MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Reynolds definitely seems to be Sears' guy ... he was committed to Columbia when Sears was an assistant coach there (and frankly would be a pretty major stretch for an Ivy League player, at his size).  Sears seems to be relying more and more on his own recruits, which is not shocking for a coach taking over a program.  He certainly has some good young players -- Scherer is looking better by the game, and seems like he has massive upside at center, Sears is obviously high on Ryker Vance considering he started over more experienced options at forward, Noah Helmke is starting to come on as well, plus of course Reynolds.  I would bet that those four guys are all starting next year for Amherst.  The downside of course is that frosh are going to be inconsistent -- Reynolds was really good in the first Williams-Amherst game, not so good last night. 

There are a LOT of great frosh classes in NESCAC this year (helped in part by some guys taking COVID gap years).  Williams, Wesleyan, Amherst and Midd in particular have loaded first-year classes ... it's highly unusual that the four top teams in the league are all heavily reliant on first-year players.  But amazingly, every team in the league has at least one frosh making a major impact in the starting lineup (maybe not a full-time starter, but at least starting a handful of games).  I'm not sure if this will go down the best NESCAC frosh class ever, but it's certainly the most immediately impactful in terms of sheer number of guys being heavily relied upon, everywhere.  Heck, half of the point guards in the league seem to be first-years, which is especially unusual.  A good sign for the league's future, even if there are some real growing pains and uneven play this year. 

[SpringSt7]

Should be a big key this weekend against Sobel. Nate was only 2/6 inside the three point line last night against Scherer and crew, and Sobel is even more of a challenge so I don't think Williams can expect to score effectively on his post ups.

I would push back on this. Being a great shot blocker and a great post defender are not the same thing. The only other big Sobel has really faced this year was Skoric from Skidmore and he had 22 points. It was a million years ago but when Sobel last faced Williams, he had 6 blocks in 18 minutes but got torched by Karp who had maybe 14 of his 18 on him. Again, way different player.

Sobel will be a huge factor on Saturday but I expect Karren, who is juuuuuust a touch bigger than Sobel, to get good looks down low.

[Greek Tragedy]

Saw an amusing article ranking the nescac mascots.

https://thebatesstudent.com/22896/uncategorized/ranking-the-nescac-mascot-costumes-an-emotional-and-spiritual-journey/#

[Colby Hoops]

Should be a big key this weekend against Sobel. Nate was only 2/6 inside the three point line last night against Scherer and crew, and Sobel is even more of a challenge so I don't think Williams can expect to score effectively on his post ups.

I would push back on this. Being a great shot blocker and a great post defender are not the same thing. The only other big Sobel has really faced this year was Skoric from Skidmore and he had 22 points. It was a million years ago but when Sobel last faced Williams, he had 6 blocks in 18 minutes but got torched by Karp who had maybe 14 of his 18 on him. Again, way different player.

Sobel will be a huge factor on Saturday but I expect Karren, who is juuuuuust a touch bigger than Sobel, to get good looks down low.

All good points, although I thought Sobel really impacted Jack Lawson in the Colby game a lot (obviously Karren is a different level player than Lawson). Larger point is that Karren's ability to stretch to three is big for Williams, even pulling Sobel away from the hoop for others to drive is important.

[SpringSt7]

I worry that eventually some team will wisen up when they play Williams and leave Jovan Jones borderline unguarded off the ball. He's 7-24 from 3 (29%) and 2 for his last 15. If he is wide open the entire game he could probably drill a couple but if you're playing percentages you might as well just leave him alone.

If I was Jeff Brown I would put Sobel on Jones and have him stay in the paint the entire game, and put the smaller but more athletic Brennan on Karren. Sobel can help on all of the Princeton cuts and then come over from the weak side to block shots when Karren tries to post up.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It's a good idea. Jones can really get up a head of steam on a drive, though. I'd be worried about foul trouble.

[SpringSt7]

He can get a head of steam on drives but he struggles to score at the rim as well. If he wasn't such a good defender and Brandon Roughley was a little further along in his progression as a good young player, you would imagine their minutes would have flipped a little more by now.

