MBB: NESCAC

[SpringSt7]

I think this is an interesting year for App as well. As Nescac1 notes, they've been a very solid defensive team, but their offense has underperformed it's talent the past couple of years in my opinion. Even the Casey, Heskett, Scadlock team wasn't quite as good offensively as it could have been. As he points out, some of that is just guys who are supposed to be good shooters not making shots, but I think part of it is the system. They play very slow and often end up using a lot of the shot clock, which leads to inefficient offense. Would love to see them push the pace more this year. Jovan Jones and CPS should both thrive in a little bit more open style.

No argument from me that App could push the pace a little more on offense. Do want to add that finishing in the top 3 in opponent field goal percentage nationally in back to back years + consistently at the top of the conference should be a little more highly regarded than "very solid defensively".

The Casey/Heskett/Scadlock point is an interesting one because I've thought about this too and can't decide if that team overachieved or underachieved. They really only had 2 dudes who were really capable of making shots and one ball handler. Once that got exposed it got ugly, and then even still they were 20 minutes away from a second Final Four in 3 years. The big 4 shot close to 60% from 2. No dog in the fight either way because I agree that the book is still out on App but an interesting thought.

As for this year's team, I wonder if there could be a lot of parallels to the 2016-17 team. This team, like that team, is undoubtably going to be loaded on paper next year. They have a ton of pieces that are one year away. But if all of those pieces are like 10% better each than expected, could that add up to a special type of run? The only key difference to me is that the 2016-17 team had Dan Aronowitz and I don't know that CPS is ready to perform at that level. But it will be interesting to see where they all average out.

[lumbercat]

Lumbercat, the single NESCAC player I'm most curious to see is Omar Sarr.  Physically, other NESCAC centers often really could not deal with him as a first-year, but he was also very raw as a player.  He made big leaps even over the course of the season so his upside seems very high.  With 18 months of (potentially) working on his game, plus another 30 (!) pounds on his frame, he could be the sort of interior presence we just never see around D3 ... but again, that all depends on how far he's come since his first year on campus.  Off the NESCAC players who still have an extra year of eligibility to use, he's definitely the first guy who I could see getting snagged by a D1 program as a grad transfer ... assuming he has used the time away to really improve his skill set.

N1
I have no idea of his progress with respect to Bball skills. Believe he was on campus late summer working on his game.
I can tell you this however- he is a physical specimen. Saw him at a Football game a few weeks ago. He truly looks like a DE or one of the big TEs we see today in the NFL.
Not sure how the added weight will play out but anxious to see.

[Colby Hoops]

I think this is an interesting year for App as well. As Nescac1 notes, they've been a very solid defensive team, but their offense has underperformed it's talent the past couple of years in my opinion. Even the Casey, Heskett, Scadlock team wasn't quite as good offensively as it could have been. As he points out, some of that is just guys who are supposed to be good shooters not making shots, but I think part of it is the system. They play very slow and often end up using a lot of the shot clock, which leads to inefficient offense. Would love to see them push the pace more this year. Jovan Jones and CPS should both thrive in a little bit more open style.

No argument from me that App could push the pace a little more on offense. Do want to add that finishing in the top 3 in opponent field goal percentage nationally in back to back years + consistently at the top of the conference should be a little more highly regarded than "very solid defensively".

The Casey/Heskett/Scadlock point is an interesting one because I've thought about this too and can't decide if that team overachieved or underachieved. They really only had 2 dudes who were really capable of making shots and one ball handler. Once that got exposed it got ugly, and then even still they were 20 minutes away from a second Final Four in 3 years. The big 4 shot close to 60% from 2. No dog in the fight either way because I agree that the book is still out on App but an interesting thought.

Valid points SpringSt7, wasn't trying to be overly critical of App as he's certainly proven to be a very good coach. And those defensive stats are even better than I realized. I just wonder if the Williams teams get a little too methodical and system focused offensively and it holds them back a little.

