MBB: NESCAC

[jumpshot]

For observers (former players already understand) --

Duncan Robinson scores 13 points, grabs 11 rebounds, has 4 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal in Michigan's win tonight over a Tulsa team that had beaten SMU who had defeated Michigan in the regular season. DR is a good basketball player who has earned his success---and an even better person.

Agree with Toad---much prefer to be a net supplier of talent from D3 to D1, rather than a hampster accommodating D1 transfers to build a marquee sport.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Since Amherst acknowledges little inside game, I suspect you may get pummeled by Lucas Johnson.  We in the CCIW have had some fun at Johnson's expense over the years (Benedictine is his third or fourth school, and he has boasted of his NBA future despite never getting any scholarship attention)

That was really more his dad's thing than Luke's, Chuck. (Johnson's dad had a severe case of Little-League-Dad Fever during his kid's sojourn at Carthage.) And, let's be fair, it was several years and three transfers ago.

Also, he did get scholarship attention. He was on scholarship after leaving Benedictine, albeit at a D2 school (St. Leo). As was noted in the Around the Region column to which Gordon linked, he gave back the scholarship and returned to BU when he learned that not all of his credits were transferring to St. Leo, and that he'd thus have to attend St. Leo for an extra semester after his eligibility ended (i.e., he'd have to pay for it). Anyway, iwumich is right: Johnson's a legit scholarship-level player, and he's learned how to be both an unselfish teammate and a strong inside presence (he was allergic to paint when he was a freshman at Carthage).

NESCAC fans (who don't tend to get out much, according to middhoops ) might be interested to know that one CCIW board regular got so worked up over Luke Johnson and his dad, and brought them up so often -- even after Johnson had left the CCIW and moved on to Benedictine -- that we now refer to Johnson on the CCIW board as He Who Shall Remain Nameless. In fact, I remember reading that Around the Region column and thinking to myself, "Boy, I hope that nobody mentions this column on CCIW Chat. I'd hate to get into a whole 'nother round of Luke Johnson bashing, especially because the column's claim about his reason for transferring to Benedictine differs radically from the CCIW Chat scuttlebutt about it."

Greg, I confess I did mis-remember the details - I thought Luke was touting his NBA credentials, but your're right, it was his dad.  And in NBA terms, I don't consider NAIA or D2 scholarships to be 'scholarship-attention'.  Bur considering what his addition has done for Benedictine, who knows - he just night get an NBA try-out somewhere!

It would be appropriate, since perennial NBA all-star Jack Sikma has become "He Who Shall Not Be Named"!

[magicman]

As usual, Mr. Sager comes through with the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Plus k for the Lucas Johnson story, Greg.

I remember when Lucas was getting pummeled on the CCIW board a few years ago and I remember all the jokes about his NBA ambitions. I'm happy that it finally seems to have worked out for him. Maybe the Bennies won't win the National Championship but making the Final Four has to very satisfying for a guy who has had so many detours in his college hoops career. Good for him.

[TheHerst2and4]

Okay, okay - let me clarify.  The coach's comment was offered clearly as the utmost compliment about Robinson.   Nothing more, nothing less. Pure admiration for the very high quality player that Robinson was then and now we know ... is now.

I wouldn't sweat it JEFFFAN, I'm not sure how you could take your comments as anything but a compliment to Duncan and Williams' staff for being able to recruit such a player to their program. Williams and Duncan are fully deserving of that praise. Personally I brag about Duncan being a Williams transfer and making such an impact to my friends from division 1 schools. In my opinion it just makes the entire NESCAC look more legit.

Whenever a team gets a top level recruit we claim he's a "steal from division 1", and I'm sure if you had the time to scroll back Williams fans were claiming the same of Duncan. Not sure the logic of your comments is that different.

Now on to this weekend,

I apologize for not remembering who mentioned this first but I agree my biggest concern with this Amherst team is their intensity from the tip. They're talented as all hell, but sometimes seem to just go through the motions. This may be some armchair quaterbacking, but to me quite often it feels like one guy working to get his shot off and if he can't he passes it to the next guy to do the same. There are flashes of that needed intensity; you could feel it out of Green in the Tufts game. Perhaps it's their youth shining through, but I would love to see it sustained for a full game, endline to endline, on offense and even more so on defense. From all accounts Benedictine is going to be a handful, but I love the underdog role. Looking forward to watching this Amherst team grow this weekend and hopefully surprise some people.

[amh63]

TheHerst2and4......nice post!  Very perspective and lawyer-like . My regards to your dad when you next see him. 
My memorably is failing me again....cannot remember which number, 2 or 4 was The Hert's jersey number on the hardwood floor.  FYI, the subject poster was a captain on both the basketball and football teams.  Just have to look it up.
In my readings, I read somewhere that the Basketballs used by Major Div1 teams can vary by manufacturers....brand names of course with the possibility of surface coatings differences.  This situation comes about as a result in part of the commercial companies getting into the lucrative market of College BB.  Has any other posters been aware of this?
This brings up the question of who provides the game ball at the game...of course it's the home team.  This MAY impact the visiting team's play from another conference that uses a different brand of ball.
Interesting to me...not trying to say it is another "ball- gate" . Wonder if the ball at the games this weekend is another brand from that used by Amherst. .
The Salem area will go through a variation of temperature this weekend.  Packing a lot of purple and white clothes....plural here, being an optimist .
The subject poster, an important player on the Amherst's '07 championship team, wore jersey no. 4!

