MBB: NESCAC

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · November 14, 2018, 10:49:35 PM

Quote from: grabtherim on November 14, 2018, 02:00:46 PM
Quick appropriate action taken, with the promise of more to come.
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/25275935/fitchburg-state-suspends-kewan-platt-dirty-play-bars-campus

Oh come on ... can we get some love?

https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2018/11/fitchburg-state-kewan-platt-decks-opponent-ejected-suspended

amh63 · November 15, 2018, 10:14:53 AM

The conference season is starting on Fri....for both Amherst's teams. It is snowing in the DC. Area and chaos on the roads has again appeared

. Looks like the wet weather is going to be in the CAC region too. Be careful to all that will be watching games live. Wish I could be up with you.

amh63 · November 15, 2018, 11:12:13 AM

Remember when the Tufts' football program was starting its "rebuild" under a new HC. A win was not to come for a number of years....but it did come and more follow. Tufts is in the title chase now. Upgrade of facilities, etc. I believe that the Maine schools will be in the discussion soon enough. An undefeated season will become more elusive, imho. School support, alum support, and good coaches and many fine recruiting years...add luck in the "Pot"...stir and a title may be had. I think a Nescac title maybe won in the next decade with TWO losses!
See you next season

middhoops · November 15, 2018, 11:44:14 AM

amh63, not sure how important conference losses are in the long run. Plenty of teams get hot in the tourney and beat the top teams from the regular season.
See Midd 2016 for a prime example.
But then, I just completely agreed with your point....

nescac1 · November 15, 2018, 12:13:08 PM

I THINK amh63 may have misdirected a post intended for the football board to this one ...

Wesleyan has its roster up, the final school to do so. The good news for the Cards is what looks like a top-notch frosh class, big in numbers and size (five guys ranging forom 6'4 to 6'9) with a lot of athleticism. I imagine a few of those guys will be playing early on. The bad news is that Kevin O'Brien is not on the roster, which really hurts on both ends of the floor. I hope it is not a health issue for him, as I know he had some issues last season, but in all events, that's a big blow for Wesleyan. The top-tier talent is still very strong, but who will serve as the primary distributor will be interesting to see. My guess is Hutcherson to allow Bonner and Walker to play off the ball, but maybe Walker plays as a shoot-first PG. The Cards are once again massive across the board, but is there a true PG even on the roster? I'm not sure. They will be interesting to watch, for sure.

Now that all rosters are posted, my picks for pre-season all-league:

First team: James Heskett, Kyle Scadlock, Kena Gilmour, Austin Hutcherson, Bobby Casey (Williams will NOT have three first all-league dudes when all is said and done, but no one at the moment is more deserving)

Second team: Eric Savage, Matt Folger, Jeff Spellman, Jordan Bonner, Peter Hoffmann

Third team: Jack Simonds, Jack Farrell, David Reynolds, David Labossier, Michael Grassey

Other guys to watch: Matt Karpowicz, Eric McCord, Grant Robinson, Tim McCarthy, Joe Schneider, Dan Draffan, Paul Cherry

POY: Heskett/Gilmour
ROY: Tyler Aronson

Greek Tragedy · November 15, 2018, 12:48:03 PM

Per Dave McHugh's preseason poll blog, anytime you mention Kyle Scadlock, he will be referred to only as Scadlove.

amh63 · November 15, 2018, 01:28:59 PM

Yelp...Nescac1...post was for the football board. Middhoops was being nice to an old poster, emphasis on OLD. In any case, looking forward to the start of the Amherst season on Friday. The college game in D1 is changing fast, IMO....being dominated by younger and younger players on offense. In D3, believe defense and more of an inside offense will remain the keys to success....inferring more experience. Just an opinion and a possible area for discussion.

nescac1 · November 15, 2018, 02:40:26 PM

Greek Tragedy, y'all can call Kyle whatever you want, so long as he stays healthy this year!!!

amh63, I love old-school post play, but I fear it is becoming gradually extinct everywhere, even in D3, as the formula for winning basketball. Sure, everyone would love a dominant big man, but offenses are focused on tempo, motion and three point shooting even in D3, where the most successful teams tend to be perimeter-oriented. Look at the last bunch of D3 title winners - I don't think any recent winner had a truly a dominant post player, but all could push the ball and had multiple guys who could absolutely light it up from 3. And looking at the top D3 teams this year, it's largely the same story ... few really intimidating post scorers, lots and lots of perimeter skill.

JEFFFAN · November 15, 2018, 03:18:54 PM

http://athletics.amherst.edu/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20181114hb1up2

nescac1 · November 15, 2018, 04:34:33 PM

I must say, this is by far the slickest season preview I've seen any NESCAC team produce. Kudos to Wesleyan. My only nitpick is that it kind of gives the shaft to the returning players who are not deemed "key." Still, wicked cool:

https://spark.adobe.com/page/Xxw9vu4igsP1n/

AmherstRules · November 15, 2018, 05:30:17 PM

Quote from: nescac1 on November 15, 2018, 04:34:33 PM
I must say, this is by far the slickest season preview I've seen any NESCAC team produce. Kudos to Wesleyan. My only nitpick is that it kind of gives the shaft to the returning players who are not deemed "key." Still, wicked cool:

https://spark.adobe.com/page/Xxw9vu4igsP1n/

Nice to open with so many at home.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · November 15, 2018, 11:53:38 PM

Quote from: Greek Tragedy on November 15, 2018, 12:48:03 PM
Per Dave McHugh's preseason poll blog, anytime you mention Kyle Scadlock, he will be referred to only as Scadlove.

LOL Yep! I am trying hard, apparently, to change his name.

NEhoops · November 16, 2018, 08:36:39 AM

As most NESCAC teams tip off tonight there are two games that stick out.

Husson (NAC) vs. Trinity at UNE - Husson always plays NESCAC tough and they'll be the "home" team. Interesting to see how quickly Trinity can gel on offense.

Bowdoin vs. Albertus Magnus (GNAC) at WCSU - Tough trip for Bowdoin, but no matter the opponent they play their game. Albertus got jumped by WPI - can they bounce back?

amh63 · November 16, 2018, 10:51:02 AM

Was scanning games last night......decided to watch the MIT game in Cambridge; in part due to its lofty pre season ranking and in part to fond memories of my grad school days at MIT. Several noteworthy bits of information picked up. First, MIT has a large squad...big senior class and FY class.
Second, very large coaching staff...HC, Assoc. HC, four assist. coaches, plus a director of operation asst. coach. Compare that to typical Nescac coaching staffs.
There is a MIT Soph player from Weston Ct that was as highly thought of player as Folger of Middlebury in HS. Classmates in HS, I recall. Both now are big contributors to their respective college teams. Both about the same size. A FY player from Greece on the MIT squad has similar "background" data as the FY player from Serbia on the Amherst squad. Both about the same size and was slated for their countries development teams. The MIT Greek player entered the game and showed me quite a mature skill set on the floor...passing, shooting, etc...for his age. Hoping that Amherst's Serbia FY player can make likewise contributions.
MIT was down by 20 points at halftime and could never get below 11 points in the 2nd half in a loss.

Greek Tragedy · November 16, 2018, 11:08:14 AM

Williams hosts Salem St, a team that lost a bunch of production to graduation. Up steps Sean Bryan, averaging a hefty 28.5 and 10.5 a game. It's only been two games, so we'll see how much Williams brings him back down to earth. His coach said that he's a legit (conference) POTY FWIW.