[SpringSt7]

The Williams system has been methodical and slow because for the most part they have methodical and slow players who run it to a T. How many guys have they had in the last 7 years that can blow by guys off the dribble in a 1 on 1 iso situation? 1? Cole Prowitt-Smith? I think it's a fair criticism if you want more of that but I think he is recruiting guys that play a certain way and then having them play that way. My knowledge of this year's roster tells me that isn't going to be any different unless they decide to just completely turn it over to Cole which would be both unlikely and unwise.

I would love to see them play with more freedom because it's fun to watch but they don't seem to have the personnel to do so. Now, your critiques of their fastbreak offense are valid because they definitely have the size and athleticism to get way more points on easy baskets in transition. But Maker had the same type of guys and the system didn't hold them back. They were just better shooters.

[toad22]

This Williams team will be a very young but talented team. They will certainly be a lot better on offense. Two years ago the team was poor on offense and decent on defense. The Ephs scored fewer ppg than any Eph team since 2000. Their record was the worst since 1980 I think. With so many young players I expect them to be erratic. Their talent level is so much higher that I think they will improve substantially. Look for two first years, Roughley and Porter, to be two of the top players. Nate Karren, the backup center from two years ago is thinner and a lot quicker. He should be good. Cole Prowett Smith is older, stronger, and quicker. He, along with Spencer Spivy, at least an inch taller, and a bit stronger as well, represent a formidable backcourt. My hope is that Marc Taylor can stay healthy this year because he is very tall, and a very good shooter. He deserves a break. His career has been severely limited due to injuries. Healthy, he is a force. Jovan Jones is a guy with a great feel for the game. He has been a good player for Williams. In his senior season, I hope he becomes a great player for us.
I really doubt the the style of play will change very much. Given the makeup of the team, I expect Williams will be a big, strong, rebounding, inside capable team with a much better cast ofoutside shooters, and slashers.  I hope that will lead to a top NESCAC team. The hard part is to know how good the rest of the league will be. Tufts certainly sounds like they will be good. Amherst is always good. Beyond those two, I have no idea.

[Old Guy]

Lumbercat, the single NESCAC player I'm most curious to see is Omar Sarr.  Physically, other NESCAC centers often really could not deal with him as a first-year, but he was also very raw as a player.  He made big leaps even over the course of the season so his upside seems very high.  With 18 months of (potentially) working on his game, plus another 30 (!) pounds on his frame, he could be the sort of interior presence we just never see around D3 ... but again, that all depends on how far he's come since his first year on campus.  Off the NESCAC players who still have an extra year of eligibility to use, he's definitely the first guy who I could see getting snagged by a D1 program as a grad transfer ... assuming he has used the time away to really improve his skill set.

The last NESCAC game aI saw was that the last game of the 2020 regular NESCAC season between Bates and Middlebury at Midd. Bates had to win in order to pick up a NESCAC tourney bid. Midd was sitting at #2 in the NESCAC standings, but the Bobcats came in and won 90-87 on a last second 35' shot at the buzzer by Nick Gilpin to get into the tournament. Midd did not mail it in! It was a great game. The loss sent Midd to the #5 seed and a game at Trinity which we lost, but were redeemed with a win the in the NCAA tournament. Bates lost in a barnburner to Colby 102-94. We ended up 21-6.

That's the background, but the point here is that the key to that big Bates-Midd game was Sarr, then a frosh. We simply could not handle him. He had 17 points and 19 rebounds, 10 offensive, 7-8 from the line. He killed us, was a beast. It's two years later — so I agree with NESCAC 1: what can he be? Could be really special. He's 6'8", 255 lbs. I spoke recently to a Bates friend who follows Bobcat hoop closely and acknowledges they will be big and talented: his concern, he said, is leadership. Who will be in charge on the floor? Bates can be a real factor in the league.

[nescac1]

Interesting Sarr info / anecdotes.  The Bates frontcourt will certainly be a handful with Sarr along with Snoddy, Aruwajoye, and Iwowo.  That's a lot of length, athleticism, and muscle.  Other than Baxter, though, the perimeter play seems like a pretty huge question mark. 