[Gregory Sager]

Since Amherst acknowledges little inside game, I suspect you may get pummeled by Lucas Johnson.  We in the CCIW have had some fun at Johnson's expense over the years (Benedictine is his third or fourth school, and he has boasted of his NBA future despite never getting any scholarship attention)

That was really more his dad's thing than Luke's, Chuck. (Johnson's dad had a severe case of Little-League-Dad Fever during his kid's sojourn at Carthage.) And, let's be fair, it was several years and three transfers ago.

Also, he did get scholarship attention. He was on scholarship after leaving Benedictine, albeit at a D2 school (St. Leo). As was noted in the Around the Region column to which Gordon linked, he gave back the scholarship and returned to BU when he learned that not all of his credits were transferring to St. Leo, and that he'd thus have to attend St. Leo for an extra semester after his eligibility ended (i.e., he'd have to pay for it). Anyway, iwumich is right: Johnson's a legit scholarship-level player, and he's learned how to be both an unselfish teammate and a strong inside presence (he was allergic to paint when he was a freshman at Carthage).

NESCAC fans (who don't tend to get out much, according to middhoops ) might be interested to know that one CCIW board regular got so worked up over Luke Johnson and his dad, and brought them up so often -- even after Johnson had left the CCIW and moved on to Benedictine -- that we now refer to Johnson on the CCIW board as He Who Shall Remain Nameless. In fact, I remember reading that Around the Region column and thinking to myself, "Boy, I hope that nobody mentions this column on CCIW Chat. I'd hate to get into a whole 'nother round of Luke Johnson bashing, especially because the column's claim about his reason for transferring to Benedictine differs radically from the CCIW Chat scuttlebutt about it."

Greg, I confess I did mis-remember the details - I thought Luke was touting his NBA credentials, but your're right, it was his dad.  And in NBA terms, I don't consider NAIA or D2 scholarships to be 'scholarship-attention'.

D2 and NAIA players don't often make it to the NBA (Flip Murray's the only relatively recent D2 guy I can name off of the top of my head), but a basketball scholarship is a basketball scholarship. You didn't specify D1 scholarship attention.

Bur considering what his addition has done for Benedictine, who knows - he just night get an NBA try-out somewhere!

Doubtful, but who knows? Stranger things have happened, as far as NBA tryouts are concerned.

It would be appropriate, since perennial NBA all-star Jack Sikma has become "He Who Shall Not Be Named"!

... and yet you still find a way to "name" him on d3boards.com about a half-dozen times a year.

[Gregory Sager]

I don't know how much stock you NESCAC guys put in the Massey Ratings -- I have my doubts as to their usefulness regarding two teams so widely-spaced by geography and opponent chains -- but they've got Benedictine as an 87% favorite over Amherst tomorrow night. Massey's predicting an 81-69 outcome in favor of the Bennies.

Take that for whatever you think it's worth.

[middhoops]

For the outcome of ANY D3 basketball game, you don't need Massey.  Until he gets greedy, you only need inquire of Magicman.  He will nail it everytime.  Except with Plattsburgh.  Heart leads sometimes.
So what's the final score, Magic?

*Apologies to any members of the Massey family.  No damage intended.  Think of hiring Magicman before he gets in your bidness.

[jayhawk]

Amherst College recruit, Eric Sellew named Gatorade High School Player of the year in Massachusetts

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/high-school/post/_/id/41359/concord-carlisles-eric-sellew-named-mass-gatorade-player-of-the-year

[Gregory Sager]

For the outcome of ANY D3 basketball game, you don't need Massey.  Until he gets greedy, you only need inquire of Magicman.  He will nail it everytime.  Except with Plattsburgh.  Heart leads sometimes.
So what's the final score, Magic?

*Apologies to any members of the Massey family.  No damage intended.  Think of hiring Magicman before he gets in your bidness.

Well, he did win the co-championship of the D3 men's national pick'em league this season, so for Magicman, bidness is good.

[amh63]

Interesting info on Eric Sellew.  Thanks jayhawk for the update.  Never realized the award had an academic criteria associated.  Nice to have a Gatorade winner possibly replacing a former winner that will be graduating this year.  Conner Green was a Gatorade pick for the state of New Hampshire.

[Old Guy]

Amherst College recruit, Eric Sellew named Gatorade High School Player of the year in Massachusetts

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/high-school/post/_/id/41359/concord-carlisles-eric-sellew-named-mass-gatorade-player-of-the-year

Gatorade Player of the Year in MA is a D3 recruit?

[nescacobserver]

"Agree with Toad---much prefer to be a net supplier of talent from D3 to D1, rather than a hampster accommodating D1 transfers to build a marquee sport."

Jumpshot, is that a slam on Amherst?  Don't worry, I don't think Williams will be a "net supplier to D1 programs" anytime soon.  Enjoy rooting for the purple team from Western Massachusetts this weekend in the Final 4.

[jayhawk]

Not much about Tufts on board but went and saw Tufts play last week
In spite of losing Vincent Pace they played their hearts out. The point guard Tarik Smith played well and Steve Haldyna was exceptional with his clutch shooting
Props especailly to Tom Palleschi, most talented big man in NESCAC. He rebounded, blocked shots, passed, and even hit 3 pointers.  Was a true leader on the court
Congrats to him for being named D3 hoops All Region
Great story two years with open heart, a true feel good story

[pg04]

It's pretty obvious now that NESCAC is the best conference in the country.