MBB: NESCAC

[jayhawk]

sorry meant to say Palleschi two years out from open heart surgery

[magicman]

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.

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.

Well, I appreciate the confidence middhoops has in my prognostications, but I am prone to making my share of incorrect predictions and as he states, when it comes to Plattsburgh State, I do wear my heart on my sleeve. Greg was right though, bidness has been good. I think the El Nino` weather pattern has kept all of us here in the Northeast in good form this season.

A little history is in order here.I got middhoops attention a few years ago when Williams was about to play Amherst for the first time with a young 3 point phenom by the name of Duncan Robinson. He was on board as a Robinson supporter and claimed the guy was too good for D3 before most. middhoops was convinced Williams was going to win that game and I said Amherst would win and possibly by double figures. The score was 84-73 in favor of the former LJ's. It was also the year that Plattsburgh State defeated Middlebury in Pepin Gym and I correctly told him that we were going to take it to the Panthers that night, and we did 63-47 It was the worst defeat that the Panthers had in quite some time (they've since paid us back) but the night of the Midd-Plattsburgh game on Jan. 7th 2014 was the night that I told him that Amherst would beat Williams on Jan. 11th 2014. Getting both those predictions right on the Tuesday and Saturday of the same week has led middhoops to exaggerate my abilities.

I did make a prediction earlier in the week concerning the game between Amherst and Benedictine. I have been a big Benedictine supporter ever since they were undefeated in two different conferences, to end the regular season. 20-0 in the NACC and 5-0 in the CCIW.  That's an oddity you won't see too often. I heavily invested in Benedictine players in the 3 NCAA Fantasy Draft Leagues that I'm in. I also have a couple of Amherst players as well for added insurance but I believe the Bennies will get in a shooting match with the team formerly known as the LJ's. I think they will prevail over Amherst by a 91-82 final score.

Apologies to my friend amh63. I will leave you with this note. If anyone can coach a team to win, against a team that is probably better, with a week to prepare, Coach Hixson is a good one to have.           

[magicman]

The NABC announced their All-District Awards this morning. Here is the Northeast-District:

NORTHEAST

First Team                                                    Second Team
Shay Ajayi, Trinity                                        Tom Garrick, Johnson and Wales
Quarry Greenaway, Johnson and Wales        Jaleel Bell, Fitchburg State
Lucas Hausman, Bowdoin                            Jerry Buchanon, Elms
Trevon Butler, Husson                                 Tom Palleschi, Tufts
Jordan Rezendes, UMass Dartmouth           Irving Eggleston, Nichols
Joey Flannery, Babson*-Player of the year

Coach of the Year: Jamie Benton, Johnson and Wales

Congratulations to all the players on receiving this honor.

[magicman]

The NABC announced their All-American Teams this afternoon   March 17, 2016 – 1 PM (EDT)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (March 17, 2016) -- The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced today the 2016 NABC Coaches' Division III All-America teams. Selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC in NCAA Division III, these studentathletes represent the most outstanding basketball players across America in their division.


2016 NABC COACHES' DIVISION III ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM

Jordan Bolger, Concordia Moorhead, 6-6, Senior, Forward, Apple Valley, Minn.
Marcus Carter, Christopher Newport, 6-2, Sophomore, Guard, Williamsburg, Va.
AJ Edwards, Marietta, 6-5, Junior, Forward, Twinsburg, Ohio
Joey Flannery, Babson, 6-5, Junior, Guard/Forward, Acton, Mass.
Alex Graves, Lynchburg, 6-4, Senior, Forward, Waynesboro, Va.
Hunter Hill, Augustana, 5-9, Senior, Guard, Byron, Ill.
Jordan McDaniel, Rutgers-Newark, 6-5, Senior, Forward, Colonia, N.J.
Kyle Richardson, Plattsburgh State, 6-4, Senior, Guard/Forward, Baldwin, N.Y.


