MBB: NESCAC

[7express]

Trinity is an interesting story for all of the reasons you guys mention.  The key is whether they can build off of this season, the best under Cosgrove.  After my pretty good showing last week, and since Walzy is still playing hide and go seek, here are my lines for tomorrow.
Amherst 10.5 over Trinity
Williams 6.5 over Middlebury
Hope I'm wrong about both of these games, one more so than the other, but that's my heart speaking, not my head.  I expect both games to be close at points, possibly late, with the favorites pulling away with foul shots. 
Thoughts?

I'll take Mid (to win straight up) and Amherst.

[TrinColl1]

First I will say taking Williams with the points. And taking Trinity getting 10.5. That's a high number not to take the Bantams there.

As far as Coach Cosgrove goes. First look at past teams (Endicott and Adelphi). After he had been there for a period of time they won and won big consistently. Second if you talk to his players who played for him there they love him. As far as Trinity goes he is more than the right man for the job. Too much of this league tries to act a certain way because thats what they think they are suppose to do cause they are NESCAC and think its all high and mighty. (Which I will agree all GREAT schools, just making a point of how people think you HAVE to carry yourself). Coach Cosgrove wears his heart on his sleeve. Hes as competitive a person as you will ever meet when you step between the lines. He was as a player at St. A's and is as a coach. He demands a lot from his players. However each one of those guys who goes through his program for 4 years know that he has their back and will do anything for them on and off the court.  I think those kids at Trinity love what they get from him everyday cause they know how much he cares about them. So although it may not be your thing the way he is on the sidelines, he shouldnt ever change. Thats not him and why act like someone you are not. He has gotten the most out of a lot of those kids who are now in that junior class and have been with the program for a while. He will continue to do that. Hope that helps with your questions.

[toad22]

I think Coach Cosgrove has done a great job with this team. He seems to me to be a changed man compared to prior years. In past years, it was pretty clear that his teams quit on him. This year, Trinity is playing well, and getting better. I just think he's improving as a coach, and as a leader. That is a great thing to see, and I salute him for it. I wrote before that Amherst had better not sleep on Trinity, or they're likely to lose. I think that Trinity has a 30-40% chance of winning, which against a great team like Amherst, are very good odds. If Amherst shoots the ball well they'll win. If Trinity reverts back to its ways of past years and fouls too much, Amherst wins. However, if Trinity stays out of foul trouble and rebounds like they're capable of, and Amherst is a bit off their shooting game, I think Trinity will win. To me, that outcome would not be such a big upset. Trinity is a tough matchup for Amherst.

[grabtherim]

Welcome Willy, and good luck to your sister on an interesting venture.  Look forward to the chat.  If I miss it, will it be archived on the site? 

Hey y'all

Willy Workman here (Amherst '13).  I was, admittedly, a sporadic reader while at school and have become an avid one since graduation.  Somehow it seems as if my love for NESCAC hoops has only grown since I turned it my jersey.  I want to thank you all for your dedication to the boards as it's given me a way to stay in touch.

Although nescac1 has already announced it (he seems to always have the inside scoop), I just wanted to alert everyone that Ryan Sharry (Middlebury '12) and I will be having a live chat this Friday at noon eastern time.  Topics will include D3 basketball, life as an overseas ball player, and the transition between the two.  Of course we will be commenting on the NESCAC season thus far and the looming final weekend.

The platform we will be using is a new social media network called Tawkers.  Tawkers (co-founded by my sister Rachael - who my father calls the best player in the family) allows two people to have a live text message conversation while an audience observers AND comments (you must sign up for Tawkers, free of charge - takes 20 seconds, to comment but anyone can observe).  Audience members have the ability to "like" other comments which are highlighted for the hosts.  The hosts then have the option of brining said comment into the conversation and responding.

While Ryan and I have identified a few topics to discuss we are hoping that most of the conversation will be dictated by the audience.  This seemed like the best forum to recruit audience members knowledgeable about NESCAC hoops.

