MBB: NESCAC

walzy31 · February 08, 2012, 05:05:45 PM

Pat just posted the first Regional Rankings. Here is New England:

Northeast
1 Amherst 18-2 20-2
2 Middlebury 18-1 20-1
3 Rhode Island College 16-4 16-4
4 Western Connecticut 17-4 17-4
5 WPI 16-4 16-4
6 Eastern Connecticut 17-4 17-4
7 MIT 20-1 20-1
8 Keene State 14-3 17-4
9 Wesleyan (Conn.) 17-4 17-5
10 Tufts 16-6 16-6
11 Becker 16-4 16-4
12 Albertus Magnus 20-1 20-1

amh63 · February 08, 2012, 06:12:59 PM

Surprise that RIC that lost last night is third in regional rankings. Checked why Amherst is over Midd. and believe it has to be the SOS. Amherst is higher than Midd. at this time. Did not go over all the stats. Notice that many of the LEC schools are higher than MIT...here again must be the SOS. OOPS....last night's RIC lost may not have been in today's rankings. Two more to go.....and good area for board discussions.....Amherst needs to win this weekend, etc.

pjunito · February 08, 2012, 06:33:15 PM

Does anyone know how rankings are determined? What is the formula used, if any?

I don't know how Albertus is slow low.. And the SOS isn't a good reason. They cannot control what conference they play in; agreed it is weak. However, they are undefeated and win by an avg of 17 points. Out of conference they have beaten Becker on the road by 9. They have beated Trinity on the road by 12. And they beat West Conn (they have a good SOS; don't you know) by 22 at home.. That wasn't a typo.. 22 points! They are big (6'8, 6'6, 6'5 starting front court) and talented (They avg 89 points a game). Anyone who has seen them play, will know that they are much better than 12 in the conference.

And to be honest; RIC, West Conn, and East Conn are not that good. The SOS are inflated because everyone thinks they are great; when they beat up on each other and play average out of conference opponents.

walzy31 · February 08, 2012, 10:47:19 PM

I can't speak to Western Conn or Eastern Conn, but RIC is good. I don't want to see them again in the NCAAs.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 08, 2012, 11:42:35 PM

- AM's opponent's record is 165-205... they have just five teams with records of .500 or better... and their out-of-conference opponents' record is 63-70, they can control that (two teams above .500) and they lost one of those games.
- RIC's game last night didn't count... games are through Sunday, I believe and usually the RACs have their votes done Tuesday afternoons before everything is double-checked before today's release.

As far as the formula, selection criteria, and other very important information, check this link out: www.d3hoops.com/interactive/faq/ncaatournament

Also understand that this is the regional committee for the Northeast:
Dave Lindberg, Worcester State College, chair
Larry Anderson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Paul Culpo, Castleton State College
Tom Devitt, Wentworth Institute of Technology
Travis Farley, Fitchbug State University
Bill Geitner, Eastern Connecticut State University
David Hixon, Amherst College
Aaron Galetta, Lasell College
Ed Sliva, Elms College

lumbercat · February 09, 2012, 01:12:53 AM

To set the record straight--Furbush is no lunatic. He's intense and is a grinder but carries himself with great deal of class that serves him well in the long run.

I'm a Bates guy who observed Dick Whitmore throughout his career at Colby. He was an outstanding coach that caused us Bobcats many a headache. He may be the best coach in the history of Maine college basketball.

However, Old Guy made the accurate statement that he was a piece of work on the sidelines and constantly worked the zebras and worked them hard. If you were in the gym at a Colby game you knew who Whitworh was and you heard his voice.
I haven't seen Strahorn in action but he may be following in Whit's footsteps in that regard.

Furbush is not of that style but I'm sure he will have issues at one time or another with the small network of refs that work games on the CBB circuit.

7express · February 09, 2012, 01:27:12 AM

Quote from: amh63 on February 08, 2012, 06:12:59 PM
Surprise that RIC that lost last night is third in regional rankings. Checked why Amherst is over Midd. and believe it has to be the SOS. Amherst is higher than Midd. at this time. Did not go over all the stats. Notice that many of the LEC schools are higher than MIT...here again must be the SOS. OOPS....last night's RIC lost may not have been in today's rankings. Two more to go.....and good area for board discussions.....Amherst needs to win this weekend, etc.

From what I understand Tuesday's games had no bearing on today's rankings. RIC losing Tuesday and WPI losing to Wheaton (MA) today should drop both of them in next week's rankings.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 09, 2012, 10:13:18 AM

7express... as I pointed out two posts before yours... games through Sunday count.

amh63 · February 09, 2012, 12:22:45 PM

The regional rankings should get Midd. up for the game on Sat. For all the Midd. posters....there is a nice preview of the upcoming game with Middlebury posted on the Amherst athletic website. Gives a detail of the expected lineups...a bit on the bench strength of both teams and a carefully written history of the last 4 meetings with Amherst...all wins for the big cats up north. Maybe the SID was getting the Amherst crowd to attend the game or something. There was a shorter writeup earlier about the Williams game on Friday. Big weekend for Amherst....with both men and women hockey games going on to determine seedings, etc. Still the BB games are the big events.

pjunito · February 09, 2012, 12:41:55 PM

Quote from: Dave 'd-mac' McHugh on February 08, 2012, 11:42:35 PM
- AM's opponent's record is 165-205... they have just five teams with records of .500 or better... and their out-of-conference opponents' record is 63-70, they can control that (two teams above .500) and they lost one of those games.

SOS is weak.. However, Albertus played 3 schools with above .500 records. Lost to Medgar Evers; beat Becker and West Conn. They finish the year off with at Johnson and Wales and vs St. Joesph (ME); those could be considered quality wins.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 09, 2012, 01:39:01 PM

Thanks, pjunto - I think my brain was turning to mush late last night. Sorry for the misinformation.

And yes, those games could be considered quality wins... but those teams have to keep playing well as well... and AM has very little margin for error.

walzy31 · February 09, 2012, 11:17:18 PM

Friday February 10th NESCAC Spreads

Tufts @ Hamilton
Tufts -16.0
O/U: 150.0

Williams @ Amherst
Amherst -7.0
O/U: 139.5

Middlebury @ Trinity
Middlebury -18.0
O/U: 129.0

Wesleyan @ Bowdoin
Bowdoin -1.0
O/U:143.5

Conn College @ Colby
Conn College -1.0
O/U: 126.0
(this game would be a pick'em if Colby hadn't beaten Trinity and would also be the game of the day)

7express · February 10, 2012, 12:19:04 AM

Heading up to the Williams Amherst game tomorrow night. Looking forward to a great atmosphere, packed LeFrak gymnasium, and hopefully two competitive games since I would've had to drive more than 2 hours.

7express · February 10, 2012, 12:20:18 AM

Hamilton under
Amherst over
Middlebury over
Bowdoin under
Colby over

with age came? · February 10, 2012, 02:50:56 AM

I would not want to determine who the last playoff spot goes to if Colby, Trinity and Hamilton all end up win 2 wins in the conference. Another win by Trinity appears the least likely (toughest remaining schedule). Colby needs to win against Conn or best case scenario (my bias is showing) Hamilton pulls out at least one win this weekend and settles the issue with 3 wins (assuming I am correct about Trinity not pulling a "big upset"). Trust me I have seen Stockwell teams do "unexpected things" when records are 0-0 in the second "playoff season"!