MBB: NESCAC

[D3BBALL]

Regarding the Cuevas conversation: Is last year (Hank Morgan - Hamilton) the first time in conference history that the player of the year was from a team that didn't finish 1st or 2nd (or at least tied for that place) in the standings? He is legit, but I think team success is going to win out in this one.

D3BBALL - I agree that one of the three Maine teams could steal a game or two in CT, but I also think that Tufts could drop one of their road games to Amherst, Hamilton or Bates.

Agree on Tufts, if I had to bet, might be the Bates game. Not sure Amherst can handle Tufts size. Hamilton just out gunned. Bates maybe playing to get into the NCAA, so this could be the one.

[Stickthe3]

Weekend predictions. 5-5 last week, 22-13 overall.

Friday
Middlebury 65 at Bowdoin 74
Tufts 70 at Amherst 57
Williams 55 at Colby 72
Bates 66 at Trinity 82
Conn College 75 at Hamilton 67

Saturday
Conn College 63 at Amherst 73
Williams 66 at Bowdoin 61
Tufts 74 at Hamilton 60
Middlebury 64 at Colby 74

Sunday
Bates 69 at Wesleyan 75

[D3BBALL]

Picks for this week, last week 8-2 overall 23-12

Lots of upsets!!!

Friday
Middlebury 70 at Bowdoin 80
Tufts 65 at Amherst 68
Williams 60 at Colby 75
Bates 60 at Trinity 79
Conn College 80 at Hamilton 72

Saturday
Conn College 71 at Amherst 65
Williams 60 at Bowdoin 72
Tufts 68 at Hamilton 59
Middlebury 68 at Colby 81

Sunday
Bates 67 at Wesleyan 62

[NEhoops]

Does the Northeast region seem down this year?

Per NPI - UAA (1) and NESCAC (2) are the top conferences.

Looks like the following are the only non-NESCAC teams in the at-large conversation:

Endicott - I think they are in even if they don't win the CNE tournament; beat Tufts early in the season and lost to Colby

WPI - trending in the right direction for an at-large regardless of the NEWMAC tournament results; lost to Tufts and beat Middlebury; beat Babson twice

Babson - Also in the NEWMAC and just behind WPI per the NPI rankings; beat Tufts and lost to Trinity; beat Brandeis

Brandeis - I likely see them playing themselves out of the at-large conversation; they still have a tough UAA stretch of Emory, Chicago, Wash U and NYU; beat Bowdoin and lost to Conn

[Bucket]

An all-time heat check first half for Midd senior co-captain Evan Flaks against Bowdoin: At intermission, Flaks has scored 26 points in 15 minutes of play on 11-14 shooting (3-5 from 3). Panthers lead the Polar Bears, 40-31.

[Greek Tragedy]

Brandeis - I likely see them playing themselves out of the at-large conversation; they still have a tough UAA stretch of Emory, Chicago, Wash U and NYU; beat Bowdoin and lost to Conn

They have beaten 2 of those 4 teams already. They have 6 conference games remaining, including Case and Rochester. If they go 3-3, I think they get in.

[JEFFFAN]

Watched the second half of the Jeffs-Tufts game last night. Amherst played its style perfectly - hit threes at a higher percentage than its opponent, don't turn the ball over, and play good defense.   Win ugly.  The ghosts of Toomey, Olsen, and Workman are spinning in their graves over the style, but the coaching staff seems to have found a style that works with this roster.

[D3BBALL]

Congrats to Amherst huge win. They are in every game and I think with a win today very good shot at the 4th seed. By far biggest surprise of the league
Trinity has a shot at second seed. Tufts on the road against Bates to finish the season. Will be big game.
Bates played well against Trinity shot 46% from field and over 50% from 3, tied rebounding but 26 turns overs a killer

[stlawus]

I've said it before and I'll say it again:  The Amherst coach's decision to quit the obsession with d1 size is a huge reason for their season.  If a player has d1 size in their position and is playing d3, that's for a reason.  Yes, there are exceptions with the occasional unicorn but one or 2 skillsets are why they are not playing up a level and are therefore at a disadvantage against NESCAC caliber competition.  Guards are the engine of d3 basketball.  Always have, always will.