MBB: NESCAC

formerbant10 · September 05, 2006, 03:51:57 PM

MaineMan,

Trinity will have plenty left after Rhoten's departure. Check some earlier posts to get some of the info on the Bants.

Thunder,

I've only seen Stone play once, and he didn't have his best game. I thought he was overrated as a freshman and I'm waiting for him to live up to the potential some of the posters here are building him up as. And I don't see Kelly getting POY this year and I don't see Wes making the top 4 either.

I don't see much change in the top 4 from last year, maybe a little shifting within the group but nothing drastic.

Ballaholic,

At least Cohen is making most of the free throws when he gets to the line. Can't be mad at the kid for that.

ephoops · September 10, 2006, 10:32:45 AM

Any early reports from campus preseason pick up games???

How do the freshmen at Williams/Amherst look??

nescac1 · September 12, 2006, 04:13:28 PM

Can't answer ephoops question but I have another -- is Ashe playing for Wesleyan this year? Some speculation he might focus on soccer. If he is playing and is healthy, they could be the sleeper team in the league -- he and Kelly form arguably the best point guard / true center combo in the league, Pelletier will be much better as a third option than the first option he was forced to be much of last year, and I hear they have a solid frosh point guard coming in -- Kaminer from NJ -- who got some higher-level looks. Those four plus they have a good shooter for some balance returning gives them a shot of rising in the rankings. They'd have a better shot except most of the teams right above them -- Conn and Colby in particular -- should also be improved. In fact, I'd say those three teams are likely the most improved in the conference unless someone else has a ridiculous transfer or frosh coming in. If Ashe does not return look for the frosh to potentially start right away and be a strong ROY candidate.

formerbant10 · September 14, 2006, 12:38:15 PM

We aren't going to overhype Wes Tech again are we??

The truth is, they haven't won a NESCAC playoff game in quite some years now and that was when they had 2 All NESCAC players (who just happened to be 2 of the top scorers in the league as well). Wes does not have that this year.

And I'm curious as to what the other posters believe a "sleeper team" is? Does that mean they'll win more games than expected, or they'll make it to the NCAA tourney? I'm confused.

thunder32 · September 15, 2006, 10:45:53 AM

Formerbant,

When I talk about sleeper teams Im talking about about teams that may make the top four and get a home playoff game or teams that may beat a top four team in the Nescac playoffs.

formerbant10 · September 18, 2006, 11:07:08 AM

Thunder,

Do you really think Wes or Conn will finish ahead of Amherst, Tufts, Bates or Trin?

They might win more games than previous years, but I still don't think they are quite ready to be in the top 4 of the conference. Rather, I don't think the top 4 teams are ready to let anyone else ahead of them.

thunder32 · September 18, 2006, 05:43:26 PM

I doubt that Wes or Conn will finish above any of the top teams in the league but I bet the same conversation was going on two years ago when Tufts went from 7th to 2nd in the league. Right now anything we can come up with is just speculation. I think that with Trinity loosing Routen who was their go to guy for all four years maybe someone will squeek through but still we wont know anything until league play starts up. Im also looking at Conn or Wes as teams that will give top four teams a run for their money.

formerbant10 · September 18, 2006, 09:14:43 PM

Thunder,

Not only did that conversation go on 2 years ago about Tufts finishing at the bottom, but it was happening last year as well with the departure of Stovell. No outside of Medford believed in them last year. But after seeing the Jumbos firsthand, it was pretty easy to see why they made it as far as they did. Very deep team with few ego problems (at least to the outside eye). The 2 games I saw them play were absolute thrillers against Trinity and Amherst and all 3 teams would've have more than held their own in the NCAA's (Tufts and Amherst represented rather nicely I must say).

Obviously the talk about Trinity is Tyler graduating. Clearly they are going to miss having guy who routinely puts in 20 points and 8 boards, who wouldn't. But there is a lot of scoring capability returning. The Bants will have a very different look this upcoming year and much like Tufts of 2 years ago may surprise some people.

I'd also watch out for Colby. Mike Westbrooks is back this year and along with everyone's favorite Drew "Treyball" Cohen and Farrell running the point, I think they may shock a few teams as well. Trinity and Amherst should be playing up in Maine so, as Ballaholic pointed out, expect Cohen to take about 30 ft's that weekend.

But it is still September and a lot can happen in 6 weeks before practice starts and its a long 3 months till the season opens up.

YoungSnukes · September 19, 2006, 12:59:26 AM

I dont think Cohen is anybody's favorite, yadada?

formerbant10 · September 20, 2006, 11:00:55 AM

Agree to disagee

Baller10 · September 21, 2006, 07:11:46 PM

Has anybody heard about whether any nescac '02 players are playing abroad in Europe? Rhoten? Bedford?

formerbant10 · September 22, 2006, 08:49:50 AM

Both Rhoten and Bedford are working in NYC.

thunder32 · October 02, 2006, 03:37:21 PM

some one must have some news from somewhere about preseason freshmen and about maybe any transfer players. Or if Trinity even knows what to do with the ball now that Rhoten is no longer there. How will they distribute those 30 shots a game.

formerbant10 · October 02, 2006, 06:32:19 PM

Didn't see any of the Trinity rookies play, but the returning players looked pretty good. Kino Clarke could be ready for another big year. The big guys are very solid...including a few that surprised me....but practice is still a month away and a lot can change.

How are the Jumbos looking?

nescachoopsfan · October 02, 2006, 10:36:54 PM

i saw the bo's playing pickup and one player really stood out. a sophmore transfer from drew university in new jersey named john pierce. he didnt play last year due to knee surgery i believe, but he played at exeter and looked very good in pick up. he is 6'5 shoots the 3 and finishes in the post. also pretty athletic, i saw him throw a few down. it seems like he is exactly what the jumbos needed, a big capable body to replace martin. a definete impact player.
another standout new guy was dan cook. i think there was already a mention about him on this board. the kid can flat out shoot. clearly the best shooter on the tufts team as a frosh. i think he was supposed to go to williams but tufts ended up with him somehow. they have a really nice freshman class, 5 guys deep, but cook is the only one i think that will get time since tufts will have so many returners.

MBB: NESCAC

YoungSnukes