Again, the "Tawk" is scheduled for Friday at noon eastern time and I hope to "see" y'all there.  In any case best of luck to all this teams this weekend with just a little more for my Jeffs.

Heres the link to the "Tawk:"

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

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Back again.....no news on the Amherst website at present.  Checked last year's report......
It was 5 dollars at the door.....with students and kids going for 2 bucks.  Amherst students with ID's were free.  Guess the 6 dollars must account for rising costs.....refs/guards/help, etc.  Normally games are free.  Wonder if senior citizens can get a discount    Nothing wrt to advance ticket sales.

Apparently, the NESCAC requires all schools to charge for play-off games even when the school's normal practice is not to charge . . Not sure what the thinking is or whether any of the money is used to pay for officials . .

Status quo for most if not all conference tournaments across the country. There are expenses with putting on the tournaments especially officiating which normally each school is responsible for during the season, but usually conferences pick up since it would be a disadvantage for a school to get the right to host only for it to cost more than traveling on the road (per se).

[Bucket]

Back again.....no news on the Amherst website at present.  Checked last year's report......
It was 5 dollars at the door.....with students and kids going for 2 bucks.  Amherst students with ID's were free.  Guess the 6 dollars must account for rising costs.....refs/guards/help, etc.  Normally games are free.  Wonder if senior citizens can get a discount    Nothing wrt to advance ticket sales.

Apparently, the NESCAC requires all schools to charge for play-off games even when the school's normal practice is not to charge . . Not sure what the thinking is or whether any of the money is used to pay for officials . .

Status quo for most if not all conference tournaments across the country. There are expenses with putting on the tournaments especially officiating which normally each school is responsible for during the season, but usually conferences pick up since it would be a disadvantage for a school to get the right to host only for it to cost more than traveling on the road (per se).

And I understand that officials get paid very well when they go to Amherst. Sorry, couldn't resist...

[amh63]

Awaiting the regional rankings as are most posters.  If what I think will happen, Amherst will remain on top...assuring the team of going into the post season regardless of the weekend games.  Winning the AO by winning the conference title remains an Amherst goal for many reasons....one being the chance to host a regional if they reach that point....making the LJs road to Salem a little bit easier.  Sorry, Panther fans....as much as I like to see a rematch.

With regards to the game with Trinity....I do not wish to guess an outcome or arouse the wrath of the Bantams, and/or of Coach Hixon.  I will only say here... that I am at ease at this time about the game...partly because I went to look at the boxscores of three games.  For those who wish....they are available on the Amherst website.
I looked at the 2nd Williams game on a Wednesday in Chandler.  The first game with Trinity was in Hartford on that following Saturday. The third game was at home against RIC on Tuesday, I believe,.. a break in a long series of road trips.  I of course looked at Amherst shooting % from outside, foul line, etc.  I was struck by the performance of Aaron Toomey in those three wins.  In the Williams game, he did not score in double figures...but played 36 minutes..
In that Trinity game...Amherst was slightly out rebounded.  Shooting was not that outstanding.  Toomey again did not score in double figures and played only 24 minutes....in a game won by the LJs.  In the RIC game, normally a tough defensive physical team....Aaron played 26 minutes, but scored 22 points with Killian being the top scorer with 26.
Yes, in games against Amherst..the targeted player is Aaron Toomey by opposing coaches.. in planning....no brainer.  Therefore my focus.  One can speculate the reasons behind the play of Toomey in those three games, centered around the Bantams game.  I'm taking a positive approach.  The team is at home and should be ready.  Trinity is a known opponent and Coach Hixon has a week to plan for the game with his assistants.  I'm sure Trinity's win was scouted live.  Cover all the bases.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Rankings have been out for about 45 minutes: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2014/02/26/2014-ncaa-regional-rankings-week-3/

[nescac1]

