MBB: NESCAC

[Hugenerd]

Rochester games are webcast here: http://www.wysl1040.com/ (the link is at the top right of the page)

You may also note that the rolling banner midway down on the right side of the page lists upcoming Rochester basketball events, which includes the 12/7 7:30 matchup with Hamilton (although the opponent is not specified by name).

[nescac1]

Another strong day for NESCAC yesterday.  Over the weekend, the conference went a combined 11-1. 

Williams didn't win in blow-out fashion like Saturday, but still coasted to an easy win.  Another strong shooting game for Epley, but Wang struggled a bit.  Robertson, despite having an off shooting game (I may have jinxed him on that front), was named tournament MVP, which is a testament to what he means to the Ephs even when not scoring many points.   Rooke-Ley had his strongest game of the season, and it looks like now that he is healthy, he will be the sixth man.  I like the rebounding he brings at the guard position ... the Ephs need all the help they can get there, as it is very clear they won't have a traditional dominant rebounding presence at either the 4 or the 5.  So far this season, Eph opponents have 85 offensive boards, to only 57 for the Ephs.  That disparity is largely due to the fact that opponents have missed a lot more shots, so there are more opportunities, but it is still worrisome, particularly considering the fact that so far, Williams has played much smaller opponents.  Worcester's second chance points yesterday made the game competitive for at least awhile. 

One odd statistical anomaly for the Ephs: so far this year, they are giving up a higher shooting percentage from 3 (38 percent) than 2 (37) on the year.  I doubt that disparity will last more than another game or so, a combination of playing a few teams who were just unconscious from deep, and a green group of guards struggling with D early in the season before the veterans returned to action, the Ephs usually really focus on defending the three. 

Speaking of three, most of NESCAC's top shooters are off to incredible starts this year.  Barrise, O'Connell, Foreman, and Klemm, who will have quite a battle for three point supremacy in the conference, are all shooting at least 50 percent from 3, each on more than three makes per game.  They are all sure to cool down once conference play begins, but a very strong start to the year for all of them.   

[amh63]

Thanks  posters for providing depth to the scores coming in.  While awaiting Amherst's next game on Tuesday...with Emmanuel, I will provide some observations and comments on the games I watched.
Amherst's starters seem to rotate in their efforts to help the team.  Workman in the win over Westfield had a double-double game in points and rebounds.  Barrise on the other hand seems to working hard to rebound this year and share the ball.  Often he does not take an open 3 point shot but looks to pass...inside and to others.  He is the lone Captain of the team.  Amherst is still looking for a steady replacement for Aaron T.  In recent games against quick opponents, Workman has been used to bring up the ball and even C. Johnson, another 6'6" guard.  One of the new FY players that was added recently is a 5'10" guard.  I believe, he was a star football and BB player from long Island that posters thought would play football at Amherst.  Need to check it out more.
Talking about smaller guards.......The "slight" Lin of Hamilton seems to becoming a major contributor for Hamilton in his first year.  The story on the D3 front page stated that he had 8 assists in the last game and two BLOCKs! 
The last two games that Amherst won, the team was torched by the play of small talented and quick guards.....for 32 and 26 points.  Not looking forward to watching the games against Wes. and S. Brown.
Tufts has a small pg also...who likes to drive and bring up the ball quickly.  He doesn't appear at this time to be in control of the team play.
The game against Emmanuel, on paper, will be against a team that is undersized wrt to Amherst...but then most teams are.  Amherst needs the challenge of playing defense against quick teams.  I feel that the amount of time a player gets on the floor at Amherst is based on the players ability to play team defense....therefore the slow rotations of the younger players into the games.

