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.

[Sabrina76]

I agree with this, but I'd add the 6'5" to 6'7" solid player who either is not quite quick enough or doesn't play big enough for D1 can shine at D3. All the NESCAC rosters have productive ones in this category.

[nescac1]

Some random thoughts:

1. Just a disastrous weekend for Williams and now the only thing the team has to play for is to play spoiler vs. a very heavily favored Amherst team or to try to avoid the ignominy of a winless league year against Hamilton.  The Ephs seem to actually have regressed as a team over the course of the season and while I still think there is some good young talent on the roster, realistically are facing a two-year rebuild with the current junior class providing a grand total of only six points per game.  Once again, Williams shows that if you can't shoot you can't win (especially without a dynamic attacking guard who can consistently create off the dribble) and they went 7-29 from 3 vs. Colby an and 6-24 vs. Bowdoin, including 2-10 in the second half (the last one coming on a meaningless garbage-time three) when the inability to even come close from the outside was a particularly killer in what was otherwise an even game.  There are plenty of other issues, of course, with the defense definitely regressing from what had been generally stronger early season play, but that is the number one issue the team needs to figure out in the off-season.  Sommers, Rein, and Yates should by next year form a capable-enough shooting and scoring trio up front to be more competitive, but (speaking of the importance of guard play) the Ephs desperately need their guards to improve from three, or to start playing other guards who are ace shooters.  That will open so much for the rest of the offense. 

2. Jefffan, I understand the deep-seated skepticism regarding Sears.  It's taken him a long time to find his footing.  But maybe, just maybe, that hire won't end up being as bad as Amherst fans feared and Williams fans hoped?  I never thought he was a bad coach in terms of offensive or defensive schemes (they certainly always played Williams tough, including some Williams teams that were clearly better on paper) ... his issue with more with how he used his personnel over the course of a season.  But maybe his early tenure was judged a bit too harshly - he did not exactly inherit a juggernaut - the team was 18-8 the year before he came on board.  He inherited a roster without, let's face it, a single above-average NESAC starter in the sophomore and junior classes, and very few playable guys in those classes, period, which really put him behind the eight ball for his first three seasons as coach.  He's generally been a good recruiter and his first class could have been a truly great one but for a lot of injury woes that limited its upside.  This year's recruiting class looks extremely strong, led by potential future all-American KJ Neville.  It's hardly unusual for a coach to take a few years to find his footing, and Amherst suddenly has on a very small roster a ton of guys who can both attack off the dribble and shoot the ball.  Chin and Neville are big, physical, crafty guards who are tough to stay in front of, rebound, and defend, and those guys will be a bitch of a duo to deal with over the next several seasons, especially if their outside shooting continues to improve. 

And I think the secret sauce to this year's surprising success is the ability of Drew Martin and Chris Hammond (and Nate Pabis when he comes in) to play up so successfully on defense.  Hammond was a step slow playing on the perimeter but at the 4 he's ideal since he is so strong and such a good rebounder, then can space the floor at an elite level for a 4 on the other end.  And Martin has really been a revelation this year playing the 5 where he's been far more valuable than his statistics might indicate, he is an elite glue guy who while not a huge scorer does all the little things up front.  Pabis made a huge leap forward too playing a similar sort of role to Hammond.  Because Amherst can hang with bigger guys in the interior, it enables them to play a five out style and give a ton of space for their three attacking guards (Garraud is good too) to operate.  To me, it's aesthetically pleasing, and obviously very effective.  Now, perhaps that was a happy accident with Randal and Tam leaving the roster, or perhaps (at least Tam) left because he saw the writing on the wall.   I think Sears deserves strong COTY consideration and is well on the way to shedding the bust label. 

4. Bowdoin - damn Cuevas is so good.  Williams shaded two toward him nearly the entire game and he still made some very, very difficult shots; he make life much easier for everyone on the floor with how much attention he attracts. He is easily a D1 guard if he wants to be but hopefully for NESCAC he sticks around.  I love the Bowdoin announcer, he's the best, but brother, decide on whether it's pronounced Cuevas or Chevas, he's the franchise . Mason Dawkins reminds me of Jarrel Okorougo in that he's such a physical mismatch out there, he stalks around like he knows he's the alpha athlete on the floor. His skills are a work in progress but there is a foundation there, and like Okorougo I expect he will make huge strides over his career as his touch and handle catch up with his strength, size and explosiveness.  Benedek Maly had a huge game for Bowdoin and hurt Williams with his burst and energy.  A great race for ROTY between Dawkins and Neville which I suspect is determined in the NESCAC playoffs. 

5. Colby is going to be very good very soon.  The new coach is absolutely legit and a very creative schemer on offense, creates a lot of easy looks via off-ball screening and cutting action, Williams (maybe it's not saying much at this point ...) was as flummoxed as I've seen them defensively all season in the first half.  Their incoming class next year looks loaded.  And they have a lot of young talent to develop (he inherited so much more than most new coaches).  Theo Pow is an ELITE athlete at the D3 level with a ton of upside, he seems to have made big strides already this season.  Civello is just so physically massive and skilled for his size, he's never going to move quickly (I mean if he could he'd be in D1 for sure) but he makes up for it with everything else he brings to the table.  Kwiecinski is another high-upside guy who pops with his length and athleticism, I could see him making a big leap forward as an upperclassman. 

[D3BBALL]

With Wesleyan's win over Bates today, pretty much assures them of the top seed. They would have to lose both games at home next weekend for Tufts or Trinity to have a shot. Not going to happen.
2nd place could have 3 way tie. Anyone know how it would work if tufts, trinity and Amherst all end up at 8-2?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

With Wesleyan's win over Bates today, pretty much assures them of the top seed. They would have to lose both games at home next weekend for Tufts or Trinity to have a shot. Not going to happen.
2nd place could have 3 way tie. Anyone know how it would work if tufts, trinity and Amherst all end up at 8-2?

Coin flip.

[Stickthe3]

Sam Pohlman with a ridiculous double double today against Bates - 15 assists (!!) and 10 rebounds. Also had 6 points. First time really seeing him play. He was phenomenal passing the ball, very impressive.

[D3BBALL]

Sam Pohlman with a ridiculous double double today against Bates - 15 assists (!!) and 10 rebounds. Also had 6 points. First time really seeing him play. He was phenomenal passing the ball, very impressive.

That is why he should be in the running for POY along with Cuevas and Vetter