MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Ahh, good point Ryan.  But that does leave a lot of recruiting responsibility on the head coach ...

[jaybird44]

Hello friends!

It seems that I have been the only member of the only (unofficial) fall sport at WashU, with my 100-mile ultramarathon attempt earlier this month to promote the fight for a cure during Rett Syndrome Awareness Month.  That attempt fell a bit short in miles and fundraising, so I'm going into overtime to try and reach $5,000 in donations.

Rett Gets Rocked 50K for $5K will commence Friday, October 30 at 8 pm Central, and end at 8 am Halloween morning.  Counting donations received (thanks to retired WashU men's basketball coach Mark Edwards and his wife Mary, and to Mike McGrath and his  University of Chicago men's basketball program for their donations!) and those yet to be sent and processed, I am at $4,440.53.  Very, very close to my goal...which will fund a researcher's work for a month.  Wouldn't it be cool if he or she cracked the code for a cure of Rett syndrome, on our dime?!

I reached 86 miles in my "Rett Gets Rocked Virtual Ultra Weekend" October 3-4.  I'm very proud of that result, but there's more work to be done.  Proceeds from the event will be split between Rettsyndrome.org (the only national organization spearheading research and providing resources for affected patients and their families) and the Rett Spectrum Clinic--a collaboration between the WashU School of Medicine and St. Louis Children's Hospital.

Rett syndrome is a rare, non-inherited neurological disorder that is caused by a gene mutation in the brain.  Rett strikes typically when a child is 6-18 months old, and it has the characteristics of ALS, autism, epilepsy, and Parkinson's...all rolled into one sinister disorder.
It takes away the child's ability to move and communicate.  Most of them end up in wheelchairs with active minds, but mired in the physical rubble that Rett creates.  And, the neurological damage prevents verbal communication and arm and hand movement for sign language.

In essence, Rett does to a child what Lucy in the "Peanuts" comic strip does to Charlie Brown when he tries to kick the football that she is holding.  The only difference is that Charlie Brown can get back up to try again.  Those who are afflicted with Rett syndrome don't get another chance to enjoy a vibrant life.

Researchers are working to re-engineer the gene mutation that turns on Rett, so it can be forever turned off.  Four drug therapies are in the FDA review pipeline, with one (trofanitide) one level away from review.  And, iPad tablets with retinal scan technology are giving those with Rett a voice they haven't had since they were toddlers.

The full court press on Rett is paying off.  You can help keep the pressure on Rett, by going to my Rett Racers donation page:  https://rettracer.everydayhero.com/us/rett-gets-rocked-2020

Thanks for your time and consideration, and let's hope that we get back to playing and broadcasting sports much sooner than later!

Jay Murry
Play-By-Play Announcer, Washington University in St. Louis
Event Director, Rett Gets Rocked 50K for $5K

[ephoops]

The Polar Bears get a commitment from James McGowan, a 5-11 sharpshooter from the Middlesex Magic and Westwood HS (MA). He was the league MVP and a Boston Globe all-scholastic in 2019-20. Here's a link to video highlights: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13766517/5e6ff43457982217a82e3d4e

McGowan reminds me a little bit of John DiBartolomeo, who was an AA  at U. of Rochester 7 or 8 years ago. 

If he has a career anywhere near what DiB. did at UofR, Bowdoin will be very happy.

[amh63]

Got a little bored with out meaningful sports to watch.  Decided to watch online the Basketball series "Last Stand" featuring Michael Jordon. Looked at the early years in general and the early 90's in particular...my time .   I watched the one dealing with the "Dream Team"...the great USA team at the 1992 Olympics.   Practice centered in the Monaco area...and there was a scene with MJ carrying a bag of golf clubs...MJ had thoughts of playing pro golf, if I remembered correctly.  Will now connect my post to the Nescac/Amherst.  The USA Olympic team had a Chief "ortho" MD that also held that position for the NBA LA Lakers....an Amherst alum and my classmate.  Oh Yes, the Prince of Monaco then and presently is an Amherst alum...played soccer with a neighbor's son at Amherst...I am digressing a bit ...sorry.
At my 1993 Reunion, my class was treated with a slideshow/talk, etc. of the 1992 men's Basketball events.  One was the ability of MJ's golfing ability.  Seems that there were some professional golfers that arrived to play some golf with members, etc. of the USA TEAM.
A few questions came from my classmates wrt MJ's golfing ability/skills..at that time.  To paraphrase the answer....about the same as the pro golfers' chances on the basketball court against Basketball pros/Olympic players.

[JEFFFAN]

Thanks, AMH63, for posting.   Yes, MJ's golf prowess is more than marginally worse than his handicap.   According to friends, he is an easy mark and has been for 20+ years for professional gamblers managing to find their way to where he is playing that week.

Having nothing to do with sports, kudos to two Amherst grads - Zeke Emanuel (79) and David Kessler (73) for being appointed to the new Biden task force on COVID-19.

