MBB: NESCAC

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

This was all the preseason debate.  Rhoten has to be the best player in the league.  He has been leading a very solid squad for most of his college career.  While the success of his team depends on the supporting cast (as Rhoten gets his numbers whether they win or lose) there can be a case made he's not the MVP of the conference, but in terms of talent and ability, I doubt there is a coach who wouldn't pick him first if they were starting from scratch.

[Voyeur]

FBant, I was just wondering what sort of athlete wouldn't choose the NESCAC titles and trips to the NCAAs over a higher ppg?  Maybe if Rhoten gave up the ball a little better he could get easier shots and would only have to take 12-15 in order to get his 20+ points.  It's hard to double a guy when he can pass as well.  I have a nephew who goes to Trinity and he said there were whispers that Taylor isn't playing this year because he does not want to be on the same court as Rhoten?  These whispers stemming from an alleged fistfight that occurred between the two last year.  Is there any truth to these statements as my nephew only heard rumors of it?

[formerbant10]

I don't know any type of athlete that wouldn't choose the wins over the points.

Right now, Trinity is shooting well enough from the outside for teams to stop doubling and tripling Rhoten when he gets the ball.  Also, if he got to the line more, he'd have fewer attempts as well. 

Drew33, both Williams and Trinity beat Springfield as well with Trinity having the most decisive victory of the three.  Trinity also opened up with a tough Cortland State team and then beat F&M in their own gym.  Get over the Hunter game.  Everyone knows that Tufts has played a tough schedule, that was brought up the day the schedule was released.  And remember that Tufts didn't just lose, they were soundly beaten.  Williams and Trinity have not had a bad loss like that yet.  It's way to early to tell where they all are.

Also, there's no way that Weitzen is #6 in the league right now.  I'd have to put Olson, Petrie and Chris Rose in front of him.  He's having a good year, but those 3 and maybe even Kino Clarke are having just as good of a year.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Drew,

First off, way to go with the call outs when you haven't even registered on the site.

Second, while I do agree that Tufts has played the toughest schedule (although Trinity's is underrated), it makes very little sense to call Endicott a bad team and Brandeis a good one, when Endicott has clearly been better the last year or two.  I'm just saying; it hurts your case a little bit.


Voyeur,

I've also heard rumors that Rhoten is tough to get along with if you're looking for a spotlight of your own, but role players love him.  I think a lot of that is the creation of the coaching staff though; they've made Rhoten into that type of player by the ways they have used him.  I also think passing more would have helped last season, when the supporting cast seemed to be better prepared to score, however this year's squad has been spotty and I'm not sure I'd pass up some sure scoring from Rhoten for a chance at streaky shooting elsewhere.  But that's just me.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Oh, and Sharif Abdur-Raheim would most definately take the points over the wins; he's made a career out of it.

[walzy31]

Drew33,

My only acknowledgement of you is to tell you that I do not acknowlege guests. Register and come on the site and talk smack on a somewhat consistent basis and then I will respond.

Doing a "NESCAC Fantasy Draft" would be pretty fun. You could do it just like all fantasy sports and go for stats...in which I would take Rhoten and Cohen one-two. Or you could do it like mentioned earlier and the coaches were picking players based on creating their own new team from scratch (Ridgewood boys one-two). Or you could pick players based on how many wins their team will get over the course of the current season...in which case picks one through twenty would be Amherst players.  : )

[Mr. Ypsi]

Oh, and Sharif Abdur-Raheim would most definately take the points over the wins; he's made a career out of it.

That, alas, is true of many NBA players, which may explain why the Pistons have been in the finals the last two years (winning once) despite having ZERO players on the all-star team - it's called valuing team over player!

[formerbant10]

Walzy, I like the idea of a NESCAC fantasy league.  I know they did a D3 football one this year.  Could be fun to think about for next year.

Mr. Ypsi, while that may be true of some players.  The pro game is very very different than the college game.  For the pro's its a job, and one that they could lose at any moment.  There are so many players waiting their turn to get in the game, the guys that are on the top have to work so much harder to stay at the top.  In college, the players still play for the love of the game, not to say that the pros don't.  But that's all the college kids have, is to win.  They don't collect game checks every week which ease the pain of losing.  The college game is not a business for the players, just the schools and coaches.  And it is a chance to represent something bigger than you and you form great bonds with your teammates and you'll never forget them.  And in your 4 year career you'll only have around 30 or so teammates.
In the pro game, especially in the lower levels (ABA, USBL...) you could have 30 teammates in the first 4 weeks. 
I understand your view of the NBA players, but I'll take the opportunity to defend them and every other pro ball player. 
It's impossible to compare the mindset/desire of the players at each level b/c they are competing for different things.   

[Mr. Ypsi]

former,

You raise legitimate points, and I may have been overly harsh on guys trying to keep their jobs, but, bottom line, the best team is likely to be the best TEAM!

Maybe pro coaches who can reconcile those competing motives (and, ovviously, many can't!) really do earn their millions.

[thunder32]

Im a first time post but have been reading the post for years.

Just wanted to say that I have seen Tufts play a few times this year and but havent had the chance to see any other teams play.  From what I have seen Tufts looks like it has improved dramatically even with the loss of Stovell.  Sheldon has done a good job with that team.  Any thoughts in the improvements with other teams in the league such as Bates or Conn college ( two teams i could see improving alot from last year due to their youth).

[Pat Coleman]

I think Drew33 actually registered and then chickened out and deleted his profile, leaving him as a guest.

[dman]

walzy,

   just wondering who you believe are the top 8 players on amherst who will actually play the majority of minutes when (and if) amherst gets in a tight game.  with all that talent, it seems like someone on that team will feel like they should be playing more.  so, who will be riding pine in crunch time??  also, is ray corrigan going to re-join the team??

[formerbant10]

Pat, when Drew33 was registered, I noticed his email had the name Weitzen in it and he was promoting Tufts quite a bit.  Just wondering if he was posting from Medford, MA or NYC?

[walzy31]

haha i would love it if drew33 was weitzen. i can understand how he would want to get in on the posting since a large percentage of the posts mention his name or team.

pat coleman is a legend. his posts rival the feeling people must get sitting down at a poker table and seeing phil ivey across from them. straight intimidation.

dman,

i will not give you a very detailed report about amherst (aka free scout), but i will rank who i think will be the 8 that play the most and the ones that just miss. but what makes us a great team is the fact that players won't get frustrated riding the pine. it is when teams with large rosters lose that creates tension from the players who feel they could better aid the team in winning.

1) Bedford 2) Wheeler 3) Casnocha 4) Olson 5) O'Shea 6) McLaughlin/Corrigan 7)Corrigan/McLaughlin 8)Adolphe

i moved olson from where he has been in the first 7 games (probably #1) to the 4th spot since ray ray corrigan is back in business. they will most likely split time.

players who will still play a lot (and possibly even in crunch time). Goldsmith & Hopkins

kinda ridiculously deep. 3rd five could qualify for nescac tourny. and yes, we have the best "point guard combo" in the country...if that even exists.

[formerbant10]

Walzy,

I wouldn't be surprised if Olson keeps the same amount of minutes as he had last year.  It's got to be tough for Coach Hixon to split the time between the two, but that's a great problem to have.

That top 8 is pretty good though, no matter who is running the point.