MBB: NESCAC

toad22 · October 22, 2010, 04:56:11 PM

Hixon doesn't like playing freshmen, though he did out of necessity last year. I have no doubt that Toomey will see time, but he will need to be really special to break into the starting lineup.

nescac1 · October 22, 2010, 05:12:02 PM

I'd guess Toomey will be the first guard off the bench for Amherst, but see a ton of time. Besides Meehan's injury last year, their biggest issue was lack of any other playmakers in the backcourt, as well as shooting from both three and the free throw line. Toomey should be a big help in all of those areas. He is the odds-on favorite for NESCAC rookie of the year, although Matarazzo at Bates should be interesting, and both Midd and Williams have a few first-years who should see time. I imagine other NESCAC schools have promising frosh that we just don't know about.

Based on what we know, I'd agree with Toad's assessment. Williams, Amherst, and Midd seem tightly grouped at the top of the conference, with everyone else fairly far behind. Wesleyan, Bates and Trinity could all surprise as all of them return all of their key players from very young teams, and Trinity's coaching change could propel them. Tufts and Conn seem like they'll take up the rear. Bowdoin and Colby each have 2-3 very strong players, but tons of questions marks behind them.

In terms of all-conference, the favorites look very clear. First team, C Whittington, F Ellis and Sharry, G, Wang and Meehan, Second team, C Locke, F Russell and Hanley, G Sha Brown. Fifth spot is pretty wide open, could see David Waller, Nate Robertson, Ryan O'Connell, Demetrious Porter in there. POY: Wang, Whittington, Sharry, Meehan are the prime contenders.

frank uible · October 22, 2010, 06:28:05 PM

All this certainty before any player has bounced a 2010-2011 ball in anger?

grabtherim · October 23, 2010, 12:41:49 PM

Thompson and Wolfin from Midd get no mention here? Thought they both made a pretty big impact as freshman, and if they avoid a sophomore slump will be a big part of what happens to Midd this year.

toad22 · October 23, 2010, 03:08:54 PM

Thompson and Wolfin are two of the young players I was referring to. I don't see any sophmore slump - they will be tough.

amh63 · October 26, 2010, 06:42:08 AM

The preliminary rosters for Tufts and Amherst are posted on the schools' websites. Amherst has listed five (5) new players. Three are guards and two are forwards. A forward from Florida is listed at 6'8" and 240lbs. The guards range from under 6' to 6'4". The best returning point guard, Noon, is having a great season on the soccer team. The question remains here is whether the newcomers will have the quickness/speed to play defense. It will be a big squad in numbers and size. Amherst could rotate the players like the North Carolina teams of yore under Dean Smith. It is early and the pre season has not started....and I should be allowed to dream foolishly.

jumpshot · October 26, 2010, 09:09:31 AM

This link provides one description of the profound change at Amherst in recent years in escalating the prominence of athletics.

http://www.ephblog.com/2010/10/20/big-time-athlete-infusion-at-amherst/

What are the reasons for this emphasis, especially in the "marquee sports" of football, basketball, enrolling of transfer athletes, etc.? Note the recent adoption under the new athletic director of standard practices at places such as Williams of faculty advisors to teams, build up of women's sports, pending addition of wrestling, crew, etc. To what extent is this shift attributable to the "general manager" in the admissions office?

I question the sustained value of the "arms race" in many facets of small liberal arts colleges (facilities, administrative support) that are under financial pressures, tuition dependency, declining population of students enrolling in liberal arts (now fewer than 5% nationally), value of community colleges, etc. Perhaps each school would be better served to differentiate the institution through its own natural strengths, rather than chase or mimic segments of excellence elsewhere. I understand Middlebury is incorporating a strategy of becoming a "global college" in part through alliances abroad that minimize costs and infrastructure without sacrificing control of course content, rather than conducting business as usual of reliance on high tuition, perpetual fund raising, rising costs, etc.

In any case, what do others think?

nescac1 · October 26, 2010, 10:21:59 AM

Speaking of D-1 transfers, I note on Tufts roster a transfer from Lafayette, Alex Orchowski. Tufts badly needs a forward to step in and replace some of Pierce / Beyel's production, perhaps he will be the guy. Orchowski didn't play much last season at Lafayette, which last year probably would have had a tough time beating Williams, but he did play quite a bit as a frosh so he must have some talent. And I seem to recall the last 6-5 Lafayette transfer into NESCAC (Rob Stockwell at Bates) having a pretty huge impact ...

