MBB: NESCAC

[SpringSt7]

Colby picks up a commitment from David Basich, a 6'0 PG from Green Farms Academy in CT. High school teammate of Williams freshman Cole Prowitt-Smith.

Will Dorion, Alex's brother, commits to Trinity. A steal for Coach Cosgrove—a quick search through the Middlesex Magic twitter account shows a number of D1 offers at a point and time. As we are now in the middle of December, expect a lot more recruiting news.

[maineman]

Colby picks up a commitment from David Basich, a 6'0 PG from Green Farms Academy in CT. High school teammate of Williams freshman Cole Prowitt-Smith.

Green Farms is the alma mater of Zach Baines who played for Middledental.

[Old Guy]

Colby picks up a commitment from David Basich, a 6'0 PG from Green Farms Academy in CT. High school teammate of Williams freshman Cole Prowitt-Smith.

Green Farms is the alma mater of Zach Baines who played for Middledental.

Ah, Zach Baines. Here's a nice piece from Occidental when Zach scored his 1000th point there (in three seasons). https://www.theoccidentalnews.com/sports/2019/02/12/zach-baines-records-1000-career-points-in-only-three-seasons-at-occidental/2896272  He also set the school single game scoring record (50), was captain for two years, led the team to the league championship game two years in a row, was first-team all conference, and a regional all-star. Congratulations to him — no hard feelings here, really. The article discusses somewhat his transfer. From all reports, he was a good teammate at Midd, well-liked, and successful in other respects too (Young Guy was in the same dorm). Midd was pretty good without him, but he would have been fun to watch. Maybe he'll run for President like that other Occidental grad who liked to play hoops.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Colby picks up a commitment from David Basich, a 6'0 PG from Green Farms Academy in CT. High school teammate of Williams freshman Cole Prowitt-Smith.

Green Farms is the alma mater of Zach Baines who played for Middledental.

Ah, Zach Baines. Here's a nice piece from Occidental when Zach scored his 1000th point there (in three seasons). https://www.theoccidentalnews.com/sports/2019/02/12/zach-baines-records-1000-career-points-in-only-three-seasons-at-occidental/2896272  He also set the school single game scoring record (50), was captain for two years, led the team to the league championship game two years in a row, was first-team all conference, and a regional all-star. Congratulations to him — no hard feelings here, really. The article discusses somewhat his transfer. From all reports, he was a good teammate at Midd, well-liked, and successful in other respects too (Young Guy was in the same dorm). Midd was pretty good without him, but he would have been fun to watch. Maybe he'll run for President like that other Occidental grad who liked to play hoops.

You're giving that other guy too much credit - he never graduated.

[maineman]

Colby picks up a commitment from David Basich, a 6'0 PG from Green Farms Academy in CT. High school teammate of Williams freshman Cole Prowitt-Smith.

Green Farms is the alma mater of Zach Baines who played for Middledental.

Ah, Zach Baines. Here's a nice piece from Occidental when Zach scored his 1000th point there (in three seasons). https://www.theoccidentalnews.com/sports/2019/02/12/zach-baines-records-1000-career-points-in-only-three-seasons-at-occidental/2896272  He also set the school single game scoring record (50), was captain for two years, led the team to the league championship game two years in a row, was first-team all conference, and a regional all-star. Congratulations to him — no hard feelings here, really. The article discusses somewhat his transfer. From all reports, he was a good teammate at Midd, well-liked, and successful in other respects too (Young Guy was in the same dorm). Midd was pretty good without him, but he would have been fun to watch. Maybe he'll run for President like that other Occidental grad who liked to play hoops.

You're giving that other guy too much credit - he never graduated.

How about the other-other guy who, I assume, liked to play hoops, but liked football better and ran for Vice President in 1996?

[Old Guy]

Middlebury's non-conference was much to be desired but their win on the road at Stevens may look better down the line.

"Middlebury's non-conference was much to be desired . . . "  That seems to be a prevailing view. Not sure I see it. Here are Midd's opponents so far:

    Bridgewater State (2-8)
    Wentworth (7-3)
    Keene State (3-5) Their five losses are to Springfield(8-1), Midd (10-0), Hamilton (9-1), Albertus Magnus (9-1), MIT (7-3)!
    SUNY Canton (5-7)
    Skidmore (3-4)
    Northern Vermont - Johnson (3-8)
    Endicott (7-3)
    New England College (6-4) Their four losses are to Middlebury (10-0), Colby (9-0), Nichols (7-2), UMaine-Farmington (7-3)
    Stevens (7-1)
    Morrisville State (3-6)
Remaining non-conference games: Colby-Sawyer, TBA Naismith Classic (likely Springfield College), Plattsburgh, Albertus Magnus.

