MBB: NESCAC

[Colby Hoops]

What's the consensus on league awards?

My thoughts -- which lineup pretty closely with Nescac1.

POY: Kena Gilmour
Probably a toss-up between Gilmour, Bobby Casey and Austin Hutcherson. Hutcherson has the best scoring numbers, but also was less consistent from a game to game perspective and struggled with turnovers at times. Casey is the best passer of the bunch and rebounds really well for a guard, but his shooting numbers tailed off a bit. Gilmour scored the most efficiently of the three and is really solid on the defensive end. Wouldn't argue against any of the three.

First team: Gilmour, Casey, Hutcherson, Jack Farrell, Grant Robinson

Farrell is a no-brainer and not that far out of the POY race. Robinson has been a little more under the radar than the other guys, but he has been so good throughout conference play, scoring efficiently, creating offense and he's been a terror on the defensive end.

Second team: James Heskett, Sam Jefferson, Matt Folger, Jack Simonds, Donald Jorden

Heskett's struggled shooting the ball a bit, but still was an elite scorer and very good defender with his length. Jefferson's scorching outside shooting and solid interior defense was key for the Mules. Folger's consistent scoring, good rebounding, elite shot blocking and under the radar passing should earn him a spot. Simonds shot the ball really well during conference play and is one of the best pure scorers in the league. Jorden is a bit unheralded, but he's a monster on defense and on the glass and turned into a reliable scorer for the slow-paced Bantams. Some of the other guys have better numbers than him (Savage in particular), but Trinity's slow pace factors into that a bit.

Others in the running: Kyle Scadlock, Max Bosco, Eric Savage and Jeff Spellman.

ROY: Noah Tyson
Honestly don't think this is very close. Tyson is the top freshman scorer by a large margin, is tied for third in the whole league in rebounding, 4th in minutes played, 9th in steals per game. Sobel is a game changer on defense but also plays a third of the minutes as Tyson. Allen has played a big role defensively but scores about 5 points per game on mediocre shooting numbers.

[nescac1]

Good thoughts, Colby Hoops.  Agree on Tyson.   I think your first team looks good and your second team outside of Jorden seems like the right four guys.  I think Jorden is overlooked as well, I do like his game and think he will be an all-league guy as an upperclassman, but I'm not sure I'd put him in JUST yet over higher-scoring guys like Bonner, Scadlock, Labossier, Grassey, Sellew or the others you mentioned.  Still, he is a worthy contender, and that last spot seems like a total toss-up and will likely be decided based on the post-season. 

Oh, and I agree with prior commentators that Hixon deserves coach of the year.  This year's Amherst team is sort of the opposite of the senior-dominated team from two years ago that fell short of expectations ... every guy plays his role perfectly, the team plays together, without individual agendas, and also plays really tough defense on every possession, and there is a ton of lineup flexibility with Hixon masterfully juggling a lot of different looks. 

And then there is DPOY.  I have a tough time with this one.   I'd say Kyle Padmore would be my top choice, maybe Fru Che as a runner-up, but there is no clear choice for that award yet either.  Another one that could be decided down the stretch.   

[Colby Hoops]

Good thoughts, Colby Hoops.  Agree on Tyson.   I think your first team looks good and your second team outside of Jorden seems like the right four guys.  I think Jorden is overlooked as well, I do like his game and think he will be an all-league guy as an upperclassman, but I'm not sure I'd put him in JUST yet over higher-scoring guys like Bonner, Scadlock, Labossier, Grassey, Sellew or the others you mentioned.  Still, he is a worthy contender, and that last spot seems like a total toss-up and will likely be decided based on the post-season. 

Definitely not an open and shut case, but I think his stats look better than you might think at first glance. If you look at conference-play numbers Jorden (to this point) has been better than almost all of that group. He's averaging more points than Sellew and Grassey, 0.4 points less than Bonner and 1.4 less than Scadlock. And he's shooting 57% from the floor -- much higher than all of those guys. Labossiere is well ahead in PPG but also shooting below 40% on a really bad team. And Jorden is third in the league in rebounding and a very good defensive player.

I actually think Savage and Spellman might have the best cases if you're looking at stats from conference play. Bosco has also been key for Midd, his shooting numbers in conference just look a little lower than I expected.

Either way, you're likely right that it will be decided in postseason play. All of those guys have had very good seasons. Upperclassmen (and to some degree name recognition) tend to get rewarded, so Bonner or Scadlock may actually be more likely to make a team than anyone else mentioned above.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

One alternative is to cancel the damn game, an action which would not cause the end of the world and would surely meet with approval in some circles at Amherst and maybe at Clinton too.

I disagree... the game has a lot of ramifications. Not only for the conference tournament seedings, but both teams are going to be interested in what it can for for their SOS, their vRRO data, head-to-head which will be VERY important out of conference, and other reasons. Regional Rankings, selections, and bracketing will be affected, believe it or not, a lot by that game against two highly-ranked teams.

Yes, it seems easy to cancel that game, but I bet both coaching staffs and teams understand how important that game really is in the larger picture.

[Bucket]

One alternative is to cancel the damn game, an action which would not cause the end of the world and would surely meet with approval in some circles at Amherst and maybe at Clinton too.

