MBB: NESCAC

[24/7/365]

dman,

The CCC actually had a team make it to the Sweet Sixteen back in 1996.  Anna Maria was the first and only team to have ever won a NCAA Tournament game back in 96.  But the Utica/GC game def has the possibility of another CCC team getting in the win column.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Endicott lives and dies by two things: FG% defense and turnovers.  If they can't hold Tufts under 40% or if they commit more than 12 turnovers, they have no chance.  I think Tufts wins this one easily, although the starters may have to play a little longer than they expected.

[Jumbos35]

Endicott's coach was an assistant at Tufts for 2 or 3 years before his current post.  Any way he can "gameplan" his way into a close one?  He obviously will know the personnel and the system. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

This Endicott team is playing much better than I ever would have thought them capable of playing.  I can't imagine there is another level for them to get up to, which is what would have to happen for them to beat Tufts.

[mrmike88]

I know it was a long time ago, but in game #2 of the season Endicott almost upset Amherst.  They play tough defense, but I'm wondering if they may not match up as well against Tufts as they did against Amherst.  With Martin and Weitzen, that is two big men that you have to defend - one of whom is a beast on the boards and a monster in the low post, the other of whom can shoot the mid-range jumper in addition to rebounding well.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I think the EC team that played everybody tough before Christmas is the same team you'll see Friday, however, I think Amherst has improved quite a bit since then and Tufts, having taken them to overtime last week, is also on a higher level.

I do think Endicott has done some amazing things after losing their best player/team leader/point guard from last year and getting a new coach.  They have certainly performed better than expected, but they got a tough matchup in Tufts for the tourney.

[formerbant10]

Jumbos35,

In response to your question about the "gameplan" I have my own question.  He may still know some of the personell, but their offense has changed from last year.  This year's team has good post players (like last year) but their perimeter scoring has improved vastly as most of the guys playing this year are much better than they were last season.

This is the best Tufts team I've seen in the past 6 years without question.  Their offensive sets get their players the ball in the spots they want to be in and feel comfortable to score from. 

It seems like everyone is in agreement that Tufts will dominate the boards.  If Endicott does have trouble down low, I see a big game out of Martin and Weitzen offensively.  It could be a very low scoring game for Endicott if they don't shoot well, Tufts does not give up many 2nd shots.

Don't think that the Tufts players were happy they took Amherst to OT, they were all steaming after the game because they knew they could've beaten the Jeffs.  Tufts should close the door on Endicott rather quickly.

[nescac1]

Yeah, Tufts has had a pretty amazing turn-around.  At the start of the season two years ago, things were looking bleak: they were coming off a rough season, graduated their top player, and two of their star big men had recently transferred out of the program.  They were expected to finish close to last in NESCAC.  But they've been carried by an unexpected maturation of a star inside player each of the last few years (first Stovell, now Martin) and of course landed a superb recruiting class with the current group of sophomores.  They have a solid shot at the sweet 16 this year and should be a strong contender for the next few seasons (although losing Martin will really hurt with no other primary rotation guys over 6'4 on the roster).  Great job by the coaching staff there.  Still, I can't see them topping the Jeffs on the road in the NCAA's given Amherst's huge edge in tourney experience.   

I'm still pretty stunned Trinity didn't make the tourney.  They clearly are a victim of the regional selection criteria, because two of their three best wins are over teams from outside New England.  It's a shame that the NCAA punishes teams who don't stick with in-region competition, and too bad Rhoten didn't get a taste of the playoffs during his final season.  Like Dman said, the folks who complain about NESCAC certainly can't bitch about the results this year, especially when a team like Gordon, who played a very weak schedule with no wins remotely approaching Trinity's road Amherst, Ursinus and SUNY wins in quality, makes it in.

Article on a future Williams player:

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=62206&paper=70&cat=150

I didn't know Botti was coaching -- hopefully this kid has the same intangibles that made Botti a key player for the Ephs.  Oh, and is the Delaware recruit mentioned by folks named Ethan Timmins? 

[formerbant10]

It is too bad that Trinity didn't get in.  I think the only conference getting two Pool C's was the WIAC, which is hard to argue against. 

