MBB: NESCAC

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Coach Giovanine seems well connected.  Several years ago the Vikings played at Gonzaga, and a couple of years ago played at Western Illinois (and won). Both came as a result of old coaching ties.   Coach G formerly was Head Coach at D-1 Lamar, but left on his own terms to return to his native Illinois, and to coaching at Augustana. I expect stops at Hinkle are the result of old D-1 friendships.

A lot of Division III coaches have these types of connections and can arrange these sorts of things for these players. The basketball coaching community is actually really welcoming for this sort of thing -- you don't have to have coached at Division I in order to provide this type of experience.

I believe Wartburg stopped and practiced at Iowa on their way to Hope for the sectionals.

[nescac1]

Matt St. Amour named second team all-American:

http://nabc.com/NABC_Releases/2017/d3_all_america

The Ephs have played vs. many of these guys (and if they win tomorrow, they will face one more): St. Amour, Blackledge, Weidlich, Lindo, and DeAllen Jackson.  While they are closely grouped, Jackson is the guy who impressed me the most (in a very small sample size, of course), followed by Blackledge and St. Amour. 

Note that the NABC selects one guy per region for each team, so St. Amour was elbowed out by Flannery.  I think St. Amour has a very good shot of being a first-team AA on the D3hoops squad; Sabin and Flannery seem like absolutely locks, but St. Amour is right there in that next group with Jack, Howell, Blackledge .... 

[Bucket]

Just three words today: Good luck Ephs!

[grabtherim]

Just three words today: Good luck Ephs!

Just one word:  Ditto. 

[middhoops]

Babson defeats Whitman to reach the finals.
Talk about a long ride home, Whitman had a 25 point lead and Babson blew the doors off from there on to win by 6.

Good luck to the Ephs against Augie. 
Make this an all MA final. 

[JustAFan]

"Make this an all MA final"....

Middhoops. your words could hold true for the men's AND women's finals.  The Tufts women just came back from down 10 with 5 minutes left to win and reach the championship game for the second year in a  row, and if Amherst wins its semi-final game, and if Williams wins its semi-final game on the men's side, you would have 4 MA teams in the finals....Babson/Williams on the men's side and Tufts/Amherst on the women's side.

Hopefully I did not jinx Williams or Amherst by putting that possibility out there!

[middhoops]

Ephs down 15 early due to some great deep shooting from Augie. 

[AllStar]

Halftime:  Augustana 42, Williams 34.  Augustana shooting 66.7% and 6-for-9 from deep, while Williams is shooting just 35.5% and 4-of-15 from three...but it's still a game (perhaps because Augustana has 8 turnovers and Williams just 1).

[AllStar]

Final:  Augustana 90, Williams 79

[Old Guy]

Williams played well. Augustana is really good. The Ephs, so young, will learn from this. They will be a force in NESCAC, regionally, and nationally in the next few years.  Aronowitz went out on a high note. Well-done, Ephs.

[middhoops]

Hate to go simple here, but when you play teams from the midwest, you really have to shoot the ball well.  CCIW teams aren't overly athletic but it seems that every guy on every team can shoot the 3 ball.
So the Ephs played well enough to win but Augie played and especially shot, better.

I like the Babson Beavers to hold Augustana off tomorrow.  In the end, someone has to stop Joey Flannery.  Best player in the nation. 
Nothing against Augustana.  They are very solid.

Congrats to the Ephs on a Feb/March comeback.  They sure know how to visit Salem, VA.

[nescac1]

Ephs gave it their all but in the end Augustana just could not miss from anywhere.  Orange in particular was awesome at both ends.  Williams had a rough shooting day and dug too big a hole.  They should be proud of their effort and worked really hard out there but Augie was too good tonight.

Best game of Aronowitz's career.  He was ridiculous tonight.  Scadlock also was stellar.  But needed a bit more help from the shooters. 

Great season from Ephs but always tough when it comes to an end!  Congrats on a stellar run and the future is bright. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Williams played well. Augustana is really good. The Ephs, so young, will learn from this. They will be a force in NESCAC, regionally, and nationally in the next few years.  Aronowitz went out on a high note. Well-done, Ephs.

Aronowitz was outstanding, but got far too little help.  Augie had FIVE players score 14+ points, and their only significant senior was the fifth leading scorer.  I think they may be even younger than Williams.  This game may have a sequel in the next year or two!

[Cards Fan]

As a NESCAC fan, congrats to Williams on how far they made it. As a fan of a rival team of Williams... I'll just silently cheer.

[JEFFFAN]

As a NESCAC fan, congrats to Williams on how far they made it. As a fan of a rival team of Williams... I'll just silently cheer.

What Cardsfan said ....

Really good run for Williams. Congrats.

NESCAC wins a title with the women as Tufts plays Amherst tomorrow.