MBB: NESCAC

[booyakasha]

I'm guessing it might look like this:

1st team: Cohen (POY), Olson, Ray, Kelly, P. Martin
2nd team: Pierce, Farrell, Stone, Wheeler, Rose

With Bowdoin and Midd being snubbed. I don't think you anyone from Bowdoin or Midd has the numbers to replace the guys up there.This isn't necessarily fair, since both Bowdoin and Midd (especially Midd) had relatively good seasons, but it would be tough to justify an individual from one of the two teams replacing the above players. They got their recognition as team (Midd-4th place, Bowdoin-knocked off Trin and Bates, chance to get Trin again) and have a chance to do some damage in the more important realm.

I also think one of the two Bates seniors will get snubbed due to the poor conference performance, and it won't be Ray who statistically had a excellent Jan/Feb.

I think it would be tough for Amherst to get 3 onboard given the number of players in the league this year that are critical to their team's performance. If there were more teams like Bowdoin and Midd, then maybe, but when guys from the bottom dwellers take up spots (like Kelly definitely will, and possibly Stone), it is tough to bump out the studs of teams 2-8 for Amherst 3rd guy.

As far as POY goes I think it is up for grabs between Cohen and Olson, but I think Cohen will get votes from at least 3 sources: Colby, Bates, Tufts. He had a huge game against Bates, and the best performance of anyone all year at Tufts with the great stats and big block up 1 with 12 seconds left on Weitzen.

[La Verdad]

Am I the only one that doesn't understand why Cohen is being considered for POY?  The dude has two huge games against the 7th and 8th best teams in the conferenfce and now everyone is annointing him POY.  Take those two games away and he's averaging 9pts 7 boards an and 3 blocks...POY?  Get real.  Is he a good player?  Yes.  Defensive player of the year?  Probably.  But POY?  No way.  Mr.Mike has a better chance of calling games with Dickie V next year. 

[formerbant10]

Conference POY isn't just for conference play.  I see your point...he didn't have as good a year as expected by most, but he has had some very dominating games.

And he will most likely be DPOY...easily leading in Blocked Shots and Defensive Rebounds.

[WeezyFBaby]

I agree with Weezy Wheeler is NOT a first team all -nescac , for that matter
neither is Baskauskas . Enough Amherst biased picks !!

i never said anything about wheeler not being first team. he's a terrific player who belongs there. there is nothing biased about saying olson and wheeler are 1st team, and i'm not an amherst fan. i don't even think it's biased to put baskauskas on there. it's not outrageous to reward the best team in the league with 3 spots, if they're worthy. this year, however, i think there are too many guys who deserve it above him.

i agree with la verdad, there is no way cohen can be POY. farrell carried that team more than cohen did. olson, wheeler, and farrell would have to be put ahead of cohen with olson ultimately winning it.

nescachoops- midd's gym will be rocking. i encourage you to come up for the game, maybe we can show you the good time you never had at Williams Academy for the Socially Inept. hell, maybe we can even get you to kiss a girl. bring some money though, just in case.

1st Team: Olson, Wheeler, Farrell, Kelly, Stockwell
2nd Team: Weitzen, Rose, Cohen, P. Martin, Harris
POY: Andrew Olson
ROY: Tim Edwards (unless Pierce is eligible then it goes to him)
DPOY: Cohen although McLaughlin, Ray, and Hoar (who nobody talks about) are right behind him.
Coach of the Year: Jeff Brown from Midd

[formerbant10]

DPOY: Cohen although McLaughlin, Ray, and Hoar (who nobody talks about) are right behind him.
Coach of the Year: Jeff Brown from Midd

+1 Karma for mentioning Mike Hoar.  Playing as an undersized post player, he has done a great job on the top post players of the opposing teams.  He also did the best job on Tyler Rhoten that anyone did in the 3 years they played together....but nobody outside the team saw that because it was usually in pick-up or practice.

