MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Congrats to Harry Sheehy, former Eph basketball player / coach / AD, for being named new AD at Dartmouth:

http://www.iberkshires.com/story.php?story_id=35735

Sheehy's legacy on the court, sidelines, and in the administration will be impossible to top ...

[amh63]

nescac1,
 I am somewhat stunned about the news that Williams' AD has left to be the AD at Dartmouth.  I also wish him luck.  I actually spoke with him for 5-10 minutes after the Amherst-Williams football game at Amherst in 2009 (when Williams beat Amherst by 1 point in the last minute!)  He was heading for his car and I was heading for mine.  We talked about the upcoming men's BB season primarily.  He was gracious to chat with an Amherst man.  His first comment to me on the subject was how fast the season was approaching....as if he now had to shift his focus on the "Winter Sports".  I will miss him on the "side-lines" so to speak.  Read the write-up in the Berkshire paper.  The new AD is hitting the road fast.  Based on my knowledge wrt to Harvard, (older brother attended Harvard), the only times the Harvard football stadium has a chance to fill up is when Yale or Dartmouth comes to town.

[amh63]

OOPs!  Correct football game but wrong year.  It was 2008.
   With regards to the BB recruits in the NESCAC  coming from all over the nation, it is because of two factors in my opinion.  The success of the conference teams at the national level and the fact that many of the schools, if not all, draw students from everywhere.  Williams' star guard is from overseas.  It also helps that it is not uncommon (before the economy downturn) for Amherst, Williams and others to participate in tournaments and have games in Fla., Calif., Va., Md. etc.

[frank uible]

When your correspondent was a youth, he thought Louis and Hoover were going to stand in their respective positions forever. Similarly he believed that Sheehy would die with his boots on at Williams.

[ephoops]

When your correspondent was a youth, he thought Louis and Hoover were going to stand in their respective positions forever. Similarly he believed that Sheehy would die with his boots on at Williams.

Alas Frank, I thought so as well...

Harry and Connie will be missed...

[frank uible]

J. Edgar Hoover that is, not Herbert.

[amh63]

It is mid-August and news is slow.  Been reading local news about AAU Mid-Atlantic U-17 basketball players.  These upcoming seniors via playing in high profile tournaments in PA., WVU, and Fla. during "open periods" for college coaches have attracted interest from present and formal NESCAC BB coaches.  Brandon Hedley, a 5'10" guard, has attracted interest from Trinity (Ct.) and Navy.  Ryan Frazier, a 5'11" guard, who is playing for Salisbury School in Ct., has official offers from Bucknell and Dartmouth... it is reported.  With former Williams' BB coaches now at both schools, it will be of interest, IMO, to see how it plays out in the recruitment. 

[met_fan]

Not too worried about my NESCAC street cred...


Could someone help me out with Hamilton?  Any chance they crack the top half of the league?

I believe Hamilton has one more year in the LL before they become a full member

[fiveonfive]

New to this forum.  I have heard that Wang from Williams is older than your average college junior?  I know it's not an issue, eligibility wise, but I am curious how old he is if anyone knows.  I thought he was the best PG in the NESCAC last season by a wide margin... 

[nescac1]

Welcome fiveonfive. 

Wang prepped for a year, so he is at least a year older than typical (although that isn't all that uncommon in NESCAC, where a bunch of guys do a post-grad prep year.  Meehan is another prominent example, I believe). Also, he is from Australia, so their educational system may be a bit different and/or he may have had to effectively repeat a year when he moved to the U.S.  Certainly, it is an advantage to have a little extra physical maturity, especially when you already are among the most talented players in the league.  He was the first Sophomore to make first-team all NESCAC in many years, I believe. 

On another note, here is an interview with former Eph Dave Paulsen.  Seems like he has brought in some very strong recruits in his first few years at Bucknell:

http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-basketball/former-michigan-graduate-assistant-and-current-bucknell-head-coach-dave-paulsen/

Any word from anyone on potential impact frosh / break-out players next year in NESCAC (outside of Amherst, Midd, and Williams, whose strong incoming frosh classes have been well-chronicled here)? 

[fiveonfive]

Makes sense.  Last year was my first watching NESCAC basketball. Overall the quality of competition was much better than expected.  A few impressions from last season:
1.  Amherst will be a very tough team this season especially with the maturing of the freshman big man who showed flashes of what is to come.
2. If Wesleyan gets a few quality recruits, watch out as Reilly is a very good coach.
3.  Wang and Whittington are the real deal, making them the team to beat despite losing Schultz.  Excellent coach.  No one works refs better in the league.
4.  Middlebury has talent, but have to watch out for a sophomore slump from a few key contributors.  Edwards did alot.  Will be missed.
5.  Trinity was a mess, new coach has no where to go but up.
6. CT College looked like a bunch of guys going in 5 different directions.  I have heard rumblings of unhappy players.  Based on what I saw this seems like a strong possibility. 
Can't wait for this season.  Have a vested interest.  Will leave it at that.

[walzy31]

I have a vested interest as well.

This winter season is going to be awesome.
Williams will be walking tall with everybody gunning for them.
Will Amherst bounce back from their first sub-par season in over a decade?
Will the Middlebury rising Sophomore class hit a slump or will they become all-conference candidates?
Will the Shasha Brown show at Wesleyan evolve into a top-tier team?
Will Colby reload after losing a lot?
Will Tufts be better without Mr. Record Books Jon Pierce?

It's all good stuff.

[nescac1]

Nice article on Eph Will Hardy '10, who is now working for the San Antonio Spurs:

http://williams.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/releases/090110_Will_Hardy_-10_joins_front_office_staff_of_San_Antonio_Spurs

Most of the Williams schedule is posted:

http://www.d3hoops.com/school/WLMS/m/2011

The non-conference slate doesn't look all that challenging, outside of the non-conference Little Three games of course, and a game against a mid-tier CCIW team (North Park). 

[nescac1]

This has to be the earliest in the year I've ever heard of a NESCAC player "committing":

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/1608/Moss-Headed-NESCAC.php

[Hugenerd]

This has to be the earliest in the year I've ever heard of a NESCAC player "committing":

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/1608/Moss-Headed-NESCAC.php

Did he apply early early decision?