MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

I don't think Amherst's schedule has been particularly weak -- at Brandeis and at Babson are about as tough of non-NESCAC games as you will find (outside of WPI) in New England, and they also play Eastern Conn and RIC, who are traditionally solid teams, although apparently not world-beaters this year.  They've played some patsies, but so has everyone in New England. 

Amherst no doubt was very rusty coming off the long layoff, I'm sure they will bounce back and be prepared and motivated for Williams at home.  Before the start of the year, I would not have given Williams any chance at all in that game -- Amherst is about as good as I anticipated it seems, but Williams is clearly much better than I expected thanks to the big contributions from the frosh class, albeit still far from playing to their potential. 

At the 1 through 4, the talent level on Williams vs. Amherst seems pretty much even, although Amherst has a huge experience advantage across the board and how the Williams frosh will deal with their first Amherst game is anyone's guess.   Where Amherst has a MASSIVE edge in both talent and production to date is the center position.  The Eph centers will really have to step up to try to keep that match-up close. For the Ephs, it's also key for Aronowitz and Scadlock to stay out of foul trouble and play major minutes.  Those guys will be tasked with containing the top two Amherst scorers (I would expect), and I don't see anyone else who is a good match-up for either Racy or Green on the Ephs; Heskett has the length and athleticism but is still learning.  Amherst will no doubt put McCarthy on Aronowitz, which should be very fun to watch, but likely eliminates the prospect of Aronowitz carrying the team on his back single-handedly in this one.  Scadlock should be able to do some damage vs. whomever is guarding him if he is on his game and, again, avoids some of the piddling fouls that have plagued him at times. 

[Bucket]

The EPHS generally play anyone, anywhere, anytime ....

Except for Southern Vermont, apparently. After losing to their next-door neighbor the past two seasons, the Ephs seemed to have dropped the Mountaineers from this year's schedule. Couldn't have been too far to travel...

[AmherstStudent05]

Of course... you didn't mention who Williams played in their losses. LOL

Wesleyan (10-1), Oneonta State (6-3), and Catholic (8-4). Not too shabby a schedule compared to Amherst.

Partially observant as ever, Dave.  Obviously, my post was in response to jumpshot's rather odd contention that all of Amherst's wins to date have been "scrimmages."

Of course, your own own post didn't mention that Amherst still has Wesleyan and Eastern Conn on its non-conference schedule. (Or that Williams still has to have its "scrimmage" against Johnson St.) LOL

Naturally, nescac1's analysis is far more insightful.  Amherst's schedule is quite similar to the schedule it has adopted throughout the last decade or more.  We start off with a few games that are designed to be easy and then we play a nice mix of teams from the Northeast.  Typically, we end up playing about as many ranked NE teams as anyone.  We will see what happens with the rankings this year.  Of course, RIC is way down this year and Babson's record -- in a huge credit to the NESCAC -- is not as strong as many of us anticipated.  But, as nescac1 alluded to, other than WPI, ex ante, it is difficult to see what traditional NE power was missing from our schedule. 

I have to say that in my 15 years following Amherst hoops I have frequently seen some rather poor results from Amherst during its "New Year's" run.  Maybe rust explains a good deal of it.  However, we had just played a game the day before (against the authentic Rust).  Again, I wasn't able to catch even a moment of today's game, so I don't know how much lingering rust could have been a factor.  Obviously, I would love to think it was.  But also, some times you just get beat.  My inclination is to assume that is what happened today.  Let's hope it doesn't happen again for a while. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I know Amherst has Wesleyan and E. Conn ahead... though that E. Conn team is hard to read - not sure if they are as good as they should be.

Amherst always have what I consider a ramp-up schedule. It starts really easy and works its way into tougher and tougher competition including Brandeis and Babson. However, after wins like that Rhoades shouldn't have been a loss. I agree with the NY rust; saw it last year at Goucher. The problem is, I just don't think teams can afford to drop games that can't be explained like Rhoades. It is getting tougher and tougher to get into the NCAA tournament. While Amherst isn't necessarily in danger, I do wish Hixon and his staff would make their schedule a little more challenging and the team would be set to win the games they should be winning. I think last year Amherst, which was down, saw what happens tournament wise when you drop unexpected games.