[SpringSt7]

In honor of what I believe would have been opening night for NESCAC basketball (sigh), here is my attempt to spark some sort of discussion, just for the hell of it.

Hypothetical 2020-21 Predictions (if the season had started tonight like it would have in a completely unaffected COVID free year, no player departures, transfers, etc.):

1. Amherst
2. Tufts
3. Middlebury
4. Wesleyan
5. Colby
6. Williams
7. Trinity
8. Bates
9. Hamilton
10. Conn College
11. Bowdoin

POY: Jack Farrell
COY: Marlon Sears (If the award is going to go to whoever wins the league no matter what, I guess this is just how it works)
DPOY: Jordan James
ROY: No clue

1st Team

Farrell
Day
Rogers
King
Eastman

2nd Team

Robinson
Spivy
Peek
Donovan
Draffan


Would've been a really weird year for both the teams and the players in my opinion. Huge drop off in senior production outside of the guys on the top 3 teams, a bunch of teams have no clear cut replacement for key seniors (Karpowicz, Gilmour, Reynolds, Jefferson, etc.). Top 3 teams really good, teams 4-8 a complete toss up on paper, bottom 3 bad.

Hope this generates some response!

[nescac1]

Such a bummer, would have been fun to see.  Tufts in particular got screwed because it both lost a legit shot at a national title run last year AND an absolutely loaded team this year (although I think I read that Tufts' seniors are coming back, which means that it will be even MORE loaded next year).

I would have gone: Tufts, Amherst, Midd, Williams, Colby, Wesleyan as my top six, with the bottom half the same.  A lot of wildcards even THIS year ... Tufts and Amherst with coaching changes, Midd with the Sobel returning question mark, Williams and Colby relying on a lot of talented young guys.  Ahhh well ...

Next year is going to be SO wild, it will be crazy to see how rosters shake out.  Which seniors end up returning will, obviously, be a massive factor for the top three in particular (Tufts, Amherst and Midd) since each was going to be senior-dominated this year.  I believe I read on here that in addition to Tufts, Amherst has all its guys coming back save for maybe Fru Che (did he find a D1 team to bite?), so Marlon Sears will inherit a very talented squad, especially with Robinson and McCarthy another year away from their injuries.  Midd, who knows?    And then each team will have TWO entirely new classes of recruits, including many sophs who I assume will end up taking a gap year / otherwise reclassifying as frosh.  It will certainly be the most crazy, wide-open year in NESCAC history ... massive and unpredicatble roster turnover, at least two new head coaches at two of the league's powers, a Conn College team that is in particular going to be unrecognizable, etc.  And Tufts and Wesleyan, which do offer a few grad programs each, maybe have an edge for guys who want to do a fifth year at the same program and earn a grad degree in the process!  Sad that we have to wait at least ten months for ANY idea what the landscape of the league will look like next year. 
Alas

[Former CAC Coach]

Fru Che lands at Lehigh  https://twitter.com/twhitneysidney/status/1328149916120649728

[Former CAC Coach]

Sorry -  not Fru Che......

[nescac1]

Overall, a pretty quiet ED round for NESCAC hoops programs, at least in terms of announced recruits.  Wesleyan just added three guards, looks likely to a strong backcourt rotation for the future:

Amherst: Noah Helmke, 6'6 F, Berkshire School (ranked #25 in MA), Will Scherer, 6'9 C, Gonzaga College H.S.
Bates: Drew Sachs, 6'1 G, Governor's Academy
Bowdoin: James McGowan, 6'0 G, Westwood
Colby: David Stewart, 6'8 G, Mt. Zion Prep, Ben Kaczmarek, 6'4 G, St. Sebastian's
Conn College
Hamilton: Graham Robinson, 6'10 C, St. Paul's (#10 in NH)
Middlebury:
Trinity: Sean Macarchuk, 6'5 G/F, St. Thomas Moore
Tufts:
Wesleyan: Cole Bryant, 6'4 G, St. Luke's School, Nicky Johnson, 5'9 G, The Rivers School, Shane Regan, 6'3 G, Williston Northampton
Williams: Evan Glatzer, 6'3 G, Friends Seminary, Charles Willmott, 6'1 G, Lincoln (OR) (football / hoops)

[Colby Hoops]

Overall, a pretty quiet ED round for NESCAC hoops programs, at least in terms of announced recruits.  Wesleyan just added three guards, looks likely to a strong backcourt rotation for the future:

Amherst: Noah Helmke, 6'6 F, Berkshire School (ranked #25 in MA), Will Scherer, 6'9 C, Gonzaga College H.S.
Bates: Drew Sachs, 6'1 G, Governor's Academy
Bowdoin: James McGowan, 6'0 G, Westwood
Colby: David Stewart, 6'8 G, Mt. Zion Prep, Ben Kaczmarek, 6'4 G, St. Sebastian's
Conn College
Hamilton: Graham Robinson, 6'10 C, St. Paul's (#10 in NH)
Middlebury:
Trinity: Sean Macarchuk, 6'5 G/F, St. Thomas Moore
Tufts:
Wesleyan: Cole Bryant, 6'4 G, St. Luke's School, Nicky Johnson, 5'9 G, The Rivers School, Shane Regan, 6'3 G, Williston Northampton
Williams: Evan Glatzer, 6'3 G, Friends Seminary, Charles Willmott, 6'1 G, Lincoln (OR) (football / hoops)

I'm guessing incoming recruit numbers will be lower this year. A lot of current players are taking gap years, and there just won't be room for coaches to bring in the same number of new recruits as usual for next season.