I have a feeling we may be seeing a lot of gaudy non-league records for NESCAC schools coming into January.  First, an extra two weeks of practice is a very big deal ... usually NESCAC schools lose some early games just based on not being as prepared for the season as teams that have had twice as long of a pre-season.  That won't be an issue this year, everyone is in the same boat.  But also, I think that, other than Tufts, it's a really weak group of non-league schedules for NESCAC in the aggregate with lots of easy wins in the weaker half of the non-league slate.  I took a stab at grading each team's overall non-league slate (including non-league games v. NESCAC opponents) and also listed what I guess would be the top five non-league games for each team.   

Amherst: Williams, Wesleyan, Babson, Springfield, ; overall non-league schedule grade: D

Bates : St. Joe's, Brandeis, Colby, Babson, Husson, overall grade: B-

Bowdoin: Colby, Babson, Bates, Husson, Maine-Farmington, overall grade, C-

Colby: WPI, Brandeis, Babson, Bates, Husson, overall grade, B-

Conn College: Albertus Magnus, Salve Regina, Gordon, Eastern Conn, Clark, overall grade, C-

Hamilton: Utica, Ithaca, Baldwin-Wallace, Nichols, Case Western, overall grade: C-

Middlebury: Keene State, Albertus Magnus, SUNY-Canton, Endicott, New England College; overall grade: C-

Trinity: St. Joe's, Nichols, Eastern Conn, Springfield, ; overall grade: D

Tufts: St. Joe's, Brandeis, Mass-Dartmouth, Carthage, Nichols; overall grade: A-

Wesleyan: WPI, Amherst, Williams, UMass-Dartmouth, Albright, overall grade: C+

Williams: Yeshiva, Amherst, Wesleyan, York, SUNY-Oneonta, overall grade: C+

For an idea of what an A+ schedule looks like, check out Babson: Harvard, Tufts, St. Joe's, Brandeis, Amherst, Colby are the top games, but even the "easier" games are generally against likely quality teams like Suffolk, Salve Regina, and Bates.  Along with the two WPI games, Babson plays essentially all the top teams in New England other than UMass-Dartmouth, while throwing Harvard into the mix as well!   

[Colby Hoops]

The Williams system has been methodical and slow because for the most part they have methodical and slow players who run it to a T. How many guys have they had in the last 7 years that can blow by guys off the dribble in a 1 on 1 iso situation? 1? Cole Prowitt-Smith? I think it's a fair criticism if you want more of that but I think he is recruiting guys that play a certain way and then having them play that way. My knowledge of this year's roster tells me that isn't going to be any different unless they decide to just completely turn it over to Cole which would be both unlikely and unwise.

I would love to see them play with more freedom because it's fun to watch but they don't seem to have the personnel to do so. Now, your critiques of their fastbreak offense are valid because they definitely have the size and athleticism to get way more points on easy baskets in transition. But Maker had the same type of guys and the system didn't hold them back. They were just better shooters.

Not saying that Williams needs to overhaul their system, their efficiency numbers are actually quite good on both ends of the floor over the past few years. Still, I do think they might be better off putting an emphasis on pushing the pace, or even looking to find shots earlier in semi-transition. Statistically, shooting percentages and offensive efficiency go down with every second that ticks off the shot clock -- and that holds true even if you remove fast break from the equation. Williams plays at one of the slower paces in the country and you're probably right that it's personnel-based. Still, looking at the team this year, I think they have some players that might be better suited in a more uptempo environment.

[Greek Tragedy]

Hard to compare schedules when they are in different areas of the country, but did you see Hope's schedule. It's brutal.

iWU
St. John's or Oshkosh
Benedictine
St. Thomas (TX)
Wash U or Hendrix
Platteville
NCC

[grabtherim]

Midd roster also posted and they are in the exact opposite situation.  Not one senior and (obviously) no fifth-year players.  Sobel is as reported back, which is huge, for them but he is one of only two guys returning (Moore) who have seen a single meaningful minute on the floor.  They have a nice group of frosh who will surely be major contributors right away but, frosh are frosh.  Seems like there will be some growing pains for Midd this year but Jeff Brown usually finds a way and with this entire group back next season, plus a few big-guy recruits coming in, the future seems brighter than the present ...

