MBB: NESCAC

[walzy31]

Congrats to Ben Rudin for being named one of the guards on D3hoops.com's Team of the Week.

[CCsalive]

So, what is the exact schedule for this weekend? What day/time are the games and is d3cast going to be available?

I think I'm going to have to DVR the MAtch Play Golf and watch the games so that I can get back to being my usual sarcastic, yet deeply passionate self because I believe in a little something called a boy, a ball, and a dream...in fact those were my six words in the Golf Digest US Open Contest for 2009 you know the thing I'm talking about...last year it was a 100-word essay, but this year it's a 6 word contest plus a video, but no video from me cuz I don't even know what d3cast is and I'm only 30 yrs old. A boy, a ball, and a dream is a Dickie V line, which you guys would know if any of you watched sports!

Tonight I will be at a Skyline Quaterfinal because my first cousin plays fro SUNY Maritime. His name is Tim Dougherty and he played for the legendary Tim Leary at St. Francis Prep is Queens. LEt me tell you, the kid can play hoops and I don't mean double-pump jam 'Nique style (Old Guy-Dominique Wilkins was an Atlanta Hawk in the 1980's...he would own Bob Petit...there's a thing called youtube...type Human Highlight Film) I mean Matt Hunt, Ben Rudin, Charles Stone, Bryce Drew, Chris Herron, Adrian Autry, John Bedford, Brian Cardinal, Ernie DiGregorio...I mean he plays the " I know this game and I'm gonna slice you, dice you, and leave it all on the floor even though the man above didn't grant me NBA skills-style" that we all know and love.

Is anyone else going to a game tonight?

That's it- you're all invited to my place for March Madness.

CAN YOU FEEL IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??

[nescac1]

I'd exclude Chris Herron from that list -- I realize he is a white point guard and all, but the dude had SERIOUS athletic ability ...

yes, d3cast will be available, games at 2 and 4 on Saturday ...

[lefrakenstein]

So, what is the exact schedule for this weekend? What day/time are the games and is d3cast going to be available?

I think I'm going to have to DVR the MAtch Play Golf and watch the games so that I can get back to being my usual sarcastic, yet deeply passionate self because I believe in a little something called a boy, a ball, and a dream...in fact those were my six words in the Golf Digest US Open Contest for 2009 you know the thing I'm talking about...last year it was a 100-word essay, but this year it's a 6 word contest plus a video, but no video from me cuz I don't even know what d3cast is and I'm only 30 yrs old. A boy, a ball, and a dream is a Dickie V line, which you guys would know if any of you watched sports!

Tonight I will be at a Skyline Quaterfinal because my first cousin plays fro SUNY Maritime. His name is Tim Dougherty and he played for the legendary Tim Leary at St. Francis Prep is Queens. LEt me tell you, the kid can play hoops and I don't mean double-pump jam 'Nique style (Old Guy-Dominique Wilkins was an Atlanta Hawk in the 1980's...he would own Bob Petit...there's a thing called youtube...type Human Highlight Film) I mean Matt Hunt, Ben Rudin, Charles Stone, Bryce Drew, Chris Herron, Adrian Autry, John Bedford, Brian Cardinal, Ernie DiGregorio...I mean he plays the " I know this game and I'm gonna slice you, dice you, and leave it all on the floor even though the man above didn't grant me NBA skills-style" that we all know and love.

Is anyone else going to a game tonight?

That's it- you're all invited to my place for March Madness.

CAN YOU FEEL IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??

The Bryce Drew reference made this officially my favorite post in the history of d3hoops.com. If you had added Matt Maloney it would have been absolutely perfect.

[lefrakenstein]

Prediction: Barring injury, Jeff Holmes will end his career as Amherst College's all-time leading rebounder.

The current career mark of 844 belongs to Doug Hawkins '56. If Holmes continues at his current average (5.6 per game) for the rest of the season he will have around 700 to go with three years to play. That's 233 a year or about 7.7 per game assuming 30 games a year (which is actually below Amherst's average games/year over the last 6 years). If you figure Holmes ups his playing time to average 25 min/game for the rest of his career (again, I believe this to be a conservative number), and maintains his rebounding efficiency (possibly conservative considering he will likely get better at rebounding as he fills in his frame and naturally improves), he will finish with over 850 rebounds.

[jbergman]

Prediction: Barring injury, Jeff Holmes will end his career as Amherst College's all-time leading rebounder.

The current career mark of 844 belongs to Doug Hawkins '56. If Holmes continues at his current average (5.6 per game) for the rest of the season he will have around 700 to go with three years to play. That's 233 a year or about 7.7 per game assuming 30 games a year (which is actually below Amherst's average games/year over the last 6 years). If you figure Holmes ups his playing time to average 25 min/game for the rest of his career (again, I believe this to be a conservative number), and maintains his rebounding efficiency (possibly conservative considering he will likely get better at rebounding as he fills in his frame and naturally improves), he will finish with over 850 rebounds.

I, too, believe that Holmes is an outstanding rebounder and will prove to be a dominant force in NESCAC during his next 3 years.

