MBB: NESCAC

[frank uible]

Them NESCAC alums are well known to be clueless.

[walzy31]

Fletch played in 32 of 32 games last year, averaging 14.4 mins per game, 7 points per game (6th highest on the team) and scored 7 points in the national championship game in only 8 minutes.

[nothinbutnet]

Heard a rumor that Amherst has picked up a Freshman 6'7'' player that has D1 potential.  Can anyone varify this information and is this kid legit or just a stiff?

[lemonjello]

I'm guessing that you're referring to Kurt Bennett.  He's gotten a lot of hype, but we won't know how good he is until he steps on the court (and on this Amherst team, that may not be very often).  If he gets any regular PT this season, that would indicate that he's a pretty impressive player.

[senatorfrost]

 Last year had some very very close games. You say I was overly pessimistic and I say I was realistic. I don't believe I ever picked anyone else to win. I thought it would be close and it was. Yes they wiped up the weaksters but Tufts took them to OT. Trinity beat them, Midd came real close. Rudin went out with 2 min left or it might have been a slightly closer game. When the Ephs had incorporated the two frosh they beat Amherst AT Amherst.
   Once they got to the NCAA there were two good teams. When I say good I mean teams that could have competed succesfully in NESCAC. Yes Va. Wes. probably could have but they looked beyond awful until it was too late. Bad night? Pressure of repeating? Amherst was great? Maybe but the real good teams in NESCAC were able to stand up to Amherst pretty successfully. If Trinity doesn't lose to Bowdoin then Trinity might have been NESCAC champ. Amherst fully understands that with the selection process the way it is there are NO days off.
   Yes Amherst has some really tall guys. Check out the last two final fours and see what the opposing center did to Amherst. The guy from Wooster was 9-10 and the Va. Wes guy was 7-9. Wasn't much better the year before. In addition I don't remember The Eph center being unable to compete. Very good smaller teams managed somehow. It's not as devastating as it first appears to be.
   I haven't seen Wheeler in a pressure situation. I am assuming he can handle it. It would really be nice if Goldsmith regained his form. I think all Amherst fans and some others are rooting for him.
   Reverse alley oop? Yes it gets the crowd going but a good team can and did defend it very well more than once. It's a nice showpiece no question. You say I am overestimating the problem? I don't think I am. Maybe when the time comes we can arrange for each of us to back our convictions.

[senatorfrost]

 Friar-You say I'm insane? Well that's okay you also say Bennett is more than he is. He won't play much unless there are injuries, however if you enjoy picturing him as a ROY I certainly won't even try to discourage you. Go Bennett!
  Casnocha used to shoot from outside a lot and so did Wheeler when they were on the floor together and one of them was the four. I saw the legend play as a Soph. Teams left him wide open and he was a so so shooter in spite of being given more time than most of the others. (Bedford, Olson, Wheeler, Casnocha et. al) When it came to crunch time at the end he played almost not at all. So it appears that Hixon did not think of him as a legend at that point.
   The next year he started as the #3. He looked good against some of the weaksters but against Trinity and Brandeis Hixon gave him an early hook. You say he has zero interest in playing inside and I agree. It's my opinion that if one day he woke up and said that from now on he was going inside and he was going to be really! aggressive, then I believe he could perform at an all conference level. He jumps high and he jumps quick.
     I think there is a small chance that he has worked on his shot and that it is now perfected. I would hope that he practiced working on his shot off the dribble and that he can now release it in an instant. Tremendous talent but all the eloquent waxing in the world will not erase what I have seen so far. It's not that he is a bad player. On the contrary he's a nice NESCAC player. It's just that he can still be something very special but this is his last chance.
   Fletcher Walters was as you say and in addition he had no compunction about scrapping for rebounds. A very entertaining and talented player. As I remember on defense he was around the basket a lot.

[walzy31]

Senator,

I don't think I am off base in saying that you are overly critiquing a 30-2 national championship team that returns enormous amounts of talent and experience.

Amherst outscored their opponents by 20.5 ppg last year, but that doesn't mean they won't play in some close games...or even lose one or two!!!

These kids aren't perfect, but they were the best in D3 during the 06-07 season, and they look to be the best in D3 again this season. You should join Stephen A Smith and critique LeBron's selfishness, Ray Allen having too quick of a release, and Kevin Durant taking too many shots.

[NESCACAlumn]

Fletch played in 32 of 32 games last year, averaging 14.4 mins per game, 7 points per game (6th highest on the team) and scored 7 points in the national championship game in only 8 minutes.

? what was the reason for this?