I know I'm biased towards the Bants...but I find it strange that Pat Martin is getting more love than Russ Martin for All-Conference honors.  Personally I think both should be on....but it'll be tough to narrow it down to 10 choices.  I wouldn't be surprised if there are some ties this year.

[ajsnc13]

Here are my predictions for this weekend's games and a list of about 20 players who could make some sort of arugment as an All-NESCAC player....

Amherst 82- Bates 74
Trinity 70- Bowdoin 71
Williams 83- Tufts 81
Middlebury 80- Colby 84

Heres my list of good players and in order
1. Olson- Great, enough said
2. Stockwell- POY if on a better team
3. Farrell- lights out, much improved player
4. Cohen- DPOY, changes the game on both ends
5. Stone- Only reason his team wins any games
6. Kelly- Best player on team, gets it done
7. Wheeler- Big part of a great team
8. Taylor- underrated and caused tough matchups for every team
9. P. Martin- good, solid player, leads a great team
10. Ray- down year, but proven player
11. Rose- Good shooter, best player on the 3rd best team
12. Bradley- best player on team, good solid point guard
13. Shalvoy- tough, good point guard on a good team
14. Weitzen- good season, team underachieved
15. R. Martin- scores, force inside
16. Hippert- Great shooter, good scorer
17. Clarke- quick, can score at will
18. Sheppard- good floor leader, good defender
19. Harris- great season on a good team
20. Baskauskas- good player on a great team

Im sure I forgot some players from schools like Middlebury, Tufts, and Amherst, but this is my opinion of the top 20 and I would be surprised if anyone made an all-league team that is not on this list...

[Agent_Zero]

come on aj, i mean im a little tufts biased but leaving off pierce and okeefe from your "top 20". hell, pierce has had a better statistical season than about 15 people on your list. hope thats just an egregious oversight on your part...

[ajsnc13]

You're right they both should be on the list...my apologies...Pierce is hurt by the fact that I do not believe he even starts though...but they both deserve to make the list...

[eclinchy]

True, Pierce has never started a game, but neither did Weitzen last year, and I don't think anyone kept him out of the top 20 then.

Besides, you have Bausko on your list, and he's only started half a season because Coulibaly's out.

[hoopjunkie]

The only problem I have with O`keefe is that his shooting percentage is awful both overall & 3`s
also he never has assists . Pierce also is a good scorer but never passes to make his teamates better.

Good Tufts win tonight over Umass - Boston . Weitzen leads the way with 22 points 11 rebs & 6 assists
a solid nights work.

[eclinchy]

Also congrats to Brian Fitzgerald on his first career double-double.  11 points and 12 boards.

junkie, I agree about O'Keefe, he takes a few too many shots.  Shep is probably the better guard at the moment, even though he doesn't score quite as much.  O'Keefe knows how to hit shots when it counts though.  They both have their strengths.

[WeezyFBaby]

formerbant- i think it's a toss up between russ and pat martin for who represents trinity on the all-league teams. it will be tough, because of this years parity, to have both of them appear. i mean you could argue that two of the best players in the league are on non-playoff teams (kelly and stone). that's real parity. i gave pat martin the edge because it looked like he carried his team in the biggest game of the season. obviously russ martin had no chance to show himself in that game due to injury, but the fact remains that p. martin could be the team mvp on the strength of that game alone (plus he hurt midd a lot).

[eclinchy]

Walzy: Ryan O'Keefe now has 964 career points for Tufts.  In your professional opinion, what are the odds he gets to 1000 this season?

[hoopjunkie]

eclinchy - hopefully when Tufts beats Williams Saturday O`Keefe will have at least 1 more game
& he averages 13 points a game so do the math .
I think to beat Williams the Jumbos need O`Keefe to score 15 or more .

When Pierce , Weitzen & O`Keefe shoot well the Jumbos win.

GO JUMBOS -

[formerbant10]

Bold prediction for Bowdoin beating the Bants in their gym.  I don't see it happening.