Trinity not getting in can be seen by two things on their schedule.  The first being the losses to Eastern CT and to Curry.  The players know that losing to both of those teams is unacceptable.  The other was the lack of a 24 game schedule.  Trinity finished 18-6 after playing 2 conference tourney games.  If Trinity had 2 more games scheduled (and Trinity does not have the easiest time scheduling games) which both could've been wins, Trinity's record of 20-6 is much more appealing for the selection committee.

Is Trinity better than some of the teams that got in, yes.  But in the players' minds (some at least), they felt that if they couldn't beat Tufts on a neutral court they didn't necessarily deserve to get in.

That being said, it is a shame that Rhoten's career is done.  He finished with a 99-game double-digit scoring streak.  He had double figures in 100 of his 101 games, he had 9 in his 2nd game as a rookie.  He's had an amazing career, better than most in the country. 

[auerbach]

saw all the games last weekend. sat amherst put bates mercifully away, it could have been worse. tufts trinity was fun. trinity showed alot but folded when it counted. there go to guys weren't there at crunch time. might suit nescsac well that they are home.tufts is  tough mentally and that is hard to measure when weighing matchups . that being said they will need an encore from 31 and i challenge all who believe he can repeat performance should they see amherst again .i think he has trouble with long defenders,the amherst kid from cal. should cover him not wheeler who he had is way with.when the s.f. kid was on him he froze a bit.tufts has a nice team but could use a better bench. i'm guessing # 3 played one of his better games. check that,one of his better halfs. 1st half he seemed hesitant and overly impressed with his herky-jerky aau stuff. 2nd half he showed skill ,passing , shooting , and the leadership of PG. hit a gutsy jumper that won me over. maybe 2nd half was more the way he plays but i doubt it . if it was they'd have fewer  bad losses. martin is very good , plays within himself,protects the ball and keeps the paint honest. #14 is better than he appears , one of the best plays i've seen in awhile, at a critical point , congrats to him. the irish kid from everett was a disappointment,expected more offense,although he does the small things. maybe it was the jersey kid from amherst that took him out of the game. jersey knows the game,he'll mix it up with the big boys under , take you off the dribble , or hit the jumper. tough defender,best player in the tourney . him and amherst depth are difference. they are long and deep with 2 PG's. not many teams can match up with them. the soph class is very strong. one of them had 10 boards in 20some minutes he was tough. the african kid is on another level athletically, he needs to learn defense and relax,if his game was on they would be spot on national champs

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The CCIW got two as well, because North Central won the AQ.

[auerbach]

agreed, it is a shame not to have one of the premier players in the country involved. they went down as a team and had more than one chance to win. he rallied them from down big but they fell asleep when it counted most. he's a good player wish i saw more of him

[walzy31]

auerbach,

Interesting post...

"31" = Weitzen
"amherst kid from cal." = Casnocha
"s.f. kid" = Casnocha
"# 3" = Jeremy Black
"#14" = David Shepherd
"jersey kid from amherst" = Bedford
"jersey" = Bedford
"african kid" = Coulibaly

My first inclinations lead me to believe that you are either not a native speaker of English, or are under 14 years old.

him and amherst depth are difference.

guessing # 3 played one of his better games. check that,one of his better halfs.

I got Amherst winning it all in my bracket...

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Or he could actually be Red Auerbach.

[formerbant10]

Hoops,

Thanks for the correction, can't argue those 3 teams either.  Augie, IWU and NCC have all been great this year.

Walzy,

Classic form as usual.  Maybe Jersey and the S.F. kid will take the rest of the Hole in the Wall Gang to Salem, its possible. 

As for a Tufts/Amherst rematch, I think it would be another very good game.  Not as close, seemed like some of the Amherst players were cramping at the end.  But so was #3 "Jason Preistley" but I think Amherst's experience is much better than their depth.

Hixon played a much tighter rotation in the championship game, one that would mirror (I think) what would happen in any close NCAA game.  But my money is still on them making the Final Four.  Anything can happen if you get there.