[nescac1]

Williams season preview:

http://williams.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2007-08/news/0708outlook1115

Looks like Paulsen shares Toad's enthusiasm for Dodson's potential.  Considering all the front court depth the Ephs return, if the young guys are threatening to break into the rotation, that speak volumes about their talent.   Seems like there are fewer established bench options, other than Golia, on the perimeter, but hopefully Rubin and/or Hardy can step up -- both can certainly light it up from the perimeter if hot. 

[JustAFan]

Tufts Daily has a preseason preview of the Jumbos, who appear very confident, shorter link,and of their two freshmen, shorter link.

I saw Sam Mason, one of the freshmen from Phillips Exeter, play a couple of times last year. He's going to be a good one and would contribute this year on most teams but he's got a lot of Jumbo upperclassmen ahead of him this year. Looks like he gave up soccer to focus just on basketball at Tufts after being the leading scorer on Exeter's soccer team last year, which plays in a very competitive league, so you know he has some foot skills and is quick and athletic in addition to being 6-4.  I haven't seen the frosh point guard play but his high school, while terrific academically, plays in a very weak NYC private school league, so I don't anticipate any meaningful contributions from him this year.

[JustAFan]

The Trinity season preview also has been posted, although it's a pretty skinny effort, and Pat Martin is NOT back: http://www.trincoll.edu/athletics/main.aspx?mode=outlook&t_id=2.  I've always found this site notoriously slow to load. No roster has been posted yet.

[senatorfrost]

Walzy-I honestly think you are being too sensitive. First of all what I primarily meant to convey was that this year's team should not be regarded as 'Obvious' to win the NESCAC title. I was noting the losses and that I consider them significant. I also have not seen ready replacements in the areas that I am concerned about.
  I can see where you think I was overly critical but it was in response to writings/opinions that I thought went too far at the other end. These are players and this is basketball. I would not put my critiques on the same plane as your NBA analogies. I happen to firmly believe that it will be very close between Amherst and Williams this year. I do NOT view Amherst as anywhere near overwhelming as some seem to.
   If one wants to go back in time and point out how Amherst has shrugged off losses of great players and come back as good or better than ever-that's fine and true. However, this year is different. This year a team that showed it was in the same league as Amherst gets everyone back. In other years other good teams had significant losses also.
   2003-Demuth-Folan
   2004-Coffin etc
    2005-Halas=2d Team all NESCAC)
    2006-Rhoten-Martin
    2007-Williams loses nothing so I hardly see Amherst as obvious.

[senatorfrost]

 One more point-I view it that there is always room for improvement no matter how good you are. I would bet that Coach Hixon is constantly working with players, trying to make them better, to improve their game etc. Just because a team wins a title does not mean progress stops.
  I mean nothing personal-it is my hope that every player improves and that Amherst repeats. You seem to be taking some of my comments personally. Maybe a little?
  I haven't changed since the times I used to go semi crazy that people rated you know who above Bedford.

[La Verdad]

Here's the latest from Amherst...

Hearing good things about Reggie Fuggett after his first few days practicing with the team.  He gives Amherst the big, physical post player that they haven't had in a while.  Hixon will be glad to have him once the class of 08 is gone.

Lord Jeff Nation had a scary moment earlier this week when Andrew Olson rolled his ankle.  X-rays were negative, but he was walking around in a boot for the past few days.  He was running around at practice today, but don't be surprised  if he doesn't play this weekend.  Look for Bradley to get the start at pg, but expect Meehan to get some serious burn.

The Ken Wright Classic doesn't usually feature the strongest competition, and I'm sure this year is no exception.  That being said, I've heard rumors that Hunter might put up a bit of a fight tomorrow.  Apparently they have 3 juco transfers with good size and athleticism, so it could be a better game than some expect. 

[nescac1]

Even without Olson, no way anyone on Amherst's early schedule stays within 25 (Hunter's biggest guy is 6'5 ... good luck).  Better hope he is healthy for the  Brandeis away game though (and I think everyone wants to see those two teams going at it at full strength), Brandeis would certainly be favored if Olson is limited ... I imagine Hixon will err on the side of caution and keep him on the bench if there is any doubt whatsoever about the ankle. 

Interesting re: Fuggett.  So the question is, who is the best incoming tight end / basketball combo  in the conference, J. Carroll, S. Wirth, or Fuggett?  Fuggett got the most hype being a Div I transfer and son of an NFL'er, but after round one, Williams' Carroll has the edge following a very impressive football debut ...

Most interesting games today, Bates playing a solid St. Lawrence team, and Williams playing a solid Ursinus team led by all american Nick Shattuck and a Division I transfer at guard (each is the favorite in their respective conferences).  Should be an interesting barometer of just how far Bates needs to go after losing the great senior class, and just how far Williams has come from last season's early-year fiascos.  Both should be competitive games.