MBB: NESCAC

[AndOne]

Take it from somebody most people would consider North Central's biggest fan. In the 2013 national semifinal game in Salem, Allen Williamson was the best player on the floor for Amherst.
From seeing him next to NCC players whose height I'm sure of, I would venture he was 6'3"

[amh63]

Nice to see new posters on this board!
The limited news on paper and TV wrt MBB, I follow, have often mentioned how skillful the new generation of NBA players have become...in particular the big taller "one and done" youthful players.  Here in D3, it is nice to see  that "shorter" front court players still have an impact.  To me, the AWilliamson  saga iis like the Charles Barkley in the NBA.  Whatever his true height is, he made his presence known in the NBA.  It was a shame he was left of the First Olympic "Dream Team".
I remember when Julius Irving arrived at UMass-Amherst listed at 6'4" and relatively unknown.  Yes he had huge hands and long arms but was so talented in other ways on the court.  He was listed at 6'6" , I believe when he joined that new pro league...the ABA with its colorful ball.  He was listed at 6'7" later...whatever.. he brought about the merger of the two pro leagues, IMO.

[nescac1]

Williams team photo posted:

https://instagram.com/p/Ba4OS54A8oC/

All the guys expected to be on the roster are pictured.  The smallest guy in the back row is 6'7.

[Old Guy]

Nice to see new posters on this board!
The limited news on paper and TV wrt MBB, I follow, have often mentioned how skillful the new generation of NBA players have become...in particular the big taller "one and done" youthful players.  Here in D3, it is nice to see  that "shorter" front court players still have an impact.  To me, the AWilliamson  saga iis like the Charles Barkley in the NBA.  Whatever his true height is, he made his presence known in the NBA.  It was a shame he was left of the First Olympic "Dream Team".
I remember when Julius Irving arrived at UMass-Amherst listed at 6'4" and relatively unknown.  Yes he had huge hands and long arms but was so talented in other ways on the court.  He was listed at 6'6" , I believe when he joined that new pro league...the ABA with its colorful ball.  He was listed at 6'7" later...whatever.. he brought about the merger of the two pro leagues, IMO.

And couldn't shoot a lick (Dr. J). I saw him as a frosh against UMaine in Orono. It wasn't obvious what he would become, but it was obvious that he was really special.

[Old Guy]

Big day tomorrow - first practice. Games soon! Beginning of the hoop season redeems November.

It will be fun indeed to watch Scadlock's development, season. I don't want to renew the explicit comparisons, but I think it will be fun too to watch Matt Folger in his second year.

Optimism at Midd, despite losing its terrific backcourt pair (St. Amour is lighting it up in Ireland; Brown is ass't coach at Muhlenberg. Still have steady Jack Daly to run the offense and pick up the best player on the other side. Frontcourt returns intact (and perhaps some excitement in the Frosh class in the backcourts).

[warriorcat]

Nice to see new posters on this board!
The limited news on paper and TV wrt MBB, I follow, have often mentioned how skillful the new generation of NBA players have become...in particular the big taller "one and done" youthful players.  Here in D3, it is nice to see  that "shorter" front court players still have an impact.  To me, the AWilliamson  saga iis like the Charles Barkley in the NBA.  Whatever his true height is, he made his presence known in the NBA.  It was a shame he was left of the First Olympic "Dream Team".
I remember when Julius Irving arrived at UMass-Amherst listed at 6'4" and relatively unknown.  Yes he had huge hands and long arms but was so talented in other ways on the court.  He was listed at 6'6" , I believe when he joined that new pro league...the ABA with its colorful ball.  He was listed at 6'7" later...whatever.. he brought about the merger of the two pro leagues, IMO.

And couldn't shoot a lick (Dr. J). I saw him as a frosh against UMaine in Orono. It wasn't obvious what he would become, but it was obvious that he was really special.

If you saw him as a freshman he was not playing on the varsity. Freshmen had to play freshman basketball in 1968-69.  Erving only played two years (soph and jr.) at UMass before leaving early to play in the ABA.  I had the pleasure to see him four times in his UMass career including a monster game 33 pts/30 rebs against St. Michael's (a College Division power at that time) during a Christmas tournament at Springfield College. I also saw Springfield beat his UMass team later in the year in the old barn that Springfield played in.  Every time I saw him he did at least two or things that I had never seen on a basketball floor.  I would agree that he could not shoot a lick but he still averaged 26 pts a game over his two year career. 

[middhoops]

I saw Dr. J play at UVM when I was in high school, circa 1970.  As I remember he never took a jump shot.  You couldn't dunk in college in those days.  He appeared to only be around 6-4 or so, but he could get to the rim, and finish above it at will.
No one who saw Erving that night could have predicted his professional future, but he was on the far side of spectacular.

[toad22]

I saw Dr. J play at UVM when I was in high school, circa 1970.  As I remember he never took a jump shot.  You couldn't dunk in college in those days.  He appeared to only be around 6-4 or so, but he could get to the rim, and finish above it at will.
No one who saw Erving that night could have predicted his professional future, but he was on the far side of spectacular.

Williams scrimmaged Umass in the Fall of 1970, when Dr J was there. My best pal on the team was a guard named Brian Burke. Brian was a tough 6'2" guard from Bergan Catholic HS. Brian was our "stopper". Brian had to guard Dr J in that scrimmage. Poor Brian, he got crushed by the good Dr, and had to put up with our coach Al Shaw yelling at him through 6 quarters of basketball about how he had to "stop that guy", and "Keep him out of the lane!" We didn't know much about Erving before that scrimmage, but that was all we could talk about afterward.

