MBB: NESCAC

[amh63]

I would think it is the Coach here.  His recruits do not seem to fit into the Conn. community, it appears.  A coach should recruit players that fit his coaching style and more important that will fit well as a student-athlete in the school.
Anyway, it is interesting that one of the players listed in the Amherst BB newsletter is a 6'7" PG!  There is always need to have 2-3 good PG's.  Amherst has one great one.  My take is that the "cut" in the BB team will depend on defensive play.  Quickness and toughness to stop people.   To stop the top guards at Midd. and Williams and at Conn.....and other teams.  In college at this level and higher, it is about guard play and defense.

[walzy31]

Anyway, it is interesting that one of the players listed in the Amherst BB newsletter is a 6'7" PG!  There is always need to have 2-3 good PG's.  Amherst has one great one.

I assume you are referring to Alex Levine. His position was left open on the mailing (assuming he is one of those guys who can play the 3 through 5). The "PG" you are referring to is that he was a "Post-Grad" this past season at Exeter...5th year of high school, not a Point Guard.

[amh63]

Thanks Walzy for correcting my reading error.  Here I was thinking it could be the coming of a Div. 3 version of a former Michigan State and La Laker great!.....or going even further back in time.....the legendary "Big O", Oscar Robinson.  Actually, M. Johnson was often compared to Oscar.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Thanks Walzy for correcting my reading error.  Here I was thinking it could be the coming of a Div. 3 version of a former Michigan State and La Laker great!.....or going even further back in time.....the legendary "Big O", Oscar Robinson.  Actually, M. Johnson was often compared to Oscar.

While this puts me in a tiny minority (sorry Michael, Wilt, Bill, etc.), my vote for the greatest player of all time is a tie between Magic and Big O.

[amh63]

TheHerst2and4.....Nice input and hearing from you.  Hope to see and talk with you at some games in Amherst.   Anyway, I noticed R. Bryant in a picture on the Amherst website in an article wrt Habitat for Humanity.  Last Nov. at Homecoming I spoke with him on the BB court.  He was recovering from an ACL injury then.  I really hope he is ready to play this year since I believe he can become a key player down low this year.  Because of his length (he was last listed at 6'7") and shot blocking ability and agility, I feel he can be a defensive presence for Amherst....in critical games and as a backup to the starting center.  Rebounds and blocks are needed.  Amherst should have enough offensive players returning.  We need someone to stop Wang's layups and to slow down Midd's all-american PF.  I think he is quick enough to guard someone outside and big enough to block out rebounders.
I know.....I am sounding like a desperate man here.  Will check in at Homecoming to view the informal BB workouts if they are happening.  Maybe by that week, a updated prel. lineup will be available.  Is Nov. 1 still the official start of BB practice?

[nescac1]

Mr. Ypsi, I loved watching Magic play (Big O was a bit before my time), but if you consider that half the game is played on defense, no way you can take Magic (average would be kind) over Jordan (best perimeter defender in the league many years), even if you could argue that they were about even on offense (I'd still rather have Jordan on that end). 

[Bucket]

For anyone who has had the pleasure of taking in a game in Midd's Pepin Gymnasium during the past six years, you probably have had the pleasure of listening to the amazing Noah Feder as the deep-voiced public address announcer. (And if you happened to be underwhelmed by the PA announcer, that may very well have been a game when Noah was absent and yours truly was filling in.)

Anyway, Noah has left the Champlain Valley behind for New York City, where he's working for a high school in the Bronx...but his golden voice may yet have another gig to attend.

He's auditioning to be the PA voice of the soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets (once they relocate from New Jersey). The NY Daily News has taken notice:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/10/01/2011-10-01_talking_their_way_in_hundreds_seek_job_as_new_voice_of_the_brooklyn_nets.html

[jayhawk]

Solid early recruit for Tufts- has an excellent resume

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/2202/Haladyna-Calls-It.php

[TheHerst2and4]

More scoop on Amherst's tryout roster:
Add Kane Willis of the Webb School to the list of incoming frosh rumor has it he has sprouted to 6'10, it will be interesting to see if the last 6'10 player from Amherst, Kevin Hopkins, can develop Kane into a force.

