MBB: NESCAC

SpringSt7 · October 13, 2021, 04:18:13 PM

What I did a poor job of explaining was my own (personal) definition of what makes a team hard to play against. Sticking with Colby for example, they don't really wear you down or beat you up or do anything of that nature. They're just really skilled and make a high volume of shots and get up and down the floor really fast. I also don't think they are going to be very good this year to be completely honest. I think the best iteration of recent Middlebury teams were the same way---I don't think anyone was scared at the prospect of playing against Matt St. Amour, even if he was still going to score 25 points. Guys certainly didn't look forward to playing against Ed Ogundeko. Trinity/Conn have also only been partners for 1 season so the jury is still out on them.

As for the greater topic of fan support I don't have a great sense for that through a Williams lens. Wesleyan had always been packed for Williams until 2020 for some reason. Bowdoin weirdly had good fan support. The road games had been frontloaded as of late so games like Tufts and Bates occurred while the students weren't on campus. As for home games like you mentioned they were very hit or miss---they would do relatively big numbers on Friday and then the Saturdays would be empty. Mid week games pretty irrelevant too.

Colby Hoops · October 13, 2021, 04:57:55 PM

Thanks SpringSt7, that makes sense. Interesting that you think Colby will be down, I'm actually somewhat optimistic on them. They have 3 of the top 15 or so guys in the league, so just think they have a pretty high floor. A lot to prove beyond that given everyone they lost, but I don't really see a scenario where they aren't solid. Between McGovern, Obi and some fairly good recruits the past two years I think they should be able to find enough role players to fill out a high-scoring offense around King, Hanna and Tyson. Don't think their high-end outcomes are as good as a team like Williams, but I think they'll be pretty solid.

SpringSt7 · October 13, 2021, 05:48:07 PM

I think they could be really good I just think so much of it for them will depend on Matt Hanna and Noah Tyson taking a leap forward but I feel like we already know who those guys are. Hanna took 347 shots and 201 threes. Tyson took 282 shots and 190 threes. It's not like those guys will be taking 25 shots a game now that Jefferson and Dorion are gone in the same way that most 3rd and 4th options on a team step up into a greater role when the older players graduate. Unless Will King turns into a super duper star (which I wouldn't rule out, I LOVE his game), or Hanna (34%) and Tyson shoot (36%) noticeably better from three, I just don't know if the role players will be able to fall into the places they need to next year.

But I actually think they have high-end outcomes that are in line with Williams, they just seem less likely.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · October 13, 2021, 07:13:49 PM

Quote from: SpringSt7 on October 13, 2021, 05:48:07 PM
I think they could be really good I just think so much of it for them will depend on Matt Hanna and Noah Tyson taking a leap forward but I feel like we already know who those guys are. Hanna took 347 shots and 201 threes. Tyson took 282 shots and 190 threes. It's not like those guys will be taking 25 shots a game now that Jefferson and Dorion are gone in the same way that most 3rd and 4th options on a team step up into a greater role when the older players graduate. Unless Will King turns into a super duper star (which I wouldn't rule out, I LOVE his game), or Hanna (34%) and Tyson shoot (36%) noticeably better from three, I just don't know if the role players will be able to fall into the places they need to next year.

But I actually think they have high-end outcomes that are in line with Williams, they just seem less likely.

I like Will King A LOT, but again, we haven't seen these guys in two years, so it's very hard to know how things will pan out.

Colby Hoops · October 14, 2021, 08:23:58 AM

Quote from: SpringSt7 on October 13, 2021, 05:48:07 PM
I think they could be really good I just think so much of it for them will depend on Matt Hanna and Noah Tyson taking a leap forward but I feel like we already know who those guys are. Hanna took 347 shots and 201 threes. Tyson took 282 shots and 190 threes. It's not like those guys will be taking 25 shots a game now that Jefferson and Dorion are gone in the same way that most 3rd and 4th options on a team step up into a greater role when the older players graduate. Unless Will King turns into a super duper star (which I wouldn't rule out, I LOVE his game), or Hanna (34%) and Tyson shoot (36%) noticeably better from three, I just don't know if the role players will be able to fall into the places they need to next year.

But I actually think they have high-end outcomes that are in line with Williams, they just seem less likely.

