MBB: NESCAC

[mrmike88]

Walzy,

As far as I know, it's New York City Tech, a team that finished in the bottom half of the CUNYAC last year.

What do you have on the over-under for what point in the game we'll see the freshmen?  Last year they made it in right after halftime, if I remember correctly.

I love that Tufts team.  They played so hard in the three games I saw of their's last year (2 vs. AMH and one vs. Trin).

[nescac hoops]

Walzy,
i also respect your knowledge of nescac basketball and as a williams fan even "enjoy" your constant "low blows" to williams and can admit that over the last two seasons amherst has had williams' number...to say the least. I have to ask though, do you think amherst has what it takes to be successful down in salem? over the past years they have had great teams that have domminated in the NE region (and recently williams) but they always seem to falter down in salem.

lastly, do you think amherst can become like the williams men's soccer team...winning year after year, dominating the nescac....

[formerbant10]

While RIC did beat Iona, Iona graduated their 3 best players from last year.  Including the 2 guys who absolutely carried them at the end of the year.  I can't remember both names, but Steve Burtt was the one with the mowhawk in the NCAA's.  This will definitely be a rebuilding year for the Gaels. 

Western Ct actually beat Iona's football team this year.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Even if it was a less than mediocre D1 team, beating them still puts RIC above where I had them ranked in my mind.  You have to play well to beat that team and I certainly didn't think this RIC team had it in them, especially in the pre-season.

[thunder32]

eclinchy,

I am very impressed with your knowledge of Tufts.  I enjoyed reading the articles about this years team and let me tell you something about Weitzen, when he gets onto the block and establishes post position you need a forklift to move him.  Most of his weight come from his massive legs which are incredibly strong.  I have actually seen him dunk with decent regularity.  Now it takes some really strong legs to get him that high off the ground.  And weighing in at 265 means he lost 5 lbs from last year.  I'm actually going to be at the tip off tournament this year too I'm excited to see them play.  But it definitely will be a little weird for me.

[mrmike88]

Amherst has had problems in the last few seasons facing big bruisers in the low post.  In last year's Wittenberg game, their twin towers dominated the scoring.  Two years ago, Hauben and Onriyuka from Rochester were too much to handle.  In each case, Amherst successfully slowed down or stopped the opponent's guard play.  However, both Witt and Rochester ran out a front line that was considerably larger and stronger than anything Amherst had seen all season.

I don't think we'll know how the Jeffs can handle defending the low post until we see how the big-man rotation shakes out.  Caznocha was the main interior defender, so it'll be interesting to see who steps into that role this year.

Also, does anyone know who else is playing in the Amherst invite?  NYC Tech is the first game, but who are the other two teams?

[thunder32]

I didnt think that Casanocha was a great intirior defender, actually I dont even think that he covered me in our games I think it was the junior O'shea and the sophmore Goldsmith that guarded me most of the game.  So I wonder if their interior defence will actally be improved from last year.

[eclinchy]

let me tell you something about Weitzen, when he gets onto the block and establishes post position you need a forklift to move him.

Believe me, you don't have to tell me.  I watched this team last year, and I know how strong he can be.

I remember the NESCAC tourney last year... he was ridiculous in that final weekend. He posted up against Rhoten just fine, going for 21 and 10 against Trinity, and then shot the lights out and dropped 25 on Amherst.  Now that he gets more minutes, his numbers are only gonna get better.  Jake for POY. 

...

On a completely random side note, Bryan Wholey's little sister made the women's basketball team at Tufts this year.  She's a freshman.  Just in case anyone's in the mood for a little random bit of NESCAC trivia.

[walzy31]

mrmike88,

Thomas College and Poly Tech University are the two other schools in the Ken Wright this weekend.

EClinchy,

Losing a star player can have funny effects on teams. I think a team like Trinity will come together and work more as a team now without Tyler. I'm not downing Rhoten...kid was money for 22 and 10, but Trin has a lot of talent and experience and will compete with Amherst and Tufts. 

nescachoops,

OUCH! My career ended TWO days ago bro. Damn.
Hah, my low blows to Williams are always good natured. I really disliked Chuck Abba though.

[eclinchy]

Walzy, seeing as how you guys shattered our hopes and dreams of an upset in the first round of NESCACs two weeks ago, I have no sympathy.

I actually had to edit this heartbreaker of a story...

http://www.tuftsdaily.com/media/storage/paper856/news/2006/10/30/Sports/Mens-Soccer.Amherst.Thwarts.Tufts.Upset.Bid.With.PenaltyKick.Victory-2408717.shtml?norewrite200611142027&sourcedomain=www.tuftsdaily.com

Who's that Mike Wohl character scoring the Jeffs' second goal?

[nescac hoops]

Walzy lives vicariously through his men's basketball team - just kidding man, you're a great Nescac analyst...but your bitter comments towards williams are taken with a light heart.

In seriousness walzy, do you think amherst has what it takes to wn down in salem. in my opinion they are the best in the NE region this year again but can't pull it together down in salem. thoughts?

[walzy31]

True statement about the vicarious living thing.

Regarding Salem: Of course I think our team has what it takes to win down there. Three years ago we lost by 5 to Williams. Last year it was by 4 to Wittenberg. Both of these games were battles. Amherst SHOULD have won the Wittenberg game (up 4 with the ball and 3 minutes left.), but should haves aren't good enough.  To win a national championship you need to be good and you need to have some luck. If Amherst didnt have some luck last year it would have been Dan Martin down in Salem getting dunked on by Dan Russ.

Respect for Jared Ashe the soccer player. No respect for the Wes Tech hoops team.

[nescac1]

Rose is out for the fall for the Ephs:

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/sports/ci_4668707

Tough break.  If they can survive that stretch of the season without Rose without too many losses, could be a blessing in disguise as other guys will have to establish themselves as scorers and the Ephs will have to rely less on outside shots.  Perhaps he'll be healed by the late December west coast road trip.  Hopefully starting a 6'7 and 6'8 guy along with size off the bench will help with rebounding and interior defense, the biggest problems last year.  But with Newton gone and Rose hurt, the question is who will be a go-to scorer.  Guys like Snyder and Nelson will have to look to shoot more, and the Ephs will definitely need to pound it down low against smaller teams. 

I heard also that Goldsmith may be out for the year for Amherst.  Amherst has so many veteran forwards that someone like Baskauskas or Hopkins can probably slide right in to that spot, but that is definitely still a tough break. 

[thunder32]

 walzy31,

ouch you think that I would let myself get dunked on haha.  He was a tough player we played them the first game of the season last year.  I think I held him to six points.  But you are right it does take some luck as we saw in the Tufts amherst games. 

That is a really tough break for Williams it could turn out to be a long season for them.

[dman]

a complete season preview of the ephs is available under "breaking news" on the sports info website.....