Checking in: nice to be back. Local hoops makes winter in VT more tolerable. Can't wait to get back in the gym and watch some hoop. Middlebury is in a rebuild, for sure. I haven't been in the gym for 20 months so have no personal observations to make. I did talk briefly to someone in the know and asked, "will we be any good?" and he said, "we could be pretty good, . . . but not this year." Maybe we'll sneak up on some people. Expectations.

I don't pay much attention to news about recruits before they arrive (though I do read the posts — thanks NESCAC1, and others). I'm going to the games, no matter what. I wait till they get here. Like in teaching, you teach the kids in your class. I root for the players with "Middlebury" on their shirts, always have. Don't get me wrong: I exult when Midd wins and despair when they lose. I prefer the exultation, but I love the Panther players and appreciate their efforts either way, enjoy getting to know their families. I have had a ball the last decade and a half (Midd has made the NCAA tourney 11 of the last 13 years) and hope we can get back to that level.

It's hard not to feel especially sad for the lost season of 2021 for the Middlebury seniors. Middlebury's top six players (playing time) were in the class of 2021. I think it was safe to say the team would have been one of the best in D3 (especially with the big guy coming back). I think this article from the local paper was presented here before, but it makes the point: https://www.addisonindependent.com/2021/04/29/karl-lindholm-mens-basketball-grieving-a-lost-season/

I wish I had had a chance to watch Tommy Eastman play another season for the Panthers. He was in the top rank of talents I have seen at Midd over many years. He's at Brandeis this year attending graduate school (he was a Physics major at Middlebury). I'll be watching some of their streamed games, likewise those of CWRU (my graduate school!) where Griffin Kornaker is also playing as a grad student.

Carry on, friends. Here we go!

OG all the best to you, and I hope to see you in Pepin this year.  As I read your article, I felt a knot in my throat and as I read on  a bit of pride as well.  As the parent of a former Panther hoopster I cannot imagine how my son would have dealt with the lost season.  My heart goes out to the seniors in every sport not only in our league, but across the country who lost their last year of doing what they love to do in the year they know will be their last doing so.  The pride I felt was when you wrote about the crowds at Pepin.  When my son arrived on campus, all I heard was Midd was a "hockey school", and that was proven true to me when an NCAA bound Panther team was playing a tight one vs Williams early in his playing days in front of 100 or so folks while what was then a middle of the road Men's Hockey team would have a full house against anyone they played.  Things changed big time over the next four years, and I am happy the trend has continued and the town has "embraced" the hoop team.  To all of the experts and prognosticators out there, you may be right, but don't discount what Jeff Brown can get out of the talent he has.  When the other teams out talent you, hard work on the defensive end may be one way of giving your team a chance.  As talented as Jeff's teams were in their heyday they won many of their games at the defensive end with hard work.  My take is this bunch will play defense which will frustrate the hell out of some teams, and likely produce a few surprises along the way doing so. I sure hope so.  Go Midd!!       

[maineman]

Midd roster also posted and they are in the exact opposite situation.  Not one senior and (obviously) no fifth-year players.  Sobel is as reported back, which is huge, for them but he is one of only two guys returning (Moore) who have seen a single meaningful minute on the floor.  They have a nice group of frosh who will surely be major contributors right away but, frosh are frosh.  Seems like there will be some growing pains for Midd this year but Jeff Brown usually finds a way and with this entire group back next season, plus a few big-guy recruits coming in, the future seems brighter than the present ...

Checking in: nice to be back. Local hoops makes winter in VT more tolerable. Can't wait to get back in the gym and watch some hoop. Middlebury is in a rebuild, for sure. I haven't been in the gym for 20 months so have no personal observations to make. I did talk briefly to someone in the know and asked, "will we be any good?" and he said, "we could be pretty good, . . . but not this year." Maybe we'll sneak up on some people. Expectations.

