WBB: NEWMAC

[MVP]

Quote from remsleep.. " I would not be surprised if Babson did not win the NEWMAC tournament."
Quote from remsleep " Law of averages indicates they are due for a stinker shortly"

You're right, the law of averages says they're due to lose.

But you're wrong, Babson will win NEWMAC  for all of the reasons I posted and for all of the reasons that you did not post.   

[Maine 1]

Lets see  how Babson does this Tuesday against a strong team. Unfortunately, I don't think the NEWMAC conference has teams that can test Babson--If Babson can handle a strong Colby team, then the enthusiasm about Babson going deep in the NCAAs may be warranted.

[bballfan13]

The 18th ranked Babson team will win the NEWMAC tournament. They have not lost a NEWMAC conference game since February 2009, that's over 60 consecutive wins in the conference .
They will also advance to the Elite Eight for the 3rd straight year. If they face Amherst, in the 4th round for the 3rd straight time, they have a great shot at defeating them and moving on because of a much stronger all-around  backcourt this year. The 2012 Babson backcourt plays strong defense and they now have 3 shooters that can consistently hit from the perimeter. In the past, with not much of a shooting back court, opposition was able to collapse on the big three -frontcourt.  That will not be the case this year. Defenders are going to have to go out to the perimeter and cover the shooting guards, this has and will allow the big three to dominate inside.

I'm not very familiar with the Babson team this year but those are some bold predictions.  I don't necessarily disagree with Babson winning their conference tournament as they seem to be a heavy favorite but I don't agree with the deep NCAA tournament run prediction.  Don't get me wrong, it could happen, but I think you may be a little over confident about it.

Babson did beat Tufts early in the year, but then laid a dud against Williams.  How do you explain your prediction of having a great shot to beat Amherst when Amherst blew out Williams twice this year? 

[MVP]

It's a mistake to compare how one team did against one another, Amherst/Williams and Babson /Williams
All I'm saying is that Babson has a stronger team than the last two consecutive visits to the elite 8 to face Amherst.
Should Babson meet Amherst in the elite 8 this season, they have a great shot at upsetting them. Babson's backcourt is much deeper. Babson has a deep threat out on the perimeter. They did not have that threat the last two years.

[bballfan13]

I'll agree with you that it can be a mistake to compare how one team did against another but it is the only data we have to compare right now.  Common opponents is a criteria the NCAA uses in selection so it is worth bringing up.

[amh63]

MVP is a proud and avid supporter of Babson's team and its "dominant" front court of three record breaking players that are 6' or taller. Her beating the drum for the team and its front court is getting a little tiring and somewhat losing the concept of "team".  Even Babson's coach was more reserve in her interview on D3hoopsville about her team...avoiding the lose to Williams and pointing out the win against Tufts...chances in the post season against possible NESCAC teams or other NE teams.
I will give credit to MVP here that she now seems to recognize that 3 players to not and can not win games against GOOD teams.  MVP did point out improvement of other members of the team....guards that can shoot.  Oh well, to be more specific about Babson's way ahead...since it may have to go through Amherst again in the sectionals, I will point out some facts.
Two years ago, Babson met Amherst in the sectional and loss 80-65.  In that game the "front court" threesome totaled 15 rebounds and 49 points....good game for them.  Babson out rebounded Amherst 36-34.  The Amherst players that played two years ago that are on the present team had 16 rebounds and 58 points.
Last year, Babson again met Amherst in the sectionals at Amherst.  The score was 68-49, Amherst.  This win was due in part to the return of an All-American. D3 player of the year, Amherst player to the front court...one that is 5'10".  The Amherst team out rebounded Babson 41-28!  The two senior front court players (both under 6') had 16 boards and 30 points.  Babson's big front court had 12 rebounds and 35 points total.  The other Amherst senior that played in that game added 2 points and 1 rebound.  All the other players that played two years ago and played last year,  are present Amherst players.  Amherst defense has improved and all the perimeter players return and are starters.  Even better, Amherst now has two starters at 6' and its top rebounder is Meg Robertson who will win the ROY in the conference.  Meg is NOT a starter, is a "player" and is at least 6'2" and has played much bigger.  To add to that, Amherst has another player off the bench that can guard outside and rebound in Bridget Crowley that stands 6'1".  All Amherst players can run the floor well and play DEFENSE.....otherwise you do not get playing time. 
Having said all that....I think Babson's coach does not want any Babson fan to post such BOLD predictions.  Amherst's coach does read this board.

[sumfun]

If it happens, again it will be a hard faught game.  I agree with amh63 about the speed of Amherst's front court, but the point is that Amherst has SO many outside weapons, not just one.  PLUS they have Kim Fiorentino defending the outside scoring threat.  Ask Alex Chili of Muhlenberg and Chessie Scweers from Christopher Newport how that worked out for them. 

Another factor will be that women's teams that have men's programs that might be hosting will be on the road the first weekend of NCAA.  Women's teams will have first dibs to host the second weekend, so all roads out of the northeast could go again through Amherst.

[MVP]

A strong win for Babson over Colby. It was never really in doubt. Babson held Colby to 34% shooting.
Congratulations to Nicole Wurdeman on becoming Babson's all time WBB leading scorer.  Babson's outside threat was the difference.. with the backcourt posting 17 points .

[Maine 1]

I think I might have been at a different Babson-Colby game last night.  First, congratulations to Wurdemann on setting the all-time scoring record at Babson.
Game was a very tightly played game-close throughout the first half , with 11 lead changes.  Babson was able to open up a little room at end of first half and beginning of second half (opening up a lead of 12)--However, Colby was able to close it to 2, and it was a one-possession game at the end--so not sure of the conclusion of the game never being in doubt.
I thought the difference was Babson's inside play, particularly Wurdemann and King, outplayed the Colby post player.  Wurdemann was able to find her spot on the post . Colby shot purely, missing many open looks. 
In the end, a good win for Babson against a quality opponent. Babson is still weak in the backcourt.  Number 4 was a nice outside shooter, but only made 2 shots.  They need a bit more than that to keep teams from packing it in against them.

[Roundball999]

Not sure about Babson outside threat; 2-10 from 3 pt and only 53% from FT line. Will need to do better in tournament

[MVP]

The 2012 Babson team is a much more well balanced unit.  Team defense and transition has always been strong, 11 blocks last night against a bigger Colby team, but more importantly they're consistently receiving solid productive minutes and points from the back-court and the bench. This is critical heading down the stretch. 

[MVP]

A couple great quarterfinal games last night in WBB NEWMAC w/ WPI upsetting Clark and Wellesley beating Springfield. WPI is hot.
It sets up some competitive semi-final match-ups on Saturday.

[MVP]

Babson will face Smith in the 2012 NEWMAC championship. This is a rematch of last year' conference championship game.

[MVP]

Congratulations to Babson for winning the 2012 NEWMAC conference championship!!! They truly are a special group of women players.
They beat a tough Smith team to win the tournament.
Congratulations also to senior captain Nicki Wurdeman for surpassing the 2,000 point mark!!

[bsc73]

Enjoyed reading your projections. Just curious as to why you had Emmanuel hosting instead of Babson or Southern Maine or even Bowdoin/Colby?