MBB: NESCAC

Bucket · March 02, 2009, 09:03:02 AM

Thanks, ephoops.

I agree on Amherst; I hope they get a bid.

Salem is about 45 minutes from where I grew up. Would LOVE to take the two-year-old to visit his grandparents in 3 weeks.

fpc85 · March 02, 2009, 09:43:52 AM

Congrats to Midd.
IMO, the difference was the amount of second shot opportunities and the experience in the post. That couple with solid bench play got the team over the hump. These guys have been knocking on the door for 3 years I am glad to see them get into the big dance. It would be nothing better than to discuss/argue about a regional site in Vermont!

Amherst played well for most of the season. I hope they get that call Monday morning. If they get in they have enough to go deep into the tourney.

The Franchise · March 02, 2009, 11:11:41 AM

midd gets the first round bye. amherst gets in as well.

The Franchise · March 02, 2009, 11:18:10 AM

midd faces the winner of st. josephs (maine) and bridgewater state. amherst faces off against gwynedd-mercy (at richard stockton). anybody on this board have any knowledge of the 3 non-nescac teams?

ac08 · March 02, 2009, 12:14:58 PM

*Exhales* Not only does Amherst get in but they don't have to play in the same Bracket as Midd and RIC. That has to be pretty close to best case scenario, right?

ephoops · March 02, 2009, 12:28:52 PM

Quote from: ac08 on March 02, 2009, 12:14:58 PM
*Exhales* Not only does Amherst get in but they don't have to play in the same Bracket as Midd and RIC. That has to be pretty close to best case scenario, right?

No question it's best case for Amherst...

They get a very beatable RS team in the second round.

I think an all-NESCAC Elite 8 game at Midd is a very real possibility...

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · March 02, 2009, 01:36:50 PM

The tournament is so heavy in the Midwest region, there's almost an anything goes in the rest of the brackets.

I can't imagine coming through the gauntlet out west. Wow. Those matchups are ridiculous.

The NESCAC teams certainly have the ability to get there, but I don't think either one is strong enough to guarantee those spots as in years past.

lefrakenstein · March 02, 2009, 02:53:18 PM

Quote from: ac08 on March 02, 2009, 12:14:58 PM
*Exhales* Not only does Amherst get in but they don't have to play in the same Bracket as Midd and RIC. That has to be pretty close to best case scenario, right?

No Brandeis either. Pretty much RS and Elms is all that stands between the Jeffs and the Elite 8. Kind of hard to believe.

hoya73 · March 02, 2009, 03:22:35 PM

I am once again agreeing with Ephoops (a potentially dangerous habit) that Old Guy and Bucket made everyone a Middlebury fan in the last few weeks. Not at noon to 2 yesterday, of course, but the rest of the time for sure. Great enthusiasm and always rational positive quotes. Quintessential D3 hoops. They join Former Bant as logical reliable 'Cac posters. Not necessarily like the rest of us. And no one is like the great Walzy.

Hope Midd can make some noise this year. Assuming there are no hockey conflicts Pepin should be rocking, and with the senior lesadership they can really make some noise. I wouldn't bad mouth Stockton, by the way. The Jeffs went up early last year and they kept fighting. Small and quick (as I have observed. Jersey urban kids who would be playing D 1 if they were 4 inches taller). Not the best match-up for the Jeffs.

I think Hix deserves a little credit here. Lost an unbelievable class and finished second in a balanced league with only Bausky, Wheeler and Meehan returning with significant minutes. That's a good job. And the league is looking up, coaching and talent-wise, I think. Should be even better next year.

larry_u · March 02, 2009, 04:40:44 PM

Can someone post your NCAA team's profiles in here:

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=6299.0

walzy31 · March 02, 2009, 09:29:54 PM

Quote from: hoya73 on March 02, 2009, 03:22:35 PM
I am once again agreeing with Ephoops (a potentially dangerous habit) that Old Guy and Bucket made everyone a Middlebury fan in the last few weeks. Not at noon to 2 yesterday, of course, but the rest of the time for sure. Great enthusiasm and always rational positive quotes. Quintessential D3 hoops. They join Former Bant as logical reliable 'Cac posters. Not necessarily like the rest of us. And no one is like the great Walzy.

Hope Midd can make some noise this year. Assuming there are no hockey conflicts Pepin should be rocking, and with the senior lesadership they can really make some noise. I wouldn't bad mouth Stockton, by the way. The Jeffs went up early last year and they kept fighting. Small and quick (as I have observed. Jersey urban kids who would be playing D 1 if they were 4 inches taller). Not the best match-up for the Jeffs.

I think Hix deserves a little credit here. Lost an unbelievable class and finished second in a balanced league with only Bausky, Wheeler and Meehan returning with significant minutes. That's a good job. And the league is looking up, coaching and talent-wise, I think. Should be even better next year.

Thanks for the kudos Hoya.

Stockton is going to be a tough one, but I have to agree with everyone else's thoughts about Amherst getting a nice draw. No complaints at all from LJN in LA.

Since you brought up Hix, I'll bring up that Hixon is 2 wins away from #600. Career coaching record of 598-231. Prediction: Another way of saying this is that in five days, Coach Hixon will have 600 career wins and Amherst will have made it to eight straight Sweet 16's.

The only two tourney lines I've got are both prop bets:

Will the 2009 Men's Basketball DIII National Champion emerge from the bottom left-hand corner of the bracket (regional hosts of Wheaton, Elmhurst, St. Thomas and Puget Sound)?
Yes -450
No +300

Will either Middlebury, RIC, or Amherst emerge from the upper right-hand corner of the bracket and make it to Salem?
Yes -290
No +210

fpc85 · March 03, 2009, 09:55:57 PM

anyone know the time of the amherst game?

Pat Coleman · March 04, 2009, 12:33:26 AM

For Friday, the host team plays at 8 p.m. in every pod. The other game is played at 6 p.m.

Pat Coleman · March 04, 2009, 09:11:09 AM

Well, now after spot-checking a handful of pods it appears there is no consensus. The NCAA handbook states the host school is supposed to play the second game, however, in some regionals they are playing the first game.

Guess you have to check local listings.

CCsalive · March 04, 2009, 03:08:33 PM

After a long lay off I am back with a few quick comments. Don't let my absence fool you. Last week I did take in 5 games in 4 days (four high school contests, one Skyline).

Congrats to Midd and to Bucket and Old Guy. Bucket, I loved the House of Pain reference and the Alexander Wolff shout out. Old Guy, I loved the Al McGuire quote...I wish I was young enough to watch and learn from him...though this clip sort of tells it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxcpImdcEIA