WBB: NEWMAC

[Maine 1]

Agree that is an outstanding achievement--those honors don't get the recognition that they should.  After all, these are students,

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Week 3 Regional Rankings are out: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2011/02/16/ncaa-2011-regional-rankings-week-3/

[atn alum]

We're broadcasting the sectional this weekend ...both games on Friday, and the game on Saturday at 6 ET

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/amherst-regional

[MVP]

Amherst  is up by three at the half..looks like its going to go down to the buzzer

[MVP]

Amherst beats C Newport to advance to 2011-championship game tomorrow night.

Last week Babson could not meet the depth of this Amherst team. Babson had an amazing season, particularly the bigs. All three return again next year...with collins only in her junior year next year.  2012 may be their year to go all the way .

[MVP]

Congratulations to Amherst, D3 Women National Champions

[MVP]

Congrats to the "big three" earning NEWBA & ECAC yearly awards.
Wurdeman, Collins & King are without doubt the top front court in D3. They are all returning for the 2011-2012 season. They will be returning to the NCAA's next year and have a great shot at making it to the "Final Four" after three consecutive years of making it to the Elite Eight and beat by national Champion, Amherst each year. Babson's Collins, a junior next year had a fractured finger cloth cast on her hand and still recorded a double /double winning the game in OT against Bowdoin with two freethrows with her left hand.
Wurdeman and King will be seniors and will not be denied.   

[sumfun]

Before making Final Four predictions, might I suggest that Babson plays a much tougher out-of-conference schedule like top NESCAC teams, Kean, Muhlenberg, NYU to get more experience that one annual game against Amherst.  Amherst will also bring back plenty of experience.  Will be "sumfun" to watch!

[MVP]

It was Amherst's year in 2011 and they earned it. Babson's year is 2012.
I believe Babson will finish as a higher seed than Amherst in 2012 and may finally get to host  1st, 2nd round match-ups. 

[Pat Coleman]

I think that Babson will need to play some NESCAC schools to get that higher regional ranking. Babson seems to play NESCAC schools in just about everything else. Why not women's basketball?

[MVP]

I agree, strength of schedule appears to why Babson does not get ranked higher. However, Babson did beat Emmanual, Colby, and Gettysburg in the 2010 NCAA tourney before losing to Amherst.
This year, Babson  beat  Western Connecticut, Brandeis, and  Suny Oneonta in non-conference play and then Medaille, Suny Geneseo, and  Bowdoin all on the road in NCAA tourney.
They were also without Collins last six games. She returned against Bowdoin, but played basically with one hand, in fact she helped win the game in OT w/ two key freethrows shooting them one handed lefty. With Collins healthy, and the two other bigs returning , Wurdeman and King they are sure to go far.

[Pat Coleman]

I agree they're going to be good, but in order to get the home games in the tournament they will need to establish that they can beat NESCAC teams. Beating one a year in the tournament won't stack up next year, since the NCAA's rankings are based only on the current regular season.

[MVP]

hey, you may be right. But that's why I am confident that Babson will or should be a higher seed in 2011. They have the "big three returning" for a third season and picked up a solid 6th man and a couple #1 and #2 guards that are quick, play "D" and can shoot . This will be their best year, enough to advance to the final four. They have the talent and now the experience. In the last three years they have beat Colby(#2East,NESCAC) last year at Colby, >then  Gettysburg (#4 Atlantic) at Amherst last year. This year they were undefeated and  beat Oneonta(#6 East) in Vegas, > beat Medaille(3# East) and Suny Geneseo(#1 East ) in Geneseo> then beat Bowdoin(#2East NESCAC) in Amherst  before losing to Amherst w/ out Collins. Will be fun!!
Tell me about the 2012 NESCAC teams, what you see.

[MVP]

sorry, meant.....Babson will be a higher seed in "2012"

[Maine 1]

I agree with Pat, that Babson needs to play a strong out of conference schedule next year.  However, I also agree that their tourney record the past two years is excellent, and losing to Amherst at Amherst is nothing to be ashamed of.

As far as the NESCAC goes, I think that Amherst will be the favorite again.  They lose two excellent seniors, but they have a player that could be league MVP in McCormick, another in Steadman, and Voight is outstanding. Williams should be strong again, and I expect Bates and Bowdoin to be strong.  Colby has four starters back, but has no depth, and had no recruiting class last year.  Middlebury also finished strong