MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Mr. Ypsi, I really don't think any such cherry-picking actually occurs.  Williams for example plays pretty much the same core group of schools most years, and it's determined by geography -- Springfield, RPI, MCLA, Southern Vermont, etc -- not with an eye to the selection process.  Speaking again for Williams, there is not a single year in which they have made the tourney in which a different type of scheduling would have mattered, especially considering they play Amherst twice, often three times, per year.  Every Eph team to make the dance either won NESCAC or was one of the very best at-large teams in the country, and their record in the tourney bore that out (same with Amherst).  The same holds true for nearly every NESCAC squad, with very few even arguable exceptions, who has made it as an at large.  Meanwhile, NEWMAC, which plays a double round robin, got FOUR teams in last year, even though the top half of NESCAC was much stronger -- so it's an open question whether NEWMAC's double-round robin scheduling is in any way a disadvantage vs. NESCAC's scheduling.  If there really was any such purposeful manipulation, it would be an awful lot of effort for very very minimal payoff based on the fact that very few borderline Nescac teams have made it to the dance over the years (Bowdoin last season is the only example from the past decade that comes to mind).   

[nescac1]

If NESCAC ever DID go to a split-league double-round robin, there would be a pretty obvious way to go while maintaining key rivalries and a reasonable competitive balance -- a North-South split with Williams, Amherst, Trinity, Conn, Wesleyan, Tufts in one division, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Hamilton in the other.  The obvious problem there, of course, is that one division has six and one has five.  So I don't see how it could be workable unless NESCAC added another team, say, like Union or Skidmore! 

Personally, I think 20 NESCAC games is WAY too many.  That leaves only FOUR out-of-conference games per year.  Especially from the Eph perspective, since we already play Amherst and Wesleyan twice each.  I'd love to see a second Midd game each year.  But I could do without return engagements with the other teams; much rather see the Ephs test their mettle against a wide variety of regional opponents with different styles of play, like WPI, Springfield, SVT, etc. 

[jumpshot]

Old Guy,

Two games against each NESCAC member (or even some variation such as divisions) would certainly be welcomed by Mid fans for at least two reasons:

1. Would elevate Mid's visibility and credibility in basketball and perhaps compensate in part for Mid's absence from a prominent natural rivalry of "three" (Little Three of Williams, amHerst, and Wesleyan; cluster of Bates, Bowdoin, Colby) or of proximity of two (Wesleyan, Trinity);
2. Go a long way simultaneously to improving Mid's scheduling issues.

In addition to my view that 20 NESCAC games would fill up a season, I also sense that the level of athletics and uneven governance currently in NESCAC generally has reached a saturation point with the presidents. We may well see a subtle shift in the foreseeable future to a "less is more" attitude, as has had some success and acceptance with football's prohibition against post-season play, and been a topic debated in years past.

By the way, I as well as others enjoy your commentary on this board. What years did you play basketball for Mid?

[lumbercat]

This has probably been covered before but can anyone tell me why Middlebury plays at Colby this Friday night and plays at Bowdoin on Sunday- why isn't the Bowdoin game on Saturday?

[Bucket]

This has probably been covered before but can anyone tell me why Middlebury plays at Colby this Friday night and plays at Bowdoin on Sunday- why isn't the Bowdoin game on Saturday?

Good lord. Don't know why we have to explain this so often.

With 11 league teams, one team each year will lack a "travel partner"--meaning each NESCAC weekend, that 11th team will be playing two games, while their opponents will be playing 1. Because of this, the games are spaced Friday and Sunday, so that the 11th team is not playing back-to-back games while the second opponent had Friday night to rest. That's why Midd-Bowdoin is on Sunday. Midd plays Colby on Friday; Bowdoin does not have a game.

This is the FOURTH year in which this has been the case. Hamilton played this schedule for 2 years and now Midd is finishing its second year with such a schedule. Next year, it will be someone else's turn. Probably Williams.

I have yet to talk to somone who likes this aspect of the league schedule--but with the addition of Hamilton in 2012 and without a 12th team, it will always be thus.

