MBB: NESCAC

[amh63]

Oops.....it was stated June 22 as best I recall......mixed my months.  The Polar Bears honorees are listed on the BB site on the Bowdoin website and the complete list can be reached in the connection provided in the story.

[Bucket]

Jared Shill--the best thing Conn had going last year--is transferring.

The Camels continue to battle Trinity for the most dysfunctional hoops program in the NESCAC.

[amh63]

Bucket.....thanks for the info.  Considering that Conn. College brought in ten freshmen last season.....four guards!.....it is not too surprising that someone would transfer considering that the guard position has 3-4 upperclassmen returning.
Any info of where the player is transferring to?

[Bucket]

I understand that he's transferring to a big school and will no longer play hoops.

And I think it's safe to say that the decision had nothing to do with playing time. Shill started all 23 games as a freshman, played 32 minutes a game, and was their second-leading scorer (10 ppg) and top assist guy (4 apg).

[P'bearfan]

Jared Shill--the best thing Conn had going last year--is transferring.

You're not kidding about Shill being the best thing Conn had going.  He led the team in assists per game (4.0) and was their second leading scorer (10) and rebounder (5.3).  Pretty impressive stats for a freshman.  This will be a tough loss to bounce back from.

[wrm238]

Conn losing Shill is a huge blow for the Camels program. IMO Shill was the best freshman in the conference from a pure talent standpoint and I also think he was one of the top PGs overall in the conference because of his tremendous ball skills and ability to change speeds. Either way this is a big loss for a team that had aspirations to comet for a playoff spot in the 2013-2014 season and beyond.

Conn now has to find a reliable point guard that can break pressure and make plays. I know that they did not bring in a PG for this recruiting class because they had Shill so I am not sure who they will turn to to handle the PG duties. Vadas will once again be the focus of teams as the top scorer in the conference so Conn better find some answers quickly...

[grabtherim]

Conn losing Shill is a huge blow for the Camels program. IMO Shill was the best freshman in the conference from a pure talent standpoint and I also think he was one of the top PGs overall in the conference because of his tremendous ball skills and ability to change speeds. Either way this is a big loss for a team that had aspirations to comet for a playoff spot in the 2013-2014 season and beyond.

Conn now has to find a reliable point guard that can break pressure and make plays. I know that they did not bring in a PG for this recruiting class because they had Shill so I am not sure who they will turn to to handle the PG duties. Vadas will once again be the focus of teams as the top scorer in the conference so Conn better find some answers quickly...

I agree he is a loss, but do not see him at the same level league wise that you do.  He should never be confused with a pure PG.  He could slash, change speeds and get to the hole well, but finding the open man and floor generalship were not his strengths.  Given his talents and his improvement which was sure to come, they will miss him.  The more important point and question going forward is do they have the right guy at the top to lead this program.  Kids with real talent have been leaving the program in larger than expected numbers over the past few years.  In the games I have seen the Camels have competed, but I have heard grumbling from some in the program for years.  Given the talented kids who have abandoned ship along with the ten year track record, and you have to wonder if it raises questions at the school if a change might be called for. 

[grabtherim]

Word is that former Midd assistant Arlen Galloway has won the head coaching job at D3 Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Word is that former Midd assistant Arlen Galloway has won the head coaching job at D3 Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.

Nothing formal on the WIT site yet.  That would be a good hire for them, but it's a tough job.  Difficult to recruit; unique situation.

[nescac1]

Nice article on future Eph Mike Greenman, who is competing this summer in the Maccabiah Games:

http://m.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/st-augustine-prep-graduate-michael-greenman-to-represent-u-s/article_51132f1d-2837-5f48-87f3-269437071f42.html?mode=jqm

A lot of good D-3 players have competed in these games (MIT's Mitchell Kates comes to mind). 

I don't understand what is happening at Conn College.  You could build a pretty solid starting five from guys who have quit the Conn College program in recent years, including several top-notch players who have quit right before / during their senior years, which is nearly unheard of: Taylor Hanson (transferred after a strong first year to a MIAC school where he is starting), Demetrius Porter (quit two games into senior year), Shill, Rob Harrigan (not on the roster his senior year), Dean Lampe (not on the roster his senior year).  Most of those guys would start at some point for most NESCAC teams.  Vadas (assuming he plays this year) is basically the only recent star or potential star player that has stuck with the program for four years.  It's not like the coach is failing to bring in talent, but in NESCAC, teams just can't afford to lose at least one top player to transfer or quitting hoops basically every season.  Every school has some attrition, sometimes for odd and unpredictable reasons, but it seems like the coaches at Conn (as well as Trinity) are doing something to alienate a lot of players. 

[P'bearfan]

Nice article on future Eph Mike Greenman, who is competing this summer in the Maccabiah Games:

Nice story and what a great opportunity.  Good luck to Mike Greenman.

Also, it looks like Wiliams will be pretty sound at the PG position for the next few years.

[amh63]

Nescac1....there is a recent post on the NEWMAC board that cites two starters from MIT also playing on the BB team during the cited "Jewish " games.
It will be interesting to find out the Williams' player's court time with such proven div3 stars.
In any case, the experience will prove positive for him and will carry over positively for Williams.

[rlk]

Nescac1....there is a recent post on the NEWMAC board that cites two starters from MIT also playing on the BB team during the cited "Jewish " games.
It will be interesting to find out the Williams' player's court time with such proven div3 stars.
In any case, the experience will prove positive for him and will carry over positively for Williams.

I'm the one who posted that...

Greenman is on the youth team (U19, I think); Mitch Kates and Will Tashman are on the open team.  Kates did play on the youth team in 2009, though.  If the youth team has the same level of players that the open team has, though, he's probably on the court with some future D1 players.

As I mentioned there, Kates and Tash appear to be the only D3 players on that squad (the rest are current or former D1, and at least one player with international pro experience).  Unfortunately, no new blogs since early in the practice (http://bobisrael.wordpress.com), and Mitch hasn't been updating his fb status much (too busy, I'm sure!), so I don't know a lot more beyond the first two game results (lost to Argentina 86-83, beat Germany 89-55).  Haven't found any box scores, although I'd sure like to.

[maineman]

Nice article on future Eph Mike Greenman, who is competing this summer in the Maccabiah Games:

http://m.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/st-augustine-prep-graduate-michael-greenman-to-represent-u-s/article_51132f1d-2837-5f48-87f3-269437071f42.html?mode=jqm

A lot of good D-3 players have competed in these games (MIT's Mitchell Kates comes to mind). 

Morrie Herman out of Colby 1973 played in multiple Maccabiah Games as Captain of Canada

[hoya73]

I saw last year's Maccabi team play as it was coached by a friend and they scrimmaged the Columbia "JV" team.  Sean Wallis, the wonderful PG from Wash U's championship teams was the point and Gabe Kreitzer (sp.) from Wes was a back-up big.  Great experience for them.