MBB: NESCAC

[Bucket]

What a joke schedule for my alma mater!   I guess this fits into the "lets have a good overall record even if we stink in the NESCAC so we can keep our jobs" category.  Embarrassing.

It's been par for the course for Amherst, though, regarding non-conference schedule, no? This isn't a new revelation...

[Greek Tragedy]

Anyone know why that Colby game got postponed?

[lumbercat]

A big storm was expected, Bates/Bowdoin also postponed.
However Bates?Colby Women's game was played. 

[mathteacherjedi]

Mostly long time lurker here.

Anyone know what happened to oldguy and amh63 and some of the other longtime posters?

[Bucket]

Mostly long time lurker here.

Anyone know what happened to oldguy and amh63 and some of the other longtime posters?

I've wondered about amh63, myself.

I can assure one and all that oldguy is well and still an active reader of these boards. He's threatened to come off the bench (where he is most comfortable) and start posting again—maybe this post will stir him to action.

[nescac1]

Alluded to this in an earlier post, but the early rookies to watch:

1. Mason Dawkins, Bowdoin - on 13/4/3 plus 3 stocks per game on 59/0/52 splits, doing it all on both ends for Bowdoin and has exploded in his three games as a starter, his upside will depend on how his shooting develops.   
2. Dominic Ducree, Middlebury - 14.2 and 3 rpg on 43/52/65 splits, third in scoring on Midd despite playing off the bench, one clutch game-winner already on his resume
3. Ricardo Nieves, Tufts - 6 ppg and 2 rpg on insanely efficient 68/43/83 splits, plus one stock per game, in only 13 mpg, his role seems to be increasing each game and he may end up leading this list if Tufts continues to rely on him for bigger minutes and continues to play him in its closing lineup. 

That feels like the top three in terms of ROTY likelihood, followed by:

4. David Melson, Hamilton; 5. Sherron Woodberry, Amherst; 6. EJ Sommers, Williams; 7. Jamari Robinson, Bates; 8.Ian Planskey, Wesleyan; 9. Jaalan Watson, Wesleyan; 10. Cole Craffy, Conn.   

[nescac1]

Very solid win for Williams over previously undefeated Vassar.  The Ephs were led by Hudson Hansen and Jackson Rein, as they will be most games, both of whom were just too quick and athletic for the Vassar frontcourt to deal with - they combined for 33-20-7.  When they are out there as a pair they are difficult for most teams to match up with. 

Key for the Ephs today was foul shooting.  After struggling from the line against RIC, Williams hit 16 free throws today, six in a critical stretch in the second half when Hansen converted both ends of three straight 1-and-1s.  Sammy Cooley got his first start of the season and played strong defense with a few tough finishes in the paint, he seems to be rounding into shape after a long layoff. 

The Ephs got excellent production from their second string guards (really more like a co-first-string).  Matt Devine continues to look smooth as a scorer going to the rim and has a lot of upside as a scorer, and Justin Belcher had a big day.  Belcher is one of the most involved players - for better or for worse - that you will ever see, he seems to always be noticeable, at least.  Today, it was mostly on very positive plays - 12-4-2, plus 1 steal and two blocks, in only 22 minutes.  He is sneaky good at snagging boards and blocking shots despite being very small, and always manages to create some turnovers.  On the downside, he had another four turnovers of his own, for 11 over the past two games.  If he can improve in the fundamentals, he will play more and more for the Ephs.

For Vassar, all American Fitzgerald struggled to the tune of 5-21, but a lot of that was due to stellar Eph defenses as all the Williams guards blanketed him the entire game.  Avery (no relation, I presume) Lee, who has actually been Vassar's best player so far this year, was stellar, he hit a lot of very difficult shots off the dribble.  And Vassar kept the game close by winning the turnover battle, 15-7.  But for that, it would have been a blowout, as Vassar really couldn't guard the Ephs up front and Williams also owned the glass. 

Big Wesleyan-Williams game coming up next, with a win huge for either team.  Having seen a bit of Wesleyan, the Ephs will need to keep Pohlman from getting past his man and creating off the dribble and can't let Edelman or Wolinski get open looks from 3. The Ephs also need Hansen and Rein to stay out of foul trouble as both should be able to continue making a difference on both ends.  The Ephs are still waiting on a huge breakout game for Aidan Yates and next weekend would be a good time for it!

[nescac1]

Highlight reel dunk off a long inbounds pass by Dawkins late in game - he looks like one of the wings Wesleyan typically has, big, strong, athletic, ferocious on D - if his shooting comes around a major steal for Bowdoin. Hope that highlight gets posted somewhere. 

And Cuevas is basically a D1 guard, the whole package, as good a guard as you will see in Nescac.  But he has to do too much - Bowdoin seemed to have no one else to initiate offense and Bates was the deeper team.  FY Robinson for Bates is extremely quick with the dribble, he will be a factor for them.

[quicksilver]

Not to whine too much but Bowdoin is wracked by injuries -- Chris Simonds, Will Logue, Liam McBride, & promising FY Jules Varin have missed every game this season and now Jackson Beeckman, after a promising start to the season and missing his entire first year, has joined them on the bench in civvies. Unsure what the prognosis is for the return of them this season but a couple of them would help with the offense . . Bleecker was scoring at a 16 PPG pace when he went down after 3 games

[nescac1]

Wow Quicksilver, that is a lot of injuries, and helps explain why Bowdoin looked so anemic around its stars.  It seems like Bowdoin could have a loaded sophomore class, if they can ever get them all healthy together.  Bleecker has had especially tough luck and clearly is someone who can really help them if he gets healthy again.

Back to Dawkins, he's averaging 15-4-4 plus 2 spg on 62 percent shooting since he entered the staring lineup, not bad for a first semester FY, and he certainly satisfies the eye test.  I have not seen the alley-oop highlight from last night, but here is an equally impressive dunk from earlier this season:

https://x.com/BrewsterHoops/status/1989545824754290700?s=20

Dawkins provides a good chance of Bowdoin getting back-to-back ROTY winners - if he can improve his three point and foul shooting he should have a floor of an all-league player with potential to be more than that down the line.

Meanwhile several folks here (including me!) picked Bates as a dark horse this year and they certainly are playing up to that billing.  They are 7-0 and I expect will be 9-0 heading into a huge holiday tournament against Emory and Maryville.  Pouye continues to be a big presence in the paint and does a bit of everything, and still has plenty of unrealized upside.  Coyne and Cravitz give them two dangerous shooters, and FY Robinson looks like he will be a high-level penetrator off the dribble.  Psyhogeos has had a quiet start to the season but he gives them another crafty offensive creator. They could really use one or two bigger wings up front to take pressure of Pouye, that's a hole on the roster, but otherwise look solid. 

[SpringSt7]

Back to Dawkins, he's averaging 15-4-4 plus 2 spg on 62 percent shooting since he entered the staring lineup, not bad for a first semester FY, and he certainly satisfies the eye test.  I have not seen the alley-oop highlight from last night, but here is an equally impressive dunk from earlier this season:

https://x.com/BrewsterHoops/status/1989545824754290700?s=20

Dawkins provides a good chance of Bowdoin getting back-to-back ROTY winners - if he can improve his three point and foul shooting he should have a floor of an all-league player with potential to be more than that down the line.
 

You don't really see guys that move like this playing in the NESCAC - even despite the fact that he has no real jumpshot. Wonder if there is a story behind it (senior year injury, etc) or if this is the beginning of the portal related trickle down having a real impact on all divisions.