MBB: NESCAC

[Bucket]

VMI and W&L are not only in the same town, they practically share a campus.

Yes and the irony is that as close as the campuses are geographically, they couldn't be further apart aesthetically.  W&L is a truly beautiful campus; VMI....well not so much

Was just about to post the same thing. Of course, I have my biases.

[nescac1]

A few more recruits posted for NESCAC here ...

http://www.d3bballrecruits.com/

Chris Galvin, PG, Williams
Sam Jablonski, Wing, Bowdoin
Zander Wear, C, Hamilton

Still seems overall that this year is (so far) light on likely instant-impact recruits relative to the current crop of highly-touted frosh. 

[4 the love of the game]

Long time follower first time poster. I graduated from a nescac school a long while ago and my son from one 6 years ago. Hes finally allowing me to post so heres my first shot at it.  Im sure soon youll all find out where my allegiance is but for now ill keep that up for guesses.

Been following the league closely the past couple years and imo this is not a,m,w's strongest.  If a change in the thrown is going to occur, this is the year for bowdoin,bates,tufts. Its really a shame tufts has suffered the loss of paleschi and uncertainty of ferris or I would say they are fighting with amherst for the second spot in the league. All considered I think they are 5 behind big 3 and bowdoin.  Im looking forward to the bowdoin williams match up to see where bowdoin really stands. I dont think they have played a great team yet as a middle of the pack bates has been their one quality opponent.  This being said, they are a very good team and impose many troubles on williams, especially if mayer continues his sub par play and I say that realizing he has been averaging 16 and 10 since the break. Disappointed hurley is out or I think this team could be making national noise, although they seem to be adjusting much better than expected.

Looking towards the week ahead, bowdoin should have no trouble until williams, amherst has two predictable wins before williams on saturday which is a disappointing duel so early in the season as opposed to the final weekend. Hoping to make that game yet have no opinion on outcome.  Williams will have a well deserved rest this week going into league play. Middlebury is better than their recent performances and should beat plattsburgh allowing for two intriguing match ups this weekend against bates tufts. Finally tufts next two games imo will define the direction of their season. RIC provides problems for any team even in a down year and middlebury is in need of a statement win.

Let the league games begin. while williams is the favorite this will be an exciting season because another SVT game can happen at any time. Looking forward to the entertainment ahead of us

[middhoops]

Welcome, 4 the love of the game.  Your input will be appreciated here. 

[nescac1]

Welcome, 4 the love of the game.  I would disagree with just one thing you said -- Bowdoin's double digit win over Babson is certainly a quality win.  Babson has only two losses (Amherst and Bowdoin) and has a bunch of good wins -- blow-out victories over Skidmore, Salem State, and Brandeis, plus a win over a ranked Colorado College team.  They have a borderline top-25 resume at this point.  Babson features a first-year who, while he certainly didn't have the hype coming into the season, is putting up stats which are certainly Duncan Robinson-esque: Joey Flannery, averaging 20.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg, with spectacular offensive efficiency (62/42/87).  Certainly a player to watch over the next few years in the region. 

[Old Guy]

No alibis, but . . .

I ran into some Midd players and assistant coach Kyle Dudley at Greg's Market in Middlebury yesterday and they described their nightmare trip to Rhode Island on last Friday, in a near blizzard, many extra hours in the bus, arriving a half-hour before the revised tip-off time, in a mostly empty gym, after 26 days between contests, then submitting a bit of a stinker against . . .  Salve Regina.

I know. I know. The mark of a great team is to ignore and overcome impediments to success, to be tough-minded, to win on the road. But still.

The Panthers are still an open book. The season to date has been challenging, with seven of nine games on the road, against a number of good teams. Big week coming up for the Panthers – three home games, at home finally, against more good teams: Plattsburgh, Bates, and Tufts.

I've seen my two Midd games for the season on NSN, Skidmore (fun) and Salve Regina (not fun). I'm headed back out Tuesday and will follow NESCAC hoops as best I can from afar.

Let the games begin! Happy New Year!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Midd has had some real struggles on both offense and defense this season, it's not outrageous to assume their worst night is going to be very, very bad.

[amh63]

Old Guy...happy New. Year to you too...have a safe trip and Good Hunting/recruiting
Really like your expression.."open book"  wrt to a BB team.  Can I use it some time.

[grabtherim]

With the conference season starting up this weekend, let’s hear some predictions on regular season and tournament.  Of course this is all a guessing game, injuries, surprising step ups and disappointments will surely occur.  That said, here’s how I see the regular season shaking out.
1.   Williams
2.   Amherst
3.   Bowdoin
4.   Middlebury
5.   Tufts
6.   Bates
7.   Wesleyan
8.   Trinity
9.   Colby
10.   Hamilton
11.   Conn.   
I’m going with Amherst to win the tournament over Williams and the NESCAC to get two bids this season, the Ephs and the LJs.  I hope I’m wrong with regard to Midd, but thus far the Panthers have not been consistent enough on either end of the floor.  To me, Amherst and Williams are the clear teams to beat.         

