MBB: NEWMAC

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The off season has hit August and with it has come news of Division III Fall Championships being canceled for the same reason Winter Championships were derailed and Spring Championships pulled earlier this year: COVID 19 Pandemic.

The decision came on the heals of a vast majority of DIII institutions curtailing fall sports and many pushing winter sports starts on their campuses until January at the earliest.

What does this mean for the 2020-21 season of college basketball? Specifically what does it mean for Division III? Will there be a basketball season? Will it be a six-week-or-so-sprint? Or is there a way to adjust things?

On the Mid-Summer edition of the Hoopsville Podcast, we try and get some answers to those questions. We talk to one coach who actually has put together a proposal to start the season in January, with some changes to make it work including crowning a champion in April. And we talk to an administrator who also serves on the DIII Management Council to better under stand the decisions made to cancel championships and if shift a season like basketball is even possible.

Plus, we honor the best of the best in the last decade of Division III women's basketball. Gordon Mann joins us to discuss how the 2nd D3hoops.com Women's All-Decade came together (and hints of work on the men's list).

Guests include:
- Philip Ponder, Oglethorpe men's coach
- Jason Fein, Bates Athletics Director and DIII Management Council member
- Gordon Mann, D3hoops.com Senior Editor

And of course, there is always the Hoopsville Notebook. A few things we take note of that have made headlines since the beginning of July. We also tip our hat to a few of those who have always helped the show be it's best.

You can listen to the podcast here: https://bit.ly/3kGZ962

Hoopsville broadcasts from the WBCA/NABC Studio. All guests are featured on the BlueFrame Technology Hoopsville Hotline. The offseason plan is to do a podcast each month. The shows will be audio-only leading up to the start of the 2020-21 when we will restart the video shows.

If you have questions, ideas, or want to interact with the show, feel free to send them to hoopsville@d3sports.com or use any of the social media options available.

If you enjoy the show via the podcasts, choose your favorite avenue to listen and/or subscribe via the the following four avenues (click on the images when necessary):
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We also have the podcast now on Tune-In and others coming. We will update them once we have better abilities to do so.

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[Floppah]

NEWMAC cancels winter sports. https://www.newmacsports.com/general/2020-21/releases/20201019gv93q8

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

With the new Massachusetts restrictions today, there's no way for anyone to even practice, really.  The other Mass conferences will have to follow, unless they're going to gamble these are going to be brief restrictions.

[BaboNation]

Not surprising, but disappointing nevertheless. 

I feel especially bad for all the seniors.  It remains to be seen how many will return for another year of eligibility.
Each year within the NEWMAC was building to the point where WPI would have 7 seniors on the roster.  Now it won't happen.  They'll be hurt the most, although their underclassmen and strong recruiting class will likely keep them in the top 3 of the league anyway.

[WPI89]

Sad on so many levels. WPI loaded with seniors. I only hope some pursue advanced degrees in Worcester. May have been the strongest WPI team yet.

[BaboNation]

Great to see a top New England '21 recruit commit to Babson.  They really needed size to match up with the bigs from WPI and Emerson.

Parker Mason 6'8" (#42 in New England).

[Floppah]

Babson will be playing this winter.
https://www.babsonathletics.com/general/2020-21/releases/20210119evw9ov

[BaboNation]

Thanks for posting, Floppah.

As much as I miss basketball, I wonder if all NEWMAC teams are on board with this.  I have mixed feelings.  Guys that held onto another year of eligibility might be better off (maybe still will) returning in the fall, rather than playing an abbreviated schedule with no postseason tournament.

I guess the positive view would be that the roster will now have more clarity for us fans. 

[ronk]

Thanks for posting, Floppah.

As much as I miss basketball, I wonder if all NEWMAC teams are on board with this.  I have mixed feelings.  Guys that held onto another year of eligibility might be better off (maybe still will) returning in the fall, rather than playing an abbreviated schedule with no postseason tournament.

I guess the positive view would be that the roster will now have more clarity for us fans.

I think it was stated that playing this season will NOT affect one's eligibility.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Playing this season will not effect anyone's eligibility. There is a full waiver no matter how many games are played by any team in any sport.

FYI by my research only three NEWMAC schools plan to play games at least in the near future. However, at least one could delay it to March at any moment.

[BaboNation]

Thanks Ron and Dave for the info.  I guess I've misread prior reports on eligibility.

Babson only has 4 games listed on their schedule so far, but then again, the site does not fully reflect coaching and roster changes.  Maybe they just haven't gotten around to the updates, or maybe they're hoping to fill in dates with other programs that may restart.

The only NEWMAC teams listed as TBA on the Babson schedule are Springfield and Coast Guard.

[BaboNation]

Babson has updated its website for coaching and roster changes.  It had already been reported that Assistant Andrew Habermehl had left.  Thanks coach.
If the roster is accurate and everyone is healthy I'll predict a starting 5 of Jaworski-Bradanese-Gao-Ainge-Kirkpatrick.  The 4 FY all look good.  I'm particularly interested to see Jesse Jones who played in a strong program @ Montverde.

[BaboNation]

I'm also looking forward to women's FY Nihanika Noel who I presume is related to Nerlens Noel (both going through Everett MA).

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The Division III basketball season technically started nearly three months ago, but it has taken until the end of January for it to start feeling like the season is really underway. Even so, only about a quarter of the division has played just a single game. Another quarter of the division will never take to the court. And in between is wide gulf of different options.

On the first video-version of Hoopsville this season, Dave McHugh is joined by much of the D3hoops.com crew, Pat Coleman and Ryan Scott, to react to what has been one of the more unique seasons ... to say it lightly.

We react to the challenges schools are facing, what coaches are grappling with on a daily basis - especially beyond games and practices, and why schools are making so many different decisions.

We also discuss what is likely the future of this season's NCAA Championship Tournaments and, more importantly, when the decision on those tournaments will be made.

Plus, will there be a Top 25? No. Well, yes. Kind of. Tune in to learn more on what's coming. Plus a lot more including Dave spinning off Pat's thoughts on those wishing to attend games.

Hoopsville is presented by D3hoops.com and airs from the WBCA/NABC Studio. You can watch the show by clicking on the video player above. Or you can listen to the podcast available on any of the service options in the right panel.

If you have questions about Division III basketball, feel free to send them and we will answer them on a the show. Email them to hoopsville@d3sports.com or use any of the social media options to the right.

You can WATCH the show or listen to the podcast here: https://bit.ly/3oASGKl or https://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2020-21/january

Hoopsville broadcasts from the WBCA/NABC Studio. All guests are featured on the BlueFrame Technology Hoopsville Hotline.

If you have questions, ideas, or want to interact with the show, feel free to send them to hoopsville@d3sports.com or use any of the social media options available.

If you enjoy the show via the podcasts, choose your favorite avenue to listen and/or subscribe via the the following four avenues (click on the images when necessary):
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville


 
   
We also have the podcast now on Tune-In and others coming. We will update them once we have better abilities to do so.

Don't forget you can always interact with us:
Website: www.d3hoopsville.com
Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #Hoopsville
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville
Email: hoopsville@d3sports.com
Hoopsville Season Archive: www.team1sports.com/Hoopsville
YouTube: www.youtube.com/d3hoopsville

[BaboNation]

Well, that didn't last long.  Less than 24 hours before the first scheduled game between Babson & Fisher the Saturday and Sunday games have been moved 2 weeks out.