Basically... just wish I saw a better schedule form the Lord Jeffs - but it certainly isn't anywhere close to a bad schedule.

[toad22]

The EPHS generally play anyone, anywhere, anytime ....

Except for Southern Vermont, apparently. After losing to their next-door neighbor the past two seasons, the Ephs seemed to have dropped the Mountaineers from this year's schedule. Couldn't have been too far to travel...

It is certain that Williams won't play SVC in the first game of the year any time soon!

[amh63]

Interesting discussion wrt to Amherst's scheduling.  I could be flip about it all, but I think it is not so easy for Coach Hixon to schedule " tough" schools.  RIC was a tough opponent and is presently down with a new coach, etc.  Several seasons ago, I met the HC of WPI at the Stevenson Tourny.  He actually lives closer to Amherst than WPI.  I asked a WPI alum if he knew why WPI doesn't schedule Amherst.  They have met several times in the post-season in the last decade...both Amherst wins, I believe...and at WPI too.  I had posted earlier that Springfield seemed to be avoiding Amherst.  Usually, Coach Hixon likes to play local schools in the Amherst- Springfield area early in the season when schedules are more flexible, especially in the opening Amherst Tourny.  Lately, Springfield has not appeared.  Amherst was "late", IMO, filling its Tourny slots. Amherst also schedules a number of "inner" Boston schools that I have to look up.  Maybe it helps regional recruiting and pleases Amherst fans.  One such school, Emerson beat Amherst recently, a school with a big name Coach....Bill Curley  Amherst played the school again this year and won. Same former D1 coach that is picking up local talent and building a future tough out program.  Why does Hixon schedule a Stevenson or a Mt. Vernon in NVa or even a Goucher.  Hixon played a Brooklyn base college in a facility that was basically an inner city HS gym when George was a freshman...then took the team to see a game in the new NBA arena nearby.  One year, Hixon had his team practice in the Nets practice facility in NJ?....because he could arrange it.
I put all the January away games as "educational" ones. Hixon and his staff learns about their team and his players learn.  The goal ahead is to win enough conference games to host the CAC tourney.  Then to win the Title and get the automatic post- season bid.  Win enough games may win you a chance to host several NCAA sectionals.
The problem is that the CAC is getting tougher and injuries can occur any time. One time strong teams are weaker and former weak teams get stronger and people may even start to question the schedule.
Heck, my local NFL team won its conference and even won the right to host a playoff game today.  Things are looking up in D.C.  Today the Redskins beat the Cowboys.  Next weekend, maybe Amherst will beat Williams in the game that counts . Hope so!

[AmherstStudent05]

I know Amherst has Wesleyan and E. Conn ahead... though that E. Conn team is hard to read - not sure if they are as good as they should be.

Amherst always have what I consider a ramp-up schedule. It starts really easy and works its way into tougher and tougher competition including Brandeis and Babson. However, after wins like that Rhoades shouldn't have been a loss. I agree with the NY rust; saw it last year at Goucher. The problem is, I just don't think teams can afford to drop games that can't be explained like Rhoades. It is getting tougher and tougher to get into the NCAA tournament. While Amherst isn't necessarily in danger, I do wish Hixon and his staff would make their schedule a little more challenging and the team would be set to win the games they should be winning. I think last year Amherst, which was down, saw what happens tournament wise when you drop unexpected games.

Basically... just wish I saw a better schedule form the Lord Jeffs - but it certainly isn't anywhere close to a bad schedule.

I certainly agree that the loss to Rhodes, at least when viewed in isolation, is a bad loss. No argument there -- not even when accounting for any possible rust or new year's hangover.  Frankly, however, I can't get myself too worked up about any particular result or two prior to the start of conference play.

I also agree with you that Amherst does not have the world's toughest schedule. We clearly aren't trying to fill our schedule with tough opponents, and, candidly, I wouldn't want us to. In light of how Pool C bids are awarded, you do need to ensure that you have a fair amount of wins under your belt.