[Bucket]

Midd has had some real struggles on both offense and defense this season, it's not outrageous to assume their worst night is going to be very, very bad.

9 games in, Midd has also yet to play a game with its complete team, so I'm still reserving judgement. The guys who have missed time have looked really good in spots (Daley against Alvernia, Sinnickson against Baruch, Jensen against Skidmore). With this week bringing the possibility of everyone being back, I'm eager to see how things unfold.

[amh63]

Spent last night working on my internet service!  Here comes the start of  conference games and the provider has problems....requiring all sorts of "resetting" of my modem, etc.  Good news is that this weekend weather up In Amherst is improving.  Therefore am finalizing my trip up to see live games..had been put on hold.  Not a Hardy traveler like the Panthers.  Do remember several years ago, an Amherst game with RIC was postponed because of weather.  It was never rescheduled...being as it was late in the season.
As pointed out by an earlier NEW poster...this season in the conference maybe "an open book" of sorts due to many factors of which two are the talent/play of the FYs and the rash of injuries to players all around.  Do like a mystery but do not like uncertainty on the court....to much stress at my age.
Rather like to discuss such things as the possible change of BB uniforms coming in the future.  You know, the T -shirts with the sleeves.  Just got used to the Baggie pants.
I know what can get the EPHs dander up for this weekend....I think that Williams uniform pants must be the longest and most oversized in the conference!, IMO.

[Pat Coleman]

VMI and W&L are not only in the same town, they practically share a campus.

Yes and the irony is that as close as the campuses are geographically, they couldn't be further apart aesthetically.  W&L is a truly beautiful campus; VMI....well not so much

Was just about to post the same thing. Of course, I have my biases.

Good point. And I would love to read more about how two institutions started so close to each other, especially since W&L itself had such a strong ROTC focus. (One which I think has faded a bit.)

[amh63]

Pat C......suggest going to Wikipedia for some of your answers wrt to VMI.  Location wise, VMI was established in 1839 on the site of the Lexington Arsenal.  It is fitting that with Gen Lee being buried on the W&L campus, and VMI cadets playing a vital role in the Civil War that the two schools are so close.  I'm a fan of Robert E. Lee, a graduate of West Point.  VMI is sometimes called the West Point of the South.

[nescac1]

I guess I am on an island here but I really liked the VMI campus when I recently visited.  Stark, yes, but beautiful in its own way and loved the enormous grassy field at the center (which I assume is kept for military exercises).  Not as beautiful as W&L, no doubt, but how many schools are? 

I would be very, very surprised if Midd/Amherst/Williams did not collectively suffer several upsets this year, but at least for this year, they are still the overwhelming favorites.  (And next year, I think NESCAC will feature the most parity we have seen in quite some time ... Midd/Amherst/Williams all lose quite a bit of top-tier talent without obvious replacements, while the bottom-tier teams, other than Conn College, are all extremely young right now with a lot of upside).  The gap between top and bottom is definitely narrowing.  I think that Bowdoin and Bates can beat anyone on any given night, especially if either gets its point guard back from injury.  Swords is such a unique presence and Bowdoin is a veteran team with good balance.  For Bates, Safford and Boornazian have grown into arguably the best dynamic duo in NESCAC, along with Toomey/Green from Amherst. Both teams could be legit contenders in NESCAC next year, but I think this year will prove to be a bit too inconsistent and too reliant on too few guys.  Tufts is just so decimated by injuries that I don't really see them as much of a threat this year, but next year, watch out.  I see them finishing around sixth, unless Ferris comes back very soon at 100 percent. 

Colby, Trinity, and Wesleyan are all a year away, with Colby the best of the bunch.  None of them have a single notable senior, which is not a recipe for success this season, but all have very impressive groups of underclassmen leading the way.  Conn is just a disaster and once Vadas is graduated, things will only get uglier.  Hamilton will be a tough out due solely to Hart but I see them battling with Colby, Trin, and Wesleyan for the final few playoff spots. 

If I were to tier NESCAC right now, it would go something like (1) Amherst/Williams, (2) Midd/Bowdoin/Bates, (3) Colby/Tufts, (4) Trinity/Wesleyan/Hamilton, (5) Conn.  I could see Midd and Tufts each moving up a tier depending on how they look as they overcome injury woes, but that's about it.  Next year, though, it could really be a free-for-all. 

[P'bearfan]

If I were to tier NESCAC right now, it would go something like (1) Amherst/Williams, (2) Midd/Bowdoin/Bates, (3) Colby/Tufts, (4) Trinity/Wesleyan/Hamilton, (5) Conn.

That seems about right to me.  This weekend (Williams /Amherst) and next weekend (Williams/ Bowdoin) will be very big in terms of sorting out the conference standings.