MBB: NESCAC

[P'bearfan]

South Carolina needed Willy Workman last night. At least for 3 seconds.

Why coaches don't teach Workman's technique is beyond me. The act of surprise: shoot the ball immediately before anyone on the blocks is set. One of our guys on the low block was hitching up his socks when the ball was caroming back to the dastardly Willy.

Workman's foul shot was one of the best basketball plays I've ever seen.  Brilliant strategy perfectly executed - all in a crucial moment.  A Larry Bird type moment.

[nescac1]

News of a strong Amherst recruit, from Twitter: 2017 G Grant Robinson commits to Amherst College. Quick guard with versatility. Can pass the ball, can shoot the ball. Vocal on defense.  He is a graduate of New Hampton, an elite prep program. 

With NESCAC squads graduating four all-league lead guards (Rafferty, Smith, Dawson, Brown), plus Trinity losing a very strong PG in Langdon Neal, the point guard position could be down a bit in the league next year.  But it does seem like this year's recruiting class is loaded with highly-touted point guards (while being, at least so far, very thin in the aggregate up front).  A few names to watch who may make impacts fairly early in their careers (especially Kornaker/Farrell, Robinson, Hanna and Brady, given that all those squads should have PT available at the PG position):

Will Brady, Tufts
KJ Matte, Bowdoin
Griffin Kornaker and Jack Farrell, Middlebury
Robinson and Garrett Day, Amherst
Mike Myers, Williams
Matt Hanna, Colby

[ronk]

 I had mentioned Grant Robinson(Potomac School-northern VA) to Scranton's recruiting coach a year ago after seeing his hilite video; the coached had reached out to Grant already but didn't think we were going to beat out the Patriots and Ivies that were also interested. Didn't know he had done a PG year, since.

[nescac1]

Apparently Robinson had a few D1 offers including Army and Navy.  Sounds like an important recruit for Amherst, especially in light of the gaping hole at the PG position.  The Jeffs will have a lot of new faces next year but it helps to have two proven senior leaders, and it's rare that Hixon rebuilds rather than reloads. 

[nescac1]

Adding to the array of NESCAC's unusual animal mascots (Hamilton is lone holdout in terms of mascot theme), we have our first extinct NESCAC mascot:

https://www.amherst.edu/news/news_releases/2017/4-2017/amherst-announces-mammoths-mascot

Prepare for a lot of extinction-related humor emanating from the Berkshires ...

I have to admit, of the five finalists that would have been my choice.  It's no purple cow, of course, but it's certainly better than Lord Jeff, or the fighting poets. 

[Bucket]

Adding to the array of NESCAC's unusual animal mascots (Hamilton is lone holdout in terms of mascot theme), we have our first extinct NESCAC mascot:

https://www.amherst.edu/news/news_releases/2017/4-2017/amherst-announces-mammoths-mascot

Prepare for a lot of extinction-related humor emanating from the Berkshires ...

I have to admit, of the five finalists that would have been my choice.  It's no purple cow, of course, but it's certainly better than Lord Jeff, or the fighting poets.

Announcing this so close to April Fool's Day is quite bold...

[middhoops]

Could take a while for the new name to fully sink in on this board.
"Former LJs" rolls off the tongue a bit easier.

Wooly Bully (Mammoth)?

Uno, dos, one, two, tres, quatro
Matty told Hatty about a thing she saw
Had two big horns and a wooly jaw
Wooly bully, wooly bully
Wooly bully, wooly bully, wooly bully
Hatty told Matty, let's don't take no chance
Let's not be l-seven, come and learn to dance
Wooly bully, wooly bully........

[Gregory Sager]

Adding to the array of NESCAC's unusual animal mascots (Hamilton is lone holdout in terms of mascot theme), we have our first extinct NESCAC mascot:

https://www.amherst.edu/news/news_releases/2017/4-2017/amherst-announces-mammoths-mascot

Prepare for a lot of extinction-related humor emanating from the Berkshires ...

It might not remain extinct much longer, though.

[gordonmann]

I can't wait for the inevitable matchup between Amherst and Tufts in the NESCAC women's basketball tournament.

Jumbos versus Mammoths

A potent playoff of pachydermous proportions!

[Smitty Oom]

I can't wait for the inevitable matchup between Amherst and Tufts in the NESCAC women's basketball tournament.

Jumbos versus Mammoths

A potent playoff of pachydermous proportions!

Earn Your Stripes Tusks!

[magicman]

  With NESCAC squads graduating four all-league lead guards (Rafferty, Smith, Dawson, Brown), plus Trinity losing a very strong PG in Langdon Neal, the point guard position could be down a bit in the league next year. 

nescac1,

Doesn't Dawson have a year left at Amherst?

[P'bearfan]

News of a strong Amherst recruit, from Twitter: 2017 G Grant Robinson commits to Amherst College. Quick guard with versatility. Can pass the ball, can shoot the ball. Vocal on defense.  He is a graduate of New Hampton, an elite prep program. 

With NESCAC squads graduating four all-league lead guards (Rafferty, Smith, Dawson, Brown), plus Trinity losing a very strong PG in Langdon Neal, the point guard position could be down a bit in the league next year.  But it does seem like this year's recruiting class is loaded with highly-touted point guards (while being, at least so far, very thin in the aggregate up front).  A few names to watch who may make impacts fairly early in their careers (especially Kornaker/Farrell, Robinson, Hanna and Brady, given that all those squads should have PT available at the PG position):

Will Brady, Tufts
KJ Matte, Bowdoin
Griffin Kornaker and Jack Farrell, Middlebury
Robinson and Garrett Day, Amherst
Mike Myers, Williams
Matt Hanna, Colby

nescac1 - thanks for the list of PG's.  Hadn't heard KJ Matte's name before.  Based on the short video I saw he seems like a good player.  I was especially impressed with his defense.  Seems like he could add some depth at the PG position for Bowdoin next year which is always nice to have.  He should also have a chance to develop without having to carry too much of the load himself.

[jumpshot]

mammoths? You've got to be kidding!

Another unforced error by an inept administration ....my amHerst friends are in hiding ....

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm still going with Hamsters.

[nescac1]

magicman, Dawson played four full seasons between FDU and the Mammoths, so his eligibility is up even if listed as a Junior.  I figure the Mammoths' frontcourt will be Riopel, Sellew, and the two rising Junior centers, definitely solid but not scary.  Other than McCarthy, the Mammoths' guard rotation (and back-ups on the wing) next year will be a lot of new faces, probably one or two incoming frosh and several of the rising sophomore class, who were pretty highly regarded as recruits (namely Cherry, Mobley, and/or Clapp).  It could be a woolly year for the Mammoths after losing so much veteran talent, but then again, the chemistry was so off this year that I wouldn't be shocked if the team actually improved with a bunch of fresh faces -- no one else in NESCAC has a higher upside/downside disparity.