MBB: NESCAC

[toad22]

Though the NESCAC wasn't officially formed as an NCAA conference until the 2001 season, Williams always thought of themselves as being part of a conference. I reviewed the NCAA records for Williams in the late  80s and 1990s, and found that they listed their "conference record" every year.

[Pat Coleman]

They were an NCAA conference. They played a conference schedule and handed out automatic bids in 1999-2000. Before that, they listed their conference standings alphabetically, in the odd little quirky way that is the NESCAC. In 2001 they did list conference standings the same way everyone else did but prior to that, they were definitely "an NCAA conference" even if they did things a little differently.

Here's how the NCAA listed the 1999-2000 standings  (p. 22-23):
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2001/2000Standings.pdf

2000-01 standings (p. 22):
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2002/2001Standings.pdf

[toad22]

Pat, you're right. I didn't convey my thoughts very well. In earlier days, they were in fact a conference, though they were pretty "loosey-goosey" about the way they went about things. They certainly had no automatic bids.

[CWM_42]

Jamie Arsenault, Colby '88, played football, basketball and baseball and played them all very well. 

[Gabriel]

FYI, Williams is getting a very good point guard and football wide receiver.  Taysean Scott from McDonogh High School in Maryland is only 5'9" and about 150 pounds but he can really move.  Plays a very good point guard but, I believe, will play only football at Williams.

[Old Guy]

John Sales (2008) played soccer, hockey and lacrosse. Maineman

Forgot Sales, a wonderful athlete. Long term memory evidently better than short term. John played soccer with my son at Middlebury (who will be disappointed with my oversight). Thanks, Maineman.

[middhoops]

It's easy to forget how recently Middlebury achieved success in basketball.  Ten years ago, Jeff Brown would have liked to have his third string from the '13-14 squad.  The ice hockey and ski teams were nationally competitive every winter while the hoopsters struggled to win more than a few conference games.

[Charles]

FYI, Williams is getting a very good point guard and football wide receiver.  Taysean Scott from McDonogh High School in Maryland is only 5'9" and about 150 pounds but he can really move.  Plays a very good point guard but, I believe, will play only football at Williams.

I think the guards from Catholic really exposed that.

[madzillagd]

Another assistant coaching change - Nelson Albino moves on to be an assistant at NYU

[creakyknees]

Not sure you will find a more accomplished NESCAC three sport athlete than 6'7" Bill Swiacki Jr (Amherst '78). 

Football (drafted by the NY Giants as a TE in the 9th round)
Basketball (NABC All District Dvision 2/3)
Baseball (drafted by the LA Dodgers in the 8th round)

His father (Bill Sr) also caught a few football passes of note - both in college (Columbia University) and in the pros. 

[nescac1]

Congrats to Williams on winning its 16th Director's Cup.  Strong showing for NESCAC overall, with Midd, Amherst and Tufts all finishing in the top ten.  Tremendous year for NESCAC with Amherst winning the hoops national title, Tufts winning two titles, and Williams three, plus many runner-up finishes.

Williams had an incredible athletics year overall ... I can't imagine that any school has ever had more top five finishes than the Ephs (an incredible NINE), including three national titles, and Final Four appearances by men's soccer and women's hoops.  Congrats to all the Eph athletes!

http://athletics.williams.edu/sports/General_News_Items/Ephs_Win_16th_Directors-_Cup_in_18_Years

Williams is poised for another big year next year, with loaded teams returning in men's hoops, women's and men's soccer, women's cross country and golf, and of course the three defending national title squads.  Whether football can regain its mojo is the big question for Eph athletics next season ...

[nescac1]

Another strong addition to Wesleyan's very impressive recruiting class, PJ Reed, 6'5 forward from New Jersey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWoyWEmNJg0

I imagine that Wesleyan will be heavily reliant on a few of its frosh next year. 

[amh63]

Back from a visit to Amherst.  Enjoyed seeing several of my kids at Reunion....and a great number of classmates.  Even talked about the state of athletics  with several former BB players who are following the teams.  One whose grand daughter is playing on the WBB team! 
Old Guy...met a couple that resides in Middlebury. the Stines' The wife teaches at the local high school and knows your son and your connection to Bates....small world.  Pat Stine, a classmate, has a medical practice.
Been away for awhile but have been thinking about topics to challenge the bright minds on this board.
One, gleamed from the WSJ wrt to the NBA final teams...rebounds versus turnovers...which is the key stat to wins.  To me, it translates to front court versus backcourt talent as key to success in the "CAC"...which is more important at Div 3?  To stir the "pot" some, a simplistic view shows that all the great teams in the conference...teams that played in the NCAA title games had great backcourts.
In a way, I am sort of saying that Amherst should be in the driver seat next season...in spite of the top front courts returning at Tufts and Williams, etc.   
Any takers on this topic...other than pointing out how "stupid" I am...a given...I may add.
Coach Hixon is going to be mad at me again.

[toad22]

Amherst is always strong. I have given up thinking that there will ever be an "ordinary" Amherst team. They nearly always have a great group, and I strongly doubt that next year will be any different. With Toomey, Kalema, Green, Pollack, and Killian leading the way, they are certainly the favorites to win the league again. There are other strong groups, but no one should doubt that Amherst will be right there. If anybody else is to win, they'll have to beat Amherst. Amherst won't beat themselves.

[jumpshot]

Those of us who played multiple sports at what are NESCAC schools see certain "truths" among these institutions:

1. Williams College's winning the Directors' Cup for the 16th out of 18 years is a remarkable accomplishment rooted in a culture of academic excellence, character and integrity by players and coaches, exemplary behavior and community participation, and consistency of purpose; nothing is perfect, but the traditions from the "old days" and this modern record provides compeling evidence;

2. Certain NESCAC schools demonstrate differing approaches to athletics across a playing field that is "less level" in conduct than in prior years:

          a. amherst's publicly expressed goal is winning national championships, thereby placing intense pressure on coaches to win at all costs, as well as resulting in emphasis by the "general manager" on "marquee" sports such as basketball, and those in which a few players can have big impact, such as basketball, soccer, tennis, etc. Look next for softball to reach prominence quickly with an aggressive new coach and an activist administration. Compare the interviews with amherst coaches after losing this past year in NCAA tournament competitions with that of coaches and administrators from other schools to get a sense of the "tone" of the athletic program;

          b. With her prior experiences, Bates' new president is likely to increase the school's support to athletics;

          c. Middlebury will continue to do whatever it wants to do to fill in any remaining soft spots within an already successful
             and determined program;

          d. Trinity will sustain its success in football which is keenly supported by alumni and a few other traditionally strong
              sports such as squash and some women's sports with irregular winning in basketball, etc.

          e. Wesleyan, Tufts, Connecticut College, Hamilton, and Colby will have episodic prominence stemming from
              personalized competence in certain sports in the absence of cultures that broadly and deeply value athletics.