MBB: NESCAC

[walzy31]

Obviously, Alex Galant of Bates was crushed by not making the All-Crazy Team this year and proved to me that I made the mistake of overlooking him by assembling an impressive double-double (Technical Foul & Flagrant Foul) performance today.

[lefrakenstein]

Trinity is making a great run down the stretch. I was shocked to see their margin of victory over Tufts on Saturday. Don't look now, but maybe they could give Williams a game. an upset would be a great story for their 5 seniors.

Next year looks bleak for them... only 6 non-seniors on the roster right now. A lot will come down to Applegate and freshman Eric Dean who has quietly played very well this year.

[nescac1]

Even though they defeated them handily the first go-around, Williams can't take Trinity for granted on Saturday.  The Bants are clearly putting it all together.  Next year will be rough for them with such a young roster, but I am guessing the new coach will bring in a boatload of recruits over the next few years, and get them back to contender status fairly quickly.  Williams will have a HUGE bullseye on their back this weekend, two straight years of zero defeats in (official) NESCAC play, and they will almost surely be ranked first in the country heading into the weekend.  Amherst knows they can play with them at Williams after last week, and Middlebury will be salivating for another shot with a healthy Ryan Sharry.  Should be a tremendous weekend of hoops.  

With all but four teams eliminated, the other (soon to be seven) NESCAC teams have to look to the future.  Things look bleakest for Colby, who loses the two key guys from a team that struggled much of the year ... you have to wonder where the scoring will come from.  I really thought Bates would have a better year, and after losing Ellis and three other key seniors, the well looks a little dry for them as well.

But everyone else has reason to be optimistic, considering how few seniors the rest of the league graduates, collectively.  Bowdoin loses only one senior, and is bringing in a seven footer to bolster the front-court.  If he can play at ALL as a first-year, they will have a very, very imposing front line.  Conn College was VERY young this year, and as the strong frosh class develops, could become a lot tougher -- so long as there is not another wave of defections from the program.  Hamilton as noted by the Midd fans recently has a lot of talent coming back with Sullivan and Click up front and a bunch of quick guards who can shoot.  Tufts turned things around with a new defensive-minded, team first attitude this year, and returns all of its key players.  Wesleyan was snake-bitten this year but with St. Jean and tough frosh Thomas back from injury, and virtually the rest of the rotation returning, next year could FINALLY be the year they emerge as a contender; Brown-Mendell-Callaghan--Beresford--St. Jean--Thomas is a core that SHOULD be competitive with anyone.  

Amherst, Williams and Midd will still be the teams to beat next year, probably in that order, but I seriously doubt we will see them go undefeated (if Williams can topple Trinity) vs. the rest of the league again, considering the veteran-laden squads Bowdoin, Wesleyan, Hamilton, and Tufts all bring back.  

[amh63]

Random thoughts on Sunday after an interesting weekend of watching BB.
When Meehan went out in the first half, I realize that the team on the floor was a preview of next year's core team.  It picked up my interest to see how the players worked together.  Tom Killian, a FY player from Delbarton School in NJ, replaced Meehan, I believe.  He must be the player that Coach Hixon was mentioning wrt having outstanding practices recently.  He is quick and will go inside for rebounds.  Hope he plays as well on defense as the guard on the '07 team from the same school.  In the '07 championship game, the senior guard's play off the bench was key to the win, IMHO. Tim McLaughlin was the player.
In watching Div 1 games recently, I noticed the low scoring games caused by the defensive efforts.  In the ACC, UVA's defense shut down VT's high scoring offense....the local paper's headline for the game led with the word..DEFENSE.  I kept thinking about Midd.'s defensive minded team.  Ugh....bad thoughts.  At least this weekend the Amherst vs. Midd. game will be on a "neutral" court.

[TheHerst2and4]

In the '07 championship game, the senior guard's play off the bench was key to the win, IMHO. Tim McLaughlin was the player.

I agree that Tim was a key to the championship but he was starter for the 07 team. T Mac was the x factor in many of the games on the NCAA championship run

[jumpshot]

Amherst fans -- Is Alan Williamson expected to be available to play this weekend?

[amh63]

I must thank again a more knowledgeable poster on the '07 BB year....couldn't remember if Tim Mac was a starter or not....and to the addition of "a" before key.  Needed an Amherst player captain to kick me in the "butt" and dole out the correct credits.

