MBB: NESCAC

Old Guy · August 05, 2011, 01:08:56 PM

Posted on: Today at 05:13:18 am

Does the quality and/or quantity of a college's applications for admission ebb and flow with its recent fortunes in the rankings races? If so, does the flowing cause an improved college? If so, what evidence is there of this causation?

An "improved college" is the result of a number of factors over time. The perception of an improved college can be fickle - and lots of applications suggests selectivity and influences that perception.

A high school football player, say, gets into two schools roughly equal in ranking. He goes, usually, to the more successful football program. Right? Stands to reason (D3, NESCAC). The reverse is logical and true too: a good athlete gets into two schools with roughly the same level of success in the sport of his choice, he will more often enroll in the school with the higher ranking (I acknowledge that the coach is a big influence too).

The big question is whether or not winning teams increase the quantity and quality of applicants who are non-athletes. There are those (college presidents) on both sides of that question. I don't know of any "evidence of . . . causation." The President and Board at Haverford/Swarthmore might argue little correlation; the Williams' President might disagree.

toad22 · August 06, 2011, 06:05:24 PM

The ratings seem pretty silly to me, but I do think that a high rating can help some with a recruit if the kid is somewhat unfamiliar with the school. It can establish some credibility. However, the first goal for most kids that Williams looks at is to go D1. So, all of the high academic ratings in the world won't usually get you a player if he is offered a D1 scholarship at a decent school. Even "preferred walk on" status usually cuts us out. I believe that Williams lost 2-3 recruits this year to schools offering "preferred walk on" status. I don't get it, but the allure of D1 is more powerful to most players than quality of school, or lack of playing time.

amh63 · August 09, 2011, 10:52:22 AM

In an earlier post by Jayhawk, it was mentioned that one of the Amherst's assistant coach vacancy was filled. The person mentioned is a valid candidate.....I saw him last Nov. "hanging" around practice. However, the Amherst website does not acknowledge his hiring. There are actually two vacancies. HoopDirt.com doesn't even list any vacancies on its job site. Whereas today it cited an assistant coach job at AIC. If any new hirings are made, it will be announced on the Amherst website.

walzy31 · August 09, 2011, 11:52:58 AM

Quote from: amh63 on August 09, 2011, 10:52:22 AM
In an earlier post by Jayhawk, it was mentioned that one of the Amherst's assistant coach vacancy was filled. The person mentioned is a valid candidate.....I saw him last Nov. "hanging" around practice. However, the Amherst website does not acknowledge his hiring. There are actually two vacancies. HoopDirt.com doesn't even list any vacancies on its job site. Whereas today it cited an assistant coach job at AIC. If any new hirings are made, it will be announced on the Amherst website.

Kevin Hopkins (Alum '08) is replacing John Halas (who took the NMH assistant position). There is one opening remaining.

amh63 · August 10, 2011, 12:43:27 PM

Thanks Walzy.....Seems that the two openings at Amherst are filled. The website just put up a post that announced the new assistant coaches. Paul Halas (yes, another Halas) from RPI has moved into the recruiting assistant slot. Kevin Hopkins has jointed the ranks for at least two years......as he pursues his Masters at UMass down the road.

nescac1 · August 10, 2011, 03:10:23 PM

Not surprising Amherst didn't waste much time, as it is the heart of recruiting season. I think Williams (so far as I know) still has one assistant opening, Kevin Snyder returns, but that leaves one slot open with yet another Eph assistant moving up to D-1.

This is an old article on two high school teamates who will be rivals at Wesleyan (as noted in the article) and Trinity (later announced):

http://homenewshere.com/sports/article_2a089727-b15a-5614-bf6f-b0032c47b07b.html

That is at least two pairs of high schoolers attending rival NESCAC schools next year, along with the pair headed to Middlebury / Williams.

Any off-season rumors about players / teams on the rise heading into next season? I still believe that most of the league is once again a fair bit behind Midd, Amherst and Williams, all of whom will start as top ten national teams, but Wesleyan and Bowdoin both have the talent and experience to make runs at an NCAA bid if a few things go right ...

nescac1 · August 10, 2011, 04:14:12 PM

Amendment to prior post, Williams has indeed hired a second assistant, Kyle Koncz:

http://athletics.williams.edu/sports/mbkb/coaches/index

nescac1 · August 18, 2011, 09:34:31 PM

Williams has posted tons of great classic hoops videos on YouTube. A few of my favorites:

The Tucker Kain game:

http://www.youtube.com/user/WilliamsEphsSports#p/u/4/rSpqIoAmzCA

Highlights from 1997-98 Final Four team:

http://www.youtube.com/user/WilliamsEphsSports#p/u/10/2dAKpFzVJqs

Video on 2003 championship team:

http://www.youtube.com/user/WilliamsEphsSports#p/u/12/mXy9Hj_ng9c

1994 highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/user/WilliamsEphsSports#p/u/14/B82ylApZN3k

1996 Bowdoin NCAA highlights (aka the best Williams team to fall short of the Final Four, and arguably better than many that did):

http://www.youtube.com/user/WilliamsEphsSports#p/u/0/4MI6ZwLQLpY

jumpshot · August 19, 2011, 08:58:31 AM

Many thanks, NESCAC 1 ---and Williams College for posting these great videos that capture the longstanding excellence of the student/athletes, coaches, and community that is Wiilliams.

frank uible · August 19, 2011, 03:02:59 PM

jump: It is hoped that you understand that with respect to Williams, nescac1 believes that the glass is always at least 3/4 full even when in actuality it is at least 3/4 empty.

nescac1 · August 19, 2011, 06:44:09 PM

I may be an optimist by nature, but if the glass is 3/4 empty at Williams, that is a scary thought for the rest of D-3 hoops (or academic, more generally) ... they seem to be doing fine, with or without my cheerleading. And besides, it's more fan to be a fan than a critic ...

And on that note, another good video, this one of the victory over Holy Cross back in 2004 ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-cQLneOPX8

frank uible · August 20, 2011, 06:37:23 AM

The nature of some is to be almost always suspicious and not infrequently disrespectful of the popular.

Old Guy · August 20, 2011, 06:39:22 PM

I have said on these pages many times, while gnashing my teeth, that Williams is the gold standard in small college hoops in this region. They have been good, usually very good, forever, it seems. I will leave it to a Williams' fan to do some of the math, the research, but I can't believe there are other schools, nation-wide, with a better overall record, w-l, in the last half century, or more.

This Eph hegemony has made Middlebury's very recent competitiveness with them all the more satisfying. The NESCAC championship in the Williams' gym last February was incredible in the actual sense of that overused term. That it was such an historical anomaly only made it that much more fun. I hope that the near and not so near future maintains the present balance. For me, going back as far as I do and not normally a member of the "Gee Whiz" crowd, it's really a lot of fun.

Major Hoople · August 22, 2011, 09:53:12 AM

You are so right on, Old Guy. A win by any other name would not have smelled as sweet.

amh63 · August 26, 2011, 04:09:40 PM

Just to stir the pot a little as the school year is here......One of the key Midd. assistant has left for Cornell.