But when you compare the stats of different generations, you need to consider that the players of the 50's and 60's and 70's : (1) only played about 18 to 20 games per season and (2) only had 3 years on the varsity, with freshmen being ineligible in that era.  Assuming that Doug Hawkins '56 played 60 varsity games, he averaged over 14 rebounds per game.  Is 14 rebs per game within Holmes' capability?  From what I've seen of Holmes, maybe it's possible during the course of his junior and/or senior years when his body matures and he gets stronger.  But it's probably not going to happen over the course of his entire 4-yr career.

[lefrakenstein]

Prediction: Barring injury, Jeff Holmes will end his career as Amherst College's all-time leading rebounder.

The current career mark of 844 belongs to Doug Hawkins '56. If Holmes continues at his current average (5.6 per game) for the rest of the season he will have around 700 to go with three years to play. That's 233 a year or about 7.7 per game assuming 30 games a year (which is actually below Amherst's average games/year over the last 6 years). If you figure Holmes ups his playing time to average 25 min/game for the rest of his career (again, I believe this to be a conservative number), and maintains his rebounding efficiency (possibly conservative considering he will likely get better at rebounding as he fills in his frame and naturally improves), he will finish with over 850 rebounds.

I, too, believe that Holmes is an outstanding rebounder and will prove to be a dominant force in NESCAC during his next 3 years.

But when you compare the stats of different generations, you need to consider that the players of the 50's and 60's and 70's : (1) only played about 18 to 20 games per season and (2) only had 3 years on the varsity, with freshmen being ineligible in that era.  Assuming that Doug Hawkins '56 played 60 varsity games, he averaged over 14 rebounds per game.  Is 14 rebs per game within Holmes' capability?  From what I've seen of Holmes, maybe it's possible during the course of his junior and/or senior years when his body matures and he gets stronger.  But it's probably not going to happen over the course of his entire 4-yr career.

I doubt 14 rebounds/game is within Holmes' reach, but I wasn't making any comment about the relative impressiveness of Hawkins' career and Holmes' potential career. Just pointing out that Holmes has a shot to break the record.

[nescac1]

A few Amherst -- Williams fun facts.  The rivalry could not be any more even ...

Williams vs. Amherst all-time favors Williams 112-86.  But since 1996 (the beginning of the era when the two schools combined to dominate New England hoops), Williams' overall record vs. Amherst: 15-21.  Amherst has the edge overall during that time period, but Williams has the edge in big games: 3-0 in NCAA tourney play, and 3-2 in NESCAC tourney games (including 3-0 in NESCAC title games).   Since NESCAC schools were eligible for NCAA's, the schools have been basically even and usually very competitive in any given year, except that Williams was fairly dominant in the Nogelo era, and Amherst was fairly dominant in the Olson era.  Each has played in four final fours, winning one and finishing second in another.  Amherst has won four conference titles, Williams three.  Williams has, I believe, ended Amherst's season twice, both in the NCAA's (would be three but for the third place game), and I believe Amherst has ended Williams' season once, in a NESCAC tourney.  A loss for Williams Saturday would certainly make that twice.  Record on neutral courts: 1-1, of course. 

[old_hooper]

The Wheeler factor really plays into this one.  His absents in the last game and all others missed was a major blow to the Jeffs.  He has played well against the Ephs and his double digit contributions forces a defense to play differently where they must extend the floor.  Ephs defense in the last game was the difference.  If Wheeler can score more then 15 points in this one it will spell trouble for the Ephs.

[fpc85]

A few Amherst -- Williams fun facts.  The rivalry could not be any more even ...

Williams vs. Amherst all-time favors Williams 112-86.  But since 1996 (the beginning of the era when the two schools combined to dominate New England hoops), Williams' overall record vs. Amherst: 15-21. 

You can thank the '08 in the overall difference in record. I believe they only lost once Williams. I think the loss refocused the Jeffs that year...thank you Shalvoy and company.

[ac08]

...and that loss still stings.

[Hugenerd]

http://www.ncaa.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/ncaa/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/DIIIMBK22509Regional

New regional rankings out.


Brandeis skips over Amherst this week. Bowdoin enters at 10.  Everything else unchanged it appears.

That does not bode well for Amherst, though.  As long as Brandeis beats NYU this week, that means that Brandeis would have to get a Pool C before Amherst would get one (since these are the official rankings that the NCAA uses).  Looks like Amherst may need to win the NESCAC tourney to get into this year's field.

[BornBalla]

Can NYU beat Brandeis? If Brandeis wins, would you say they are a lock. I would think no one wants to face them in first round of NCAA's. It would probably be a good match too because Brandeis has a lower region ranking.

[Hugenerd]

Can NYU beat Brandeis? If Brandeis wins, would you say they are a lock. I would think no one wants to face them in first round of NCAA's. It would probably be a good match too because Brandeis has a lower region ranking.

I would not say Brandeis is a lock at all.  What I would say is that Amherst really really needs to win their tourney if they want a good shot at the NCAAs, because this weeks rankings wouldnt make me feel very good if I were an Amherst supporter.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Can NYU beat Brandeis? If Brandeis wins, would you say they are a lock. I would think no one wants to face them in first round of NCAA's. It would probably be a good match too because Brandeis has a lower region ranking.

No team with eight regional losses can ever be considered a lock.  In fact, I don't think any team with eight regional losses has ever made it in (except as AQ, of course; or pool B in really bad years).