MBB: NESCAC

WPI89 · February 26, 2019, 01:33:24 PM

.........and good luck to your 4 teams in the dance.

WUPHF · February 26, 2019, 01:34:41 PM

By the way, a palestra or palaistra comes from palaiein, the Greek word for wrestle. The palestra was the part of the gym or courtyard where the athletes wrestle.

Gregory Sager · February 26, 2019, 01:48:39 PM

Nice! My new random fact for the day. Thanks, WUPHF!

WUPHF · February 26, 2019, 01:54:49 PM

I was surprised that we had two palestras go up within a few years of each other, but which appear to be the only gyms known as palestras in the nation.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 26, 2019, 02:06:05 PM

Quote from: WPI89 on February 26, 2019, 01:32:57 PM
Any of you guys see the bracket contests usually linked on the d3hoops site - I think D3photography usually runs it? I do not see anything yet this year?

D3photography has gotten out of the "business" as it where. There won't be one this year, sorry.

WPI89 · February 26, 2019, 02:10:49 PM

Got it Dave - thanks.

WPI89 · February 26, 2019, 02:18:20 PM

Another question for you learned NESCAC folks. Why don't more teams sign up to accept ECAC invites? I will use WPI as an example. By most measures they overachieved a bit this year, based on starting all frosh and sophs (basically) all year. What would be the downside of potentially getting the young team 3 more games - under "post-season", win-or-go-home pressure? Based on almost complete lack of interest - I understand I am in the minority - just wondering from some of you guys - in the know!

The field for those who care: https://www.ecacsports.com/news/2019/2/25/ecac-announces-2019-mens-basketball-championship-field.aspx

PS - i promise i will not clog your site anymore with any non-game related info after this.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 26, 2019, 02:23:05 PM

The ECAC is slowly dying. Schools are tired of sending money to the ECAC to participate (either for the entire academic year or per sports - introduced in recent years) and THEN spend money on hosting or sending their teams to events. It is a lose-lose. It is the reason ECAC events are getting smaller and smaller each year.

NEhoops · February 26, 2019, 02:40:28 PM

As recently as 2016 the ECAC had a three-tournament structure, with New England, Metro, and South tournaments. In 2017 it changed the format (to the current structure) becoming a single tournament which determined a single ECAC Division III champion. I'm not sure if the change from three to one decreased the number of teams involved, but not having a New England specific tournament would make sense that there are less teams from that region involved - either voluntary or involuntary.

Are NESCAC teams eligible to participate?

Pat Coleman · February 26, 2019, 02:40:59 PM

They are not.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · February 26, 2019, 02:42:23 PM

Quote from: NEhoops on February 26, 2019, 02:40:28 PM
As recently as 2016 the ECAC had a three-tournament structure, with New England, Metro, and South tournaments. In 2017 it changed the format (to the current structure) becoming a single tournament which determined a single ECAC Division III champion. I'm not sure if the change from three to one decreased the number of teams involved, but not having a New England specific tournament would make sense that there are less teams from that region involved - either voluntary or involuntary.

Are NESCAC teams eligible to participate?

The year they went to one tournament there was at least one region (maybe two) with one or less eligible teams willing to participate.

WPI89 · February 26, 2019, 02:51:39 PM

Thanks all - figured it was money related.

creakyknees · February 26, 2019, 03:34:44 PM

A decade or two before the creation of the NESCAC, the ECAC was often the only post-season tournament that some teams (like Amherst) could participate in. Back in the 79-80 season, the ECAC combined both DII and DIII teams in its 4 team Northeast tournament and if memory serves, Amherst lost a not-so-close game to a DII Assumption team.

Dave 'd-mac' McHugh · February 26, 2019, 04:29:37 PM

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on February 26, 2019, 02:42:23 PM
Quote from: NEhoops on February 26, 2019, 02:40:28 PM
As recently as 2016 the ECAC had a three-tournament structure, with New England, Metro, and South tournaments. In 2017 it changed the format (to the current structure) becoming a single tournament which determined a single ECAC Division III champion. I'm not sure if the change from three to one decreased the number of teams involved, but not having a New England specific tournament would make sense that there are less teams from that region involved - either voluntary or involuntary.

Are NESCAC teams eligible to participate?

The year they went to one tournament there was at least one region (maybe two) with one or less eligible teams willing to participate.

As Ryan said ... they have decreased their event because less schools are interested. They have tried to make it a "bigger" event and spread out of time, but they haven't received the permissions (nor would they in my opinion) from the NCAA to have a longer tournament. Unfortunately, like a lot of things the ECAC has done in recent years, they made a decision before understanding if they could or the ramifications of that decision (see football bowl games as another prime example).

ECAC no longer has DIII hockey conferences, it has been losing membership like a sinking ship losses passengers, and continues to downsize as money is not coming in. It is a shell of it's former past and hopes eSports will keep it afloat - until it no longer does.

JEFFFAN · February 26, 2019, 07:38:30 PM

Since we are talking Palestra, from my hometown, a short video of Lebron James vs the all-time Philadelphia high school scoring leader (Maurice Rice) .... blowout game so LJ and Rice pretty much went at it 1 on 1 the whole fourth quarter. I was there with my sons and it was electric!

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=maurice+rice+vs+lebron&view=detail&mid=C241F3D8A2C3542D0FCCC241F3D8A2C3542D0FCC&FORM=VIRE