MBB: NESCAC

[D3BBALL]

Bates hanging in against Tufts. Down 6 at half. Pouye needs to come alive in 2nd half, pretty much a non factor in first half.

[deiscanton]

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

NEHoops-- As of February 15, 2026, your prediction of Brandeis playing themselves out of the at-large conversation seems very spot on right now.  Not only because of your tough stretch predicted, but also because Brandeis got grinded up alive by the last 4 consecutive UAA road games that they just played.  Brandeis needed to go at least 2-2 or 3-1 in the last 4 UAA games just concluded to remain realistically in the playoff conversation-- however, Brandeis has just lost the last 2 Sunday road games at CWRU and at Rochester-- one of which based on previous seasons the Judges should have won.  Brandeis was favored at both CWRU and at Rochester, but got upset in both games.  CWRU and Rochester had no realistic shot of making the tournament and were only playing the role of spoilers to cut down the number of at-large bids that the UAA was going to get.

With Friday's road loss at Emory, Brandeis went 1-3 in the UAA in the past 2 weeks, and is now on their longest losing streak of the season at 3 games lost in a row.  Given the UAA, it wouldn't be too surprising if Brandeis lost out the remainder of the season like they did last year when the Judges also lost the last 3 games of the regular season as well.  If that situation repeats itself, Brandeis would end the season on a 6 game losing streak. 

As of this evening's projections, D3Datacast has the UAA only getting 3.33 at-large bids, with Brandeis only getting an at-large bid in 345 of the 1,000 end of season computer simulations.  Brandeis, according to D3Datacast is now at NPI rank position #40 with an unofficial NPI value of 60.631-- among the first 4 out teams right now.

http://d3datacast.com/conference-ratings/UAA

The same D3Datacast run also has NESCAC getting 3.96 at-large bids.  Trinity (CT), Tufts, Wesleyan, and Amherst are safely in, with Bates getting an at-large bid in 865 of the 1,000 computer simulations in which Bates lost in next week's NESCAC quarterfinals.  Should Bates win next Saturday, Bates gets an at-large bid in all computer simulations right now.  Bates is currently at NPI rank #32 with an NPI value of 62.134, according to D3Datacast, which would get it the 16th at-large pick if selections were made today:

http://d3datacast.com/conference-ratings/nescac

See also, for current D3Datacast DIII men's basketball unofficial tournament projections--

http://d3datacast.com/NPI/mbb-projections

[CWM_42]

I have a question for the Bates crowd. The announcer said during yesterday's Tufts-Bates game that the Bobcats will be playing at Underhill Arena next season. What is the reasoning behind this? Thank you.

[D3BBALL]

I have a question for the Bates crowd. The announcer said during yesterday's Tufts-Bates game that the Bobcats will be playing at Underhill Arena next season. What is the reasoning behind this? Thank you.

I believe they are doing renovations.

[lumbercat]

Bates will be beginning construction on a new athletic/fitness facility which be connected to Alumni Gym. It was decided that the character of Alumni Gym should be preserved but renovated. Bates will play in Underhill Hockey Arena next year which will be converted for Basketball while the renovation project for Alumni Gym commences. 

[CWM_42]

Thank you.

[lumbercat]

New Bates President VERY supportive of Athletics.

[nescac1]

Glad to hear Bates is preserving alumni gym.  I imagine they find a way to increase fan capacity, but I also hope they maintain as much as possible one of the coolest environments in D3 hoops.

Nescac indoor athletics facilities are definitely undergoing a major collective upgrade over the past few years and on into the next ten. 

[D3BALL13]

Watched Tufts vs Bates in person yesterday. Bates played them very well, but had some crucial mistakes to close out the game. I am not sure what the play calls were down the stretch but that could have very well costed them an at large bid depending on how next week goes. Babacar is talented but seems out of rhythm at times, especially against teams that can match his size. Tufts is very good and love to play through Gyimesi and Bernstein in the post. I do feel like they lack that go to scorer which could hurt them ion the NESCAC and NCAA tourney, but who knows, with that size and athleticism they can match up against anyone.

[D3BBALL]

Watched Tufts vs Bates in person yesterday. Bates played them very well, but had some crucial mistakes to close out the game. I am not sure what the play calls were down the stretch but that could have very well costed them an at large bid depending on how next week goes. Babacar is talented but seems out of rhythm at times, especially against teams that can match his size. Tufts is very good and love to play through Gyimesi and Bernstein in the post. I do feel like they lack that go to scorer which could hurt them ion the NESCAC and NCAA tourney, but who knows, with that size and athleticism they can match up against anyone.

Yes it was a fun game to watch. As the announcers for the game said, when Tufts was able to get Bates to play half court offense, they had a hard time against the tufts defense. When they ran or got the ball up the court quickly Bates seemed to have the advantage. Question a number of coaching decisions by Bates. O'Leary was their best player on both ends in the second half, yet never really touched the ball the last 5 minutes. Pouye should not be getting the ball 20+ feet from the hoop, he was much better when he started on the block or foul line. Bates fought back from either 14 or 11 point deficit in the 2nd half to take a 3 point lead with less than 5 minutes to go. They then had 2 opportunities to increase the lead, missed both, then a foul on a make, game tied, they never recovered. Use a time out. Bates coach needs to play his best players the last 5 minutes. Did design a nice play for Coyne off inbounds play, that would have been for the lead with a minute to go.

Might be just like last year, no quarter final upsets.
Bates at Amherst and they have never won their, 0-18 changes. Yikes.
Wesleyan going to be looking for payback against Conn.
Tufts too physical for Colby. Civello will need to have a 20+ point game along with 12+ rebounds.
Trinity just blew out Bowdoin. Bowdoin will probably have to play their best game, even that might not be enough. A bowdoin player was ejected from the game, either for fighting or flagrant foul, with all their injuries not going to help if he is suspended for the next game. He gives them some size off the bench. Does anyone know the rules??

[NEhoops]

deiscanton - I hope I didn't speak it into existence. The UAA (like the NESCAC) is such a difficult league. Every game is valuable, and a win or two would definitely move them up the board.

Contrary to the simulations, I still feel like the season will be over for the loser of the Amherst/Bates game. I hope for the sake of the league that I'm wrong and they both get in.

If they lose to Amherst on Saturday, Bates will have lost 4 of their final 5 games.