rights in the NCAA tournament with weekend sweeps?  Can Hamilton lock down a Pool C bid with a weekend sweep (two losses would on the other hand probably put them on the wrong side of the bubble)?  Williams has the most wild range of outcomes possible - with a sweep, get into the very back end of the Pool C picture and likely get a home game in the NESCAC tourney; with two losses, perhaps gets knocked out of the NESCAC tourney entirely and obviously end any Pool C chances.   

Yeah Thoener was a beast. I tuned in for the 2nd half against USC when they upset Bronny's team. Drilled 2 deep 3s to take the lead. Tufts really needs to host this year. Beat Bates and make NESCAC semi's and I think it is a done deal. Cousens would be absolutely rocking.

[el_jefe_90]

Can Tufts and Trinity position themselves (I think just about lock down, but both might need one more win) hosting rights in the NCAA tournament with weekend sweeps?  Can Hamilton lock down a Pool C bid with a weekend sweep (two losses would on the other hand probably put them on the wrong side of the bubble)?  Williams has the most wild range of outcomes possible - with a sweep, get into the very back end of the Pool C picture and likely get a home game in the NESCAC tourney; with two losses, perhaps gets knocked out of the NESCAC tourney entirely and obviously end any Pool C chances. 

Tufts is officially hosting a NESCAC Quarterfinal game. They are 7-2 and the teams in 5th (Colby and Williams) are 4-4, unable to catch the Jumbos.

A Trinity win this weekend guarantees they host as well. The only way they don't host is if Colby and Williams wins out and Trinity and Hamilton lose out. That would put Williams, Colby and Trinity at 6-4, Williams wins the first tie-breaker by beating both and would get the 3. Colby wins the head to head tiebreaker by beating Trinity. It's possible those teams and Hamilton finish 6-4. If that happens, Williams would get the 3 via beating those three teams, Trinity would get the 4 based on their record against the top 4 (including tied teams) and Hamilton would get the 5 based on their win against Colby.

If Hamilton beats Williams on Friday, they are hosting no matter what. The only team that could catch up to them in that instance would be Colby, and as previously stated, Hamilton wins that tie-breaker.

What a fun time of year!
 

[jumbomumbo]

Can Tufts and Trinity position themselves (I think just about lock down, but both might need one more win) hosting rights in the NCAA tournament with weekend sweeps?  Can Hamilton lock down a Pool C bid with a weekend sweep (two losses would on the other hand probably put them on the wrong side of the bubble)?  Williams has the most wild range of outcomes possible - with a sweep, get into the very back end of the Pool C picture and likely get a home game in the NESCAC tourney; with two losses, perhaps gets knocked out of the NESCAC tourney entirely and obviously end any Pool C chances.

Tufts is officially hosting a NESCAC Quarterfinal game. They are 7-2 and the teams in 5th (Colby and Williams) are 4-4, unable to catch the Jumbos.

A Trinity win this weekend guarantees they host as well. The only way they don't host is if Colby and Williams wins out and Trinity and Hamilton lose out. That would put Williams, Colby and Trinity at 6-4, Williams wins the first tie-breaker by beating both and would get the 3. Colby wins the head to head tiebreaker by beating Trinity. It's possible those teams and Hamilton finish 6-4. If that happens, Williams would get the 3 via beating those three teams, Trinity would get the 4 based on their record against the top 4 (including tied teams) and Hamilton would get the 5 based on their win against Colby.

If Hamilton beats Williams on Friday, they are hosting no matter what. The only team that could catch up to them in that instance would be Colby, and as previously stated, Hamilton wins that tie-breaker.

What a fun time of year!
 

Assuming Tufts can beat Bates - this will be the Jumbos 3rd year in last 5 finishing 8-2 in conference play. Not bad

[jumbomumbo]

Tufts game got moved from Sunday to Saturday. Sorry seniors - can't be there anymore

[nescac1]

Hamilton absolutely humiliates Williams.  One of the worst losses ever for Williams, maybe the most one-sided game I can recall for an essentially healthy Williams team.

First, credit to Hamilton which played an absolutely brilliant game in all phases.  All the big guys who were out last weekend were back which certainly helped them inside.  Morgan was of course great as both a shot-maker and creator, but it was Keyhani (often looks great against Williams) and Ridenout who really killed the Eph defense with some great shot-making.  Hamilton seemingly could not miss with the long 2's tonight, they were on fire. Meanwhile Williams looked totally out of sync from the opening tip, the timing of the offense was just non-existent, very few clean connections off passes and those few that generated good looks just weren't dropping.  But Williams' woes didn't end there, they could not rebound the ball at all and Hamilton won the "battle" on the glass a ridiculous 48-21. The Ephs are not a good rebounding team, but man, that margin is unthinkable.

Alex Lee had a pretty good game and the Belcher/Rein/Yates frosh trio each had a few nice moments, but most of the team struggled in a massive way in every phase of the game, really they were just bullied by Hamilton in the paint. 

So, the battle for the last three spots tomorrow comes down to Amherst, Midd, Williams and Colby.  Midd I think is out with a loss to Hamilton.  If a depleted Midd team (both starting guards out today) can somehow beat Hamilton, which would be quite a feat, if Amherst beats Williams, and Colby loses, each of those teams would, crazily, have four wins, and I'm not sure how the tie-breaker would go.  Colby and Williams would both be 1-2 in mutual games and Williams has the tie-breaker vs. Colby so I think Colby with finish out of the running?  If Williams beats Amherst I think they end up in the 6 spot - and then get Tufts on the road as a reward.   

Frankly, though, it's hard to see any of those teams doing much in the NESCAC tourney barring a miraculous turnabout, none have shown much at all against the better teams in the league, other than one Williams win vs. Trinity in which Trinity couldn't make anything.