MBB: NESCAC

[formerbant10]

Of course im partial to my coaches.... as for the rest of the league we always thought that Joe Reilly does a great job recruiting.  I still don't know how anyone would want to play in Maine, 6 times was way more than enough for me.  Tough to argue against Hixon, his teams have consistently been very good going back to 2000.  I thought McDowell did a good job last year while only having 2 players on his team.  Looking from a talent standpoint, Trinity has recruited some very good players and taken a few that Williams wanted...but the reverse happened as well.  Roles for the assistants vary from team to team, so it is tough to tell who the best is.....but a former Williams assistant was heard saying he voted Sean Tabb coach of the year.

[ephoops]

how do you vote??

[formerbant10]

Seeing as though the football season begins I figure I'd throw out some predictions to spark a lil conversation maybe....

Trinity 9-0....won't look past winning the conference this year.  Two best offensive players in the conference on a very hungry team.  Watch out.
Amherst....has trouble against the Bants at home, but the ability to win big games everywhere.
Bates....not enough depth to handle the top 2.  Zak Ray no longer the best point guard in the NESCAC, but still very good.
Colby....going out on a limb, but I like Cohen and they played a lot of last year w/o him.  Westbrooks want to show little brother who's boss.
Williams....Chris Rose's breakout year, solid year from Newton will keep them from slipping.
Tufts....always manage to stay out of the basement, will do it again this year.
Bowdoin....need more than Petrie to get over the top, but its possible.
Wesleyan....if Ashe's back holds up from carrying them.  Going to be tough w/o Kelly down low.
Conn....need to learn how to play in tough games.  Stone needs to improve on a good rookie year.
Middlebury....not sure who's coming back, could be higher than conn and wes.  They hang around in a lot of games, could win a few of those this year.

It is only September, but it'd be nice to see what everyone is thinking this early in the year.  Any more reports from other schools, word at Trin is that they are very big and very deep this year.  The big rookies last year, Dunn and Martin, are in much better shape this year and looking to snag some more minutes.  My vote for smartest player in NESCAC goes to Wes Stonely of Trinity as well....I mean the kid majors in neuroscience.

[swish]

if Zak Ray is no longer the best point in the league, then who is?

[ephoops]

I guess he is referring to Pat Martin, the transfer from BU who will play at Trinity.

[formerbant10]

Right on Eph, right on.

[dman]

congrats to mike crotty on being named director of player development by the boston celtics.....

[hoopsjunkie]

My predictions:

Amherst- still has solid fountain- transfer from brown will help them.
Bates- has great combo players with Ray and Stockwell, rest of pieces will fit together.
Trinity- interesting to see how Hasiuk & Clarke will handle not playing the 1 if Martin is so good.
Tufts- loss of Stovell hurts, but Kumf and O'keefe & Weitzen plus Martin are tough players ready to carry the load. I don't see them finishing 2nd- but still having a good year.
Colby- always play tough defense, will struggle with out McGowan to stretch the defense.
Williams- heard many rumbling about great freshman, but hard to win with just freshman, Newton and Rose are good players to build around.
Bowdoin-  tough to pick, it's hard to say with out any great post players- Petie good player he's more skilled player, than big banger.
Wesleyan- nice foundation with Ashe and Pelletier and Griffin, but loss of Kelly and Holland will be tough to overcome.
Conn- has potential to surprise some teams, especially with Stone and Harris returning
Middlebury- have not heard alot from Middlebury- to unknown to make a prediction.

As for the best point guard in the league, Ray was one of the best but I think Olsen from Amherst who ran the show and especially critical to Amherst's success last year. He should be included in any conversation about best point guards.

[formerbant10]

Junkie-- Hasiuk and Clarke are natural scorers.  It would be a plus for them to play on the wing and look to score more.  Clarke has yet to play the point for the Bants, and Hasiuk was there out of necessity.  With Martin drawing defenders and giving them open looks from 3, I don't think either of those gunners will mind playing at the 2 spot.  It will be tougher for Rhoten to get used to playing with a new PG who may not look to him as much as Farrell did the past 3 years.  They just have too much firepower to rank them #3 though.  I understand keeping the champs at the top till they get knocked off, but the Bants at 3??
Who are Bates' other pieces??  Gerrity and Furbush are gone along with two big men.  I never doubt that Bates can win games, but I don't know if I could have them #2.  Very valid point on the PG talk, Olson played well beyond his rookie status last year.  Hit some very big shots against Trin in the semis even with a bigger guy guarding him.  Very calm and poised PG who plays very efficiently.

[njlincolnlion]

formerbant10:

Is the Tyler Rhoten you mentioned from Ridgewood, NJ?  If so he was a very good HS player for Ridgewood HS.  I always wondered where he ended up playing college ball?

[formerbant10]

Both Tyler and Clay Rhoten played for Ridgewood.  John Bedford is from Ridgewood also, but went to a prep school.

[eph69]

watched tyler against bridgewater in state tourney game-- he is not even close to being the player his brother is-- nice player but not an all-star from what I saw or  from what the college coaches that I was sitting with had to say

[formerbant10]

Eph, do you mean you saw Clay play???  How many players are close to the level of Tyler, could've/should've been NESCAC POY last year, All-America sophomore and junior years and will be this year.  Josten's trophy finalist as a junior....not too many D3 players can match up to those honors.

[eph69]

i believe that is what i said

[formerbant10]

watched tyler against bridgewater in state tourney game-- he is not even close to being the player his brother is-- nice player but not an all-star from what I saw or from what the college coaches that I was sitting with had to say

....I'm pretty sure you meant to say Clay, no big deal though.