MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Walzy, great job on the all-crazy team, as always.  Very entertaining.  Wow, 16 turnovers, how is that possible for a guy who isn't even a ball-handler?  Does he just travel all the time, or something?  And he averages over 4 to per game for the year which is, again, incredible for a non-guard, especially one who is clearly athletic and talented.  Oh, and one other tidbit for the Bates coach -- FOURTEEN different guys have started this year.  Many of them have not played at all in certain games ... that is a bit crazy. 

Definitely nervous as an Eph fan facing a healthy Amherst in the NESCAC semis, potentially.  Williams is still a significantly better team than even a healthy Amherst, but the gap is a lot closer, and Meehan makes all the difference in the world for them as he is the only guy who can match Wang's backcourt production.  I am sure the Ephs won't need reminding of 2007, when a Williams team with almost the same record as this year's Amherst squad (and featuring a similar talent and experience gap) stunned the future National Champion on its home court in the NESCAC tourney ...

Amh63, I wouldn't sleep on Williams next year.  They will get both Amherst and Midd at home in conference games (and for the first time in three years have five NESCAC home games).   They have perhaps the favorite (or at worst co-favorite with Meehan) for POY next year in Wang (I'm sure Colby fans will say Mike Russell is better of course!), a likely first-teamer in Whittington, plus two more from their top seven back, both of whom should play much bigger roles and have the talent to be very productive players (Robertson in particular as well as Dodson who could have a break-out year).  Plus they have two other guys who would be in the rotation virtually anywhere else in Klemm and Emerson; I expect them to step in nicely for Rubin and Geoghegan respectively, although both do have very big shoes to fill.  If Maker can get at least one impact forward in recruiting, and a few of the other underclassmen (maybe Wells, Mickens, or Hicks) can develop into credible role players at the Hardy/Timmins-Schiffman level, the Ephs will still be very good.  Granted, they will be small (especially compared to Midd and Amherst), there is no one on the roster who is an obvious choice to replace Schultz at the 3 (Maker really needs to bring in an impact forward, as there is also no obvious back-up at the 4), and they won't equal this edition in terms of savvy, experience or veteran leadership given the tremendous senior group they are graduating.  But, they will actually be quicker and more athletic and should thrive in the open-court.  And while they'll probably never equal this group's ridiculous (one of the best ever in D-3, numbers wise?) shooting year, Klemm and Emerson can both really shoot which should help ease the loss of two of the best pure shooters in NESCAC.  Don't get me wrong, the three senior starters are enormous losses, but I think they will again be right there with Midd and Amherst, especially if they can bring in an impact forward in recruiting.  

Amherst still has some issues that will be exacerbated by the loss of Wheeler -- while they will be, by far, the most athletic team in NESCAC, and are huge at every position (truly D-1 size and athleticism), they still have no one who can lock down quicker, smaller guards, and their free throw and three point shooting will really need to improve for them to be a national contender.  If no one other than Barrise can hit three's consistently, they will face a LOT of sagging defenses next year designed to stop Williamson, Workman, Meehan and Waller from penetrating, not to mention Holmes and Kaasila inside.  Of course, Waller shot very well as a frosh, so if his outside game returns, the Jeffs will be in good shape.  But free throws could still be an issue in close games -- I imagine Hixon will pressure his guys to spend many hours on that aspect of their games.  

Midd I think will be the favorite, pre-season.  Edwards is a big loss but Wolfin and Thompson with a year of experience should be even better, so figure that is about a wash.  And the front-court will be flat-out nasty, especially on the defensive end.   Wesleyan is the only other team I see as a potential sleeper next year; the bottom third of the league could be REALLY bad ...

One interesting note from the Trinity webcast -- the announcers said there was some discontent among the players and that the interim coach (who has been interim for two years) was all but gone.  Surprised that was said on a public broadcast, so I imagine that may be a done deal.  

[frank uible]

Walzy and nescac1 are nominated for the all-crazy team as analysts who do all that wordcrafting in the vain belief that their words are going to be read and digested.

[ephoops]

Walzy and nescac1 are nominated for the all-crazy team as analysts who do all that wordcrafting in the vain belief that their words are going to be read and digested.

Frank-

If you don't care for their commentary, go troll the WIAC board.

Your own brand of vain, insipid and sophomoric attempts at humor have become quite tiresome on this board.

And your stock response "we aim to please"... you don't...

[frank uible]

We continue to aim to please.

[walzy31]

Walzy and nescac1 are nominated for the all-crazy team as analysts who do all that wordcrafting in the vain belief that their words are going to be read and digested.

Says the guy with 3270 posts.
I hope you are happy about making the team this year. You edged out MuleTrain.

[Marty Peretz]

Ubile, you have over 3,000 posts and you're mocking other people for their commentary...take it back to ephblog..

[frank uible]

Mocking and being mocked is part of the fun. What did Harry Truman say about heat and the kitchen?

[speedy]

THE REST OF THE TEAM[/u]

* * * * * *
Webcast Announcer (Bowdoin College)
I don't know the kids name or if he just filled in for one game, but I watched the second half of the Bowdoin/Colby game this January and there were more plays called referring to the Saints/Cardinals NFL Playoff game than the two-point conference game that he was doing color for. It was tied with 1:30 left and I hear "Oh my god! Drew Brees just threw a 44 yard bomb on a flea-flicker to Devery Henderson for a touchdown! Touchdown Saints!!!" He continues to describe the trick play while on the webcast I watch Bowdoin (the home team and his team) score and take the lead with a minute left. If I had wanted to watch the NFL game I would have flipped on ESPN. Instead I am watching a small webcast of a D3 basketball and expect to hear about what is going on in the game, or at least about college co-eds in Maine. Colby beat Bowdoin but I am pretty sure this announcer had his eyes on a TV or computer screen and missed it. I can only imagine how crazy he has become now that the Saints have won the super bowl... His only excuse is if he had money on that football game.

You are probably referring to Chris Adams-Wall. This is the fourth year that Bowdoin has inflicted him on web audiences for Bowdoin hockey and basketball games. His play-by-play coverage is decent but give him a moment away from play-by-play coverage and he is jabbering away about his favorite NFL team (the Jets) in a way that both bores and annoys the viewer. . .

[ephoops]

Mocking and being mocked is part of the fun. What did Harry Truman say about heat and the kitchen?

NESCAC1 and Walzy are certainly capable of defending themselves.  Good-natured "mocking" is one thing, however it's the smug, condescending and mean-spirited tone and content I take issue with in your posts.  You must have been out playing the role of tackling dummy on Weston when Fred Stocking was teaching these nuances in his English class. 

[frank uible]

Another part of the fun is taking pot shots at others while cowering behind a screen name.

[ephoops]

We aim to please

[division3]

hi frank
there are some quasi-digruntled members of our community claiming that your posts are not brought forward in the proper spirit. is it possible for you to be kinder and gentler?
warm regards
division 3

[nescac1]

Changing the topic ... what do folks think are the best and worst venues in NESCAC, both from a fan and an opposing team perspective? 

[Laserty]

Worst by far is Bates. Hands down... Playing in a sauna takes its toll on opponents. Really should be looked at by the NESCAC.

[duffer]

Agreed. Intentional and very unhealthy. One visiting player on  a womens' team who has a pacemaker-like heart monitor was unable to get off the bench after pre-game warm ups. I heard the NCAA would not allow them to host a game unless they turned the temp. down.