However, I do think Amherst does deserve a little more credit for its scheduling in recent years.  Maybe it is just my personal opinion, but I think one of the most important parts of a D III schedule is playing top competition in your own region.  While I haven't run the numbers, I have to think that over the past 5 years Amherst has as many or more wins against regionally ranked opponents in the northeast than anyone else.  We certainly have to be up there.  Year in and year out we seem to finish the season having played a good cross section of the top teams in our region.  I think Coach Hixon does deserve a lot of credit for that.  Anyway, we will see what this year brings but I don't think anyone could fairly say that Amherst generally dodges the top northeastern teams. 

[pinseeking1]

Another win for Bates tonight as they took the crown in the Naismith Tournament in Springfield, MA. The Bobcats beat a solid Husson team that got into the finals by beating Springfield College on the previous night with a halfcourt buzzer beater as the game ended.

Marcus Delpeche led the team with 17 rebounds and sophomore point guard Shawn Strickland won the Tournament MVP with a balance of floor leadership and scoring. He's improving with each game. Boornazian and Britten combined for 8 for 13 shooting from 3 point range.

An interesting note is how the Springfield College team has warm up shirts that say "Birthplace" on the back where a name would normally go (as in "Birthplace of basketball"). Pretty cool...

Poor Springfield played two good games over the weekend and lost to Husson on the halfcourt shot yesterday and then lost to Brandeis on a 15 foot buzzer beater today. Tough way to get two losses...

[nescac1]

Random note from Amherst-Rhodes: one of Rhodes' top players in that game, Danny Galvin is, I believe, the older brother of Eph point guard Chris Galvin (or perhaps related in some other way, but one of three Galvins to play hoops at the same high school -- the third is currently a HS senior).

Bates, Bowdoin and Colby all seem to be rolling right now.  The CBB games this weekend will be fun and surely hotly contested. 

[booyakasha]

After winning 8 scrimmages against teams with a combined record of 45 wins and 53 losses (46%) while scoring 100 points 3 times and more than 86 points 5 times, the moose loses to Rhodes who was 6 and 5 before today. The practice of weak non-conference scheduling has been standard for many years. Sometimes it helps, other years may be questionable.

By contrast, this year Midd has gone 5 and 6 so far with 10 of 11 opponents outside of Vermont, following past discussion here of relatively weak early/in-state scheduling. This strategy may benefit this year's Panthers as we head toward NESCAC play.

The EPHS generally play anyone, anywhere, anytime ....

FWIW - Combined record of Midd opponents is 49-56 (46.67%). Remove the two Johnson St games and it is different, but using the opp win percentage as a gauge of strength of schedule can be misleading.

[booyakasha]

Does anyone know if Tufts does webcasts? I'd like to watch this weekend but cannot attend in person, and the Nescac schedule website doesn't list anything.

[P'bearfan]

Does anyone know if Tufts does webcasts? I'd like to watch this weekend but cannot attend in person, and the Nescac schedule website doesn't list anything.

Good question.  In the fall this year they webcasted (is that a word?) the football games so I'm hoping that they will do the same for MBB.

[booyakasha]

I thought Tufts used to webcast the games in the past because I recall a poster on here used to be the announcer, but that was 8-9 years ago.

[amh63]

