Quote from: Homer on November 11, 2023, 03:07:56 AM
Last night at LaFrak was the worst coaching job i have ever seen.

Continue to show up at LeFrak, Homer, and I trust you will see worse.

Where are you, Aaron Toomey?

Quote from: AmherstStudent05 on October 17, 2023, 08:12:36 PM

Quote from: SpringSt7 on October 17, 2023, 06:57:59 PM
Just because we could use some hoops talk - the Amherst strength of schedule (or lack thereof) was a total moot point in the Hixon era given their consistent postseason success. They loaded up on creampuffs but they won the NESCAC every other year, won multiple national championships, and competed deep into March just about every year. He could do whatever he wanted and clearly whatever he was doing worked.

Sears does not get that benefit of the doubt, it should be a new conversation with him. To me, getting some confidence built up with a young and unproven group seems like a good strategy. The cynic in me says it's a coach under pressure trying to inflate his W-L.

I've got to defend my man Coach Hixon here, Spring. Hix put together competitive schedules for Amherst. I think there were a few years there where we may have led the league in wins versus ranked opponents in Region (back when that was a thing). We had rivalries against Brandeis, Rhode Island, Eastern Conn, Babson, Springfield who were usually good teams. Now, did Coach Hixon sprinkle in some "creampuffs" in the schedule? Absolutely he did. Particularly early in the season to make up for the NESCAC's truncated preseason schedule. I think this was very smart strategy by a very smart man. There's no need to play only a murderer's row. But make no mistake, those legendary Amherst teams were all battle tested come NCAA tourney time — both from NESCAC teams and beyond.

And, while we are on the subject, let's not make it out like Williams historically plays a murderer's row either. For instance, take that vaunted, one-loss (to Amherst!) national championship team. Someone can correct me but I believe Amherst was the only ranked team you guys played (whether in conference or not) prior to the NCAA tournament.

Speaking of Coach Sears, NYU must be really happy right about now that he wasn't considered in the final candidate pool in the spring of 2022 before ultimately choosing Dave Klatsky. Bob Quillman (@IWUhoopscom) has NYU is his way too early D3 Preseason Top 10 - https://x.com/IWUhoopscom/status/1713731235434864890?s=20.

Quote from: SpringSt7 on August 20, 2023, 03:21:35 PM
Candidly, I don't know what to make of guys that spend their entire careers in D3. I think Hixon is absolutely HOF worthy as a coach and as a resume---I wish I could make this point without turning this into a Williams/Amherst thing but I can't in this instance---but there is some element to me that I struggle with where so much of Hixon's argument is based on longevity and reaping the rewards of 40 years at a great place like Amherst, a program that he obviously built, but also a place he had on autopilot for so long.

I guess my point is, and I'm sorry that I don't know how to articulate this better---but if Mike Maker doesn't leave Williams for Marist is he getting in the Hall of Fame in 30 years? Or his new boss Johnny Tauer at St. Thomas - if they never left D3 he probably would've won 1000 games. But now he has almost no chance with a D1 resume, despite the fact that he has been forced to improve as a coach to compete against better competition.

Interestingly speculative thought on Maker and what his career at Williams would have looked like if he stayed there. Based on my math, Maker needed another 28 years at Williams to amass the same amount of wins that Hixon had at Amherst over his 42 years there - assuming he averaged the same 24-25 wins per year that he did from 2008-09 through 2013-14. Also assuming he were to win as many National Championships and reach as many Sweet 16s/Elite 8s/Final Fours, I think an easy case could be made for a Hall of Fame induction based on what we now know. Question for SpringSt7: would you or do you think you could use the same type of autopilot argument against Maker in this imaginary scenario - seems like you want to handicap/struggle Hixon's record in some way because he had the program on autopilot for so long?

Quote from: JEFFFAN on August 14, 2023, 01:22:58 PM
Rare that a D3 coach let alone a NESCAC coach is selected to a Hall of Fame ... here is Hixon's speech:

https://www.nba.com/watch/video/david-hixon-hall-of-fame-speech-class-of-2023

Congrats to Coach Hixon on his enshrinement - well deserved! Perhaps the highlight of his weekend came from another induction speech - that of one Gregg Popovich, one of the, if not the best coach in the history of the NBA. Pop claims he idolizes guys like Coach Hixon.

https://twitter.com/1TimMurray/status/1690594030953107456?s=20

Assuming the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame continues down the path of inclusion, one has to think that Glenn Robinson from F&M will be nominated and inducted next from the D3 universe of great coaches. Comments welcomed.