Agree with you on Tyson. He hasn't show much offensively beyond stand still shooting, but his value is defensively and rebounding.

I think Hanna on the other hand is pretty capable of taking more of an offensive role, and really has already proven he can. He shot 41% on high volume from three in 18-19 and has been fairly efficient as a two point shooter. He's a very good shooter, although can get a bit aggressive with shot selection at times. He's been the second leading scorer on the team for two years in a row and is going to finish his career with 1,500 points, he can clearly put it in the hoop. Having King is also great for him, because he doesn't have to create all the time -- where his lack of athleticism hurts a bit.

Colby Hoops · October 14, 2021, 08:25:46 AM

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on October 13, 2021, 07:13:49 PM

I like Will King A LOT, but again, we haven't seen these guys in two years, so it's very hard to know how things will pan out.

He did play 4 games last year

. But point well taken, a lot has changed for everyone since we last saw real games.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · October 14, 2021, 08:39:59 AM

I talked with a retired coach at a NESCAC game two years ago who astutely pointed out that future success in this league depends entirely on the ability to recruit athletic bigs. Anyone who relies on immovable trees in the middle will struggle. With so many new coaches, the style choices and teams' ability to play them will make all the difference.

toad22 · October 15, 2021, 10:22:13 AM

Very happy that the horribly long 602 day wait for Williams basketball is about to be over!

SpringSt7 · October 15, 2021, 01:31:42 PM

The d3hoops.com poll is out. The following NESCAC teams were ranked as followed:

11. Tufts
28. Colby
36. Amherst
48. Middlebury
64. Williams

I think Tufts is properly ranked. The rest of it is pretty bad and useless. Seems like half the panel just wrote down last year's tournament results.

Pat Coleman · October 15, 2021, 01:37:48 PM

Quote from: SpringSt7 on October 15, 2021, 01:31:42 PM
Seems like half the panel just wrote down last year's tournament results.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · October 15, 2021, 03:09:52 PM

Quote from: SpringSt7 on October 15, 2021, 01:31:42 PM
The d3hoops.com poll is out. The following NESCAC teams were ranked as followed:

11. Tufts
28. Colby
36. Amherst
48. Middlebury
64. Williams

I think Tufts is properly ranked. The rest of it is pretty bad and useless. Seems like half the panel just wrote down last year's tournament results.

We've gone two years without a finished tournament.

nescac1 · October 15, 2021, 09:35:05 PM

Update on Austin Hutcherson who appears healthy and ready to contribute at Illinois:

https://www.news-gazette.com/sports/healthy-hutcherson-ready-for-2021-22-season/article_abbb3304-e83a-5c59-8829-9d90430e40ed.html

It will be interesting to follow all the many Nescac transfers this year, with Hutcherson obviously foremost among them .... By my count he will (very likely) be the fifth Nescac transfer to be a D1 contributor (Varun Ram, Duncan Robinson, Matt Hart, Hunter Sabety).

SpringSt7 · October 15, 2021, 09:56:21 PM

Former Tufts Interim HC and long time assistant Matt Malone has been named the new Head Coach at UC Santa Cruz. I've never met Matt personally but he seems like the type of person who deserves a shot at being a head coach after putting in so many hours at Tufts over the last 15 years. I'm sure the bump in weather will be nice too.

toad22 · October 16, 2021, 11:22:58 AM

Quote from: SpringSt7 on October 15, 2021, 09:56:21 PM
Former Tufts Interim HC and long time assistant Matt Malone has been named the new Head Coach at UC Santa Cruz. I've never met Matt personally but he seems like the type of person who deserves a shot at being a head coach after putting in so many hours at Tufts over the last 15 years. I'm sure the bump in weather will be nice too.

Best mascot in all of sports: the "Banana Slugs"!

nescac1 · October 17, 2021, 07:19:53 PM

A few hoops notes as we are waiting on news from practices (including rosters??) to trickle in ....

Ben McPherron transferred from Conn and seems not to be playing college ball. Big loss for what is going to be a very young team.

Two recent Nescac commitments:

6'8 forward Jackson McKersie from Dexter Southfield to Midd and 6'3 guard Drew Herer from Beaver Country Day to Trinity.

Oh and first roster is up and surprisingly it's Amherst:

https://athletics.amherst.edu/sports/mens-basketball/roster?path=mbball