Gregory Sager · October 26, 2010, 01:05:13 PM

Quote from: amh63 on October 26, 2010, 06:42:08 AMIt is early and the pre season has not started....and I should be allowed to dream foolishly.

Dude, you forgot to set your alarm clock. The preseason's already here. Practices started a week and a half ago.

nescac1 · October 26, 2010, 01:09:56 PM

Wow, I get to correct Greg Sager

. Practice doesn't start in NESCAC until November 1st!

Gregory Sager · October 26, 2010, 01:12:07 PM

Quote from: nescac1 on October 26, 2010, 01:09:56 PM
Wow, I get to correct Greg Sager . Practice doesn't start in NESCAC until November 1st!

Really? I didn't realize that the NESCAC had a special rule that makes it start practices two weeks later than the rest of the country. Good to know. Thanks, nescac1.

Colby Hoops · October 26, 2010, 02:59:38 PM

First time on the boards but looking forward to a good season. Have to kick it off with my pre-season predictions.

First Team
Wang, Whittington, Meehan, Sharry, Russell

Second Team
Ellis, Locke, Hanley, Sha Brown, Van Loenen

Obviously some bias here, and while I think Colby has a lot to prove considering the loss of Choice plus 4 of the top 6 scorers i think that will contribute to some big stats from Russell and Van Loenen. Colby has very few players who played significant minutes beyond those two last season, and with the ball in his hands quite a bit I can see a 15 4 and 4 line from Van Loenen to go along with his usual defensive tenacity.

Other thoughts around the league... Williams is by far the team to beat, Wang is a the best player in the league and Whittington is too talented and athletic for anyone else in the league. Bowdoin will surprise people, they always play great D and OConnell and Hanley can provide enough scoring. Amherst still has a lot to prove, they have talent, no question, but they rely too heavily on Meehan and they were soft last year. (No offense to Steven Wheeler, a great shooter, but they may be better off without him). Middlebury is the only one with a chance to hang with Williams, the loss of Edwards won't kill them if Wolfin and Thompson step up, plus Locke is the biggest advantage in the league, he completely shuts down inside scoring on everybody not named Whittington. Rest of the league is iffy, Tufts and Conn won't be great, Wesleyan still needs some good big guys, Bates will be scrappy, Trinity is a wild card they only come to play half of their games.

nescac1 · October 26, 2010, 03:37:07 PM

Yup Greg, alas, one of the many odd idiosyncracies of NESCAC! I think the November 1st rule holds for all winter sports, basically.

amh63 · October 26, 2010, 03:58:52 PM

Jumpshot.....Suggest all readers thinking about commenting to read the ephblog first. Topic is an old one and basically one between Amherst and Williams posters. IMO, it is a waste of time with no positive end point.
Anyway, a correction to my earlier post. Noon is the best "backup" point guard returning. He came late to practice due to his time on the soccer team and had to recover from an injury from soccer that slowed his impact. When Meehan went down, his skills at point came out as he got more time.
I must stress the defensive point again. Last year, when Meehan out, the offense suffered. Injuries to Wheeler and Waller did not help matters late in the season. The offense could not overcome the team's soft defense (agreed with the new Colby poster here). Other thoughts on the upcoming season. The new guard from NC with the press clippings from my understanding, is the heir to Meehan. He is expected to watch and learn and take over next year....if he lives up to people's expectations. I believe the first guard from the newcomers to enter will be the best defensive guard. Need someone to stop the likes of Wang and/or S. Brown....or slow them down rather than out scoring them (Meehan is capable of that).
Whittingham of Williams is a talent....but Williams needs more help up front and more offensive power elsewhere. Midd's two big men can neutralize Williams front court and I am hopping that Amherst has the talent to do the same. The new player from Florida is also a Div.1 talent. Hope the coach at Amherst can blend the players into his system. The hopes and speculations about the upcoming season continues. I know that Frank U. will chime in about this foolish early chit-chat. However, I consider this as "fantasy BB" time.

Mr. Ypsi · October 26, 2010, 07:20:07 PM

Greg was, of course, on his never-ending quest to prevent people from confusing 'pre-season' with 'non-conference', but tripped himself TWICE. Aside from the NESCAC not even starting practice yet, I dare say a majority of schools have not yet had a scrimmage (except, perhaps, intra-squad); such scrimmages (and exhibitions) are the actual 'pre-season' 'games'!