MBB: NESCAC

[Colby Hoops]

Not so fun if you are a Williams fan, of course ...

Haha fair enough Nescac1! And in an even bigger hypothetical than the one you laid out, Duncan Robinson could have been a senior as that group were sophomores -- two potential NBA talents on one Nescac team. That would have been something.

[WUPHF]

The financial aid stuff is odd given that Williams is generally very generous with aid, and in all events, I wonder if he would have stuck around after his first year even if he had started out at Williams. 

The financial aid part of the story makes no sense at all...

If he said my father has the ability to pay, but is paying for other things, then sure...

[Conts Fan]

That article says that the Yale coach offered him a scholarship, but Ivies don't do that, do they?

[Bucket]

That article says that the Yale coach offered him a scholarship, but Ivies don't do that, do they?

Correct.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

That article says that the Yale coach offered him a scholarship, but Ivies don't do that, do they?

Correct.

Usually that just means a spot on the team.  You still have to be invited to practice.

[JEFFFAN]

I know that Brandeis isn't very good this season, but I like the way that the Jeffs play defense.

[toad22]

I believe that the Ivy League can match other offers, so they essentially can give enough aid to match athletic scholarship offers. It is even better than regular scholarships, because it doesn't require a student to continue playing if the student wants to quit.

[JEFFFAN]

I believe that the Ivy League can match other offers, so they essentially can give enough aid to match athletic scholarship offers. It is even better than regular scholarships, because it doesn't require a student to continue playing if the student wants to quit.

Nope.  Can only meet financial need OR provide academic based scholarships e.g. high grades and high SATs will get the kid merit scholarship.  But a great athlete with a lot of $ and average (relative) grades gets no financial help.

[nescac1]

There are no academic merit scholarships in the Ivies, either, Jefffan.  All scholarships at both Ivies and most Nescacs are strictly need-based.  But colleges can be VERY flexible in terms of how they define "need." 

[JEFFFAN]

There are no academic merit scholarships in the Ivies, either, Jefffan.  All scholarships at both Ivies and most Nescacs are strictly need-based.  But colleges can be VERY flexible in terms of how they define "need."

I stand corrected!  You are correctamundo!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

There are no academic merit scholarships in the Ivies, either, Jefffan.  All scholarships at both Ivies and most Nescacs are strictly need-based.  But colleges can be VERY flexible in terms of how they define "need."

It should be noted there's a difference between "can" and "do."  They "can" offer whatever athletic scholarship the NCAA D1 regulations allows.  Institutional and conference regulations prevent what they "do."

The real difference is whether a coach invites a student to be on the team or not.  If you want to play basketball, that's the real difference-maker.

[Oline89]

There are no athletic or academic "scholarships" at Ivy schools.  All aid is based on need.  The big difference is that there is also no federal based student loans that need to be paid back, everything is a grant.  So, if a student athlete qualifies for a 50% discount from the tuition based on FAFSA application, most D3 schools (even well endowed NESCAC schools) will offer a grant plus federal financial aid loans.  Many Ivies will offer the same amount, but thanks to astronomical endowments (approx 24 Billion for Princeton), allows them to offer the same 50% discount in pure grant money, for the full 4 years.

[Colby Hoops]

Colby gets a win over UMF last night 74-65. It was a nice balanced effort across the board, and the defense looked much more solid. Turnovers still a bit of an issue, which prevented Colby from extending its lead.

Freshman Devin Davis has been getting more run lately and is perhaps Colby's best defensive guard. Strong, quick and aggressive. He's not a great outside shooter yet, but he's a nice fit given Colby has so many other shooters.

Also looks like Bowdoin's game against Maine Maritime tonight has been postponed. Supposed to be snow and freezing rain in Maine tonight.

[nescac1]

Interesting to see the within-D3 Massey ratings for NESCAC teams.  All have been hurt by mediocre-at-best or in some cases very weak non-league schedules.  The strength of schedule ratings (and overall ratings for the teams who keep winning) should increase quite a bit now that most of the remaining games are league games. 

Williams: 6 overall - and 4 defensively, 128 strength-of-schedule (keep in mind, 214 is the median SOS rating in D3)
Hamilton: 15 overall, 235 schedule
Amherst: 22 overall, 300 schedule
Wesleyan: 34 overall, 33 schedule
Middlebury: 56 overall, 186 schedule

Everyone else is far behind. 

[amh63]

Amherst wins a solid defensive game against Brandeis in LeFrak last night...by double digits.  Brandeis, in the UAA is now 8-4 and had beaten Babson....who beat Amherst earlier.  Amherst needs to improve on its foul shots...shot only 50 percent.  However, the LJs dominated the boards.  Seems Amherst is leading the conference/nation wrt to rebound margin.  Outside shooting is still uneven.  Brandeis is a young team that has quick players and its new head coach has them pressing and trapping on defense. 
Interesting but strange discussion here wrt to financial matters kicked off by a former player at Williams.  There is also one on the Nescac football board!  IMO, lots of confusion of terms such as "merit", financial aid loans, etc.  For example, only a limited number of colleges....Ivy, Nescac schools included....provide students, FOREIGN and US CITIZENS, financial aid packages such that when they graduate, the student will have no loans to repay.  Gov't loans however does have repayment conditions it must be noted if the student accepts such and foreign students are not eligible for US govt. loans.