Seems like a reasonable non-conference schedule. Which NESCAC teams have powerhouse non-conference schedules? NESCAC games will be very competitive, nothing for sure. When it's all said and done, I think Midd's strength of schedule will be a plus.

[Colby Hoops]

Middlebury's non-conference was much to be desired but their win on the road at Stevens may look better down the line.

"Middlebury's non-conference was much to be desired . . . "  That seems to be a prevailing view. Not sure I see it. Here are Midd's opponents so far:

    Bridgewater State (2-8)
    Wentworth (7-3)
    Keene State (3-5) Their five losses are to Springfield(8-1), Midd (10-0), Hamilton (9-1), Albertus Magnus (9-1), MIT (7-3)!
    SUNY Canton (5-7)
    Skidmore (3-4)
    Northern Vermont - Johnson (3-8)
    Endicott (7-3)
    New England College (6-4) Their four losses are to Middlebury (10-0), Colby (9-0), Nichols (7-2), UMaine-Farmington (7-3)
    Stevens (7-1)
    Morrisville State (3-6)
Remaining non-conference games: Colby-Sawyer, TBA Naismith Classic (likely Springfield College), Plattsburgh, Albertus Magnus.

Seems like a reasonable non-conference schedule. Which NESCAC teams have powerhouse non-conference schedules? NESCAC games will be very competitive, nothing for sure. When it's all said and done, I think Midd's strength of schedule will be a plus.

FWIW, Massey SOS ratings are as follows for NESCAC teams to this point. Tufts has definitely played a very tough schedule to this point -- kudos to them.

Tufts: 14
Williams: 94
Amherst: 114
Hamilton: 140
Bates: 149
Middlebury: 181
Wesleyan: 201
Colby: 202
Bowdoin: 256
Trinity: 262
Conn: 361

[NEhoops]

Good info Colby Hoops,

The solid SOS for Tufts and Williams, could be a huge help from a regional ranking/at large standpoint. It could also be a negative for Colby. I don't see it coming into play for the Mules based on how they're playing and their great schedule to end the year. Aside from a trip to Tufts, seven of their last eight games are in Maine.

Speaking of schedules, I think the home court advantage is going to play a huge factor for the "second tier" of the league.

[amh63]

It's cold in the DC/MD area...and up and down the East Coast as we approach the Winter's Solstice.  Oldest son, who's out of the country, texted recently that he misses snow!  See some Nescac schools playing...may catch some games on line.  Before I forget...To all the posters here..have the best of times during the Holidays....and a Happy New Year! 
Early season games for conference teams are generally to prepare for the battles in the conference...and the post season, IMO.  Opponents may have solid records like Springfield, ECSU or losing records like MCLA at this point of the season.  See that Salisbury is playing today at Elmira, NY. Amherst will head to Naples, Fl. to play a Midwest school soon.  The Amherst WBB team will head to Vegas and then to California.  Early season games is like "spring training" in baseball in a way.

[Colby Hoops]

Good info Colby Hoops,

The solid SOS for Tufts and Williams, could be a huge help from a regional ranking/at large standpoint. It could also be a negative for Colby. I don't see it coming into play for the Mules based on how they're playing and their great schedule to end the year. Aside from a trip to Tufts, seven of their last eight games are in Maine.

Speaking of schedules, I think the home court advantage is going to play a huge factor for the "second tier" of the league.

It's a little unfortunate for Colby that wins over Ramapo and New Jersey City College aren't looking as great. Those teams were both expected to be at the top of their league, but have struggled a bit. Additionally, the Bowdoin/Bates non-conference games won't do much to boost SOS this year. Hopefully the Mules win enough that none of it matters!

[SpringSt7]

I think it would be better to say that Middlebury's non-conference schedule didn't give anyone much to evaluate off of because they didn't play any teams that could really challenge them. In past years, the Kenne St. and Plattsburgh St. games have been a good litmus test for them. This year, we just have to wait a little longer.