[jumbo_hoops]

Hoping the best for Sabety. Hopefully not too detrimental, as that will impact Jumbo play tremendously the rest of the season... things looked a bit shaky today with the Tufts game against Wesleyan, which came as a surprising loss. Although they played relatively well in the first half, the second half needed a ton of work- Sabety could have made big contributions today.

[NEhoops]

Interesting that no one has any info on the injuries to Sabety or Hudnut. I think Hudnut has the biggest impact on his teams success more so than any other player in the league.

Just for the record Amherst's webcast/live stats are always behind, choppy, etc every game. Seems like some second rate operation.

[amh63]

NEHoops...need to do your "homework" before making your comments..and check your internet feed and equipment.  The webcast comes via The same company that does many of the conference games.

[NEhoops]

Anyone know what's going on with the Amherst-Bates game? Supposed to be a 3pm tip, but the NSN website now seems to indicate that there is now a 7pm start. Very frustrating.

Is the Amherst webcast always real choppy, or is it on my end?

Colby without Hudnut tonight. Hope it is nothing serious.

Anyone  else having an issue with the Amherst video feed?  Mine is very herby jerky

I wish it was just me and my internet feed that has been having an issue and I don't think any amount of homework would fix the problem.

[amh63]

NEhoops...as I previously stated...please Finish your homework.

[quicksilver]

The NESCAC has been doing a home-and-home series in men's hockey for about 4 years. That translates into 18 league games and 6 OOC games. The difference between hockey and bball is that Bates does not field a hockey team so there are only 10 teams and 18 regular season games and the travel partners aspect of things works out reasonably well (Bowdoin-Colby, Tufts-Conn Coll, Wesleyan-Trinity, Williams-Middlebury, and Hamilton-Amherst). The home-and-home series makes for a more balanced schedule, with no team having a "home court" advantage in one year over another and every team having a second shot at each other. Also conference play starts on the first day of the season (usually mid-November), with just one bye weekend for each team (the six OOC games happen over Thanksgiving, at New Year's tournaments, during the bye weekend, and during the week), so there is more time for team evolution.

In baseball, the east-west division is: Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Trinity, and Tufts in the east and Amherst, Hamilton, Middlebury, Wesleyan and Williams in the west. Again, as with hockey, only 10 teams field baseball teams (Conn College does not have a baseball team). There is very little cross over between the two divisions until the play-offs when the two top teams from each division meet for a double elimination tournament.

I like the hockey model better than the baseball model as I like fostering rivalries within the NESCAC but also know that the 18 conference games in hockey is pushing the limit and makes for a very intense and competitive regular season with little room for error. I would like to see some change in the bball schedule so that conference play is not as backloaded as it is and there is more opportunity for the development of rivalries . .   

[magicman]

Interesting that no one has any info on the injuries to Sabety or Hudnut. I think Hudnut has the biggest impact on his teams success more so than any other player in the league.

Just for the record Amherst's webcast/live stats are always behind, choppy, etc every game. Seems like some second rate operation.

I've watched a number of Amherst webcasts this year and haven't had any problems at all. Northeast Sports Network is the company that does their games now and they are one of the best in the country. They also do all the home games for my hometown Plattsburgh State Cardinals and everyone I know is quite happy with the quality of the webcast.

I think the problems you may be having are quite possibly on your end and not the webcast.

[polbear73]

I agree, NSN does the Bowdoin games in addition to several other NESCAC schools and I have found them to be very reliable, aside from the odd glitch. For what it's worth, had no problem with the Bowdoin-Amherst game yesterday.

[grabtherim]

Overall, I think  the broadcasts have been very good from the NESCAC sights I have watched including Amherst.  We are light years ahead quality wise from what we used to have only a few years ago.   

[P'bearfan]

Overall, I think  the broadcasts have been very good from the NESCAC sights I have watched including Amherst.  We are light years ahead quality wise from what we used to have only a few years ago.   

I agree that the NSN broadcasts are generally of very good quality.  I have no problems with the quality of the Bowdoin broadcasts.  However, the Amherst feed for yesterday's game was very choppy - same equipment on my end.  Maybe it was a one time thing.

Also I found the student announcers to be pretty good - definitely better informed about the visiting team than others I've heard.  They did take some long tangents at points but overall pretty good.