MBB: NESCAC

amh63 · March 13, 2013, 10:55:39 AM

I think that coach Hixon is not thinking about it, even if he is aware of missing the "honor".
It should be pointed out, if memory serves me, that coach Hixon won several such honors in '07 when he did not win the conference selection. You are correct here that he will not win the D3hoops title if Amherst wins the National Title. IMHO, he wants the Big One for his team, his assistants, his school much more. But I , again, am way ahead of myself.......where does that expression come from...that I an using ? Like...over the top?....beer mug....frat parties? Oops should not say that here...to many clever/witty posters will go like sharks to blood at me. Please be kind...wasn't that from some movie line?...back to my chores/novels.

Panthernation · March 13, 2013, 10:57:17 AM

Quote from: nescac1 on March 13, 2013, 10:26:57 AM

I'd be suprised if Toomey, Mayer, and Workman were not all represented on the all-America teams as well ...

If NCAA Tournament play factors into All-American selections, Joey Kizel will also deserve serious consideration. His season stats: 14.2 ppg with 50/43/79 splits. After a slow start to the season, he's averaging 20.8 points in his last 5 games and 16.3 points per game since the beginning of NESCAC play (non-conference blowouts against Lyndon State and St. Joseph's excluded).

UPDATE: I went back and included Kizel's games against both Castleton State (10 points) and Keene State (14 points) because his minutes and the opponents were more similar than dissimilar from most of the teams that Middlebury has played since the beginning of the NESCAC season. Lyndon State and St. Joseph's remain notable exceptions as Kizel's lack of minutes and shot attempts reflect the level of competition and not his play.

Panthernation · March 13, 2013, 11:02:32 AM

A couple Middlebury opponents past and future named to the All-East Region teams.

Ithaca's Sean Rossi is a first-team selection alongside John DiBartolomeo. Cortland's Jesse Winter, meanwhile, who was, in my opinion, the best player Nolan Thompson guarded all year, is a second team selection.

Just noticed that Skidmore's Aldin Medunjanin was named East Region Rookie of the Year. He had 17 points against Middlebury earlier this year. 6'4'' guard who can handle the ball and score from different spots on the floor.

walzy31 · March 13, 2013, 11:10:49 AM

Quote from: madzillagd on March 13, 2013, 10:24:20 AM
If this was a 'news' channel the headline today would be:

Maker boxes out Hixon for Regional Coach of the Year.

And the news channel of choice? Why the Amherst College Lord Jeff Cast of course.

"Like" for Madzilla's post

Folks up in Williamstown still waiting to connect to their modem via dial up to find out who won COY.

And if I were a betting man...I would take Hixon to win the NABC New England COY (unless PantherNation can make a case for Nolan Thompson).

Pat Coleman · March 13, 2013, 11:28:09 AM

For us, a lot of it is based on results vs. expectation and although Williams didn't win the NESCAC, they outperformed what we thought they would do this season. (Bob Walsh and Chris Bartley were also strong candidates.)

madzillagd · March 13, 2013, 11:55:38 AM

I'm surprised that Bartley didn't get the nod because WPI seemed to come out of nowhere this year and sustained it for such a long time once they got the target on their back.

Panthernation · March 13, 2013, 01:22:59 PM

We tried to tell Pat (and most of the rest of you) way back in November about Williams, but alas, we were forced to play the role of tragic warner.

"@d3hoops: Two games does not a season make. RT @MiddPantherBlog: Only a matter of time before the @d3hoops world realizes ...they underrated Williams."

"@MiddPantherBlog: @d3hoops Right, not saying the proof is in the results. Just saying we think they are elite team nationally and its just starting to show."

nescac1 · March 13, 2013, 01:40:16 PM

I'm guessing that no one will underestimate Amherst, Williams or Midd next year with four all-region players returning between the three of them, plus some major pieces returning who suffered pre-season season ending injuries. Tufts, on the other hand, will likely be the (nationally, not regionally) underestimated New England dark horse ... Next year is going to feature a small group of absolutely loaded teams in D-3 ... Illinois Wesleyan, Wash U., Stevens Point, Whitewater, Wooster, RMC and Cabrini are all very strong teams which return most if not all of their key personnel. I am confident that Williams will also belong in that group when all is said and done, assuming the point guard situation gets figured out.

I feel like the tournament this year is, on the other hand, truly open for the taking for any team which gets hot ... I could easily see 12 of the Sweet 16 teams taking the national title (St. Thomas, Calvin, Williams, VWU, Whitworth, St. Mary's, Amherst, Wooster, Cabrini, Illinois Wesleyan, North Central, Midd), and I don't think any one from that group would be more than a few point favorite on a neutral court over any other. I think St. Thomas and Amherst probably have the most talent, but I could also easily see both losing before the Final Four, especially if Amherst has to face Cabrini.

Pat Coleman · March 13, 2013, 02:17:06 PM

Quote from: Panthernation on March 13, 2013, 01:22:59 PM
We tried to tell Pat (and most of the rest of you) way back in November about Williams, but alas, we were forced to play the role of tragic warner.

