MBB: NESCAC

[jumpshot]

Wesleyan earns a gritty win over an erratic and individualistic amHerst team that had a brutal day from long range (6 of 30). Coach Joe Reilly improved his team a great deal over the course of the season, and so the players clearly deserve a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Pool C selections around the country will disappoint a lot of folks given the mixed results in many conference championships ....

[amh63]

Congrats to Wesleyan on their first CAC title and can it be true ? Their first NCAA tourny in history...according to the announcer.  Amherst had their chances to tie and win....but the Cardinals was playing a fine defensive game.  Several backdoor passes for dunks were executed to perfection by Wesleyan...and imo were the difference in OT.
Now Amherst must sweat it out to see if they get a bid.

[warriorcat]

NESCAC NCAA Teams

Wesleyan
Trinity
Amherst
Bates

[grabtherim]

Congratultions to Joe Reilly and the Cardinals. The back door play resulting in the late dunk was as nice a play as you will ever see. 
I think the league warrants getting one bid, but if we get a 2nd I would give it to Trinity.  Came within an in and out 3 from forcing OT with the eventual league champs in the semi after easily winning the regular season.

[GoWesYoungMan]

Congrats to the Cardinals for an unbelievable run to the NESCAC championship. This is all uncharted territory for Wes but we're learning as we go. In a year of conference parity ( kudos again to Trinity for separating from the others in the standings), a team that was struggling to tread water learned to win in different ways and was the best team on the court for the past five games to survive and win the championship. As with this whole run, hard to single out individuals but today I'll go with Mackey for the huge threes, Epps for his presence inside and Rafferty for the late free throws. Amherst had an off day.  That was good luck for Wes but as this has happens so consistently some credit goes to Coach Reilly and the Cards.

Speaking of Coach Reilly, when posters discuss all-conference teams, wes players are not part of the discussion. That's ok...not sure we have a top ten player. Just a nice team. For that I think Reilly deserves some consideration for coaching honors--along with Cosgrove (my choice), Gilbride, Furbush and Hixon ( who probably won't get enough credit for rebuilding this year).

Good luck to Bates, Bowdoin, Trinity and Amherst as they await word on NCAA bids...and good luck to Wes. Time represent the NESCAC.

(Before I posted I had a chance to review recent comments...glad to see Reilly and Davis included in the discussion. I'll stick with Cosgrove and several Wes players for honorable mention...fits with the team concept)

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

NESCAC NCAA Teams

Wesleyan
Trinity
Amherst
Bates

I still think Bowdoin has a shot.  They should get to the table at least, before selection is done.  Not sure if they'll get in, but it'll be close.

[NEhoops]

From an at large standpoint it will be Amherst/Bates/Trinity. Everything will have had to stay true to form for Bowdoin to have a shot. They will be the fourth ranked NESCAC team from an at large perspective.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

From an at large standpoint it will be Amherst/Bates/Trinity. Everything will have had to stay true to form for Bowdoin to have a shot. They will be the fourth ranked NESCAC team from an at large perspective.

That's what I'm saying - it may not be a stretch.  They'll be up against Brooklyn, Plattsburgh, John Carroll, Centre - no contest with Bowdoin.  The other challenges will be Elmhurst or North Central, Catholic, and a team from the West with a good winning percentage, but lower SOS.

Even if they take, Elmhurst, NCC, Catholic, and Springfield before Bowdoin, there's still one spot left and Bowdoin has as good a shot as anybody at it.

[P'bearfan]

...when posters discuss all-conference teams, wes players are not part of the discussion. That's ok...not sure we have a top ten player. Just a nice team.

Yes you certainly do.  And this is why I stay out of All Conference and POY discussions. 

The players whose names have been mentioned are certainly very talented but the entire point is to put 5 guys on the floor who play the best together - not the 5 "best" players.  That was certainly Wesleyan down the stretch and through the conference tournament.  Best of luck as you enter the NCAA tournament.

[P'bearfan]

From an at large standpoint it will be Amherst/Bates/Trinity. Everything will have had to stay true to form for Bowdoin to have a shot. They will be the fourth ranked NESCAC team from an at large perspective.




That's what I'm saying - it may not be a stretch.  They'll be up against Brooklyn, Plattsburgh, John Carroll, Centre - no contest with Bowdoin.  The other challenges will be Elmhurst or North Central, Catholic, and a team from the West with a good winning percentage, but lower SOS.

Even if they take, Elmhurst, NCC, Catholic, and Springfield before Bowdoin, there's still one spot left and Bowdoin has as good a shot as anybody at it.

Hope you're right!

[GoWesYoungMan]

I mentioned that Amherst did not have their best game. Lost in the discussion of the LJs erratic shooting was a stellar performance by Erik Conklin, who seems to be adjusting to NESCAC play following a slow start. Jayde Dawson also had a good weekend for the Jeffs. Wes has been the victim of good Connor Green in the past so it was nice to go up against his not so efficient alter ego.

Impressive showing by the Wes students. Amherst looked to have more fans but Wes was louder...glad to see the support from the students rewarded with a victory. Frankly the Wes  fans looked a little confused about what to do after the game. Maybe it was the intimidating NESCAC security...or maybe it was because we haven't been there before. Would love to be more experienced in these matters.

[NothingButNESCAC]

Impressive showing by the Wes students. Amherst looked to have more fans but Wes was louder...glad to see the support from the students rewarded with a victory. Frankly the Wes  fans looked a little confused about what to do after the game. Maybe it was the intimidating NESCAC security...or maybe it was because we haven't been there before. Would love to be more experienced in these matters.

Was watching on the webcast and it was hard to see into the stands that well. Were there a lot of Amherst fans? Students also? You could the Wesleyan students making noise and that was it. At the game yesterday I think there might have literally been zero Amherst students at the game which is pretty disappointing.

[jumpshot]

As to NESCAC pool C bids---perhaps only Trinity deserves a bid due to conference record. Frankly, others have weak schedules, no signature wins, and some bad losses.
Reputations and politics will play a role in what is not an entirely clinical process. Somewhat dependent on perception of others outside Northeast....

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

As to NESCAC pool C bids---perhaps only Trinity deserves a bid due to conference record. Frankly, others have weak schedules, no signature wins, and some bad losses.
Reputations and politics will play a role in what is not an entirely clinical process. Somewhat dependent on perception of others outside Northeast....

This is completely wrong.  It's done based on numbers almost entirely.  Amherst and Bates will get it first, based on Strength of Schedule.  I think Trinity's also pretty much a lock.  Bowdoin will be the big question mark.

[Bucket]

As to NESCAC pool C bids---perhaps only Trinity deserves a bid due to conference record. Frankly, others have weak schedules, no signature wins, and some bad losses.
Reputations and politics will play a role in what is not an entirely clinical process. Somewhat dependent on perception of others outside Northeast....

This is completely wrong.  It's done based on numbers almost entirely.  Amherst and Bates will get it first, based on Strength of Schedule.  I think Trinity's also pretty much a lock.  Bowdoin will be the big question mark.

Agreed. Based on selection  criteria, I see Bates (with one of the highest SOSs in the country, a high winning percentage, and signature win over Babson) being the first off the board in the region, closely followed by Amherst. Then Trinity. I believe we will discover that these three teams were among the top Pool Cs selected. Bowdoin squarely on the bubble, but if it comes down to a Bowdoin-Plattsburgh choice or a Bowdoin-Centre choice, then the Polar Bears may be on the right side. We'll see.