Quote from: lumbercat on January 19, 2023, 08:59:02 PM

Quote from: names jaismith on January 19, 2023, 05:58:27 PM
Having watched the Amherst Williams game in person last night, I cannot fathom how Amherst can be 6-10.  I know rivalry games bring out the best in many teams, but how in the world did Amherst ever lose to the likes of Colby Sawyer and Springfield?

Coaching?

Legit question from lumbercat who may have hit the nail on the head. Amherst now 6-11 after a 78-49 shellacking at the hands of Hamilton on the road yesterday. Absolutely nothing in that box score to like or worth even mentioning.

Quote from: amh63 on January 07, 2023, 11:08:51 AM
I wrote a discourse wrt last night's Williams vs Amherst game....in response to Old Guys' thoughtful post.  However, I seemed to have losted it.
Here goes again...
OLD GUY, enjoyed your post and thoughts.  Will like to hear another post after the Amherst vs Middlebury game later today...at Amherst.
Watched the Amherst vs Williams game at Amherst yesterday.  Surprised to see how young the Amherst players were in the first half and how long they were on floor.  Their energy kept the game close, in my opinion.  Should be an interesting game today when Middlebury arrives in LeFrak.  Saw a lot of my fellow Amherst supporters in the stands....ones that I sat among at Salem, Va., Williams, Trinity, Wes., in days past.  Interesting to see the new Amherst Prez and group of "older" persons enter LeFrak during halftime.  They sat on the Amherst student side.  Maybe, the older persons were members of the Board of Trustees....in town.  Maybe to discuss the Amherst Campaign direction.  Amherst is about to reach its goal for 625 million early in '63.  The new Amherst Prez is in the same class as my older son at Amherst.  All three of my children...wife's too...are Amherst grads.

Despite the Amherst win, Coach Hixon must have rolled over on whatever tee box he was on upon seeing the box score from the game. Amherst went 32% from the field, 20% from 3, had only 3 assists on 20 field goals, and 8 TOs. And only 200 in attendance (not sure if this includes the new President and his older entourage that entered LeFrak at the half).

Quote from: SpringSt7 on December 31, 2022, 04:30:46 PM

Quote from: ThumannsOwn on December 30, 2022, 06:55:39 PM

Quote from: Bucket on December 30, 2022, 06:13:22 PM


Just imagine what Mike Maker could have done had he been hired . . .

Or Aaron Toomey...

I've heard all the same great things about Toomey as a person and I am sure he would have the program in a much better place right now than Sears were, but he didn't exactly ace his tryout in 2019-20 with flying colors. I continue to be perplexed with Hixon's decision to let Toomey prove himself with a preseason top 5 team in which any real ability to earn any credit with the AD would be masked by their lofty expectations. It was a lose-lose, but he didn't do much to show he should've been the coach anyways.

Curious to know if you think Sears "aced his tryout" over the course of his job hopping career, particularly the head coaching part of it prior to Amherst when he went 59-46.

Quote from: JEFFFAN on December 31, 2022, 03:19:29 PM

Neither Maker nor Toomey ever had one iota of a chance.   It was an inside, rigged game the whole time.

Old Guy ... did you mean THIS play?

https://youtu.be/M3xeop5q-Pk

True dat on the rigged coach selection!

Quote from: Bucket on December 30, 2022, 06:13:22 PM

Quote from: JEFFFAN on December 30, 2022, 11:28:24 AM

Quote from: Old Guy on December 30, 2022, 11:22:04 AM
Amherst 4-6. I don't believe it. I'll believe it when I see it in person. I think they're laying in wait. Sears is figuring out who can play and what combinations work. I fear they will be different in NESCAC play, as Sears has taken a different approach to the early season from Hixon, preparing for NESCAC play. Midd plays Amherst a week from tomorrow in LeFrak, a house of horrors. I will not be sucked into taking them lightly.

Midd had a good win last night, though something of a strange game. Game started at 5:00 and I had a dinnertime social obligation that i couldn't get out of so I missed the second half telecast, but followed on live stats — and died 1000 deaths. Midd had a 20 point halftime lead, 49-29, with Osher, Stevens, and Flaks(!) shooting the ball very well. The team shot 65% from the floor. New Paltz cut the lead to two with four and a half minutes to go, 61-59. Midd righted the ship and Sobel made three hoops in a row and Midd finished on a 16-2 run, making the final score 77-61.



