MBB: NESCAC

[Bucket]

Not quite a powerhouse - in the four seasons immediately preceding Maker's arrival Williams men's basketball had an aggregate record of 66-37.

When Maker took over Williams had reached the final four two years prior and he had Whittington, wang, geoghegan, Schultz and Snyder on the team.

No amherst coach prior to hixon had a winning percentage above .600 and his immediate predecessor had under a .550 winning percentage over the span of almost three decades.

Maker had a lot more to work with. Since that insane stockpile of talent has gradually graduated, Hixon has started handing it to Maker. 4 wins in a row.

Folks, we're chasing red herrings here. No one was trying to make the case that one coach was better than the other, one was a more proven winner, one's dad could beat up the other's dad. I brought up the success of Mike Maker and Jeff Brown to refute the notion that the criticism of Dave Hixon was driven by a jealousy of "winners." My point was that the same criticisms have not been aimed at Jeff or Mike, two coaches running very successful programs.

Getting tired of this. I have a kid to raise, a family illness to contend with, a demanding job. I love the games, think the world of the kids, have never (not once) shied away from heaping praise on opponents' play. Seeing anger and wishing of ill will directed at 20 year olds (and I am not talking about Dave Hixon here) puts a lot of things in perspective and is very sad to say the least.

[lefrakenstein]

lefrak: Please check your records. Williams did not go to the Final Four in any of the four seasons immediately preceding Maker's arrival (20004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08). In 2004-05 Williams' record was 16-9; in 2005-06, 17-8; in 2006-07, 16-12; in 2007-08, 17-8. Irrespective of the quality of Hixon's inheritance, in my view Maker did not inherit a powerhouse program.

My mistake, five years prior. The point is that he had a program that had been there before. They already had a banner in Salem. The infrastructure was there to do it, and so was the talent. I don't even think the NESCAC schools could participate in the final four when Hixon started coaching.

[nescac1]

Now we are really getting sidetracked, but I think, Frank, you give too little credit to what Maker inherited.  I do think Maker is a tremendous coach, and he has done a great job both with the talent on hand, and in continuing to bring in great players.  But he inherited, first, a team with a long and proud tradition (four prior Final Fours including a national title just six years earlier) and a ton of very talented players (Coach Paulsen had a few lean recruiting years from 2006-2009, which accounted for the good-but-not-great teams during that time period, but from 2010-12 he brought in one all-American per year plus several other very strong starters).  It's pretty nice to start off your career with Whittington, Wang, Geoghegan, Rubin and Schultz in your arsenal.  Now that group, in particular Whittington, all improved tremendously under Coach Maker's tutelage.  He's proven to be really adept at developing players and of course two trips to Salem speak for themselves.  But it was Coach Sheehy who in my mind really turned Williams into a national power, and Coaches Paulsen and Maker continued and built upon that tradition. 

[daoustian]

Folks, we're chasing red herrings here. No one was trying to make the case that one coach was better than the other, one was a more proven winner, one's dad could beat up the other's dad.

Now there's a new angle on this beaten horse -- who's dad could beat up the other's dad?  Great suggestion, Bucket.  Wil Hixon was a legendary high school basketball coach at Andover who was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, and coached his son's HS team to a state championship.  Bill Maker was also a suburban Boston guy who was an army vet.  Might want to give the edge to Maker's dad due to the military background, but Hixon's dad was also a high school principal, and who has ever met a principal who wasn't a total hard a$$?  It'd be an interesting fight -- not sure whether Walzy would give odds on it though.

[amh63]

The conf. tournament is just a few days from now.  Time to move on to chatting about BB.
Tired about posters stating...move on....and returning to a subject.  Do not want to hear about one's backup school, expertise in a dead language, knowledge of forgotten school chants and even "
Social ethics", etc......
There...my personal rant for now.     Would like to know if/when the video of The Game is available.   Funny, The Game was in the past used for the Harvard-Yale football game starring Tommy Lee Jones and Calvin Hill....but I digress.
I want to see if Jensen's first shot was made or missed.....just trying to be funny here.  Really wanted to see the game that will be one for the history books again.
Walzy....will there be spreads?    Suggest this board be a part of your All Crazy Team.

[LarryBasketball33]

The conf. tournament is just a few days from now.  Time to move on to chatting about BB.
Tired about posters stating...move on....and returning to a subject.  Do not want to hear about one's backup school, expertise in a dead language, knowledge of forgotten school chants and even "
Social ethics", etc......
There...my personal rant for now.     Would like to know if/when the video of The Game is available.   Funny, The Game was in the past used for the Harvard-Yale football game starring Tommy Lee Jones and Calvin Hill....but I digress.
I want to see if Jensen's first shot was made or missed.....just trying to be funny here.  Really wanted to see the game that will be one for the history books again.
Walzy....will there be spreads?    Suggest this board be a part of your All Crazy Team.

