MBB: NESCAC

division3 · November 12, 2009, 10:56:10 PM

anyone know if wesleyan has any players not returning due to the 9 freshman? 9 freshman seems like a bit too many and somewhat unprecedented...

Hugenerd · November 13, 2009, 12:52:31 AM

Quote from: division3 on November 12, 2009, 10:56:10 PM
anyone know if wesleyan has any players not returning due to the 9 freshman? 9 freshman seems like a bit too many and somewhat unprecedented...

It may be alot but I doubt it is unprecedented. My class at CMU came in with 7 freshman and graduated 8 seniors (we picked up a transfer). That may not be 9, but it is close, so I am sure that has happened in the past. Let's see if they are all committed and end up sticking.

Gabriel · November 14, 2009, 11:34:17 AM

Quote from: ephoops on November 08, 2009, 06:49:19 PM
Quote from: fpc85 on November 07, 2009, 09:23:39 PM
Quote from: speedy on November 05, 2009, 06:52:10 PM
Bowdoin roster up. Three interesting new bigs - one a German kid, who has been living in New Jersey and who is 6-10.
I know the german kid well he playe din the same conf. I coach in.

A couple of Centennial Conference teams passed on Max Staiger---if that tells you anything.

fpc85 · November 14, 2009, 03:24:07 PM

Quote from: Gabriel on November 14, 2009, 11:34:17 AM
Quote from: ephoops on November 08, 2009, 06:49:19 PM
Quote from: fpc85 on November 07, 2009, 09:23:39 PM
Quote from: speedy on November 05, 2009, 06:52:10 PM
Bowdoin roster up. Three interesting new bigs - one a German kid, who has been living in New Jersey and who is 6-10.
I know the german kid well he playe din the same conf. I coach in.

I think he will be a contributor in his career.

A couple of Centennial Conference teams passed on Max Staiger---if that tells you anything.

lefrakenstein · November 16, 2009, 12:06:11 PM

https://www.amherst.edu/athletics/archives/2008_2009/basketball-m200809/roster

Amherst roster is up.

Of note:

6 freshman, but no Spencer Noon (the soccer kid)

No Reggie Fuggett or David Zaitz, both of whom were on last year's roster (although I don't think Fuggett played)

Billy Butler back on the roster after not playing sophomore year

Butler is listed at 6'6 and 326!! That has to be a typo right?! Either that or he put on 100 pounds since I graduated and probably looks like Jake Weitzen

Frosh Kaasila is listed at 6'9 260, which, assuming it is accurate, would make him quite the bruiser in the post. Hope he has some scoring ability down there

lefrakenstein · November 16, 2009, 12:08:03 PM

Really Nescac1, you dinged my karma for posting the Amherst roster?

nescac1 · November 16, 2009, 12:08:21 PM

Amherst roster up, no big surprises:

https://www.amherst.edu/athletics/teams/winter/basketball-m/roster

Six frosh as expected (the soccer player is not on the roster). I am sure it is a typo, but much more fun to imagine that Butler put on 100 pounds to reach Shaq-like proportions in his year away from hoops ... he's be a lock for all-crazy. Any word on which Amherst frosh are likely to crack the rotation? Not many spots with eight rotation guys returning.

Williams roster up, also no surprises:

http://williams.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/Roster

Ephs likewise have six frosh, nice balance with one guy at each position plus an extra swingman to boot.

Looking forward to seeing the Ephs this year with Geoghegan healthy and Wang, Rubin and Whittington, I would think, all getting a lot more PT early in the season. Hopefully Klemm will be ready to replace the shooting off the bench that Rubin provided now that he will be (I assume) starting.

nescac1 · November 16, 2009, 12:09:12 PM

First, we cross-posted. Second, I didn't ding your karma, or at least I didn't mean to!

lefrakenstein · November 16, 2009, 12:12:13 PM

I don't know, it was 3 a second ago, then it was 2, you're the only other person on the board... doesn't take a Williams grad to figure this one out.

I'll just assume you're still bitter from the football game.

nescac1 · November 16, 2009, 12:14:44 PM

Well, I didn't do it, you can choose to believe me or not (although I'm tempted to now for the false accusation ... actually, I will, if only to prove to you I didn't before. Happy?).

Interesting that all six Amherst frosh have New England ties, and none of the Williams frosh do. I imagine that is a product of Maker not having the regional connections after years outside New England ...

dman · November 16, 2009, 03:29:48 PM

unless i'm mistaken, it looks like formerbant won't be posting much anymore now that he's coaching at amherst. best wishes!!!!

amh63 · November 16, 2009, 08:30:56 PM

Surprised to see Billy Butler back.
Attended the 2nd round soccer game between Amherst and York College on Sunday. Met Spencer Noon's parents. Spencer's father stated that his son wants to try out for the team. However, Noon has a fractured jaw. Though he was in the game, his father was concerned about the possible lost of four lower teeth. Possible late joiner on the team due to the injury. (Amherst lost the game and ended it's season)
The father stated that he played against Amherst with Hixon on the team in 1976!

division3 · November 16, 2009, 09:52:25 PM

i am surprised to see billy butler back also. i wonder what coach is thinking?

JustAFan · November 17, 2009, 05:53:00 PM

The Williams season preview is up at http://williams.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/News/1116mbkbprvw.

It sounds like settling on a backcourt rotation will be the biggest early season challenge for the Ephs. Two of the new freshmen are mentioned as backups at the point (Nate Robertson) and the 2 (James Klemm) along with a pair of sophs. Two other frosh are mentioned as possible backups up front, where the Ephs have more players than they have minutes available. Interesting to see that Coach Maker has made improvement in the area of rebounding a point of emphasis in pre-season practices.

nescac1 · November 17, 2009, 06:10:36 PM

Based on how Wang and Rubin played late last season, I'd be pretty surprised if either frosh did anything more than back them up, but I guess anything is possible. All things being about equal, most coaches will go with the experienced guy, although if Klemm is as good as reported by certain folks on this board (one in particular who was sadly chased off once he was "outed"), he'll at least be a top back-up.

At the 4/5, you figure Joe G., Whittington, and Dodson will get the vast majority of the minutes (Whittington HAS to get at least 20 mpg this year .... best defender and second best, at worst, rebounder on the team), with the three other senior forwards (all of whom has received some playing time over the years) fighting over what is left -- hard to imagine a frosh cracking into that group.

Williams should be able to score on anyone with a good blend of post scorers, 3 point shooters, and what they were missing last year, penetration in the back court. But rebounding and team D were both inconsistent at best last year, so I'm not surprised Maker is focusing on both. Guys like Meehan from Amherst got into the lane at will against Williams and the Ephs were bullied at times by more physical teams once Joe G. went down, and that can't happen this season for Williams to contend.

Looking around New England, UMass Dartmouth sounds absolutely loaded with two big time transfers and a very deep roster; they are the class of the region, easily. Elms sounds as good or better than ever. Wheaton and MIT (report from NEWMAC board that their 6'9 D-I transfer scored an ungodly amount of points in an exhibition) are probably the class of the NEWMAC. Other than that, hard to imagine any team that can give the best of NESCAC much of a run this year ... Salem St., WPI, and RIC all lost a ton, and Bridgewater St. is a bit overrated without its star.

Any other NESCAC teams have previews posted besides Williams and Amherst?