[ronk]

Overall, a pretty quiet ED round for NESCAC hoops programs, at least in terms of announced recruits.  Wesleyan just added three guards, looks likely to a strong backcourt rotation for the future:

Amherst: Noah Helmke, 6'6 F, Berkshire School (ranked #25 in MA), Will Scherer, 6'9 C, Gonzaga College H.S.
Bates: Drew Sachs, 6'1 G, Governor's Academy
Bowdoin: James McGowan, 6'0 G, Westwood
Colby: David Stewart, 6'8 G, Mt. Zion Prep, Ben Kaczmarek, 6'4 G, St. Sebastian's
Conn College
Hamilton: Graham Robinson, 6'10 C, St. Paul's (#10 in NH)
Middlebury:
Trinity: Sean Macarchuk, 6'5 G/F, St. Thomas Moore
Tufts:
Wesleyan: Cole Bryant, 6'4 G, St. Luke's School, Nicky Johnson, 5'9 G, The Rivers School, Shane Regan, 6'3 G, Williston Northampton
Williams: Evan Glatzer, 6'3 G, Friends Seminary, Charles Willmott, 6'1 G, Lincoln (OR) (football / hoops)

I'm guessing incoming recruit numbers will be lower this year. A lot of current players are taking gap years, and there just won't be room for coaches to bring in the same number of new recruits as usual for next season.

It provokes a question that I've wondered in the pre-covid era: do coaches still bring in whomever now, regardless of roster numbers, and let playing time weed out the roster, or do they stick with a "manageable" number. I think I've seen, in the past, rosters of some midwest schools with 20+ players.

[nescac1]

Good point.  Especially for the schools with big recruiting classes last year (Williams, Conn, Colby, Trinity), if several of those frosh end up taking a gap year or otherwise reclassifying as frosh next year, I imagine coaches would not want another really large class joining them as frosh.  With admissions tight everywhere, though, it's probably a good chance for schools that had small recruiting classes last year and figure to have not terribly large rosters next year -- like Bowdoin, Amherst, and Midd -- to compensate for that and really load up with extra guys. 

[Colby Hoops]

Overall, a pretty quiet ED round for NESCAC hoops programs, at least in terms of announced recruits.  Wesleyan just added three guards, looks likely to a strong backcourt rotation for the future:

Amherst: Noah Helmke, 6'6 F, Berkshire School (ranked #25 in MA), Will Scherer, 6'9 C, Gonzaga College H.S.
Bates: Drew Sachs, 6'1 G, Governor's Academy
Bowdoin: James McGowan, 6'0 G, Westwood
Colby: David Stewart, 6'8 G, Mt. Zion Prep, Ben Kaczmarek, 6'4 G, St. Sebastian's
Conn College
Hamilton: Graham Robinson, 6'10 C, St. Paul's (#10 in NH)
Middlebury:
Trinity: Sean Macarchuk, 6'5 G/F, St. Thomas Moore
Tufts:
Wesleyan: Cole Bryant, 6'4 G, St. Luke's School, Nicky Johnson, 5'9 G, The Rivers School, Shane Regan, 6'3 G, Williston Northampton
Williams: Evan Glatzer, 6'3 G, Friends Seminary, Charles Willmott, 6'1 G, Lincoln (OR) (football / hoops)

I'm guessing incoming recruit numbers will be lower this year. A lot of current players are taking gap years, and there just won't be room for coaches to bring in the same number of new recruits as usual for next season.

It provokes a question that I've wondered in the pre-covid era: do coaches still bring in whomever now, regardless of roster numbers, and let playing time weed out the roster, or do they stick with a "manageable" number. I think I've seen, in the past, rosters of some midwest schools with 20+ players.

Nescac used to have a 15 player travel limit, not sure if that's still the case. More players could be on the roster, but only 15 could go to away games. In general, I don't think many Nescac teams field rosters of more than 17-18 players.

Will certainly be interesting to see how it all shakes out next year -- who takes gap years, what seniors return, etc. Also, with a full season off to train and develop, I expect some players will come back drastically improved.

[D3 Basketball912]

Williams and probably some other NESCAC's offer "slots". Each coach is given a certain number of slots to work with each year and if kids choose to take a gap year, the coach has to use a slot again for them the next year. So for example, if Williams recruited five class of 2024 guys and three take gap years, the coach can only recruit two guys for 2025. For the NESCAC's that offer significant support rather than slots, I don't think that it's an issue.