MBB: NESCAC

[quicksilver]

Bowdoin has hired Alex Lloyd as its new head basketball coach.

Here is a link to a video of Lloyd talking about his background. He is a native of New England (Burlington, VT).

[P'bearfan]

Bowdoin has hired Alex Lloyd as its new head basketball coach.

Here is a link to a video of Lloyd talking about his background. His a native of New England (Burlington, VT).

Best of luck to Coach Lloyd!!  You'll have great support from the whole Bowdoin community.

[P'bearfan]

I'm hearing the following names in the conversation for the Bowdoin MBB opening:

-Mark Gilbride (RPI)
-Brandon Linton (Nichols)
-Alex Lloyd (Texas A&M staff)
-Dave Paulsen (Former George Mason, Bucknell, Willams)

Having a tough time seeing the attraction of Alex Lloyd.  The Texas A&M website lists him as:
"Former Pomona College standout Alex Lloyd is in his second season on the Texas A&M basketball staff as the program's video coordinator."  He's also been an assistant coach on various pro teams (D-League, overseas) but no HC experience.  That seems like a stretch, but who knows?

A better question would have been: "What do I know?"  Answer: Not a thing. 

I'm certain AD Ryan has made a great pic and Coach Lloyd will go on to have a long and successful career in Brunswick.

[quicksilver]

Here is a nice piece in the Portland Press Herald on Bowdoin's hiring of Alex Lloyd as its new head basketball coach.

[SpringSt7]

I'm hearing the following names in the conversation for the Bowdoin MBB opening:

-Mark Gilbride (RPI)
-Brandon Linton (Nichols)
-Alex Lloyd (Texas A&M staff)
-Dave Paulsen (Former George Mason, Bucknell, Willams)

Having a tough time seeing the attraction of Alex Lloyd.  The Texas A&M website lists him as:
"Former Pomona College standout Alex Lloyd is in his second season on the Texas A&M basketball staff as the program's video coordinator."  He's also been an assistant coach on various pro teams (D-League, overseas) but no HC experience.  That seems like a stretch, but who knows?

A better question would have been: "What do I know?"  Answer: Not a thing. 

I'm certain AD Ryan has made a great pic and Coach Lloyd will go on to have a long and successful career in Brunswick.

It obviously does stand out to have the eventual hire be the only one of the 5 finalists without head coaching experience, but everyone has to start somewhere and his assistant coaching resume certainly stands out as being robust and lengthy. It seems as if Bowdoin had a number of strong candidates and really could not go wrong. Lloyd will have to hit the ground running though.

[lumbercat]

I'm hearing the following names in the conversation for the Bowdoin MBB opening:

-Mark Gilbride (RPI)
-Brandon Linton (Nichols)
-Alex Lloyd (Texas A&M staff)
-Dave Paulsen (Former George Mason, Bucknell, Willams)

Having a tough time seeing the attraction of Alex Lloyd.  The Texas A&M website lists him as:
"Former Pomona College standout Alex Lloyd is in his second season on the Texas A&M basketball staff as the program's video coordinator."  He's also been an assistant coach on various pro teams (D-League, overseas) but no HC experience.  That seems like a stretch, but who knows?

A better question would have been: "What do I know?"  Answer: Not a thing. 

I'm certain AD Ryan has made a great pic and Coach Lloyd will go on to have a long and successful career in Brunswick.

Is there a Waffle House in Brunswick?

[amh63]

Lumbercat....intriguing question!   Explanation?    Have not been in Maine since my grad years at MIT....but have purchased furniture and clothes from Maine companies...fine goodies. 

[Colby Hoops]

Add Jack Lawson to Colby's list of 2025 recruits: https://t.co/lpV1GD9szb?amp=1

Looks like a potential impact player. Skilled and athletic 6'7" player with shooting range out of St. Louis.

[P'bearfan]

Lumbercat....intriguing question!   Explanation?    Have not been in Maine since my grad years at MIT....but have purchased furniture and clothes from Maine companies...fine goodies.

Waffle House is a staple of the South and given that Coach Lloyd is coming from Memphis (after a stop in Atlanta), I'm assuming Lumbercat is wondering if Coach Lloyd will be able to find any food he likes to eat.   My son and I ate a many a Waffle House during AAU tournament weekends.

Short answer:  there are no Waffle Houses in Brunswick.

Better answer:  there are many great places to eat in Brunswick and Portland has an amazing food scene.

[nescac1]

Add Jack Lawson to Colby's list of 2025 recruits: https://t.co/lpV1GD9szb?amp=1

Looks like a potential impact player. Skilled and athletic 6'7" player with shooting range out of St. Louis.

My man, Lawson looks good but even Steph Curry doesn't have shooting range out of St. Louis! 

But for real, there has been a lot of talk on the football board about Colby really amping up recruiting, and of course the new athletic facility certainly can't hurt.  Seems like the same thing is happening in hoops ... two straight ROY winners, and just a massive influx of hoops recruits over the past two years ... at least 12 in total.  Especially with so many other programs in transition, Colby should be a fixture in the top half of NESCAC for awhile.  The Colby administration definitely seems all-in on athletics in a way some other NESCAC schools have not been of late ...

