MBB: NESCAC

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

It is nearly time to tip up the ball on the NCAA Division III Basketball Tournaments. Who will end up in Grand Rapids and Salem with a chance at a national title?

On Thursday's nights Hoopsville, Dave McHugh gives his preview of the two tournaments and who may be the surprises, who can pull off an upset, who are the favorites to make a run, and who just might walk away with the walnut and bronze.

Hoopsville is presented by D3hoops.com and airs LIVE starting at 7:00 PM ET from the WBCA/NABC Studio. You can watch the show here: http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2016-17/mar2 --- or via the simulcast on Facebook Live. If you miss the show live, you can watch it On Demand or listen to the podcasts.

The show is jammed packed with guests, but Dave will also have time for your questions. Make sure to email them to hoopsville@d3hoops.com. You can also tweet them to us.

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Guests scheduled (in order of appearance):
- Carl Danzig, Scranton men's coach
- Abby Pyzik Smith, Lynchburg women's coach
- Brad Fischer, No. 13 UW-Oshkosh women's coach
- Michael Blaine, Medialle men's coach
- Jeff Brown, No. 6 Middlbury men's coach
- Cameron Hill, No. 7 Trinity (Texas) women's coach

You can also tune into the podcast(s) after the show has aired:
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/hoopsville
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hoopsville/id1059517087

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[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Query, board historians:
The NESCAC has 5 teams and the Northeast Region has 10 teams in the NCAA tourney.
This seems like a lot to me.
How does it compare with all regions and conferences in previous years?
nescac1?  Dave?  Anyone?

NESCAC women got five in once - I forget the year.  NESCAC men had four in a couple years ago when Wesleyan surprise won the conference tournament.  I don't think any conference has had more than three otherwise.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Query, board historians:
The NESCAC has 5 teams and the Northeast Region has 10 teams in the NCAA tourney.
This seems like a lot to me.
How does it compare with all regions and conferences in previous years?
nescac1?  Dave?  Anyone?

NESCAC women got five in once - I forget the year.  NESCAC men had four in a couple years ago when Wesleyan surprise won the conference tournament.  I don't think any conference has had more than three otherwise.

I believe women was 2010 or 2012... men was 2015 I think.

[magicman]

Query, board historians:
The NESCAC has 5 teams and the Northeast Region has 10 teams in the NCAA tourney.
This seems like a lot to me.
How does it compare with all regions and conferences in previous years?
nescac1?  Dave?  Anyone?

NESCAC women got five in once - I forget the year.  NESCAC men had four in a couple years ago when Wesleyan surprise won the conference tournament. I don't think any conference has had more than three otherwise.

In the 2006-07 season the UAA got 4 teams in.
Wash U made it to Salem that year losing to Virginia Wesleyan in the semifinals.
Brandeis lost in the 2nd round to Rhode Island.
Chicago lost in the first round to Hope.
Rochester lost in the first round to Plattsburgh State on Anthony Williams half court shot at the buzzer.

Incidentally the winner of the  National Championship that year...the Amherst Lord Jeffs who defeated Virginia Wesleyan 80-67 in the title game to claim the Big Doorstop.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Query, board historians:
The NESCAC has 5 teams and the Northeast Region has 10 teams in the NCAA tourney.
This seems like a lot to me.
How does it compare with all regions and conferences in previous years?
nescac1?  Dave?  Anyone?

NESCAC women got five in once - I forget the year.  NESCAC men had four in a couple years ago when Wesleyan surprise won the conference tournament.  I don't think any conference has had more than three otherwise.

In the 2006-07 season the UAA got 4 teams in.
Wash U made it to Salem that year losing to Virginia Wesleyan in the semifinals.
Brandeis lost in the 2nd round to Rhode Island.
Chicago lost in the first round to Hope.
Rochester lost in the first round to Plattsburgh State on Anthony Williams half court shot at the buzzer.

Incidentally the winner of the  National Championship that year...the Amherst Lord Jeffs who defeated Virginia Wesleyan 80-67 in the title game to claim the Big Doorstop.

Right, I always forget UAA because they're multi-region.  I'm guessing they've had four on the women's side before, as well.

[PolarBear16]

Dave McHugh, here's a question for you. Is there a reason why you exclusively interview coaches for Hoopsville? Like, for some NCAA reason you are not able to interview players?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Dave McHugh, here's a question for you. Is there a reason why you exclusively interview coaches for Hoopsville? Like, for some NCAA reason you are not able to interview players?

I won't answer entirely for Dave, but he does interview players from time to time - it's often more difficult to set up, schools are less likely to make them available, and players are much less likely to do a watchable interview.  It's not like D1 where they get lots of practice and coaching for media.  Some players are really great to talk to and others just aren't as able to express themselves in ways that translate to the screen.  Dave had the player from Carnegie Mellon on earlier this week and Gordon did an interview with Cam Wiley from Swarthmore as well.

[nescac1]

The NESCAC has never previously had five teams in the tourney.  NESCAC has, however, had four on many occasions:

1995: Trinity, Williams, Tufts, Colby (Trinity made the Final Four)
1997: Tufts, Amherst, Colby, Williams (Williams made the Final Four)
1998: Williams, Hamilton, Conn College, Trinity (Williams made the Final Four)
1999: Hamilton, Trinity, Bowdoin, Conn College (Conn made the Final Four)
2015: Amherst, Trinity, Bates, Wesleyan (Trinity made the Elite Eight)
2016: Tufts, Trinity, Amherst, Midd (Amherst made the Final Four)

So based on past experience, the odds favor one NESCAC team making it to Salem this year ...

[JEFFFAN]

Hoping for a nice little run from the Jeffs to recover some value from what has been a lost season.   Will never happen but it would be interesting to hear Hixon's real take on what happened to the inside game offensively compared to their expectations going into the season.

[nescac1]

Speaking of NESCAC teams and the NCAA tournament, all 11 NESAC teams have appeared in the NCAA tourney at least once.  I believe Bates is the only NESCAC team to appear fewer than two times.  I wonder how many other conferences can make the same claim? 

[Canvas Hightops]

Hoping for a nice little run from the Jeffs to recover some value from what has been a lost season.   Will never happen but it would be interesting to hear Hixon's real take on what happened to the inside game offensively compared to their expectations going into the season.

Very much agreed.
Would love to be a fly on that wall.
The team that beat Babson sure appeared Salem bound.
It was something more than just struggling in road games.
There is still a ton of talent on that team.

[Bucket]

Pepin is now sold out for the games today/tonight.

Should be fun!

[amh63]

Magicman....the Big Doorstop!  Never heard that " term " in that context!  Plus K.   I was there in Salem for that Title run....there was a runner up game in those days.  Amherst was led by a point guard from San Diego, Ca.  Also like Toomey,  a two time D3 POY and  1st team  All- American.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Magicman....the Big Doorstop!  Never heard that " term " in that context!  Plus K.   I was there in Salem for that Title run....there was a runner up game in those days.  Amherst was led by a point guard from San Diego, Ca.  Also like Toomey,  a two time D3 POY and  1st team  All- American.

"The Big Doorstop" is a favorite phrase of Gregory Sager.

[Cards Fan]

Amherst's stream ended for anyone else?