You missed your calling, you are very funny.  Missed the 1st.  Made the 2nd.  The only reason I came back to it was after someone sent me the video confirming what I thought I had seen and heard.  OK, I'm with you 63, let's move on.  Who will your hoops mancrush be on next year when Willy fades into the history books? 

[madzillagd]

Folks, we're chasing red herrings here.

If a new school ever gets added to the NESCAC, Red Herrings has my vote for their mascot.  That would be fantastic.

[lefrakenstein]

WPI lost their second consecutive game. Which means, if Amherst wins out, they would be the top seed in the region.

Which... I think... means they would be very likely to host until the round of 8?

[walzy31]

Folks, we're chasing red herrings here. No one was trying to make the case that one coach was better than the other, one was a more proven winner, one's dad could beat up the other's dad.

Now there's a new angle on this beaten horse -- who's dad could beat up the other's dad?  Great suggestion, Bucket.  Wil Hixon was a legendary high school basketball coach at Andover who was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, and coached his son's HS team to a state championship.  Bill Maker was also a suburban Boston guy who was an army vet.  Might want to give the edge to Maker's dad due to the military background, but Hixon's dad was also a high school principal, and who has ever met a principal who wasn't a total hard a$$?  It'd be an interesting fight -- not sure whether Walzy would give odds on it though.

Now we are back to normal topics on this forum!

The Rivalry - Parents Fight Club

Who wins a UFC style fight:
Wil Hixon +280
Bill Maker -250

[toad22]

Just for the record, in case Mr. Maker reads this site, he is a Marine. Marines tend to get touchy about that.

[LarryBasketball33]

Folks, we're chasing red herrings here. No one was trying to make the case that one coach was better than the other, one was a more proven winner, one's dad could beat up the other's dad.

Now there's a new angle on this beaten horse -- who's dad could beat up the other's dad?  Great suggestion, Bucket.  Wil Hixon was a legendary high school basketball coach at Andover who was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, and coached his son's HS team to a state championship.  Bill Maker was also a suburban Boston guy who was an army vet.  Might want to give the edge to Maker's dad due to the military background, but Hixon's dad was also a high school principal, and who has ever met a principal who wasn't a total hard a$$?  It'd be an interesting fight -- not sure whether Walzy would give odds on it though.

Now we are back to normal topics on this forum!

The Rivalry - Parents Fight Club

Who wins a UFC style fight:
Wil Hixon +280
Bill Maker -250

Way to go Walzy.  Give me the younger of the two.  Youth is usually served in these types of matchups.

[pick and roll]

Midd v. Amherst post game all crazy team:

Bucket - for his passion
Waltzy - for his passion
Grab the Rim - for his youtube
Frank - for his Latin
AMH63 - just because

[madzillagd]

After getting to spend 3 days with Bill Maker over the holidays, he's got my vote hands down.  Anybody that can keep 6'11 300+ lb Wyatt Maker in line should not have too much trouble with a normal sized human.   

[ECSUalum]

The conf. tournament is just a few days from now.  Time to move on to chatting about BB.
Tired about posters stating...move on....and returning to a subject.  Do not want to hear about one's backup school, expertise in a dead language, knowledge of forgotten school chants and even "
Social ethics", etc......
There...my personal rant for now.     Would like to know if/when the video of The Game is available.   Funny, The Game was in the past used for the Harvard-Yale football game starring Tommy Lee Jones and Calvin Hill....but I digress.
I want to see if Jensen's first shot was made or missed.....just trying to be funny here.  Really wanted to see the game that will be one for the history books again.
Walzy....will there be spreads?    Suggest this board be a part of your All Crazy Team.

Hey amh63,

Just wanted to give a shout out congrats to the Lord Jeffs for wrapping up 1st in the the NESCAC reg. season, (I guess you still need to beat Colby ) and for the  great job vs Williams and Middlebury over the last couple of weeks. Good Luck in the CAC Tourney and kick some butt in the NCAA tourney please

[grabtherim]

Midd v. Amherst post game all crazy team:

Bucket - for his passion
Waltzy - for his passion
Grab the Rim - for his youtube
Frank - for his Latin
AMH63 - just because

To set the record straight, although I found it determinative on the issues raised, I did not post it.  That being said, I am happy to be a 2nd teamer on this list.