I've heard good things about Haladyna, great scoop for the Jumbos

[leelowlang]

NESCAC

2010-11 Final Standings

1.   Williams – 29-3, 9-0 NESCAC
2.   Middlebury – 28-2, 8-1 NESCAC
3.   Amherst – 25-4, 7-2 NESCAC
4.   Trinity (Conn.) – 14-12, 4-5 NESCAC
5.   Tufts – 13-12, 4-5 NESCAC
6.   Bowdoin – 14-10, 3-6 NESCAC
7.   Bates – 12-13, 3-6 NESCAC
8.   Connecticut College – 12-13, 3-6 NESCAC
9.   Colby – 11-13, 2-7 NESCAC
10.   Wesleyan – 11-13, 2-7 NESCAC

2010-11 Conference Championship
Middlebury 63, Williams 54

NCAA Performance
o   Middlebury 79, Western Connecticut 53 (2nd Round)
o   Middlebury 61, Rochester 52 (3rd Round)
o   Middlebury 65, St. Mary's (Md.) 50 (National Quarterfinals)
o   St. Thomas 59, Middlebury 57 (National Semifinals)
o   Williams 86, Husson 83 (OT) (1st Round)
o   Williams 84, Becker 63 (2nd Round)
o   Williams 79, Virginia Wesleyan 73 (3rd Round)
o   Williams 77, Amherst 71 (National Quarterfinals)
o   Wooster 71, Wooster 73 (National Semifinals)
o   Amherst 79, Skidmore 39 (1st Round)
o   Amherst 92, WPI 70 (2nd Round)
o   Amherst 78, Rhode Island College (3rd Round)
o   Williams 77, Amherst 71 (National Quarterfinals)

RETURNING LEADERS
•   Scoring
o   Will Hanley – Bowdoin – 6'7", Sr., F/G – 19.8 ppg
o   Shasha Brown – Wesleyan – 6'9", Jr., G – 19.2 ppg
o   James Wang – Williams – 6'0", Sr., G – 18.4 ppg
o   Matt Vadas – Conn – 6'3'", So., G – 16.5 ppg
o   Ryan Sharry – Middlebury – 6'8", Sr., F – 13.7 ppg
•   Rebounding
o   Will Hanley – Bowdoin – 6'7", Sr., F/G – 11.3 rpg
o   Ryan Sharry – Middlebury – 6'8", Sr., F – 10.5 rpg
o   Alex Orchowski – Tufts – 6'5", Jr., F – 7.4 rpg
•   Assists
o   Jake Wolfin – Middlebury – 6'2", Jr., G – 5.0 apg
o   Shasha Brown – Wesleyan – 6'0", Jr., G – 3.8 apg
o   Justin Nowell – Bowdoin – 6'0", Sr., G – 3.5 apg
•   Steals
o   Amauris Quezada – Tufts – 5'10", Sr., G – 2.68 spg
•   Blocks
o   Ryan Sharry – Middlebury – 6'8", Sr., F – 2.11 bpg
•   FG %
o   Peter Kaasila – Amherst – 6'9", Jr., C - .606 FG%
•   3-pt FG %
o   David Waller – Amherst – 6'6", Sr., G/F - .477 3FG%
•   3FG Made
o   James Klemm – Williams – 6'3", Jr., G – 92 3FG
•   FT %
o   Jason Mendell – Wesleyan – 6'3", Sr., G/F - .911 FT%

[OchoLoko41]

As every follower of the 'CAC knows, every year there is a team that seems to breakout from the lower ranks of the pack (the 7-11 spots) to join the "upper ranks". With key players missing from last years CAC ranks (Troy, Locke, Wholey Ellis, Russel, Van Loenen, MacDougall, etc) there is definitely some room to move up in the NESCAC.

For my money the team thats going to make the leap this year is Wesleyan. They return almost every member of the 2010 team, including all 5 starters, and their record last year was more a byproduct of unfortunate injuries than lack of talent or coaching (Glen Thomas, Greg St Jean, and David Maltz all missed major portions of last season).  This upcoming season, with their quick guards and more than enough size with Callaghan and Thomas, I expect to see the Cardinals not only making the playoffs but advancing deep into them

So those are my thoughts... who's your breakout team of 2011?

