MBB: NESCAC

[pinna44]

I'm not feeling any Bobcat love...  Reality is their schedule has never set up better.  This needs to be the year.  Hopefully they don't look past Trinity.  That may just happen.  If it does, you may be right.  They might just get swept.  If they beat Trinity, they ride the wave past Amherst.  That place is going to be crazy.

[formerbant10]

Recent history says that no matter what happens in the Trinity game, Amherst will beat them at their place.

But they have a better chance of beating the Jeffs if they are victorious over the Bants...that is true.

[mrmike88]

I just can't see Ray and Stockwell getting swept at home in their senior year against Trinity and Amherst.  I know on paper it looks like it could happen, but those guys are so talented, and they have to eventually take one...

This first week of conference play is so crucial.  Why schedule it for opening weekend?  When is this determined?

[formerbant10]

The schedule rotates yearly.  Home/Away and Friday/Saturday changes yearly as well.....I believe.

And there are surprises every year, that's why they play the games.

[walzy31]

Bates will lose both as formerbant pointed out. They will be exciting games though.

Nescac1,

nescac men's basketball forum. that's what you are reading right now. go rant and rave about women's hoop in the women's forum. by the way, did you enjoy seeing a "NOT that good Amherst squad" handle you by 19 on saturday?

[Red1]

Trinity has routinely struggled in Lewiston while Amherst has routinely excelled in the sauna the bobcats call a gym.  I've lived in Lewiston for 7 years now, and this is definitely the strongest Bates team I've seen.  The last two times Trinity has made the trip north they've left with disappointment, a buzzer shot by Brain Gerrity from half court 4 years ago and an overtime win 2 years ago were definitely very close games that could have gone either way.  Bates, however, did win both.  Now Bates is even stronger, and Trinity's all team leading scorer, and the teams most dominant player has graduated.  Exactly how would this point towards a Trinity victory?  I think defeat is in the cards for the Bantams.  (Note:  Rhoten and Stockwell matched up well and tended to nutralize eachother as much as either player could be neutralized.  Who does Trinity to have to match up with Stockwell now?)

As for the Saturday game.  Unless a miracle happens (and it might) Amherst will likely win.

Predictions:

Friday:

Bowdoin over Williams:  Bowdoin's hot right now, Williams...not.
Colby over Middlebury:  Trey Ball will make the difference
Amherst over Tufts:  Tufts is struggling so far this year and Amherst is too strong
Bates over Trinity:  Bates' home court advantage is huge.  See above for analysis

Saturday:

Williams over Colby:  Long road trip, tiring team, William's gets hot occasionally
Bowdoin over Middlebury:  Bowdoin's got the speed and the shots
Conn over Wesleyan:  Conn has looked good of late and I've heard nothing of Wes
Trinity over Tufts:  Tufts has struggled against good teams this year (even at home).
Amherst over Bates:  It will be closer than years passed, but Amhest will still win

Cheers,
Red1

[feces monkey]

I don't think Bowdoin has won in Williamstown in about 25 years and to think they will win down there this year is odd. The Polar Bears go on the road and beat Maine-Farmington by only five, and now they are going to take down the Ephs on the road? The sentiment is nice, but misplaced, I fear. The Ephs can't be that bad, can they?

[formerbant10]

Red1,

This Bantam team is much better defensively than the past couple of years.  They also have a deeper bench and could use a number of guys to wear down Stockwell.  Bates has won the last 2 games on buzzer beaters, Gerrity with a running 30 footer and Ray finding an open big guy along the baseline for a 15 footer as time expired.  I wouldn't say the Bants have struggled in Lewiston though.

[mrmike88]

New Top 25 - Amherst jumps back to #2 with 10 first-place votes, and only 12 total points behind Stevens Point.  Bates rises to #12.

[nescac hoops]

as a conversation starter....

for who do you think saturday would be a bigger win, amherst or bates? my inititial answer would be for the bobcats - to knock off the #2 ranked team, the most dominant nescac favorite in the past couple seasons, a chance to secure the top seed for home court advantage throughout the entire nescac tourny, etc. however, part of me feels like this could be a bigger win for amherst, as this game, in my eyes is their first true test especially b/c it's on the road in what is a very difficult gym to play in. if they can get the win, i think they will win the respect/more respect of a lot of poll voters. furthermore, i think it will definetly secure them the top conference seed even though it is only the first weekend of conference play. i really don't see them losing to anybody else in the conference, especially given the way tufts is playing right now. however, i can see a small possibility of bates picking up one in the loss column even if they do beat amherst this weekend - possibily trinity or when they play tufts later on, who may find their rhythm by then - and thus, amherst picking up the #1 seed after tie breakers, etc. even with a possible loss this weekend. that being said, i really still think that bates has more to win in this game given that they are still underdogs going in and that they haven't beat amherst since i can remember (correct me if i'm wrong). 

[formerbant10]

If you wanna crown them, then crown them!!!!


First weekend people, a lot of things can happen between now and the final weekend.

[walzy31]

Yea, crown us!!

Going down to Wesleyan today.

Amherst 82
Wesleyan 55

[Friar T]

Walzy, I'll take the 'Herst -27...

Nescac Hoops, very insightful post. I agree that this is a huge game for both teams and the Jeffs should definitely be coming in with a chip on their shoulder, ready to prove they're as good as we've said they are. However, I think 10 first-place votes is quite a bit of respect to start with. I doubt that Hixon and Co. are dwelling too much on the opinions of us posters...

FormerBant is right, too early in the season to start handing out championships and seedings, but Amherst will take it if you're really giving it out now...

[nescac hoops]

formerbant,
i would not be "crowning" the jeffs after one week of conference play if they went 2-0. however realistically, other than bates (and to a much lesser degree, trinity) i would really be ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED if anybody in the nescac beat the jeffs this year, especially given tufts' "troubles" so far that i doubt will be worked out come this friday. while i would still take the zieja, harper, fitzsimmons, donovon, bedord, schiel team over this year's club, i think that the nescac is slightly down from what it was those years. perhaps your bants can bring the Herst down the last weekend on senior day, but i would be very surprised. that's not to say it CAN'T happen but i wouldn't put any money on it. even if it does happen, i don't foresee the bants being able to go undefeated in conference play even with a win against amherst. the truth hurts....especially for an eph fan like myself.

friar,
i don't think the jeffs need respect, but it would certainly give them more if they were to win this weekend - we also wouldn't have to hear as many of pat's analogies to regional coffee shops. i also predict that the game will have a nescac finals/ncaa tourny type feel, as i believe bates students are back in session. i think a win in this type of atmosphere, against a very strong opponent, on the road, playing in a sauna, and with maine referees who often times should just be wearing the home team's jersey as a 6th man, would really bode well for the jeffs down the road when they play in even more important games.

[formerbant10]

I don't think many people bet on Trinity at Amherst last year either.

The Bant-Jeff games are always wars, always down to the wire and rarely over 5 points (at least recently).  I expect nothing less this year either.