[Old Guy]

Nice to see new posters on this board!
The limited news on paper and TV wrt MBB, I follow, have often mentioned how skillful the new generation of NBA players have become...in particular the big taller "one and done" youthful players.  Here in D3, it is nice to see  that "shorter" front court players still have an impact.  To me, the AWilliamson  saga iis like the Charles Barkley in the NBA.  Whatever his true height is, he made his presence known in the NBA.  It was a shame he was left of the First Olympic "Dream Team".
I remember when Julius Irving arrived at UMass-Amherst listed at 6'4" and relatively unknown.  Yes he had huge hands and long arms but was so talented in other ways on the court.  He was listed at 6'6" , I believe when he joined that new pro league...the ABA with its colorful ball.  He was listed at 6'7" later...whatever.. he brought about the merger of the two pro leagues, IMO.

And couldn't shoot a lick (Dr. J). I saw him as a frosh against UMaine in Orono. It wasn't obvious what he would become, but it was obvious that he was really special.

If you saw him as a freshman he was not playing on the varsity. Freshmen had to play freshman basketball in 1968-69.  Erving only played two years (soph and jr.) at UMass before leaving early to play in the ABA.  I had the pleasure to see him four times in his UMass career including a monster game 33 pts/30 rebs against St. Michael's (a College Division power at that time) during a Christmas tournament at Springfield College. I also saw Springfield beat his UMass team later in the year in the old barn that Springfield played in.  Every time I saw him he did at least two or things that I had never seen on a basketball floor.  I would agree that he could not shoot a lick but he still averaged 26 pts a game over his two year career.

Exactly. Frosh game preceded the varsity game. My playing era too.

[Old Guy]

Nice to see new posters on this board!
The limited news on paper and TV wrt MBB, I follow, have often mentioned how skillful the new generation of NBA players have become...in particular the big taller "one and done" youthful players.  Here in D3, it is nice to see  that "shorter" front court players still have an impact.  To me, the AWilliamson  saga iis like the Charles Barkley in the NBA.  Whatever his true height is, he made his presence known in the NBA.  It was a shame he was left of the First Olympic "Dream Team".
I remember when Julius Irving arrived at UMass-Amherst listed at 6'4" and relatively unknown.  Yes he had huge hands and long arms but was so talented in other ways on the court.  He was listed at 6'6" , I believe when he joined that new pro league...the ABA with its colorful ball.  He was listed at 6'7" later...whatever.. he brought about the merger of the two pro leagues, IMO.

And couldn't shoot a lick (Dr. J). I saw him as a frosh against UMaine in Orono. It wasn't obvious what he would become, but it was obvious that he was really special.

If you saw him as a freshman he was not playing on the varsity. Freshmen had to play freshman basketball in 1968-69.  Erving only played two years (soph and jr.) at UMass before leaving early to play in the ABA.  I had the pleasure to see him four times in his UMass career including a monster game 33 pts/30 rebs against St. Michael's (a College Division power at that time) during a Christmas tournament at Springfield College. I also saw Springfield beat his UMass team later in the year in the old barn that Springfield played in.  Every time I saw him he did at least two or things that I had never seen on a basketball floor.  I would agree that he could not shoot a lick but he still averaged 26 pts a game over his two year career.

Exactly. Frosh game preceded the varsity game. My playing era too.

[hoya73]

It's one thing not to recognize him as a freshman or sophomore.  With my Wisconsin roots I remember that in the second half of an NIT game Al McGuire was yelling at his assistant coach about "stopping that guy".  He had no idea who Julius Erving was.
Good old Uncle Al.

[maineman]

I had the pleasure to see him four times in his UMass career including a monster game 33 pts/30 rebs against St. Michael's (a College Division power at that time) during a Christmas tournament at Springfield College. I also saw Springfield beat his UMass team later in the year in the old barn that Springfield played in.  Every time I saw him he did at least two or things that I had never seen on a basketball floor.  I would agree that he could not shoot a lick but he still averaged 26 pts a game over his two year career.

The "old barn" at Springfield was the same Quonset hut hangar from WWII that still exists at Middlebury as the old hockey rink, now used for tennis.

[BigMike33]

Midd Hoops, Old Guy.......Finally, 11/1.   15 days of practice.

Great to read that mid September scouting report from Midd Hoops at scrimmage.

He points out the wild cards, who worked hard on their craft all summer.  what new talent is incoming.

Panthers will be fun to watch with a balanced scoring attack.  The Big to Big chemistry is special. Jack Daly is a scrappy leader.

And..some surprises as foreshadowed by Midd Hoops.   Several Panthers spent 5 weeks coaching aspiring high school Europeans at Elite Pennsylvania Camp. These camps facilitate lots of personal development time with access to elite trainers for counselors in return for their time.

Williams- Middlebury rivalry is HOT!   Last second TD to beat a undefeated Lebowitz led Panther squad poured serious gasoline on this burning rivalry. The Elite 8 game was intense...wow.

[nescac1]

Preseaaon 25 poll is out, and quite a showing for NESCAC with three of the top eight:

http://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2017-18/preseason

[P'bearfan]

Preseaaon 25 poll is out, and quite a showing for NESCAC with three of the top eight:

http://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2017-18/preseason

nescac1 - thanks for the link; +k.  Intuitively those rankings of NESCAC teams seem about right.

Question for the board:  when was the last time Amherst started the season not ranked in the top 25?  I'm guessing that it's been a while.