MBB: NESCAC

[ronk]

ronk....in your scouting/ recruiting trips in the DC area, drop by St Johns HS...off Military RD.  Yes it is now a coed parochial school.  G. leftwich is the AD there, I believe.  Remember talking to him before he left Sidwell Friends.  Both my sons have chatted with him at Sidwell.

  Going out in an hour to evaluate a girl prospect in a late afternoon game; she has a teammate whom I inquired about a month ago but learned she had committed to Tufts; a very good 3-pt shooter.

  Then speed home to watch the videostream battle between #11 Susquehanna @ #21 Scranton.

[jumpshot]

Perhaps a more compelling viewing opportunity is Michigan with Duncan Robinson at Purdue at 7 PM Eastern on ESPNU or ESP3.

[iwumichigander]

Perhaps a more compelling viewing opportunity is Michigan with Duncan Robinson at Purdue at 7 PM Eastern on ESPNU or ESP3.

And, that should be an interesting game.  Can Michigan hit the threes to counter Purdue's defense?  And, does Michigan have an answer for Purdue's bigs whom are a "load" on both ends of the court

[P'bearfan]

http://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2015-16/week4

Just finished looking at the D3hoops Top 25 poll for the first time since the pre-season poll was released.  Can anyone explain how Babson which has lost to 4 NESCAC teams, including Bowdoin, has 6 votes while Bowdoin has 0 votes?  That just doesn't make any sense to me.

[nescac1]

Even more cryptic to me, P'bearfan, is how Wesleyan and Colby are not sniffing the top 25.  (And I'm not sure why Tufts and Trinity are ranked above either, frankly).  Each has one loss,  and each are senior-dominated teams with high expectations.  Granted, Wesleyan has played a weak schedule, but they do have a win at Williams, and also are defending NESCAC champions who brought everyone back.  Their only loss was the first game of the year when the team was suffering from numerous injuries.  As for Colby, three quality wins over Bowdoin, Bates and Mount Union, again only one loss in the first game of the season, against a quality opponent.  I think that neither is a traditional power who voters are familiar with, but I also think both are stronger teams (with stronger resumes) than the NESCAC teams ranked ahead of them at this point, and both belong at the back end of the top 25.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I think Amherst, Colby, Wesleyan and Tufts should be in the Top 25, in that order.

[Mr. Ypsi]

http://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2015-16/week4

Just finished looking at the D3hoops Top 25 poll for the first time since the pre-season poll was released.  Can anyone explain how Babson which has lost to 4 NESCAC teams, including Bowdoin, has 6 votes while Bowdoin has 0 votes?  That just doesn't make any sense to me.

In two words: Joey Flannery.  One or more (they got six points, not votes; that could be a single voter who thinks they are 20th) voters are still in love with the potential of a team which just might have the national POY on its roster.

[P'bearfan]

....voters are still in love with the potential of a team which just might have the national POY on its roster.

....ummm that would be Lucas Hausman and Bowdoin, right?!

[Mr. Ypsi]

....voters are still in love with the potential of a team which just might have the national POY on its roster.

....ummm that would be Lucas Hausman and Bowdoin, right?!

Touche!

But last season Joey was first team AA while Lucas was 'only' fourth team - maybe one or two voters are stuck in the past!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

http://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2015-16/week4

Just finished looking at the D3hoops Top 25 poll for the first time since the pre-season poll was released.  Can anyone explain how Babson which has lost to 4 NESCAC teams, including Bowdoin, has 6 votes while Bowdoin has 0 votes?  That just doesn't make any sense to me.

In two words: Joey Flannery.  One or more (they got six points, not votes; that could be a single voter who thinks they are 20th) voters are still in love with the potential of a team which just might have the national POY on its roster.

If only it was so easy to figure out exactly what 25 different people are thinking. 25 people from around the country, three in each region, plus Pat. Glad you guys figured out exactly what is going on in the minds of voters. Keeps me from having to think for myself.

Of course, I am not voting for Babson. I am also not voting as of yet for Bowdoin, Colby, Wesleyan, or Tufts right now. There are just too many teams to try and shoehorn into the Top 25. I could probably rattle off at least 50 teams, if not 70, that could have an argument to be on the Top 25. It is an incredible year with plenty of teams playing very good basketball countered by not many, or no, dominating teams anywhere in the country.