FYI, I have seen a Tufts MBB webcast this season.  Tufts normally has their own arrangement on such matters...like Wesleyan...and not using NSN.  The problem I had with the webcast was not keeping a running score on the screen.  the announcer did relate the scoring and the gym has a fine overhead scoreboard.....but the camera does not swing up often enough.  Anyway, it is free .  Boy, I am getting spoiled.  Tufts' football coverage has replay!  I also remember when Williams was the last CAC school to charge for viewing.  Never did watch many games out of Willytown then.  Of course, I remember when conference schools charged to attend games too. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Interesting discussion wrt to Amherst's scheduling.  I could be flip about it all, but I think it is not so easy for Coach Hixon to schedule " tough" schools.  RIC was a tough opponent and is presently down with a new coach, etc.  Several seasons ago, I met the HC of WPI at the Stevenson Tourny.  He actually lives closer to Amherst than WPI.  I asked a WPI alum if he knew why WPI doesn't schedule Amherst.  They have met several times in the post-season in the last decade...both Amherst wins, I believe...and at WPI too.  I had posted earlier that Springfield seemed to be avoiding Amherst.  Usually, Coach Hixon likes to play local schools in the Amherst- Springfield area early in the season when schedules are more flexible, especially in the opening Amherst Tourny.  Lately, Springfield has not appeared.  Amherst was "late", IMO, filling its Tourny slots. Amherst also schedules a number of "inner" Boston schools that I have to look up.  Maybe it helps regional recruiting and pleases Amherst fans.  One such school, Emerson beat Amherst recently, a school with a big name Coach....Bill Curley  Amherst played the school again this year and won. Same former D1 coach that is picking up local talent and building a future tough out program.  Why does Hixon schedule a Stevenson or a Mt. Vernon in NVa or even a Goucher.  Hixon played a Brooklyn base college in a facility that was basically an inner city HS gym when George was a freshman...then took the team to see a game in the new NBA arena nearby.  One year, Hixon had his team practice in the Nets practice facility in NJ?....because he could arrange it.

The year Emerson beat Amherst they were being coached by Jim O'Brien and Bill Curley was the associate head coach (Bill played under Jim at Boston College). Bill took over the reigns last season and has lost his two match-ups with Amherst since - not that it's a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I just don't know how much was Jim and his coaching ability and Bill and his.

Per the Stevenson and other games... I can't speak for some of those programs, but I know the Goucher game meant something to Dave Hixon - or at least he told me it did. First, I think it is important to NESCAC teams to be seen in the Baltimore/DC area for recruiting reasons and to get to those areas for players on the team. Furthermore, I think Hixon knew Leonard Trevino (Goucher's former coach) a bit, though Trevino wasn't known to have a lot of friends in the coaching ranks, along with the fact he was classmates with the Goucher AD, Geoff Miller. So thus, I felt Hixon wanted to get that game in last year for many reasons. Stevenson, until this year, has been a good choice to play because they have been a "should be in the NCAA tournament" team for many years. Can't speak to the other two.

I also agree with you that Amherst does not have the world's toughest schedule. We clearly aren't trying to fill our schedule with tough opponents, and, candidly, I wouldn't want us to. In light of how Pool C bids are awarded, you do need to ensure that you have a fair amount of wins under your belt.

I am not one to say that wins is the item you should focus on over SOS. It is a delicate balancing act between the two and I think a combination of a lower than usual SOS and some added losses last season gave Amherst a less than nice opening to the NCAA Tournament. Yes, it was also a "down" year by Lord Jeff's terms, but a few better teams and a couple more wins with that schedule could have made a big difference.

I am one that says you don't want to stock-pile your schedule with easy wins and a weak SOS (i.e. Albertus Magnus, Southern Vermont, etc.) nor do you want to have the best SOS in the country and not win any games. I just don't believe you should lean towards an easier SOS just to get more wins. Play a more challenging SOS so you can get your program ready and at speed for the NCAA tournament (or in position for an at-large bid) while also garnering wins in that schedule to prove you are actually that good.

However, I do think Amherst does deserve a little more credit for its scheduling in recent years.  Maybe it is just my personal opinion, but I think one of the most important parts of a D III schedule is playing top competition in your own region.  While I haven't run the numbers, I have to think that over the past 5 years Amherst has as many or more wins against regionally ranked opponents in the northeast than anyone else.  We certainly have to be up there.  Year in and year out we seem to finish the season having played a good cross section of the top teams in our region.  I think Coach Hixon does deserve a lot of credit for that.  Anyway, we will see what this year brings but I don't think anyone could fairly say that Amherst generally dodges the top northeastern teams. 

Well, the data is a little bit scewed. When there are 13 some odd teams regionally ranked in the Northeast based on the number of teams in the region to begin with... playing teams that end up being regionally ranked isn't as hard as it looks. The fact the NESCAC is usually good for four teams ranked, at least, plus you sprinkle in other conference leaders, the chances of playing a lot of regionally ranked teams is pretty easy. Take that same scheduling mentality to another region - almost any other region - and you wouldn't have the same number of regionally ranked opponents.