All of the NESCAC teams have games like this, 4-6 games or so on the non conference schedule, the Elmira's and MCLA's of the world, aren't really going to tell us much. But the games such as Amherst's games against Babson and Springfield, Tufts vs. WPI and the Big 4, Williams vs. Wesleyan and Springfield, Wesleyan with Williams, Nichols, Eastern Conn, so on and so forth, give us a chance to evaluate these teams against NCAA tournament quality, or close to it, opposition.. Some years the teams are good, and some years the teams aren't. Just the way it goes.

[nescac1]

A bunch of NESCAC hoops commits, some previously noted here, some not, listed on this account (which also fails to include some of the names mentioned here, I believe).  Including two Hamilton recruits noted who I don't think were previously mentioned:

https://twitter.com/NESCACCOMMITS

Dorion (ranked 17th in MA by NERR) seems like a steal for Trinity.  Colby must be bummed he got away, given the connection to the program!  Trinity has brought in a lot of quality guards between last year's and this year's (two other commits besides Dorion) recruiting classes. 

[SpringSt7]

Alright, fine--I'll take the bait and throw this out there while we wait for teams to return and games to be played once again:

1. Middlebury
2. Colby
3. Amherst
4. Hamilton
5. Tufts
6. Williams
7. Wesleyan
8. Trinity
9. Bates
10. Bowdoin
11. Conn College

[nescac1]

Another tough loss in a 50-50 game for the Ephs, 0 for 3 in these games that have gone down to the wire, I'm sure the Ephs are frustrated, but they just have to keep plugging away.

The biggest things that went wrong in this game -- way, way too many open corner 3's.  Guys helping way too often off of stellar shooters in the corner, including Brown, McDevitt, and Echevarria, all of whom had way too many wide open easy looks in the corner.  A tiny, quick team like this is going to beat you off the dribble at times, but when they do, let little guys try to make a play in the paint off the dribble, and stop helping off elite distance shooters!  Also way, way too many fouls.  The refs were calling it tight, and there were a number of truly phantom calls, but still, you have to recognize how the game is being called and try to avoid giving free points off touch fouls that aren't even affecting the course of play.

Cole Prowitt-Smith was simply awesome for the Ephs, with 28 points and 4 boards.  Only 1 assist, but frankly he should have had more like 4-5 if guys had converted off some good looks.  He had a ferocious two-handed jam while getting fouled, some really tough deep step-back 3's and long 2's (a lost art for the latter!), aggressive drives into the lane, and a tremendous charge drawn.  He keeps getting better. 

Karp had 16-10-2 but the story for him was only 9 shot attempts.  Williams HAS to find a way to get him more shots in the paint especially against a team as small as this. Endicott had no answer for the Ephs inside but Williams failed to exploit it enough.  Too many possessions with subpar shooters launching difficult 3's early in the shot clock instead of working the ball into the paint.  Feinberg, Jovan, Babek, Arnold, Spivy all had huge size advantages over their men but didn't get nearly enough opportunities close to the rim. 

Great to see Spivy back healthy and looking like the Spivy we expected to see all year, 14 points and 4-7 from 3, with a smooth three point stroke on display.  He played very few minutes unfortunately due to some REALLY touch foul calls on him in particular. 

Hopefully the Ephs learn from this one and start playing up to the level they are capable of on both ends, this team has a lot of good pieces, it just hasn't QUITE come together just yet.  Karp, Spivy and Cole need to be the "big 3" scorers for Williams and take the bulk of the shots.  Jovan and Babek are the best facilitators and need to focus on that role first and foremost, while being complementary scorers as well.  Feinberg provides the grit and hustle plays and needs to score a bit more in the paint for the Ephs, especially off cuts.  The remaining frosh all do good things on the floor but just need to hopefully start hitting a slightly higher percentage, collectively, as they continue to adjust to the tighter shooting windows in the college game.  The makings of a good team are there, but the question is, will it ever come together this season?

[JEFFFAN]

Pretty sure that Baruch isn't much of a test for the Jeffs, but a win is a win etc.   interesting that they continue to get so much productivity from Garrett Day and so little production from Grant Robinson.   No way to know but it seems reasonable to assume that Robinson isn't healthy and might not be for the forseeable future, unless - and this is possible - the coaching staff has opted to use him differently than Hixon did.  He did play 26 minutes so it isn't like he is not playing meaningful minutes.   Also, great to see really nice production from the oft-injured McCarthy!