MBB: NESCAC

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yelp....read somewhere...here on another board that the D3 has reached the 64 full house limit!

Yes, the men's tournament will be a full 64-team field this year removing the byes. Will have a significant impact in many ways.

[PolarBear16]

Made an account just to echo this statement. Bowdoin in 2014-2015 went 7-3 in the NESCAC and made it to the semi-finals. They were done in by 1. Wesleyan winning the tournament and bumping Amherst into an at-large bid and 2. four non-conference losses, three of which came in December and 3. 7 of their 8 loses were by double-digits.

It was a shame they didn't make the tournament, but it was hard to argue that they deserved it over anyone except maybe Bates. That was probably my favorite team ever to root for, granted I'm only 22.

Actually 2 seasons ago, Bowdoin was a bubble team that did not get a bid (that was Hausman's junior year and Sword's senior year).  This was a big disappointment as Bowdoin beat Bates by 28 in one the last regular season games.  That year Bates made it to the Section Semifinals where they fell to Trinity.  So...by the transitive property of barroom sports argument....Bowdoin would have made a decent run in the tournament.

Looking forward to this season!!

GoUBears!

[Academic Cyclist]

Colby roster is up - http://gocolbymules.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/roster

Two interesting things to note:

1. There are NINE freshman listed Three from CA, one from Switzerland, and the rest from New England high/prep schools.

2. Patrick Stewart remains on the roster. Glad to see he's decided to play another season after missing his entire Junior year due to injury. He has a really good chance to hit 1,000 points - a nice milestone.

Mules will likely have a down year after graduating so many talented seniors, but I'm curious to find out if any of these freshman can make an impact right away. Also interested in seeing how Dickert responds after getting national media attention earlier this year...there will be no shortage of playing time available to him and the other few Mules who were in the rotation last year...

[P'bearfan]

Made an account just to echo this statement. Bowdoin in 2014-2015 went 7-3 in the NESCAC and made it to the semi-finals. They were done in by 1. Wesleyan winning the tournament and bumping Amherst into an at-large bid and 2. four non-conference losses, three of which came in December and 3. 7 of their 8 loses were by double-digits.

It was a shame they didn't make the tournament, but it was hard to argue that they deserved it over anyone except maybe Bates. That was probably my favorite team ever to root for, granted I'm only 22.

PolarBear16....welcome to the board! +K to you.     

Looking forward to having you join the discussion this season.  Can't wait for it to start! 

[nescac1]

Former NESCAC celebrity sighting: Matt Hart behind me in line at a DC burger place.  (Man, am I ready for this election to be over and hoops to resume ...)

[middhoops]

You actually recognized Matt Hart?

[nescac1]

Had to look him up to confirm but he was the only dude smaller than me so I kinda figured ...

[P'bearfan]

Former NESCAC celebrity sighting: Matt Hart behind me in line at a DC burger place.  (Man, am I ready for this election to be over and hoops to resume ...)

Oh dear God I couldn't agree more!

[amh63]

Have not forgoten this board but the BB sites are quiet at Amherst....no roster or schedules updates. Still  Twitter and Instagram sites have some teasers.  Latest shows Willy workmam'13 playing against the NBA Sac Kings  in a pre- season game.  Willy still with his Israel Pro team.  Walzy...remember him on this board..added that Willy's play was good, scoring 9 points and 3 RB, the same numbers Willy had in the 2013 title win in Atlanta.  Willy likes NBA areas
The MBB sites show a group of the new team at several events...Amherst annual Street Fair, At a community events social event in Holyoke? And...at a Celtics NBA game at UMass-Amherst.  Tickets compliments of the Celtics via a former Amherst player that works in the Celtics Org.  A bit frustrated that I cannot recognize any new players.  No coaches around and generally the pics show about 15 players, there appear to me to be a few fresh faces.  Official practice is about five weeks away.

[JustAFan]

The NERR site has the first NESCAC "commitment" of the year--Choate swingman Mike Donovan to Trinity conditioned upon acceptance of his ED application. Donovan is a 6-3 shooting guard with a really nice stroke based on the video on the NERR site. He's the latest in a long string of Mike Crotty Middlesex Magic AAU players to head to the NESCAC.

[amh63]

JustAFan....Thanks!   Been primarily on the football board and been discussing recruiting, etc.  Forgot about the approaching ED dates.  Yes, the Winter sports have begun, etc. and the recruiting of the class of 2021 is ongoing.
The Middlesex Magic business of the Ephs Alum...great player... prepared well many Nescac players. Amherst may have several players presently that were on the Magic AUU teams.

[amh63]

Amherst has posted its schedule.  Nothing that jumps out wrt to opponents.  Keystone at home in late Dec. is a new opponent.  Green Mountain in the opening at home toury is different.  No traveling over the holidays this year. 
Roster is not up.

[nescac1]

For what it is worth (fairly little relative to the D3hoops poll) the Sporting News has its preseason top ten out.  Amherst is 1, Babson 2, Williams 8.

Here is the poll and the Williams write-up:

https://twitter.com/EphSports/status/787764434621964288
https://twitter.com/EphSports/status/787767753071398913

Amherst and Babson I do think will be in the preseason top 5, maybe top 3, of D3hoops.  Christopher Newport seems like the only other real contender for the top spot.  Wooster could be interesting as well, did well with a very young squad last year.  I am high on the Ephs this year but 8 does seem a bit high coming off a 15-win year.  I like the Ephs as a top 25 team if Aronowitz stays healthy, but top 10 would require a TON of growth from the rising sophomore class (which certainly is possible) plus some contributions from frosh. 

[30 for 30]

SI props for Hart listed at #7

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2016/10/14/christian-james-khadeem-lattin-oklahoma-sooners-breakout-scorers

[amh63]

FYI....there is an old Twitter notice on the Amherst basketball website Twitter that gives a Noontime blog of small college preseason ranking.  Not a big follower of preseason polls so did not note it earlier on this board.  However, just cite it now to show a comparison to Nescac1 posted poll.  Noontime cited poll has Amherst no. 2, Tufts no. 4 and Babson no 6. Not clear if it was NE only or a National ranking.