MBB: NESCAC

booyakasha · February 24, 2014, 04:10:23 PM

The Bowdoin situation is really interesting. I really hope they get in, but if I had to rank the Nescac teams as of today I'm not sure I'd even have them in my top 5. Its pretty clear that Amherst, Williams, Midd are the three best team in the conference in some order. After that, who knows, but I'd take Trinity or Colby over Bowdoin if the season were starting today.

As a Colby fan, I am excited for next year. I wish I knew more about next years class, because I think they are solid guard away from being in the upper echelon of the conference.

amh63 · February 24, 2014, 04:22:51 PM

Took another look at the Colby video....saw Pollack on the bench.....had a coat and tie on....sitting next to the coaches..mistook him for a coach. Sweet look! Rather, selfishly see him in gym shorts.

nescac1 · February 24, 2014, 04:36:08 PM

booyakasha, for the first time in many years, NESCAC is going to be WIDE open next year, with probably 6-7 teams as legit contenders. Colby proved they can play with anyone this year, and with the top four teams all losing multiple starters (and Amherst, Williams, and Midd combining to graduate five -- counting Killian, because I think he's played at that level this season -- elite players), I think that Colby can contend for a NESCAC title next season, especially if they can add even one more impact guy.

Fun article on former D3 coach and D-league innovator Nevada Smith, which is packed with D3 references (some more flattering than others), including shout-outs to Williams and Amherst:

http://grantland.com/features/nba-dleague-rgv-vipers-houston-rockets-future-of-basketball/

booyakasha · February 24, 2014, 04:55:43 PM

agreed nescac1, although it is easier said than done, as Amherst always reloads and Duncan R is playing in the wrong league for his talent level.

middhoops · February 24, 2014, 05:41:59 PM

Quote from: nescac1 on February 24, 2014, 04:36:08 PM
booyakasha, for the first time in many years, NESCAC is going to be WIDE open next year, with probably 6-7 teams as legit contenders. Colby proved they can play with anyone this year, and with the top four teams all losing multiple starters (and Amherst, Williams, and Midd combining to graduate five -- counting Killian, because I think he's played at that level this season -- elite players), I think that Colby can contend for a NESCAC title next season, especially if they can add even one more impact guy.

Fun article on former D3 coach and D-league innovator Nevada Smith, which is packed with D3 references (some more flattering than others), including shout-outs to Williams and Amherst:

http://grantland.com/features/nba-dleague-rgv-vipers-houston-rockets-future-of-basketball/

You got that 100% right.
Next season is going to be nothing like recent years. The old Big Three could be the new Big Seven.
There are so many great sophomores and first year players who stepped up this season. Lots of teams could surprise by just adding the right player here or there.

We all know that the LJs with reload, but no team could lose what they lost last year and this year combined and not feel it. They will, however, still be awfully good.
Everyone else will be right behind them. Next season, coaching will step forward to decide which teams develop in time for conference play.
This year was the prelude with Midd dropping down and a bunch of teams stepping up. Next season will be an amplification of what we've seen recently.

Anyway, what nescac1 said.........

lefrakenstein · February 24, 2014, 06:50:49 PM

Quote from: madzillagd on February 23, 2014, 04:05:42 PM
While I appreciate the mention of local Sacramento guy Ryan Anderson, I think you are selling Sinnickson's athleticism way short to compare the two of them. Anderson is a stretch 4 that shoots great as a big man but isn't going to blow anybody away with his athleticism.

How about we give him a D3 shoutout and compare him to Devean George. Both streaky shooters from deep that shoot jump shots (definitely not set shots as some deep shooters do), but both could attack the rim and finish.

I said Anderson with better defense! And Walters was a very good shooter. Over 38% from three for his career.

Perhaps not the best comparison. Can't think of any NBA stretch fours who are also great athletes. Was Devean George a 4? I remember him being smaller than that.

madzillagd · February 25, 2014, 11:27:38 AM

Well George is 6'8 so while he was a 3 in the NBA, I'm guessing he played more a 3/4 in college but I'm sure others that may have seen him play could correct that. I wouldn't really consider Sinnickson a 4 though. With many of the systems teams run these days we've move well away from the traditional power forward and the 3 and 4 wing positions are often interchangeable.