2016 NABC COACHES' DIVISION III ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM

Will Fonseca, Staten Island, 6-5, Senior, Forward, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mitch Ford, Nazareth, 6-5, Senior Forward, Victor, N.Y.
Ted Hinnenkamp, Dickinson, 6-7, Senior, Guard/Forward, York, Pa.
Sterling Holmes, Texas Lutheran, 6-0, Junior, Guard, San Antonio, Texas
Luke Johnson, Benedictine, 6-9, Senior, Forward, Naperville, Ill.
Scott Nikodemski, Alma, 6-1, Senior, Guard, Rockford, Mich.
Andre Norris, Dubuque, 6-7, Senior, Forward, Plainfield, Ill.
Jordan Rezendes, UMass Dartmouth, 6-2, Senior, Guard, Onset, Mass.


2016 NABC COACHES' DIVISION III ALL-AMERICA THIRD TEAM

Shay Ajayi, Trinity College, 6-6, Senior, Forward, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Nate Axelrod, Ohio Wesleyan, 5-7, Sophomore, Guard, Dublin, Ohio
Brendan Boken, Scranton, 6-6, Senior, Forward/Center, South Pasadena, Calif.
Anthony Gaines, Jr., Louisiana College, 6-4, Senior, Guard/Forward, Shreveport, La.
Evan Kupferburg, NYU, 6-6, Senior, Forward, Boca Raton, Fla.
Ty Sabin, Ripon, 6-2, Junior, Guard, New Berlin, Wis.
Jamail Stanley, Old Westbury, 6-2, Junior, Guard, Syracuse, N.Y.
George Valle, Whitworth, 6-4, Senior, Guard, Bellevue, Wash.

Congratulations to all these players on achieving such great recognition for the hard work and countless hours they've put into reaching this goal.   

[amh63]

There is a "prediction" on the NCAA website that favors the Bennies.  Gee three in in a row!
Guess I have over packed.

There is some thing about pre game pronostications though....hope I spelled that word correctly.  Last night, I watched a bit of Div1 NCAA games vice NIT games.  First one was Holy Cross moving on...a 16th seed play in game .  It was the first win by Holy Cross...a purple and white team...since the Bob Cousey days in the early 50's!!.  I actually saw the first half of the Tulsa vs Michigan game.  The score at the half was 28-20, Mich. ahead.  It was a terrible game to watch for me...went to bed to read a book.  Now to back track a bit.  A panel of four analysts commented on the game to come.  They split on who would win.  They agreed that Tulsa would attack the paint area and Big Blue would built their offense with outside shots.  Well midway through the first half, it seemed that Tulsa built a big lead by shooting and making outside shots.  Mich. couldn't buy a three after Duncan made his first shot to give his team a 3-0 lead.  Both teams shot poorly...Michigan's shooting...  2-14 and maybe 2-20 plus, mainly from outside.  As I said earlier, it was not my kind of game to watch.  I cannot tell you how Duncan's team reached it's half time lead since I looked around for something else to watch.  Did see a bunch of new players come in for Big Blue and Michigan start scoring inside.
In summary, the predictors with the info was wrong for the most part..in style and the impact of experience on the game.  Tulsa that had 9 seniors was considered to have an edge over the younger opposition with few seniors, etc.
A bit long winded, but I feel that Amherst if it can keep focused has the talent and depth to win this weekend.  Oh yes, and the speed and quickness when and where needed .  Go Jeffs!

[JEFFFAN]

Without having seen the other team play, it is of course challenging to prognosticate too clearly.  However, as I noted earlier, Benedictine does have a size advantage over Amherst and the inside is where Amherst has struggled this year.

I will suggest based on having watched Amherst play 15 plus times this year via the Internet that Amherst played as well as they could last weekend.   The interviews with Hixon and the players have strongly suggested a struggle last season in getting the players to work together effectively.   They also commented that the early part of this season saw a similar struggle as they tried to figure out their roles on the team.  My guess is that was a bit of code for figuring out whether Green was going to attempt to be Toomey or Olsen, or whether he was going to be a really good role player.  He either opted to or was coached into the latter role and they played more effectively as a team after that, including last weekend.   They played very well last weekend in all facets of the game, especially David George, but did win with the best players from the opposing teams out.