On the flip side, there are plenty of teams that based on records look good (NYU), but when you start digging into teams they aren't as good as advertised. I think a lot of voters are trying to do their homework as best as possible... some they find are hits, some they find are misses, in both cases they continue to search for who are the best 25 teams in the country while dealing with the fact that no week passes without results that make you question the entire thing.

By the way, when a team like Amherst loses to Rhoades, it causes voters to not only question Amherst... but many of the teams associated with them. There is no such thing as a vacuum.

[jumpshot]

iwumichigander ---

You asked the right questions ---Michigan underperformed without Karis LeVert and could not handle Purdue's bigs inside whenever it mattered. A tough matchup all around for the Wolverines. As you know it is a long season with lots of interesting Big Ten basketball yet to come ....

[iwumichigander]

iwumichigander ---

You asked the right questions ---Michigan underperformed without Karis LeVert and could not handle Purdue's bigs inside whenever it mattered. A tough matchup all around for the Wolverines. As you know it is a long season with lots of interesting Big Ten basketball yet to come ....

Hammons for Purdue looks like he has taken his game to a whole new level this year.  But, I'm watching my other favorite green and white team, Michigan State, dismantle the Illini.  MSU up 30 with 15 to go and Coach Izzo chewing on his team like they are down by 30!

[John Gleich]

Big news ----the amherst board will consider retention or dismissal of the lord jeff mascot at their meeting in Washington, D.C. on January 21, 2016. The moose could be on the loose ....

Please pardon my ignorance... but isn't the Lord Jeff mascot an unofficial mascot? I didn't think that it was official... and as such, how does one get rid of an unofficial mascot? Make it official first?

[booyakasha]

http://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2015-16/week4

Just finished looking at the D3hoops Top 25 poll for the first time since the pre-season poll was released.  Can anyone explain how Babson which has lost to 4 NESCAC teams, including Bowdoin, has 6 votes while Bowdoin has 0 votes?  That just doesn't make any sense to me.

In two words: Joey Flannery.  One or more (they got six points, not votes; that could be a single voter who thinks they are 20th) voters are still in love with the potential of a team which just might have the national POY on its roster.

If only it was so easy to figure out exactly what 25 different people are thinking. 25 people from around the country, three in each region, plus Pat. Glad you guys figured out exactly what is going on in the minds of voters. Keeps me from having to think for myself.

Of course, I am not voting for Babson. I am also not voting as of yet for Bowdoin, Colby, Wesleyan, or Tufts right now. There are just too many teams to try and shoehorn into the Top 25. I could probably rattle off at least 50 teams, if not 70, that could have an argument to be on the Top 25. It is an incredible year with plenty of teams playing very good basketball countered by not many, or no, dominating teams anywhere in the country.

On the flip side, there are plenty of teams that based on records look good (NYU), but when you start digging into teams they aren't as good as advertised. I think a lot of voters are trying to do their homework as best as possible... some they find are hits, some they find are misses, in both cases they continue to search for who are the best 25 teams in the country while dealing with the fact that no week passes without results that make you question the entire thing.

By the way, when a team like Amherst loses to Rhoades, it causes voters to not only question Amherst... but many of the teams associated with them. There is no such thing as a vacuum.

Are you voting for Mt Union?

I hate it when people correct spelling, but for some reason I cringe when I see Rhoades in place of Rhodes. Maybe because my sister attended. Anyhow, FYI

[nescac1]

Here's a shot at handicapping this weekend's games.  Really, really tough to do -- I'm no Walzy!  That Colby/Bates/Bowdoin/Tufts group of games, in particular -- no combination of results there would surprise me. 

Friday: 

Williams +7 at Amherst
Middlebury +6 at Wesleyan
Hamilton +3 at Conn College
Bowdoin +3 at Tufts
Colby pick em at Bates


Saturday:

Colby +2 at Tufts
Hamilton +8 at Wesleyan
Middlebury -2 at Conn College
Bowdoin +2 at Bates

Sunday:

Williams +4 at Trinity