MBB: NESCAC

[jayhawk]

Amherst followers will have to have some patience here.
While Hixon had the ability to replace 3 starters the previous 2 years, those people who replaced the starters had significant experience the previous year.
This year really only David George and Connor Green had significant experience last year  as Ben Pollack, who is talented may not yet been back to his pre injury skill set, as he works his way back after injury. At some point better days will be ahead for Ben Pollack - quality player and person.

journey may be bumpy but there is a lot of talent, may be some movement in player time as the year goes on. Players declare their abilities during games and the cream will rise to the top.

[7express]

Now that the semester is winding down I'd be interested in getting peoples thoughts on the top 5/10 teams in the region. I have included some info based (with updated records) on the last top 25 poll.

Top 25
#2 Amherst 5-2 (lost at home against unranked Brandeis and against #23 Babson)

#12 WPI 8-1 (lone loss was at a neutral site against Cabrini who has since dropped out of top 25, but is still receiving votes)

#13 Albertus Magnus 6-1 (lone loss was at #7 Richard Stockton)

#15 MIT 7-3 (lost at home against unranked UMass-Boston, at Rhode Island College – receiving votes and at Bridgewater St – unranked)

#19 Eastern CT 8-1 (lone loss was at Hartwick - unranked)

#23 Babson 8-1 (lone loss was at home against Bates – receiving votes)

Receiving votes:
Williams 7-2 (lost at home against unranked Southern VT and against unranked Oneonta St)

Bates 7-0

Keene St 7-0

Rhode Island College 7-3 (lost at Marymount – receiving votes, against #19 Eastern CT and at unranked Johnson and Wales)

Middlebury 7-0

Western CT 7-0

Bowdoin 6-3 (lost at #23 Babson, at Bates – receiving votes and against unranked Colby)

Keene has played nobody.  I think their best win is against Springfield who isn't having a very good year at least by their standards (6-3).  Also beat Elms, but like Springfield, not having a very good season (3-6).  The rest of their opponents have been bottom feeders out of the dregs of the region (Johnson State, Colby-Sawyer & Lyndon State out of NAC), Western New England out of the CCC.  They do play Plattsburgh on New Years Eve which will be their biggest test to date.
Western Connecticut has also played a cream puff schedule.  Beat Plattsburgh in November, and have Albertus this evening, but their other 6 opponents have combined for a 20-32 record with none of the 6 supporting a record above .500.   

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'd want to wait until we're a little ways into conference play to really feel confident, but I think ECSU, Bates, Amherst, Williams, Albertus, Babson, WPI are my top seven in some order.

I've seen Albertus and WPI in person and neither team is playing as well as they're clearly capable of playing.  I'm guessing the Amherst backers would say the same of their boys.

The regional rankings will definitely be interesting.

[jayhawk]

article on Amherst recruit Joe Schneider in New England Recruiting Report"

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/3785/Schneider-is-a-Steal-for-Amherst.php

[nescacobserver]

It's not too often that a Nescac school gets a 6'10 kid who already has an offer from Notre Dame.  All I can say is - WOW.

[NEhoops]

Hoops Fan, I think that list of teams is spot on. I could rank them, but as you mentioned it's too early. I would probably take Amherst off that list and that would leave the clear cut top six teams in the region based on win/loss record, strength of schedule and ultimately who's playing the best going into the break.

[pinseeking1]

Has anyone heard any recruiting news from Colby or Bates?

[pinseeking1]

Just found this for Bates...

https://twitter.com/BostonWarriors_/status/544671188493291520/photo/1

and this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpcIs0WtnD4

[Old Guy]

NEhoops, Bates beat Babson at Babson.  The Bobcats remain undefeated.

That's a good win, no? At Babson (Babson at 8-1 with wins over Tufts, Amherst, Bowdoin, and Colby). Bates with victories over Bowdoin and Colby, teams certainly favored in the preseason. Are the Bobcats for real? Wait and see? Worst to first, with the same group essentially? A new year. Midd gets them in their wonderful (to me) bandbox on Jan. 9 to open the NESCAC league play for both teams.

I think the Bobcats are no fluke and will have a strong season.  The twins showed signs last season and it appears they are getting better.  The experience of their coach may well be starting to pay dividends also.  As with most young coaches, when he started out, he showed too short a fuse when a call did not go Bates way and when games got tight late, acting more like a player then a bench leader.  It will be interesting to for me to see how he reacts to pressure situations now with a few years experience and a strong team.  I think Midd will have their hands full with Bates as will every team which visits their classic gym this season.

Confidence, borne of success, is a powerful tonic.

[amh63]

Hoops Fan......seems the latest D3 polls....likes your picks.
Of interest here is that Bates is the 2nd highest point collector after Amherst; Williams and MIT are tied. Midd does get points. 
Amherst will soon see where they are with the coming of the New Year....meets the Warriors in Williamatic, Hamiliton in Clinton and the EPHS in Willytown.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

First, Amherst has to get past my Gophers at Goucher... oh who am I kidding... not expecting a game there - but I will be there!

[booyakasha]

NEhoops, Bates beat Babson at Babson.  The Bobcats remain undefeated.

That's a good win, no? At Babson (Babson at 8-1 with wins over Tufts, Amherst, Bowdoin, and Colby). Bates with victories over Bowdoin and Colby, teams certainly favored in the preseason. Are the Bobcats for real? Wait and see? Worst to first, with the same group essentially? A new year. Midd gets them in their wonderful (to me) bandbox on Jan. 9 to open the NESCAC league play for both teams.

Babson doesn't play Colby until new years eve this year, FYI. Still a good win considering it was at Babson and Bates had only started practice a couple weeks before.

[nescac1]

d-mac, considering that Goucher is 1-8 and Amherst is going to have three weeks to stew over two straight blow-out losses at home, well ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn57LgM_0pw

[Buzzerbeater]

Just found this for Bates...

https://twitter.com/BostonWarriors_/status/544671188493291520/photo/1

and this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpcIs0WtnD4
[/quote

He is the brother of Middlebury 13' Peter Lynch. He is a hard working bring your lunch box to work type over player. Very strong in the post, finishes, wrong rebounder and knocks down the elbow jumpers. Nice pick up for Bates!

[grabtherim]

Just found this for Bates...

https://twitter.com/BostonWarriors_/status/544671188493291520/photo/1

and this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpcIs0WtnD4
[/quote

He is the brother of Middlebury 13' Peter Lynch. He is a hard working bring your lunch box to work type over player. Very strong in the post, finishes, wrong rebounder and knocks down the elbow jumpers. Nice pick up for Bates!

Strong bloodlines.  Wish him all the best. Will be strange to see the parents rooting for Bates in Pepin.