[jumboland]

The Jumbos will be fine this year. Youthful, enthusiastic, and wanting to get back into the conversation  as relevant to NESCAC hoops. Building off last year's turnaround and tournament appearance for the first time in a few years, the boys want to get into the top third rather than the middle third of the league. If spots 1-3 have already been conceded by some, these guys would like a chance to  mix it up. Early season success is helping build confidence for veterans and  the newbies  who look good so far.  The loss to Regis is a teachable moment...there are no nights off. The outside shooting will come around and the perimeter defense is getting better. Other than Quezada, not much quickness on D up top the last couple of years, but things could be different with the younger guards and wings. Bigs are a solid group, if a little undersized, who all bang and rebound. Scoring is pretty well balanced and  several guys  have stepped up at different points during the games to carry the offense. This group likes and trusts each other. Could be an interesting season at Cousens...now if we could just get the kids to come out and support their team

[amh63]

Welcome aboard Jumboland!  Hope you will be a steady poster to defend your team against the rest of the posters.  Better still, to give us the needed inside info on the young energetic Tufts team.  I agree it is a team to watch out for....based on my watching the play against Southern Maine.
Watched the Bowdoin vs. Maine Maritime Academy tonight.  The Polar Bears won 72-44...or close to that.  It was not an interesting game at the MMA.  MMA has a young team with 5 FY players and one SR.  Its two tallest players are FY players with the tallest at 6'7".  The game was 41-21 at the half when I joined the game.  Surprised to see Bowdoin's star and starting center at 6'10" both in the game.  Hanley dominated the play and the ball and basically did not impress me with his play against an overmatched opponent.  I got interested again when Swords the 7' FY player entered the game.  He is not ready for "prime Time" and or for Div.3 college ball in the conference at this time.  He doesn't run the floor well and he was beaten badly under the basket by the MMA center who must be about 7-8 inch shorter.  Bowdoin went into a zone for awhile afterwards with Swords playing the middle.  In a zone, Swords will block drivers' layups.
It appears the best FY player for the Polar Bears is a 5'10" guard from Boston College prep in Mass.(B. Hurley).  He has moved into the starting line-up or at least the 6th man after a 6 rebound, 8 point performance in the Southern Maine loss.  Hanley had 32 points and 18 rebounds in that loss.....but no other starter contributed much.
At this time, I would put Tufts ahead of the Bears of Bowdoin.

[walzy31]

I mean no disrespect to ColbyHoops by this line, but it was requested of me in an email.

Colby Basketball will finish 0-10 in NESCAC league play (Maine non-conference games against Bowdoin and Bates not included)?
Yes -220
No +110

[Colby Hoops]

I mean no disrespect to ColbyHoops by this line, but it was requested of me in an email.

Colby Basketball will finish 0-10 in NESCAC league play (Maine non-conference games against Bowdoin and Bates not included)?
Yes -220
No +110

I'll take No on that in a heartbeat.  Wouldn't Conn be the most likely team to not have a NESCAC win? They've already lost to Fisher by 10 who Colby beat twice. I'm also not sure Bates and Trinity are all that far ahead of Colby. 

[walzy31]

Tuesday December 6th Spread

Amherst Vs. Emmanuel
Amherst -32.0
O/U: 146.0

[quicksilver]

A couple of Connecticut-based recruits for Bowdoin and Middlebury. The Bowdoin recruit, Lucas Hausman of Hopkins, is a 6-3 shooting guard. The Middlebury recruit, Matt Daley is a 6-7 forward doing a PG year at Taft after graduating from Fairfield Prep.

[magicman]

New D3Hoops Top 25 poll just out and the Middlebury Panthers move into the #1 slot. Maybe the 1st time ever that Middlebury has attained that lofty perch. Hope it's not the kiss of death as it has been for the previous 2 occupants whose stay atop the standings only lasted for a single poll. Middlebury's my team in the survivor pool and we're down to seven teams left and I like my chances. Have to worry about the #2 team though as the Lord Jeffs are also in the survivor pool and owned by the infamous Mr. Ypsi. At least I can "Lord" it over him for a while as Amherst is "only" #2 in this week's poll. Panthers grabbed 13 first place votes to 10 for Amherst and lead them by a total of 13 points, 612-599. Virginia Wesleyan and Whitworth each received a single first place vote. Williams depite a 3-0 week dropped a spot from 7th to 8th but did however have 3 more points this week than last, 428-425. Whitworth and MIT both leapfrogged the Ephs and came in 6th and 7th.