[nescac1]

I think there are only really two candidates to potentially challenge the big three (all of whom should, if healthy, be likely NCAA and potential top ten teams this year): Wesleyan, for the reasons stated, and Bowdoin (although Wes does have the very tough task of being the only team to play Amherst and Williams twice each, won't effect conference standings, but will impact overall W-L).  It is a senior-driven league, and Bowdoin has the best group of seniors in NESCAC in Hanley, O'Connell, Nowell, plus a few role players.  They bring in at least three strong recruits including a seven footer who could have an early impact on the defensive end, plus a 6'10 center who started to show improvement last year and could make a big leap forward; that could be quite a combo defensively.  Of Bowdoin's 10 losses last year, four came to Williams/Amherst/Midd,  and four others were by a total of nine points -- with the most experienced roster in the league (only one player lost to graduation), I'd expect the closer games to go Bowdoin's way this year. 

Bates, Colby, Conn (thanks to losing yet another key player to transfer) and Trinity (only five returning guys but a great frosh class) are all in rebuilding mode.  Tufts is a bit of a sleeper who could pull off an upset or two, but I think they are still another year way from contention.  Hamilton is the big unknown, as the new kid on the block they are the toughest to predict.  But I think the league will break down something like M/W/A fighting for the top spot as usual, Wesleyan, Bowdoin, and maybe Tufts or Hamilton challenging, and the rest of the teams fighting for the final playoff spot.   

[nescac1]

Congrats to Wang and Sharry for being named first-team all-Americans (just as they were in Sporting News) by d3hoops:

http://www.d3hoops.com/awards/all-americans/men/preseason-2012

Both struggled a bit with injuries for parts of last year, but still had outstanding years.  If healthy, both should be primed for huge senior years. 

I was surprised Woodmore from Va Wesleyan didn't make it.  Only a soph which is probably why, and that team is very balanced, but he really stands out with his talen.  Also Pittman from Guilford in the South Region I think is primed for a huge year.  But there are a lot of really strong guards this year ...

Interesting that 4/5 first teamers are from New England, plus two more third teamers.  And Will Hanley of Bowdoin, Sha Brown of Wesleyan, Nate Robertson of Williams, Derek D'Amours of Keene, Will Tashman and Mitchell Kates of MIT, and Aaron Toomey of Amherst all have the potential to be on this list by season's end, as well. 

The New England region is as stacked at the top as I can ever recall.  Williams, Amherst, and Midd each bring back most of their key guys (granted, each lose one very big piece) from Elite Eight teams; all should start the season in the top 5-6.  Bowdoin and Wesleyan are on the rise in NESCAC.  MIT has a first team all-American plus two other all-region type guys returning and has top-15 potential.  Brandeis is loaded with talent and now has a lot more experience, they are probably the pre-season favorite in teh always-tough UAA.  Plus WPI, Salem State, RIC, Western Conn, and Keene State all have some very talented players returning, I thought Keene in particular would be a real dark horse last year, but maybe they needed a year for a lot of new pieces to mesh.  I think for the first time in memory, it is safe to say that, heading into the season, the New England region is the strongest nationally, at least looking at the top ten teams regionally. 

[ECSUalum]

For reference, March 11, 2010 NCAA Northeast Regional final rankings:

Northeast
(In-region record is first, followed by overall record)
1 Middlebury 22-1 25-1
2 Williams 23-2 25-2
3 WPI 22-4 22-5
4 Becker 23-4 23-4
5 Amherst 21-3 22-3
6 Western Connecticut State 20-5 21-5
7 Rhode Island College 19-7 19-7
8 Elms 18-6 20-7
9 Eastern Connecticut State 17-8 19-9
10 Bridgewater State 18-8 19-9
11 MIT 19-7 19-8

[ephoops]

...I think for the first time in memory, it is safe to say that, heading into the season, the New England region is the strongest nationally, at least looking at the top ten teams regionally.

I agree. 

I would be interested in the views of others outside the Northeast region...