Sobel had quite a line, nearly a triple double: 16 points (8-11), 14 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 blocks, one foul, a nice night's work! Stevens had a good game (19 points: 6-11, 2-4, 5-5), Osher had 15 first half points. The Panthers get the hosts, Eastern CT, this afternoon. Next weekend, NESCAC play — Hamilton first up there, then the Mammoths (it'll take a while to get used to calling them that)

I sure hope that you are right, Old Guy, but after watching things since Hixon left I am pretty sure that you are worried about "ghosts" of Amherst past!   The coach has brought in tall marginally athletic players - never great at the NESCAC level - and guards who are mediocre to average shooters.   Again - I hope that I am wrong ...

Sears will be here through his contract, of course, as the Biddyification of the coaching staff works its way through the athletic program ...

Just imagine what Mike Maker could have done had he been hired . . .

Or Aaron Toomey...

Quote from: Homer on December 30, 2022, 02:52:17 PM
It is going to be a long dismal year for the Mammoths. Last year, Marlon recruited a freshman class with potential and lead an inherited team to an 18-8 season last year. The 7-5 Nascac record was a bit disappointing, but the Mammoths did beat Williams before losing to Colby in the tournament. It was difficult to understand Marlon's coaching strategy. It seemed to be everyone plays with everyone. This year, Marlon's strength is clear. He has recruited another strong freshman class. His weakness seems to be x's and o's. It looks as if there is one set play - dribble, pass, and shot. Their height inside is not an advantage when they can't get the ball inside. At times, they rely on three-point shots. At times, it looks like every man for himself. That's not the player's fault, it's the coaching staff. It's a difficult game to watch. If you saw the games against Yeshiva, Springfield College, or the University of California, Santa Cruz (their name, Banana Slugs, and gym are so chill), you'll understand.

15-9/5-5 NESCAC for Amherst last year, but do agree with most of your assertions, Homer.

When was the last time an Amherst team went 4-6 against a schedule with teams that were a combined 50-65? 

Will be interesting to see if Coach Sears is still around in a few years to see his freshman/sophomore classes through Amherst. Still a very tough act to follow in Coach Hixon, who was actually just nominated again as an eligibile candidate for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023 - https://www.nba.com/news/hall-of-fame-announces-eligible-2023-candidates.

Quote from: nescac1 on December 11, 2022, 12:59:32 PM
Amherst is certainly pretty bad right now, but the hope for them lies in the fact that their five starters and top eight scorers (and ten of their top eleven) are underclassmen, and seven of those top eleven guys are 6'6 or taller.  So they are really two years away from having a veteran-heavy squad.  Randle, while he has a long way to go, in particular has a ton of upside ... there just aren't many 7'1 guys who are coordinated and can shoot from 3 hanging around Division 3.  But, the team will continue to have some growing pains this year while all those raw young players gain experience.  Sears seems to have finally gone all in on his youth movement, mixing in very few veteran minutes (maybe heading towards none), which seems like the right way to go. 

Will be interesting to see if Coach Sears is still around in a few years to see his freshman/sophomore classes through Amherst. Still a very tough act to follow in Coach Hixon, who was actually just nominated again as an eligibile candidate for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023 - https://www.nba.com/news/hall-of-fame-announces-eligible-2023-candidates.

Quote from: JEFFFAN on July 11, 2020, 01:56:44 PM

I will see what I can find out - if anything! - about whether Amherst had current players involved in the basketball interview process.   As discussed previously, Amherst lacrosse players requested and were granted the right to interview the four finalists for the head coach position.   Suffice to say ... their opinions were summarily and entirely dismissed.  IMHO ... I do not believe that current players should have any part of a coaching interview process in any sport.  Not enough perspective.   But at Amherst the then-students were the reason that the mascot was changed so maybe they look at things differently.

Looks like Faulstick should have listened to his lacrosse players before hiring Rashad Devoe.

Quote from: nescac1 on July 25, 2020, 03:10:20 PM
Yeah, gotta say, Amherst had a hell of a hiring run for awhile ... Gromacki, Serpone, Jon Thompson all arrived in a several-year span, and all elevated programs from OK / good to perpetual national powers.  Whoever is responsible for that hiring spree (perhaps among others of note?) deserves a ton of credit.  I'm surprised still that Gromacki has never moved up ...

On another note, this info from Woj is the best possible outcome for former Eph Will Hardy.  You do NOT want to coach the Knicks under worst-owner-in-sports Dolan, career suicide.  But this means his name will be in the mix for future jobs, any of which can only be better:

Two young head coaching candidates who made a strong impression on the Knicks in the search process, per sources: Dallas' Jamahl Mosley and San Antonio's Will Hardy.

Sad to report that the real Coach Hixon passed away last week - https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=wilbur-g-hixon&pid=196738519

Lifetime father/son record - 1,295 wins against 439 losses - wow! Totally deserving of their joint induction into the New England basketball HOF.