"@d3hoops: Two games does not a season make. RT @MiddPantherBlog: Only a matter of time before the @d3hoops world realizes ...they underrated Williams."

"@MiddPantherBlog: @d3hoops Right, not saying the proof is in the results. Just saying we think they are elite team nationally and its just starting to show."

Yep, I remember this. You were right.

Who was the more tragic warner, Wolf or Kurt?

Bucket · March 13, 2013, 02:18:37 PM

Quote from: nescac1 on March 13, 2013, 01:40:16 PM
I'm guessing that no one will underestimate Amherst, Williams or Midd next year with four all-region players returning between the three of them, plus some major pieces returning who suffered pre-season season ending injuries. Tufts, on the other hand, will likely be the (nationally, not regionally) underestimated New England dark horse ... Next year is going to feature a small group of absolutely loaded teams in D-3 ... Illinois Wesleyan, Wash U., Stevens Point, Whitewater, Wooster, RMC and Cabrini are all very strong teams which return most if not all of their key personnel. I am confident that Williams will also belong in that group when all is said and done, assuming the point guard situation gets figured out.

I feel like the tournament this year is, on the other hand, truly open for the taking for any team which gets hot ... I could easily see 12 of the Sweet 16 teams taking the national title (St. Thomas, Calvin, Williams, VWU, Whitworth, St. Mary's, Amherst, Wooster, Cabrini, Illinois Wesleyan, North Central, Midd), and I don't think any one from that group would be more than a few point favorite on a neutral court over any other. I think St. Thomas and Amherst probably have the most talent, but I could also easily see both losing before the Final Four, especially if Amherst has to face Cabrini.

Uh-oh. I think you might have just poked the yellow jackets' nest with a stick by leaving off RMC as a legit national title contender.

nescac1 · March 13, 2013, 02:24:19 PM

Bucket, next year, I think they will be (as noted earlier in my post), since they bring the vast majority of a very young team back, losing only one major contributor, and clearly they have grown throughout the course of this season. But as hot as they've been of late, I don't think they have enough seasoned firepower to get past Amherst on the road.

amh63 · March 13, 2013, 03:06:54 PM

Nescac1....for such a forward person .....that is a very big "if"at point guard for Williams, a position that is vital...as you so correctly remind us at Amherst. Does Williams even have a replacement on the bench....Like Kalema...to step up? Will they expect the small/short recruit or the touted big recruit who can do everything? :)to step in and up?
Madz...can your nephew play point? Maybe next year he wii be given a chance. A big 6'3"-4" guard like Nate.
Noticed that the posters here are revealing their humorous wit more.....yes even Pat C.
Also that many posts are made in the wee hours of the morning!

nescac1 · March 13, 2013, 03:50:57 PM

amh63 ... replacing Nate will of course be very difficult, but I am confident that Williams will find at least one good option ... there is Hayden Rooke-Ley returning from injury, a guy who was playing at same level as classmates Epley/Mayer before getting hurt, he is a swing guard who can play the one or two (although he has played more of the two in the past). Luke Thoreson, rising sophomore, is another swing guard and an option at either guard spot. Daniel Wohl is more of a 2/3 but is a competent ball-handler in a pinch. Matt McCreary played well in spurts at the point this year, if he improves some aspects of his play, he could be a legit option off the bench or possibly to start. The incoming frosh looks very quick, is an excellent ball-handler, and a tremendous shooter, he has everything but size, a very big but of course, but he will provide more competition for the open guard slots. The Ephs will be loaded at the 2/3/4/5, so all they need is a few of those guys to prove to be a solid table-setters and ball-handlers for the plethora of promising or proven capable scorers returning.

But of course, I am hoping that the Ephs will have a few more games still to play before they have to worry about next year just yet!! VWU is going to be tough but here's hoping that, despite the school being on Spring break, Chandler attracts a loud and passionate crowd.

Charles · March 13, 2013, 04:20:52 PM

Quote from: Panthernation on March 13, 2013, 01:22:59 PM
We tried to tell Pat (and most of the rest of you) way back in November about Williams, but alas, we were forced to play the role of tragic warner.

"@d3hoops: Two games does not a season make. RT @MiddPantherBlog: Only a matter of time before the @d3hoops world realizes ...they underrated Williams."

"@MiddPantherBlog: @d3hoops Right, not saying the proof is in the results. Just saying we think they are elite team nationally and its just starting to show."

and Williams may well have been on their way to losing to CUA if not for the injury to Kearny. At the time he went down, CUA had the lead and Williams was having alot of trouble stopping him. Williams also had trouble matching the speed of the CUA guards.

nescac1 · March 13, 2013, 04:34:19 PM

When Kearney got injured the game was dead-even, Charles. But he is a great player and no doubt his injury could have affected the outcome. Williams had a lot of trouble guarding him inside. On the other end of the floor, though, Williams was getting a ton of great looks vs. the Catholic defense (with or without Kearney) the entire game, they just finally started falling later in the game. After the last two years, in any event, Williams was owed a break (or two) on the injury front ... Catholic is a top-ten team, so even had Williams lost, it would have no bearing on this argument. The Ephs are now playing at a legit top-ten level after starting the season unranked, which I think is MiddPanther's point.