[toad22]

Jovan is a very high level defender, excellent rebounder, and really knows how to play basketball. Over his first two years he has been at his best against the best players in the biggest games. I know he can be frustrating at times, but it would be a mistake to keep him on the bench.

[Middfan]

Nice article from the local town of Middlebury newspaper.  It focuses on Alex Sobel and his journey to this point.  Some additional insight is offered on the young team's chemistry.  The article inadvertently brings up an interesting point, that Sobel is slated to graduate in February of 2023.
https://www.addisonindependent.com/2022/01/20/junior-forward-powers-panther-mens-hoop/

[SpringSt7]

Jovan is a very high level defender, excellent rebounder, and really knows how to play basketball. Over his first two years he has been at his best against the best players in the biggest games. I know he can be frustrating at times, but it would be a mistake to keep him on the bench.

I'm not saying he should be on the bench. I'm saying if Roughley was a little further along development wise as an offensive player, he would probably be eating into his minutes a little bit more. But he isn't, so Jovan continues to play and play well.

[middhoops]

Nice article from the local town of Middlebury newspaper.  It focuses on Alex Sobel and his journey to this point.  Some additional insight is offered on the young team's chemistry.  The article inadvertently brings up an interesting point, that Sobel is slated to graduate in February of 2023.
https://www.addisonindependent.com/2022/01/20/junior-forward-powers-panther-mens-hoop/

Thanks for the link.  Just a minor correction, I think Sobel graduates in Feb of '24, not next year.

[Middfan]

Thanks Hoops for the correction.  I like the sounds of that much much better.

[nescac1]

Interesting that Sobel graduates in February 2024 (per the article) but I still believe that next year is his last year of eligibility.  He played 11 games his sophomore year which is I think 2-3 too many to get that year back.  So, next year would be his fourth full year of eligibility, none of which were COVID years.  If I'm mistaken, I'm sure a Midd fan will correct me.  Certainly, with the rest of the key players frosh/sophomores, Midd would be pretty darn loaded in 23-24 if Sobel was still around. 

More generally, the NESCAC players of note who seem to have an extra year of eligibility beyond the class year they are listed on their rosters include Sam Peek, Wesleyan's Nick Osarenren and Eric Anderson and the Bates trio of Stephen Baxter, Omar Sarr and Jacob Iwowo.  Based at least on their class listings, all of them it seems stayed on campus during their COVID years.  It will be interesting to see what they do with that extra year of eligibility.  If Peek were to return to Wesleyan next year, the Cards would likely start the year as top-5 type of team, nationally. 

[nescac1]

Some interesting Wesleyan tidbits here.  First, Peek had been on COVID protocol which explains - predictably - his recent run of missed games.  Second, Peek is returning to Wesleyan as a grad student next year.  That means that Nescac could start next season with at least two pre-season all-Americans (Peek and Sobel should both be locks) and three top 25 teams.  Williams and Wesleyan, if they keep playing at this level, could be pre-season top 5 teams next year, given that both will bring back all of their top scorers and most of their rotation, and both have great frosh classes that should be even more impactful next season.  Midd of course brings back everyone and adds a strong recruiting class to the mix. 

https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/amp/Super-confident-Wesleyan-men-s-16772437.php

[jayhawk]

anticipate Amherst may start 3 or 4 freshman next week
the players recruited have complementary skills
Giovanni Tam is a true 6'10" center with excellent footwork around the basket but can hit a standing short at the top of the key\
Charlie Randall iks a 7'0' player who can hit the 3 point shot and shot inside and terrifc  shotblocker who I anticipate will play the strong forward (4)spot

Drew Martin is a 6'7' wing-2 guard who gotten very strong recruiting notes , not as much love from NERR, two or three years ago he was a 6'1" guard , so he can shoot the three, hit the runner and rebound

Chris Hammond 6'6" forward is an extremely strong and atheltic (tight end in football) with a quick release jumpshot from behine the three long line and excellent jumping

Note that both Drew Martin and Charlie Randall are postgrads so they are more like college freshman
'Giovanni TAm plays on one of the best high school teams in America so his daily practice is good practice for college

lots more shooting and scoring and intriguing size