MBB: NESCAC

[madzillagd]

Finally.  I saw a Bates recruit tweeting about Midnight Madness tonight but not sure if any other schools are doing an event.

[amh63]

Midnight madness in the "CAC"!.....one has to be kidding.....then again it is Bates and it is Maine.  Bates has the best food venues on campus in the NE schools....one does have to adjust to Maine winters and adopt.

[madzillagd]

I would think Midnight Madness would be an event that all 'CAC administrators would want to have because it would be a way of corralling all the drunk Halloween revelers into an alcohol-free place on campus at the end (okay, middle) of the night.  Would also be a way of making sure your team stays out of trouble and is ready for the first day of practice. 

[madzillagd]

Wesleyan has landed a new recruit.  Just saw today that Harry Rafferty has chosen to attend Wes next year after he completes his pg year at PE. 

I haven't seen any stories yet on it but here's some older stuff on Harry. 
http://www.nhnotebook.com/2012/04/rafferty-to-do-pg-year-at-phillips.html
http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/recruits/player/1706/Harry-Rafferty.php

...and while this wasn't another Duncan Robinson story it was Duncan that broke the news on twitter   Six Degrees of DR

[NEhoops]

If any team could pull off an exciting midnight madness it would be Bates. As a fan that has visited all of the NESCAC basketball venues (yes, even Hamilton), its clear to see that the Bobcats have the best home court advantage and some of the most passionate fans in all of Division III, Old Guy can definitely speak to this. There is no varsity hockey at the school and it seems as though Bates has given their home crowd a lot to cheer about when they are at home during NESCAC play.

[Old Guy]

Bates kids love their hoops, in the Fenway Park of D3 college basketball, a shrine. The Bobcats open NESCAC play this year with Midd and Williams at home for the first time in three years - and they'll be ready, and so will their fans. The Panthers and Ephs will not go in there overconfident.

Midd opens a couple of weeks from tonight against Ursinus in the Lebanon Valley Tourney. College of Staten Island is in the tournament - they were 26-5 last year (overall) and lost to MIT in the 3rd round of the NCAAs: should be a good early test for the Panthers, if they both advance as expected.

Williams begins with their tip-off tournament, featuring the Ephs vs Southern VT (2-22 last year), Daniel Webster (9-16) vs New England College (7-19). I think I'll put my money on the Ephs.

[P'bearfan]

The Bates gym is definitely "old school".  I can only imagine what the noise is like in there on a Friday night.  And the fans are right on top of the players.  Talk about home court advantage!

[madzillagd]

Bad news for the Midd crowd - saw a tweet tonight that Dylan Sinnickson broke his forearm in practice. Maybe the Midd blog guys can get some info on the extent of the injury. Hopefully it will only be some short weeks before he can get back on the court

Hope you get healthy soon Dylan..

[lumbercat]

Bates has had Midnight Madness for a number of years. Believe it may have started with Joe Reilly while he was at Bates. They have a great time with it and the student body typically enjoys it as much as the players with a strong turnout of vocal fans.

[nescac1]

Tough break (literally and figuratively) for Middlebury.  Sinnickson is one of my picks (if healthy) for a break-out NESCAC player, he looked really talented last year, good combo of size, skill, shooting, and athleticism.  In addition to Sinnickson, my other picks for potential break-out players (meaning, guys who could be impact players this year and potentially all-NESCAC guys down the line despite contributing relatively little last year) include Joe Mussachia and Ray Barry at Amherst, Daniel Wohl at Williams, Hunter Merryman and Dean Brierly at Midd (particularly if Sinnickson is out for a long stretch), Graham Safford at Bates, Julian Harris at Wesleyan, and John Swords at Bowdoin. 

More recruiting news for Wesleyan, considering that both Wes guards are senior 3-4 year starters, there will certainly be a lot of opportunities for these recruits to earn playing time next year:

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/2844/Wesleyan-Solidifies-Backcourt-with-Local-Duo.php

[Panthernation]

Re: Sinnickson- Word from players and coaches is that he will be out at least two months, best case scenario is that he is back in time for the start of NESCAC play.

[Old Guy]

News travels fast. Dylan Sinnickson indeed broke his arm in practice yesterday - compound fracture, surgery today, out for a  while. Tough break indeed: he works very hard, wants to be a great player. He's fun to watch, feeling pretty down today, I'm sure.

[Bucket]

Have heard the same as everyone else re: Sinnickson. The break was in his forearm and not wrist, so should not impact his shooting...still, unfortunate.

The kid works so hard--many mornings I've been walking through the athletic facility before 8:00 and there he is in Pepin, by himself, doing dribbling drills. My guess is that he's going to develop a killer left-handed handle and shot--ambidextrous!

[madzillagd]

Maximiliano Eaton has chosen Hamilton College pending admission.  Eaton is currently doing a year at PE. 

[nescac1]

Maximilano?  He's got the name, so if he has the game, he's a lock for all-crazy!