So Bowdoin is 7th, interesting.  Not a bad position for them -- Williams and Amherst are in.  I assume Babson is almost surely in, and WPI is in fairly good shape.  Bowdoin needs Babson or WPI to win the NEWMAC, and Williams or Amherst to win NESCAC, as previously stated.  Eastern Conn also needs to win LEC to help Bowdoin's case, because I doubt a loss by Eastern Conn pushes them below Bowdoin.  If Babson beats Springfield, I wonder if that pushes Springfield behind Bowdoin in terms of a Pool C candidate?  They could easily both be excluded or both make the tourney, but if the final Pool C comes down to one of those two, that would be a very, VERY close call -- but again, only if Springfield loses to Babson in its next game. 

[pjunito]

Hey nescac1,

I think that as long teams ranked high in other regions win the AQ (Pool A bids) than it will help get 3 Pool C bids for New England. But, if there are upsets and Babson losses in the NEWMAC tournament, they will block teams below them. I don't think they stack up well agaisnt other regions and might be the 17 or 18 team picked in Pool C. This could hurt getting Bowdoin into the tournament.

[amh63]

FYI.....  The NESCAC website has a nice section on the conference semis today.  Better yet, contained within the writeup is a "box" that provides the tournament program!  Gives the stats on everything....not really.  Gives the teams players, individual stats, records...the whole nine yards.  Gives the schedule with the info on the quarter final games.  No price ticket info.

For those who are going to the games and not interested in the first game....head over to the football field....short. nice walk down Hitchcock rd.  There will be a men's lacrosse game between Bates and Amherst.  Yes...Spring sports has started.  May impact parking at the BB games.

[lemonjello]

Logan Buckner's tough year continues: his mother forces him to throw out his prized gatorade collection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOmDeOF6exw

[lordofthejeffs]

Great article on the NESCAC website.  I expect Amherst to handle Trinity (close game in the first half, then pull away in the second), and Williams to take care of business vs. Middlebury (back-and-forth affair, but Williams will finish strong).  This will set up the classic rivalry matchup of Amherst-Williams, and I expect the Lord Jeffs to rise to the occasion and complete their quest for a seventh conference crown.

Here are a few comparisons of the Amherst squad to current NBA players (saw someone try this earlier and thought it was a great idea -- let me know your thoughts):

Aaron Toomey -- Chris Paul (the standard that all point guards are judged by... simply, dominant)
Tom Killian -- Paul George (emerging as a legitimate star, exceptional perimeter defender)
David Kalema -- Kyrie Irving (potent one-on-one game, vast array of floaters and twisting finishes)
Connor Gach -- Kyle Korver (a threat to score the minute he crosses midcourt...)

[nescac1]

Lots of new folks to the board lately -- must be playoff time!

pjunito, I think you underestimate Babson -- I think if they beat Springfield, they will be near the top of the Pool C list, and even if they don't, they will almost certainly be higher than around 17-18.  I also think WPI is a near-lock for a bid with another win.  Springfield and Bowdoin are both clinging to the edge of the bubble, however. 

lordofthejeffs, Killian-George is a good comparison, although I still like Killian-Marion, both very athletic wing players, good rebounders, excellent defenders who do a little bit of everything, and both have unorthodox-looking but effective three-point shots. 

Here is a nice article about future Eph Cole Teal:

http://posttrib.suntimes.com/sports/25856912-556/chestertons-cole-teal-making-the-most-of-his-last-shot.html

[amh63]

LemonJ.....thanks for the link.  Met Logan's mother several years ago when the team came to Northern Va. to play a game.  Really supports Logan with his comedy antics.  Logan helped win his group's room draw last year in a contest to get his group the best spot to pick their senior housing....comedy type show with judges and all.  Surprising the talent one finds among Amherst students-athletes.   +k to you  ...helps break up the tension growing for the weekend games.   Will you be up for the games?