I don't pay much attention to news about recruits before they arrive (though I do read the posts — thanks NESCAC1, and others). I'm going to the games, no matter what. I wait till they get here. Like in teaching, you teach the kids in your class. I root for the players with "Middlebury" on their shirts, always have. Don't get me wrong: I exult when Midd wins and despair when they lose. I prefer the exultation, but I love the Panther players and appreciate their efforts either way, enjoy getting to know their families. I have had a ball the last decade and a half (Midd has made the NCAA tourney 11 of the last 13 years) and hope we can get back to that level.

It's hard not to feel especially sad for the lost season of 2021 for the Middlebury seniors. Middlebury's top six players (playing time) were in the class of 2021. I think it was safe to say the team would have been one of the best in D3 (especially with the big guy coming back). I think this article from the local paper was presented here before, but it makes the point: https://www.addisonindependent.com/2021/04/29/karl-lindholm-mens-basketball-grieving-a-lost-season/

I wish I had had a chance to watch Tommy Eastman play another season for the Panthers. He was in the top rank of talents I have seen at Midd over many years. He's at Brandeis this year attending graduate school (he was a Physics major at Middlebury). I'll be watching some of their streamed games, likewise those of CWRU (my graduate school!) where Griffin Kornaker is also playing as a grad student.

Carry on, friends. Here we go!

OG all the best to you, and I hope to see you in Pepin this year.  As I read your article, I felt a knot in my throat and as I read on  a bit of pride as well.  As the parent of a former Panther hoopster I cannot imagine how my son would have dealt with the lost season.  My heart goes out to the seniors in every sport not only in our league, but across the country who lost their last year of doing what they love to do in the year they know will be their last doing so.  The pride I felt was when you wrote about the crowds at Pepin.  When my son arrived on campus, all I heard was Midd was a "hockey school", and that was proven true to me when an NCAA bound Panther team was playing a tight one vs Williams early in his playing days in front of 100 or so folks while what was then a middle of the road Men's Hockey team would have a full house against anyone they played.  Things changed big time over the next four years, and I am happy the trend has continued and the town has "embraced" the hoop team.  To all of the experts and prognosticators out there, you may be right, but don't discount what Jeff Brown can get out of the talent he has.  When the other teams out talent you, hard work on the defensive end may be one way of giving your team a chance.  As talented as Jeff's teams were in their heyday they won many of their games at the defensive end with hard work.  My take is this bunch will play defense which will frustrate the hell out of some teams, and likely produce a few surprises along the way doing so. I sure hope so.  Go Midd!!     

Grab- heyday suggests past tense.  Hopefully, this is the dawn of a new era.

[D3.Lifer]

Just taking a shot at post season awards

POY: Noah Tyson
DPOY: Luke Rogers
ROY: Noah Helmke
COY: Damien Strahorn
NESCAC Champion: Colby

1st Team:
Noah Tyson - Colby (POY)
Luke Rogers - Tufts
Garrett Day - Amherst
Sam Peek - Wesleyan
Will King - Colby

2nd Team:
Omar Sarr - Bates
Donald Jordan - Trinity
Cole Prowitt-Smith - Williams
Matt Hanna - Colby
Dylan Thoerner - Tufts

All Rookie Team (from what's been reported on here):
Noah Helmke - Amherst (ROY)
Declan Porter - Williams
Sam Stevens - Middlebury
Jack Lawson - Colby
Cole Bryant - Wesleyan

[nescac1]

I like Tyson but that's a bold prediction!  I think even on Colby, Will King is a more talented player and more central to their success.

Why Helmke?  Haven't heard much hype for him but perhaps I just missed it ... I think Canin Reynolds or the big guy from Florida are more likely picks from Amherst ... though who knows!

[grabtherim]

Midd roster also posted and they are in the exact opposite situation.  Not one senior and (obviously) no fifth-year players.  Sobel is as reported back, which is huge, for them but he is one of only two guys returning (Moore) who have seen a single meaningful minute on the floor.  They have a nice group of frosh who will surely be major contributors right away but, frosh are frosh.  Seems like there will be some growing pains for Midd this year but Jeff Brown usually finds a way and with this entire group back next season, plus a few big-guy recruits coming in, the future seems brighter than the present ...