I disagree... the game has a lot of ramifications. Not only for the conference tournament seedings, but both teams are going to be interested in what it can for for their SOS, their vRRO data, head-to-head which will be VERY important out of conference, and other reasons. Regional Rankings, selections, and bracketing will be affected, believe it or not, a lot by that game against two highly-ranked teams.

Yes, it seems easy to cancel that game, but I bet both coaching staffs and teams understand how important that game really is in the larger picture.

You're mis-reading this particular poster, Dave. His implication is that there are folks (frank among them, I'd guess) affiliated with each institution who don't give a damn about post-season play. For them, "the larger picture" has nothing to do with basketball. At least, that was my interpretation of his post. 

[middhoops]

Yes, to Bucket.
Frank is a cynic/provocateur.

[MiddWatcher]

Source at Midd College, and now on website, has Amherst at Hamilton postponed until Wednesday. Time TBA.  Ironic that NESCAC ADs and SWAs scheduled to meet in Boston tomorrow for regular conference meeting.  Maybe the two ADs could play a fantasy game and save all of that travel and lost class time !

[OldCardinal]

Are you guys sure that Middlebury would win the tiebreaker if Hamilton beats Amherst?  That would create a 3 way tie and they all would have gone 1-1 against each other.  I haven't looked at the tiebreakers after that.  Just wondering.

[MiddWatcher]

Yes, Old Cardinal - remarkably enough, as one goes through the tiebreaker rules you need to travel a ways down the rules .... and even then travel through their ( all 3 teams )  match ups vs. #4 Williams ( all wins ), then #5 Wesleyan ( all losses ), then #6 Trinity ( all wins ) and then #7 Colby ( where Midd has a win and Amherst and Hamilton both lost to the Mules ). That's the difference !

Amherst, like Midd last Saturday, can remove the doubts by just winning on Wednesday night.

Then, with a win in First Round vs. Tufts, they would host the Final Four once again.

Curiously, If Midd were to be #1 they would play Tufts ( to whom they lost ).... but if they go in at #2 then they play Colby ( whom they beat ).  So maybe #2 is better than #1  ??

But not really. Hosting the Final Four in your own building is always a plus.

[amh63]

Based on a related story on the Amherst appropriate website....Amherst could get the top seed over Midd.  Let the discussion begin . I will wait until the game is over and/or the two ADs flip a coin if it is postponed further.   

[Old Guy]

Planning a group watch of the Hamilton-Amerst game Wednesday night — so glad for the change as I would have had to watch the game by myself on Tuesday while texting Young Guy who has graduated from Midd and now lives in LA (not Lewiston-Auburn, the other one)! Now I get to have a few old guys (and old girls) over to join me, with maybe a beer or two and a steamed dog. Rooting hard for the Continentals, as their victory seems to greatly benefit the Panthers.

ROY discussion: Tyson to be sure (a nice thing for VT hoops). There may not be a "superstar" in the class, but Midd folks are certainly happy with Sobel's contribution and progress. He will the only returning inside player next year and his playing time this year should pay huge dividends. Hopefully, sophs James Finn and Ryan Cahill, out all this year with injuries, will help next. Sobel averages nearly two and a half blocks per game (leads the conference!) in under 14 minutes a game — may not be this year's DPOY, but could retire the award the next few years (cf. Andrew Locke). Also grabs 5.5 rebounds a game in those 14 minutes.

Folger (6'8") is not really considered an "inside" player largely because he's so versatile, averages nearly a double-double (15/9) and blocks shots (1.2 a game).

ALL-NESCAC: Folger and Farrell are both deserving of post-season honors (Bosco moving up fast!). I can't tell who is more valuable. Flip a coin. Both crucial.

A note on Midd senior Eric McCord, who will not find post-season glory, but there is no more important player on the floor for the Panthers — not a high flyer but a smart, strong-as-an-ox inside player, leading the conference in rebounding, a senior, modest, quiet guy, a great leader by example. Take a minute when you watch a Midd game and focus on McCord: always in position, rebounds, makes great outlet passes to start the break, then beats his (faster) man down the floor, gets a lot of easy baskets. He's glue and every one at Midd knows it.

[JEFFFAN]

Predictions for tonight?

[amh63]

Been checking on the weather to see if both Amherst vs Hamilton games will occur today.  So far so good....the WBB game has been moved up to 6PM.
The Amherst website is having trouble today.....update to users will occur at noon today.  Oh Well...when it rains it snows . 
Reading the local paper today and came up with an interesting Change in D1 rankings.  The story dealt with a game between USF and UCF...Both D1 schools.  Seems the D1 schools uses the NET versus the RPI in their ranking system.  Does the NCAA D3 basketball world now uses the NET??
This board has mention recent changes in the selection of teams to the NCAA tournament slots.
Last comment.  The highly ranked MIT team has had a bunch of players missing games.  All seem to have returned.  Yet, MIT was just beaten by Springfield, a team that has had a poor season to date. Could Springfield get into the post-season if they win their conf. Tourny?  Will they even make their conf. Tourny??

[Bucket]

Could Springfield get into the post-season if they win their conf. Tourny?  Will they even make their conf. Tourny??

Conference tournament winners receive automatic bids to the NCAA tournament.

[Colby Hoops]

Predictions for tonight?

I'll lean Hamilton. Just feels like four straight road games against top-tier competition has to catch up to Amherst. Going to be a good one though -- Che is about as well equipped as anyone in the league to guard Gilmour.