MBB: NESCAC

[Colby Hoops]

https://www.yahoo.com/now/d-iii-colby-college-built-095529485.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANS1V3cN36GogKHLq68Q9fAAcZLwLYMlJdosT3PjikapZzKV4TKIXC5RMVDDg7HkGN8HvQwrgJ0iveP4WGVYgIfpH3V2Mk2szOMWG_JxIE-pp2JNGeZB_qmwOcndTdyZQMl_mhZZQGzlMCAvUZtExoZBr3RBkjJuDy6ikZZfHRPt

Article from Yahoo Sports on Colby's new facility. As the article states, it feels a little weird given the circumstances of the past 18 months to be finishing something like this. Suppose that's life at these large endowment schools, always building something new.

There's no doubt that Colby is making a big emphasis on athletics across the board. Certainly seems like the hoops team has a chance to be a regular contender at the top of the league given recent success, noticeable uptick in caliber of recruits and the new facility.

[nescac1]

An interesting tidbit from that article is that Colby has already attracted multiple D1 athletic transfers.  Will be interesting to see in which sports, and how impactful. That is a really easy way to ramp up a NESCAC athletic program -- 2-3 high profile transfers per year, across various sports, can make a dramatic impact.  Amherst, when it was briefly (apparently) highly focused on athletic success, brought in a whole slew of transfers, many of whom made major impacts in various sports, over a 5-6 year period.  But that practice seemed to have almost entirely stopped there. 

If Colby is really focused on athletic success, through the combo of the crazy facility, investing in hiring of strong coaches (like football did), the right admission approach, and a general institutional focus on athletic success, there is no reason that Colby can't have an enormously strong athletic program, across the board, especially at a time when it seems like some other NESCAC schools are making it tougher for coaches to succeed, in various ways (most importantly, through admissions). 

[dman]

Nice to see old friend Will Hardy joining the Boston Celtics!!

[amh63]

A somewhat slow day as storms travel up the east coast.  Caught an interview online wrt the new Amherst MBB HC Sears with Amherst alums. Sears who has coaching experiences with Ivy schools, Cornell and Columbia(twice) chatted with respect to his coaching approach.  He likes an inside-out offense and a need of big inside players.  Has recruited three frontline players to date...presently going through the admission process.
Has three returning players on campus...one a 6'10" player that has grown stronger and bigger.  One recruited player at 6'7"...has a 7' wing-span. The athletic men's page has a recent hire of an assistant coach...a JHU former player, etc.  Should be an interesting MBB season....with key guards returning...two all conference ones if memory serves me.

[SpringSt7]

HoopDirt reporting that a number of former and current NESCAC assistants are in the mix for D3 head coaching jobs---Aaron Toomey, Connor Merrill (Middlebury), and Felix Abongo (Bowdoin).

https://hoopdirt.com/daily-dirt-small-college-search-updates/

[SpringSt7]

Congratulations are in order to the Hixon family as Mike Hixon is once again an Olympic medalist, taking his second straight silver medal in 3m synchronized diving. Seems like Dave might be the slouch in the family when it comes to coaching!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Congratulations are in order to the Hixon family as Mike Hixon is once again an Olympic medalist, taking his second straight silver medal in 3m synchronized diving. Seems like Dave might be the slouch in the family when it comes to coaching!

I know the Hixons were disappointed not being able to attend in person, but here's the highlights of the team's performance.  I thought we might get some Zoom family reactions mixed in, like we have had with other sports, but none appear in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VECVf2NsdTA&ab_channel=NBCSports

[D3 Basketball912]

Does anyone have recruiting news for NESCAC Hoops HS Class of 2022?

I saw that Bowdoin landed Alex Halpern of NMH today which is the first pickup for new Coach Alex Lloyd. It seems like Halpern was brought in more for academics than anything as Bowdoin has had admission issues with athletes over the last few years.

[nescac1]

Duncan Robinson stays with the Heat, 5 years, 90 million.  Largest ever contract for an undrafted player.  Not too shabby for a guy who started out in D3!

[Greek Tragedy]

Duncan Robinson stays with the Heat, 5 years, 90 million.  Largest ever contract for an undrafted player.  Not too shabby for a guy who started out in D3!

You beat me by a few hours. LOL. Saw it earlier, but as you know, I'm not on here very often. Cool stuff.

[jumpshot]

DR: The power of following one's dream combined with consistent hard work and grit ...could not have happened to a better person. A great example for young people in any endeavor.... Every day is a great day to be an EPH!

[amh63]

Saw on the Vassar College website that A. Toomey has joined the men's basketball staff.  There is strong connection loop between the Un. of Rochester and Amherst in the hire, imho.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Saw on the Vassar College website that A. Toomey has joined the men's basketball staff.  There is strong connection loop between the Un. of Rochester and Amherst in the hire, imho.

He joined the staff in 2020, but funny you should bring it up.  Rochester just lost their assistant to Colby Sawyer and I've been wondering if that's the next stop for Toomey. At this point of the year they're going to want someone who can hit the ground running.

[Bucket]

Some Midd alum coaching news to report:

Jake Brown returns to Columbia University as an assistant coach. He was a grad assistant there, followed by a couple of years at Howard University.

And Joey Kizel joins the Tufts University Jumbos as an assistant coach.

[toad22]

Bucket!! You are on the board! Basketball must be close at hand - hurrah!