Did not realize that new Detroit Lions OC Drew Petzing is a Middlebury guy. He was OC for the Arizona Cardinals for the past 3 years, now moving to the Lions. Never knew of his Middlebury ties.

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on January 23, 2026, 08:26:22 AM

Quote from: toad22 on January 22, 2026, 09:00:06 PM

Quote from: D3BBALL on January 22, 2026, 08:55:52 PMIf you are the odd team in the league, there is 1 weekend you don't have a conference game. This weekend the teams that travel together play each other, so the odd team doesn't play.

Thank the Presidents for letting Hamilton back in the league.

Just to stir up some good conversations: if the NESCAC were to add one more to get back to even, which school would you like to see it be?

BABSON

Thanks Fellas- I'm more of a NESCAC football guy but love the posts and passion from the BB followers on this board.
In recent years Middlebury has had some great teams and their followers became very active on this board. Recently, the Panthers have been limping a bit, I was hoping the Midd faithful were not front runners....so it was reassuring to see Bucket emerge recently and hope that our esteemed Bates friend Old Guy is well.

Quote from: D3BBALL on January 22, 2026, 05:48:16 PM

Quote from: Stickthe3 on January 22, 2026, 04:58:15 PM

Quote from: SpringSt7 on January 22, 2026, 03:22:36 PMWeird to just be sitting here on January 22nd and Bates is a basically a lock to make the NCAA tournament. Just not something we're used to it. Also Colby really let the rope slip last weekend with the second loss to them. Does anyone have any updates on Montiel?

I don't have any intel and I could be wrong, but it looked like he was wearing a boot on his right foot while on the bench at the Bates game on Sunday.  It was hard to tell from the stream, so take that for what you will. Maybe someone could confirm or correct me on this.

Injuries going to start hurting more teams. Bates couple of nice wins without Pouye, does anyone know when he will be back? O'Leary playing like a all conference player the last few games. Colby on the road and then U Maine Farmington on the road both without Pouye. Another tough one against St joes Maine on the road. Does St Joes have their injured players back?

Don't know anything about St Joes but I have noticed O'Leary's steady progression. He was a very good HS player on a championship team at Franklin, Ma. He got some good minutes as a FY. Even with my trammeled basketball vision I could see the kid can play. He was a prized recruit for the Garnet and he has progressed nicely.

He's been consistent this year getting better in each game but the breakout game came against Colby. Hoping he has turned the corner and will be a fine all around player for Bates. To me, he's a Havlicek type player but seems we don't see that kind of player so much anymore.

Regarding Pouye, the injury was unfortunate but it couldn't have occurred at a better time. The injury was 1/16 during the win against Bowdoin. Bates has a conference "bye"??  this weekend with no NESCAC games so their next conference game is 1/30 at home against Williams. He's got 2 weeks to recover, hopefully he's ready to go on 1/30.

I know Bates has the odd schedule draw this year but maybe someone can refresh my memory as to why they don't have a conference game for 2 weeks. No complaints, it just seems strange but I know they will take it.




 

Pouye rolled an ankle in the second half against Bowdoin. He finished the game but noticeably limping after the game. It didn't look real bad but as we know the real test is how it is when you get up the next morning. Hopefully it's minor, Bates will have a tough road ahead if he's going to be out for an extended time.

N1
Couldn't agree more on your assessment of the situation at Colby relative to the Strahorn firing and the intentions of the new AD.
Since the move I've wondered what the thoughts of legendary Coach Dick Whitmore might be.....I know he's aging but he has been relevant on the periphery of that program for many years.

I saw the Richardson catch also. As good a catch as you will ever see in college football. And it was nice to hear the play by play guy recognize Tufts despite a little sarcasm.

Sergio Beltran was wooed by a few programs but will be staying at Bates as a WR.

Quote from: BrownBagBowdoin on December 18, 2025, 03:29:52 PMI'll say this: Bowdoin's Angus Leary is the best pure pass rusher in NESCAC history

Not even close, yet....... he's a fine player who's got 2 more years. Let's hold off the GOAT stuff until he finishes his career. He's going to be doubled and gamed for the rest of his career, lets how he handles that before we put him in the Hall of Fame. 
The kid who is going to benefit from all this publicity on Leary could be his classmate Abe Herzog- if Herzog can continue to develop he will make it difficult to double Leary which make for a formidable D line.

If Beltran comes back it may be as an all conference WR, his former role. He was thrust into the QB position after Seneca Moore decided to transfer to USC.
If Hennessy continues to mature in Spring and Pre Season that might be the scenario.

All of the options mentioned are in play but I don't believe Sergio has made a final decision yet.

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

Pierotti entered the portal last year. He then left the portal and announced that he was staying at Bates. He was then injured in the offseason in a non football accident and did not play a down for Bates this year. He is now on rehab and intends to return to Bates next year as a Sophomore.

McClellan is an all conference player but not OPOY. Ryan Lynskey had a better RB year last year before injury this year and he got very little attention for OPOY.
The OPOY should be Fitzsimmons who carried the NESCAC champs all year long. He made their RBs and receivers better. Never saw other skill position guys get so much better as the season advanced than they did at Wes this year. Fitsimmons was the glue, the offensive leader that made that team so good.

Charlie-

On the coaching front Mills is the best coach in the conference hands down in my opinion.
However Dice at Wes did a pretty darn good job this year and capped it off with a monumental win against Trinity in a huge game.

You point out that Devanney has come up short in "big" games but you're not going to win all of those games with the whole conference gunning for you. Still a lot of rings on Bantam fingers.

Conversely, Dice has a pattern of surprising losses in "small" games. Losses to Bowdoin and Bates in recent years.

Interesting contrast between 2 fine coaches.

I think we will see more of this pattern of parity in the conference for the foreseeable future though I believe a bitter loss like this for Trinity will probably bring something in the way of  remedial measures.  They may look to elevate their arsenal even further. This would be bad news for programs in the conference striving to reach that Championship level.