[lumbercat]

NESCAC 1

Couldn't agree more.

Traditionally, most NESCAC schools have treaded very lightly in the area of emphasis on athletics as the conference was founded on the concept of controlling the proliferation of college athletics which was perceived as an ominous threat to the desired balance between academics and athletics.

Some NESCAC administrations,  and more so, many faculties have been intimidated by a perceived growth and emphasis on athletics on NESCAC campuses.

Trinity has been the NESCAC rebel especially within their football program where they aren't afraid to proclaim that they want to win and openly profess that winning is important at Trinity. While I don't always agree with everything they do I say good for them and I have the utmost respect for their football accomplishments.

Ahh....but other adminitrations in the conference look at the Trinity rating in US News every year and they are are scared stiff to make any kind of overt commitment to athletics and WINNING.

Again good for Trinity as the perennial trailblazer.

Now we have a metamorphisis here with Colby. They received a fantastic donation labeled for Sports, Health and Wellness. They have beautifully enmeshed health and wellness with a strong  newfound commitment to the concept of winning within their athletic program while leading the way in health and wellness for the entire extended college community.

Kudos to Colby. They hired a new AD a few years in a well publicized move but he "departed" after a very short tenure. Their current AD came on the scene very quietly but he has had a profound impact on the Athletic changes we are seeing up in Waterville.

Nothing like a 20 mil donation for athletics but strongest of kudos to Colby for what they are doing on Mayflower Hill.

[Cards Fan]

While we wait for the season, thought I'd put up a quick highlight that I never saw shown on here at the time! One of the most insane shots I've ever watched at any level of basketball.

https://youtube.com/shorts/cM4Vu6cUrxI?feature=share

[amh63]

Watched the Amherst graduation online.  Due to weather, the event was held in the "Cage" and the family attendees watched the event in LeFrak.  The faculty and the seniors marched through LeFrak to the Cage for the event....and again after the event.  Three graduates were basketball players on the '19-'20 season roster......Fru Che, Harlan and DiaBate.  The latter two were both listed as 6'7" centers....both non-starters.

[booyakasha]

Add Jack Lawson to Colby's list of 2025 recruits: https://t.co/lpV1GD9szb?amp=1

Looks like a potential impact player. Skilled and athletic 6'7" player with shooting range out of St. Louis.

My man, Lawson looks good but even Steph Curry doesn't have shooting range out of St. Louis! 

But for real, there has been a lot of talk on the football board about Colby really amping up recruiting, and of course the new athletic facility certainly can't hurt.  Seems like the same thing is happening in hoops ... two straight ROY winners, and just a massive influx of hoops recruits over the past two years ... at least 12 in total.  Especially with so many other programs in transition, Colby should be a fixture in the top half of NESCAC for awhile.  The Colby administration definitely seems all-in on athletics in a way some other NESCAC schools have not been of late ...

Nescac1,

I think my fellow Colby fan was saying Lawson had shooting range, and hails from St. Louis .

Either way, looks like another good addition for the Mules.

[nescac1]

Cards Fan, that Trinity-Conn shot has to be the least-probable shot in NESCAC history, and certainly one of the most memorable.  What are some of the other really memorable shots from NESCAC action over the years?  I can think of (with videos):

- The Eric Savage deep three vs. Colby: https://www.gotuftsjumbos.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/20200301r42qh8 (2:19)
- The Andrew Olson three vs. Tufts in the NCAA tourney: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNLDBaUncQs
- The Willy Workman FTA miss and put-back vs. Midd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3xeop5q-Pk
- The Tucker Kain three to send the game to OT vs. Amherst, after which he just list Amherst up in OT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSpqIoAmzCA
- Ryan Kilcullen game-winner vs. Amherst: https://vimeo.com/116439477
- James Heskett's controversial shot-clock beater vs. Amherst: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdOyWeqgSsE
- Nathan Krill's game-winner in the NESCAC semis vs. Amherst: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBaBNBZK9g8 (1:40)

I think I have to rank Olson's shot first given the combination of stakes, prominence of player involved, drama, crowd reaction, and insane degree-of-difficulty (and I still will take Olson first if I can pick any Amherst player I've ever seen, btw, the only NESCAC players of any sort I'd take over him are Mike Nogelo and of course Duncan Robinson). 

I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton (and there is definitely recency bias here, just because of memories that faded), but of those I recall, I rank them: (1) Olson, (2) Savage (incredible shot that ended up being determinative in a NESCAC title game, tough to top, but Olson somehow managed), (3) Workman (my memory did not exaggerate who insanely athletic this play was), (4) Trinity-Conn (lowest stakes but damn what a crazy shot), (5) Krill, (6) Tucker Kain (the play leading in was as beautiful as the shot, and it kept a huge Eph home winning streak alive), (7) Kilcullen (8) Heskett.  This list is a bit Williams-Amherst heavy just because those are the shots I best remember, I'm sure I'm missing a ton from other big NESCAC games!