As with all Jeff fans I want them to win it all, but frankly I can live with the belief that the team is playing as well going into Friday as they have all year.   Said belief offers no guarantees in either direction for Friday, but a view that Hixon has them playing as well as they can with this roster.   In the end, that is good enough for me with the hope that it is enough.

[jayhawk]

article about Amherst on D3 hoops: http://www.d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/2016/amherst-how-did-that-happen

saw Joey Flannery of Babson in first Amherst game and most recent game in playoff game
In the first half of the game against Amherst in playoffs, before he got hurt, Flannery best offensive player I have seen this ye
Great all around offensive skill set and very smooth

[nescac1]

Impressive recruit for Trinity:

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/trinity-gets-a-steal-with-nmhs-seretta

He beats out Karpowicz and Sellew as the top-ranked Massachusetts recruit headed to NESCAC next year, although all three look likely to be impact guys sooner or later.  Trinity, Amherst, and Williams all have very impressive recruiting classes coming in next year.  Bates has a strong incoming group as well.  Trinity is quickly reloading on the perimeter after losing its three starting guards to graduation. 

[jayhawk]

Not sure it matters until what we see what the recruits do in college but Tommy Mobley from Exeter/formerly Newton North who will attend Amherst is ranked higher in New England than Serrate or Karpowicz or Seller

[jumpshot]

Beautiful warm day in Salem! A few notes before the games begin shortly:
1. Mike Nogelo of Williams still holds the record for most points scored in a D3 National Championship Tournament: 177 in 1998 (6 games);
2. Most free throws made in one game: Williams 46 vs. Albertus Magnus, March 14, 2014;
3. Largest attendance Final Game in the past 16 years: Williams College National Championship 2003. 3,867;
4. Most perfect 40 minutes played: Williams College win over the hampster 2014 ....

[toad22]

I have made a fool of myself, on several occasions, trying to pick out great players before they ever step on the court. It is usually very difficult, if not impossible. The only two Williams players that I have gotten completely right are Michael Nogelo and Duncan Robinson. They are arguably the two most talented players to play for Williams in the last 25 years. Not much genius on my part!

[middhoops]

Ready to watch the Amherst/Benedictine game.
NESCAC fans should take great comfort in the fact that I'm almost always wrong.  Ask Magicman.  Ask Vandy74.
However......since I can't stand to be showed up by Magic yet again, I'll say Amherst needs to play a extraordinarily good game to win.
Benedictine, not so much. 
So, as a favor to my friend amh63 if to the mild consternation of nescac1, I'll pick Benedictine. 
You can thank me later.

[JEFFFAN]

Beautiful warm day in Salem! A few notes before the games begin shortly:
1. Mike Nogelo of Williams still holds the record for most points scored in a D3 National Championship Tournament: 177 in 1998 (6 games);
2. Most free throws made in one game: Williams 46 vs. Albertus Magnus, March 14, 2014;
3. Largest attendance Final Game in the past 16 years: Williams College National Championship 2003. 3,867;
4. Most perfect 40 minutes played: Williams College win over the hampster 2014 ....

(5) School not playing today ... Williams!

But thanks for being there to root on the Jeffs

[magicman]

Great effort by Amherst but they fall to Benedictine 63-60. Amherst had a chance to take the lead with under 10 seconds to go but a 3 pointer by Connor Green was off the mark. Amherst fouled and Benedictine made 1 of 2 from the line. Amherst came down for a final shot again by Green to send it to overtime, but it was not to be.

[JEFFFAN]

Terrific game!  Benedictine killed Amherst on the boards, as expected, but Conor Green was outstanding to keep Jeff's in the game. He also had two chances (really one) to tie it and as a Jeff fan there is no one I would want with the ball before Green. Jeffs lived and died by the outside game all year and tonight it wasn't enough. They had plenty of chances but the better team won.

A bow to Conor Green for a terrific, gutsy career. Second leading scorer in Amherst history, three Final Fours, one championship.   And a last game where he carried his team. Helluva career.

Not a pretty game but a very good one!