MBB: NESCAC

formerbant10 · October 11, 2006, 10:50:28 AM

Thunder,

Some of the other posters did their own top 25 poll....pretty interesting to see how the rest of the country votes. Keep checking the boards to see if they're going to do it again...then you get to put the Jumbos wherever you want.

As for other NE teams, Brandeis has a lot of potential. They played a lot of sophomores last year and I've heard from a few different sources that they will be very good this year. I wonder if Gordon can repeat last year's magic, they won't sneak up on anyone this year. Not too sure about anyone else.

nescac1 · October 11, 2006, 11:06:29 AM

Don't sleep on WPI either ... although they kind of fell apart at the end of last season, they've still won a lot of games over the past few years, return most of their key players including Cain, Coleman and some big guys who figure to be improved, and add a D-I transfer at point guard. Keene State also could be pretty good as they had some highly acclaimed frosh big men who should be ready to step up as sophomores. I don't think those teams (including Brandeis) are ready to stack up to the top three in NESCAC but all would likely be middle-of-the-pack NESCAC teams. Salem State is always unpredictable due to tons of transfers in and out of the program but they usually have some good athletes and some size as well. Until season previews are posted, hard to say for sure, but a very rough early pre-season regional ranking might go something like Amherst, Tufts, Bates, WPI, Brandeis, Trinity, Keene, Williams, Colby, Conn. Probably another LEC team up there as well but I am not sure who other than Keene is returning a lot of talent in that league.

Hoopnews · October 11, 2006, 12:04:03 PM

The two best teams in the LEC this year could be UMass Boston and Rhode Island College. Both return a lot of guys and a loaded with talent. Looking at your preliminary rankings I'd put both of them over Conn, no doubt about it.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · October 11, 2006, 01:58:30 PM

Coast Guard.

walzy31 · October 12, 2006, 10:08:55 AM

http://www.nescac.com/Releases/2006-07/Amherst_Basketball_092806.htm

Amherst College Men's Basketball awarded the New England Basketball Hall of Fame's Intercollegiate Program of Excellence Award.

Just noticing that there has not been a post about this yet. Congratulations to Coach Hixon, the players and the program.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · October 12, 2006, 10:31:54 AM

That's a big deal and they are certainly deserving.

formerbant10 · October 12, 2006, 10:57:41 AM

Couldn't agree more about the award. Says a lot about what type of a coach/guy Hixon is.

thunder32 · October 12, 2006, 12:34:19 PM

Yeah congrats Amherst

thunder32 · October 12, 2006, 03:07:47 PM

Formerbant,

Do you know if Rhoten's 30 shots a game are going to be given to one or two, or spread thoughout the team. Im very curious to see how trinity plays next year. Its going to be the start of a different era out there at Trinity.

formerbant10 · October 13, 2006, 10:01:25 AM

First off, the few games Tyler did take 30 shots, he usually went for 40 points.

But I don't think the coaches have assigned anyone to fill his shoes. I would figure that whoever is shooting well during a game will see an increase in shots. But the player who is hot could easily change game to game....so no I don't know the anwser to your question.

thunder32 · October 13, 2006, 11:26:50 AM

Formerbant

I wasn't knocking Tyler trust me I think he is great player. He scored 40 against us his freshman year. He was deserving of all the shots he took. Maybe it wasn't 30 shots a game but more like 21. I just want to know if they plan on using someone else in there as they used Rhoten or if they are going to play a more team orientated game. I'm really not knocking on Trinity I am just curious to see they play this year.

formerbant10 · October 13, 2006, 11:36:29 AM

Thunder, no harm no foul.

I'm just as curious to see how the Bants will play this year.

They have a solid group of guys who can score...but no one has shouldered the responsibility of the go-to-guy like Tyler had the past few seasons. Going by last year's numbers, Kino Clarke and Pat Martin are the likely successors in that category (both are senior guards...so it makes sense) but the Bants could count on a number of guys to hit a big shot towards the end of the game.

It's still way to early to know those things, clutch players aren't always who you expect (Robert Horry) and I doubt we'll really know until Trin is in a close game.

thunder32 · October 13, 2006, 02:08:49 PM

you know who I really like from Trinity is Russ Martin he had good footwork and has the abiltiy to give them a strong post presence

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · October 13, 2006, 02:09:56 PM

Russ Martin is a strong player. I think Trinity has several guys with a lot of ability and potential who could really come into their own this year with more responsibility.

CCsalive · October 21, 2006, 07:58:23 PM

Connecticut College improved greatly last year. Ask any coach in the league if he enjoys playing Conn, particularly with the Princeton offense clicking. No one likes to guard it.

FormerBant, you should know that upperclassmen get recruited off the team when programs are rebuilding. Like in the past two years, CC's freshmen will be among the tops in the league (Stone and Young two years ago, Karis last season). Also, the Princeton offense minimizes the need for size...as a team, CC shot over 40% from behind the arc last year...Stone is a fantastic inside presence.

Jeff Young is on leave, he will return.