Checking in: nice to be back. Local hoops makes winter in VT more tolerable. Can't wait to get back in the gym and watch some hoop. Middlebury is in a rebuild, for sure. I haven't been in the gym for 20 months so have no personal observations to make. I did talk briefly to someone in the know and asked, "will we be any good?" and he said, "we could be pretty good, . . . but not this year." Maybe we'll sneak up on some people. Expectations.

I don't pay much attention to news about recruits before they arrive (though I do read the posts — thanks NESCAC1, and others). I'm going to the games, no matter what. I wait till they get here. Like in teaching, you teach the kids in your class. I root for the players with "Middlebury" on their shirts, always have. Don't get me wrong: I exult when Midd wins and despair when they lose. I prefer the exultation, but I love the Panther players and appreciate their efforts either way, enjoy getting to know their families. I have had a ball the last decade and a half (Midd has made the NCAA tourney 11 of the last 13 years) and hope we can get back to that level.

It's hard not to feel especially sad for the lost season of 2021 for the Middlebury seniors. Middlebury's top six players (playing time) were in the class of 2021. I think it was safe to say the team would have been one of the best in D3 (especially with the big guy coming back). I think this article from the local paper was presented here before, but it makes the point: https://www.addisonindependent.com/2021/04/29/karl-lindholm-mens-basketball-grieving-a-lost-season/

I wish I had had a chance to watch Tommy Eastman play another season for the Panthers. He was in the top rank of talents I have seen at Midd over many years. He's at Brandeis this year attending graduate school (he was a Physics major at Middlebury). I'll be watching some of their streamed games, likewise those of CWRU (my graduate school!) where Griffin Kornaker is also playing as a grad student.

Carry on, friends. Here we go!

OG all the best to you, and I hope to see you in Pepin this year.  As I read your article, I felt a knot in my throat and as I read on  a bit of pride as well.  As the parent of a former Panther hoopster I cannot imagine how my son would have dealt with the lost season.  My heart goes out to the seniors in every sport not only in our league, but across the country who lost their last year of doing what they love to do in the year they know will be their last doing so.  The pride I felt was when you wrote about the crowds at Pepin.  When my son arrived on campus, all I heard was Midd was a "hockey school", and that was proven true to me when an NCAA bound Panther team was playing a tight one vs Williams early in his playing days in front of 100 or so folks while what was then a middle of the road Men's Hockey team would have a full house against anyone they played.  Things changed big time over the next four years, and I am happy the trend has continued and the town has "embraced" the hoop team.  To all of the experts and prognosticators out there, you may be right, but don't discount what Jeff Brown can get out of the talent he has.  When the other teams out talent you, hard work on the defensive end may be one way of giving your team a chance.  As talented as Jeff's teams were in their heyday they won many of their games at the defensive end with hard work.  My take is this bunch will play defense which will frustrate the hell out of some teams, and likely produce a few surprises along the way doing so. I sure hope so.  Go Midd!!     

Grab- heyday suggests past tense.  Hopefully, this is the dawn of a new era.

You are correct, and I hope you are correct but facts are facts,  Over the five seasons from 2008-09  thru 2012-2013 the Panthers, won the league for the 1st and 2nd time,  went to the dance every year, advanced pretty far in it,  and averaged going 25.6 - 3.6.  That era woke up the town and the campus to hoops in addition to hockey.  Heyday indeed.  No one would be happier to see it happen again and dawn now than me. Go Midd!!   

[Painter66]

As a former Midd player, and a very long time watcher/fan, this is season that has no real parallel. We have never been this good for so long, and have never lost a seven deep senior class without dropping a ball. It will be hard, and as my Old Guy friend and former teammate says, it is great to have the big guy back. The league is loaded with teams that return a lot, so we will struggle. BUT, I do look forward to seeing what Jeff Brown and his young team can do. Like most D3 teams, we will have to make the conversion to bigger and even more athletic players as the game evolves. It starts for Middlebury this year. I am really curious to see how Colby does, as they epitomize the smaller, faster, 3 shooting team of the past several years.