WPI remains the only other Northeast Region team in the Top 25, however the undefeated Rhode Island College Anchormen (7-0) nearly crash the party as they check in the ORV category in 26th place with 65 points, only 12 points behind #25 Wabash. Remember RIC took Amherst down to the wire last year in the Sweet 16 and return a number of starters. They face WPI this weekend and a win will probably vault them into the ranking next week if they stay clean. Western Connecticut with 11 points (38th), Salem State and Tufts are tied with 3 points (along with 3 other teams for 48th place) and Hamilton gets a mention with 2 pts and 53rd place.

Here's the link to the poll:  http://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2011-12/week2         

[OchoLoko41]

I mean no disrespect to ColbyHoops by this line, but it was requested of me in an email.

Colby Basketball will finish 0-10 in NESCAC league play (Maine non-conference games against Bowdoin and Bates not included)?
Yes -220
No +110

I'll take No on that in a heartbeat.  Wouldn't Conn be the most likely team to not have a NESCAC win? They've already lost to Fisher by 10 who Colby beat twice. I'm also not sure Bates and Trinity are all that far ahead of Colby.

I'm also going to take no on that one... but just barely, im looking at Conn College to give the Mules that elusive CAC victory. Right now Vadas is simply the only one carrying the load for the Camels (leading them in points, rebounds, and assists)

[Hugenerd]

MIT, strong in the NEWMAC conference, got crushed by Harvard.  Harvard goes and beats FSU from the ACC!

Harvard is loaded this year, or as loaded as an Ivy team can get nowadays. They are on the cusp of breaking into the AP and USA Today Top 25 (27 in both polls this week), and they beat Utah by a wider margin than they beat MIT. That game also didn't count for D3 purposes, it is officially an exhibition for MIT.

I know this is bringing up an old topic, but Harvard broke into the D1 Top 25 for the first time ever this week (at #24).

[LaPaz]

I will take Emmanuel and the under.
As far as 0-10..its possible if Bates can do it in soccer than it surely can happen in b-ball. Dont kno who did that line but if yes and 0-10 are underdog why are they -220. Seems backwards to me.. The better line would be Any/All Nescac One team 0-10  +240....I will take that one

[amh63]

Again, I am late to the "party".   Doing analyses on the rankings at this time of the season is trending towards speculation and heading into fantasy in my humble opinion.  But why not!  It seems that Salem State is a key school in the latest rankings....Check out the poll questions on the front page of D3hoops.  My vote was for Midd. to be #1 until the "CAC tournament.  Salem has lost several games since the win over Williams and it still garnered 3 points, the same as Tufts....after beating Salem S..  Hamilton, still undefeated received 2 points.
The upcoming game between Hamilton and U. of Rochester later this week will gage the strength of the conference at this time with the UAA.  It was an UAA team,Wash. U., that beat last week's #1.  Wash U. was the last school to win back to back National titles.
Rochester is coached by a former Amherst assistant and lost to Midd. in last year's Elite 8, I believe.  The coach is a great recruiter and will have his first recruiting class on the bench.
I am surprised and worried about RIC's rise.  RIC is a school that Amherst has played regularly over the past 5 or more years...though last year's late regular season game was canceled due to weather and never rescheduled.  RIC has a history of getting stronger as the season goes on......due in part by the addition of transfers and returning players in the 2nd semester.  If they are this strong now, they may be a team to watch out for later.

[7express]

I'll take Emmanuel, the over and No on Colby going 0-10 in NESCAC play.
As others have said, Conn College should be the team that has the 0-10 prediction.  Colby will beat the Camels and possibly Wesleyan as well (do they play them up in Maine or down in Connecticut??).