MBB: NESCAC

[CruFrenzy]

Hello everyone! Getting very excited for the showdown in Atlanta next Sunday!! Really have enjoyed reading some of the conversation on this board of late. Seems like from what I've seen on the court and read on here the NESCAC is the real deal. Just wondering though, if someone could give me a description of what kind of team UMHB is going to be facing. I watched the game between Amherst and North Central and know that Amherst is a great shooting team, but so was St. Thomas. The only thing I really think would give UMHB fits would be someone with a LOT of size. Bigger than the St. Thomas kid. Kitrick Bell can jump but someone very large would still be a challenge. What is Amherst going to do differently than St. Thomas I guess is what I'm asking

[madzillagd]

Cru - I don't think St Thomas is really a good comparison to Amherst quite frankly.  I actually think ST was more like Midd in how they played, but a better offensive version of Midd.

I'm looking forward to the championship match up because what makes Amherst so difficult this year is they have size, athleticism and scorers.  Their defense is not that great overall but it's good enough to outscore anybody they play.  Having watched UMHB play 3 different times, to me they tend to stick around in games because they have a lot of athletic players that make the 50/50 plays.  I don't think they are as sophisticated on offense as Amherst is and that is going to be the difference in the game.  Probably a product of playing so many young guys who tend to resort to 1:1 more than an experienced player might.  I will not be surprised if 2 or 3 of the Amherst players struggle against the UMHB defense but what makes them so tough is they'll still have 2-3 other guys pick up the slack.  Kaasila didn't have much impact last game but I have a feeling he's going to dominate the paint against UMHB and get some of their bigs in trouble. 

[CruFrenzy]

You're right we have relied on our athleticism. Like I said, hopefully the size isn't too much for us. Thanks for the info. Can't wait!

[jumpshot]

Congratulations to Michael Mayer from Williams College on being selected by D3Hoops as an All-American (third team). Certainly this recognition is well-deserved individually and derived collectively from his teammates, particularly Nate Robertson, James Klemm, Taylor Epley, and Daniel Wohl in the total team concept of Coach Mike Maker.

[gordonmann]

I think the kid was from Arkansas if I remember correctly.

[Panthernation]

I think the kid was from Arkansas if I remember correctly.

Although I don't know to what previous discussion/video you are referring, this sounds like Carter Trent.

[Panthernation]

Is this the video? http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fKp_JBy51TM

Looks like him, although I am on my phone in a place I can't watch it right now, just was the top result and the description sounded right. Trent played at Trinity last year, significant points and minutes, then transferred, along with fellow freshman up-and-comer Varum Ram. Ram went to Maryland, Trent to Dallas Baptist. Last we checked Trent wasn't getting playing time, which was surprising given how he had performed in the NESCAC. Hope St. Amour isn't riding the bench at Dallas Baptist in two years...

[CruFrenzy]

So, with this year's set up in Atlanta with all three NCAA divisions playing in the same weekend is potentially setting up for one of the most highly attended finals in the history of D3 basketball. With both division 1 semi finals being played Saturday, the D3 and D2 finals on Sunday, and then the D1 finals on Monday. So you would think that on top of UMHB and Amherst fans traveling to Atlanta for the game, there should be a very good amount of walk ups from the Division 1 fans and just people who wanna see a good game or 2 for no cost at all. Who doesnt love free basketball? I dont know why the NCAA wouldnt want to do it this way every year?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Well, the tickets are free to get people to go to the games... and having the title games "lost" in the hoopla of the D1 games is a major concern along with how the schedule gets messed up. They are not looking to do this again in the near future.

[CruFrenzy]

Well, the tickets are free to get people to go to the games... and having the title games "lost" in the hoopla of the D1 games is a major concern along with how the schedule gets messed up. They are not looking to do this again in the near future.

Oh, that is really a shame. You don't think there will be a higher attendance than most years because of the other games on saturday and monday? It seems like it would be a great atmosphere.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I think there could potentially be 10,000 people there especially since the tickets are free. But in the overall sense... a 12:30 game on Sunday could get lost.

[Vandy74]

Is this the video? http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fKp_JBy51TM

Looks like him, although I am on my phone in a place I can't watch it right now, just was the top result and the description sounded right. Trent played at Trinity last year, significant points and minutes, then transferred, along with fellow freshman up-and-comer Varum Ram. Ram went to Maryland, Trent to Dallas Baptist. Last we checked Trent wasn't getting playing time, which was surprising given how he had performed in the NESCAC. Hope St. Amour isn't riding the bench at Dallas Baptist in two years...

I'm not too worried about Dallas Baptist luring away a level headed Vermonter.  I've been out most of the evening watching some DI hoop with a brother.  Did we finally agree that St. Amour was sending a tongue-in-cheek tweet to his buddies and not looking for some under the table moolah from ESPN for helping them scoop WCAX on this national interest headline event?

Congratulations to all the NESCAC All American honorees.  Well deserved all around.  It's also good to see that Landon Gamble was named to the 1st team as well.  Is there any argument from either Amherst or Middlebury rooters that he is one player we don't want to have to deal with again next post season?  I say give Williams their turn.

Note to my special friend.  How many brownie points do I lose for this one?

[frank uible]

My instincts tell me that lack of specific and general interest will cause fewer than 2000 to attend the d3 championship game.

[Vandy74]

My instincts tell me that lack of specific and general interest will cause fewer than 2000 to attend the d3 championship game.

I expect you're right on that.  What was needed was for Emory to be the Cinderella story instead of MHB. Unfortunately they didn't even make it to the sweet 16.

[nescac1]

Congrats to Michael Mayer, Aaron Toomey, Willy Workman, and Joey Kizell for earning all-American honors.  Quite a NESCAC contingent, and even more impressive is that Mayer, Kizell and Toomey are back for next year when they could potentially repeat (and I anticipate that Taylor Epley may well join them).  It should be quite a battle for NESCAC POY of the year next year, and the battle might end up deciding national POY. 

Some additional NESCAC recruits (still very quiet for Bowdoin and Colby, and it's a big year for both as Bowdoin could be a dark-horse NESCAC contender if they add 1-2 guys who can play off the bench right away and a few key players -- mainly Swords -- make some strides in the off-season, and Colby needs to continue the momentum from last year's loaded recruiting class):

Trinity:

KEN YAJIMA - PG, American School (Japan)
BRIAN HORN - PG, Pascack Hills HS (NJ)

Bates:

MAX EATON - Forward, Phillips Exeter Academy (MA)

That Exeter squad now has four guys headed to NESCAC schools (two to Wesleyan, one to Williams, one to Bates), in addition to two guys earning D-1 scholarships.  Impressive.