middhoops · February 25, 2014, 11:47:00 AM

Sinnickson plays the 2-3-4 depending on how big or small Jeff Brown chooses to go. He shoots like a 2, defends four positions and can out jump virtually anyone in the NESCAC. Ask John Swords.
Dylan Sinnickson had a few poor shooting games near the end of the season. Other than that, he was a stat monster if you check his minutes played versus his points and rebounds.
His rebounding technique isn't what coaches want to see. Rather than boxing out in the classic way, he wanders under the hoop and just leaps higher than everyone else. Nice if you can do it because you can coach ups.

amh63 · February 25, 2014, 12:18:50 PM

Midhoops....not when you never had "ups"

I guess so in your broader definition.

middhoops · February 25, 2014, 12:32:15 PM

Quote from: amh63 on February 25, 2014, 12:18:50 PM
Midhoops....not when you never had "ups" I guess so in your broader definition.

Nope.

jumpshot · February 25, 2014, 04:44:40 PM

A few random musings This Morning, as the late great sports writer for the Washington Post Shirley Povich would say:

1. Coach Hixon is right about two things in his recent remarks on Hoopsville. One, let's keep Division III the way it is in all respects, rather than escalating recruiting, compromising standards, overly promoting tournaments etc., in trying to emulate Division I. NESCAC student/athletes are preparing for a fulfilling, productive life after basketball. Second, he's correct that the focus on "freedom of movement" on the court (along with the opening up by the three-point shot) makes the game more fluid and fun to play. Good interview by Dave McHugh.

2. In Middlebury's Road to Salem, part 6, Assistant Coach Russ Reilly certainly tells the truth (that way the pain only lasts a short time) in his comments about amHerst ---and he is correct in his remarks that Middlebury should simply be the best Middlebury it can be in all aspects. The school is doing fine ---with more to come.

3. Glad to hear from the man himself that Walzy (also on Hoopsville) has seen the error of his ways, particularly with last season's incidents. He seemed to retain traces of a common affliction ---obsessive awareness of Williams, maybe because he never won a game against the Ephs. Will miss him for the humor he brought to the board ....

pick and roll · February 25, 2014, 10:29:03 PM

Anyone know if tickets are on sale for Saturday?

nescac1 · February 26, 2014, 06:41:45 AM

This should interest Amherst and Midd fans, a conversation on Friday between Willy Workman and Ryan Sharry discussing their overseas basketball careers:

http://tawkers.com/tawk/ff808081-44557f2c-0144-5e8a7709-7b79.html

TrinColl1 · February 26, 2014, 09:07:35 AM

All these people are raving about Colby and how good they will be next year and Amherst, Williams and Middlebury. And I am not saying these teams are not going to be. But why no love for Trinity. They are in the Final 4 now. Which Colby has not done. They have every single player returning. This year they are 2nd in FG% Defense, 3rd in Rebounding Margin, 2nd 3PT FG% Defense and 11th in scoring defense. In the country not just the NESCAC. They should be talked about as a team to watch out for next year. And as far as Saturday goes dont think its just automatic that Amherst wins. Trinity is going to give them all they can handle.

nescac1 · February 26, 2014, 09:39:11 AM

Folks here (including myself) have consistently said that Trinity is going to be much tougher next year, given that they have no seniors on the roster. The Bants are extremely athletic, stellar defensively and on the boards, and have a lot of size up front. We have been talking about next year for Colby in part because Colby's season is already over. The questions for Trinity going forward are (1) will all the key players return? Because over the past several years, a lot of talented players have left the program, (2) will they find a go-to guy on offense? Starks and maybe Ogundeko have a chance to rise to that level eventually, but right now, they don't have any guys who are in contention for all-NESCAC, and they will need at least one guy to step up and become an offensive star if they hope to contend for a NESCAC title and (3) will they improve their shooting, because shooting 40% collectively as a team is just not going to get it done, and puts too much pressure on the defense.

I think Trinity will give Amherst a tough battle, but again, right now, I don't think the Bants have the offensive firepower to beat an elite team ... other than the last Bowdoin win (and Bowdoin just shot the ball miserably that game), Trinity hasn't defeated a quality (let alone elite) opponent all season, losing to every good team they have played (Springfield, Williams, Amherst, Midd, the first Bowdoin game, and Colby). The Bants played an atrocious out of conference schedule, which no doubt helped some of their defensive stats. I'd like to see Trinity challenge itself next year by scheduling some of the other really good teams in the region, rather than the likes of Fisher, Norwich, Merchant Marine, Worcester State, and Maine Fort-Kent. Until Trinity shows it can consistently defeat other good teams, I think it's premature to annoint them a contender.