[lefrakenstein]

In the '07 championship game, the senior guard's play off the bench was key to the win, IMHO. Tim McLaughlin was the player.

I agree that Tim was a key to the championship but he was starter for the 07 team. T Mac was the x factor in many of the games on the NCAA championship run

amh63, I think you may be mind-melding Tim McLaughlin and Mike Salerno into one player.

Both were seniors, both were defensive whizzes on the perimeter. Salerno came off the bench. McLaughlin went to Delbarton.

[walzy31]

Former Amherst asst. Flockerzi new head coach at Rochester:

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20100512/SPORTS06/5120337

Beat me to it. Here is the Roch release:
http://www.rochester.edu/athletics/index.php?article=3455

Luke will do a great job there. I predict a Final Four within four years and a national championship within seven years.

I took a lot of flack for my above comments back in May, and I realize that winning the UAA in his first year is a far cry from Salem or a ring, but it is certainly a positive start for Coach Flockerzi's career at Roch!

[amh63]

Lefrakenstein......a Trekie?  I wish I have some of Mr. Spock's talents.  Alas, I am only human.
If Rochester and Amherst are both selected into the NCAA, there is a good chance they could meet.  Most interesting.  Amherst was bumped out of a tournament several times by Rochester.  Twice this century (2003 &2005, NCAA) and once last century in a manner of speaking.  In the lobby of the U. of Rochester's fieldhouse/BB court is a game ball behind a glass case on the left hand side.  It is a game ball from a U. of Rochester win over Amherst in the early 60's.  It was a significant game, but I do not remember what the win marked.

[toad22]

What a big weekend. The Saturday doubleheader in NESCAC is one my favorite afternoons of the entire year. I have gone to nearly all of them for the last 15 years, even when Williams was already eliminated. This year should be as exciting as ever. The Trinity-Williams game should be exciting. Trinity is on the rise, and I expect a good game. Williams also appears to be starting to peak. The second half of the twin bill should be an absolutely great matchup. I really like both teams -- either one could end up in Salem. This is the kind of day to enjoy real amature basketball at its best. We are so lucky!

[lefrakenstein]

Lefrakenstein......a Trekie?  I wish I have some of Mr. Spock's talents.  Alas, I am only human.

Ha, I actually got that expression from Prof. Sarat at Amherst. Had never been sure where he got it from. The star trek show was a little before my generation. Sarat's class was also never my favorite, that expression is probably one of the few things I remember from it.

[nescac1]

Congrats to Williams on being ranked first nationally for the first time since, I believe, 2004.  Pretty amazing how far the Ephs have come after losing three senior starters, including a first team all-American, and two key reserves.   Maker has done a tremendous coaching job integrating five new players, including two first-years,  into his nine man rotation without missing a beat. 

I agree with Toad, it should be a tremendously competitive weekend.  I mean, hard to top a conference tourney with the numbers 1, 3, and 7 teams in the country, plus a hungry spoiler in Trinity who seems to be peaking at the right time after struggling a bit in January.  And fortunately, all four teams, who have been bitten by the injury bug all year, seem to be getting healthy now (at least if Locke is, indeed, ready to go) ... huge knock on wood there! 

As for Flockerzi, I am not surprised by his success.  What should be scary for the UAA is that he has (I believe) a reputation as a very strong recruiter, and he has the team on a major role despite inheriting a fairly young, thin roster that was a bit depleted by transfers and the coaching transition.  And he has the advantage of competing in a VERY weak region; historically, Rochester has been the only consistent threat to make the Final Four out of the East, or certainly to perform well once they make it. 

Speaking of former NESCAC coaches, congrats to Dave Paulsen for clinching the regular season title at Bucknell.  The Patriot League seems pretty even this year, so there are no guarantees, but it would be fantastic to see Paulsen on the sidelines in March Madness if Bucknell can pull out the conference tourney at home!

[nescac1]

Speaking of Sarat, both Williams and Amherst have had the occasional prof complain about athletes / athletics, but the worst example I EVER heard was in relation to Sarat's comments to a prominent Lord Jeff athlete (shared by that athlete with an Amherst friend of mine) ...

[amh63]

nescac1....Nice "teaser" post.  You really have an Amherst friend?.....especially one that remembers Sarat!