MBB: NESCAC

[SpringSt7]

With the quarterfinal games being a standalone weekend, the best solution might be to move that game back to the conference championship weekend and play 3 games in 3 days. That would buy them a weekend at the end of the season for make up games. It would be tough to play 3 games in 3 days but the major D1 conferences play even 4 or 5 games in a row in their conference tournaments.

If you move the travel partner/1 game weekend to a week day, that would open up another weekend for games. But with 11 teams and the Friday/Sunday team in Trinity already being behind with COVID, that would potentially present more challenges.

[nescac1]

Agree that the quarterfinal weekend has to be the solution.  Could move that game to either the Wednesday, Thursday, or, as Spring St suggests, the Friday before the semis.  Or, worst case, just ditch it altogether this year and play only semis.  That would be a drag but one way or another that's the weekend that makes sense for rescheduling any cancelled league games (or potentially non-league make-ups). And I don't see how you can have league tourney based on standings where some teams play 2 fewer games. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

With the quarterfinal games being a standalone weekend, the best solution might be to move that game back to the conference championship weekend and play 3 games in 3 days. That would buy them a weekend at the end of the season for make up games. It would be tough to play 3 games in 3 days but the major D1 conferences play even 4 or 5 games in a row in their conference tournaments.

If you move the travel partner/1 game weekend to a week day, that would open up another weekend for games. But with 11 teams and the Friday/Sunday team in Trinity already being behind with COVID, that would potentially present more challenges.

The ODAC typically plays four games in five days for their tournament.

[Colby Hoops]

Weekday makeups is the best option and I hope the league goes that route, even prioritizing league make ups over scheduled non-conference games.

Even doing some three game weekends with Sunday games where it makes sense earlier in the season should be on the table. Obviously not ideal, but I think completing the league schedule in whatever way possible should be the priority. Then adding an extra weekend can be another option as needed. Relying on just one weekend to make up games probably doesn't work as there could be teams with 4+ games to make up.

[Greek Tragedy]

Depending on the league schedule, Mondays seem to be a good makeup day. Conferences that play Wednesday and Saturday are examples.

[quicksilver]

The NESCAC is scheduling mid-week make-up hockey games so likely will be willing to do the same thing for basketball. There are make-up hockey games scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday of this coming week. It may be easier to do mid-week league games in January when some NESCAC schools are still on break and others have optional interterm courses . . Things will likely get trickier in February when regulalr academics resume . .

[nescac1]

Amherst gets a big commitment from its third Berkshire School recruit in two years, 6'11 Charlie Randall (#56 in New England).  Amherst will have four 6'10 plus centers on the roster next year (plus relatively pint-size Schretter) including three underclassmen (and two first years!).  Maybe they will go old school with a twin-towers look?  Certainly they are gonna be massive for years to come. 

https://twitter.com/coachcarver_/status/1479583506405728262?s=21

And now, finally, actual NESCAC basketball!

[jayhawk]

Randall can actually play forward
not sure how reliable but high rating by NERR
interesting

[nescac1]

Williams-Hamilton and Midd-Amherst both tied at the half.  NESCAC hoops - nothing comes easy!   As feared Ephs look a bit rusty - some bad TOs and a bit slow to loose balls.  Hamilton with a lot of second chance points keeping the game even despite better shooting by the Ephs.  Grant Robinson back for Amherst which is obviously big for them. 

[nescacfaninbos]

Couldn't watch the first half but from the box score, Hamilton appears to be missing two starters in Osarenren and Tirbaso.

[SpringSt7]

I'm ready to give Sam Stevens his due. The Rookie of the Year race is over---this kid is the real deal.

[SpringSt7]

Williams takes its conference opener over an admittedly short handed Hamilton team 61-45. It wasn't their best win of the season but it might have been my favorite---they just have such a knack for responding to short runs by the opposing team and it's always someone different, today it was great shooting by Declan Porter and some timely and-1s by Jovan Jones and Spencer Spivy. When it doesn't look pretty offensively, like it was tonight, they just find a way to figure it out---offensive rebounds, steals and transition points, and guys committing to driving the lane and getting the ball to open teammates.

I don't know if they ultimately have the horses to make a real run in March just yet but this team is quickly becoming one of my favorite Williams teams to watch in the App era. They are SO solid defensively (Hamilton was obviously down two key guys), possession after possession they are just in the right spots, nothing flashy just really disciplined, and they seem like they really like playing together and they really care. Just a fun team.

And congrats to Conn! Very cool for them. 1-0!

[Colby Hoops]

Officially time to hit the panic button for the Mules  as they fall to Conn. A disastrous second half on both ends of the floor (after a very good first half). The offense continues to struggle from deep, and with no Jack Lawson tonight there wasn't an interior threat either. The team is extremely reliant on it's top players who have struggled under that weight. Hanna and Tyson are struggling to shoot the ball and Will King hasn't looked like the same guy who was dominating at the end of the 19-20 season. Hopefully they can find a little more of a groove and get Lawson back soon, but this isn't looking the team we expected coming into the year.

[nescac1]

I think Porter and Nicky Johnson are VERY good rookies in NESCAC but agree with SpringSt7, Stevens is the man and at this rate may be the first NESCAC first-year to be all league since Duncan Robinson was laughably named second-league all-NESCAC as a first-year (is that right? Or am I forgetting someone?).  He has to be on the national ROY radar.  What he and Sobel are doing this year is just incredible, in terms of percent of production on a very successful team. 

Agree with SpringSt7's thoughts on Williams.  I really like watching Declan Porter play.  He does some things you just don't see much of any more really well -- follows his own shot (sign of a great shooter he knows when it's even a bit off as soon as he releases) and uses ball fakes beautifully.  He plays slow ... always very calm out there, never forcing the issue, so rarely turns it over or makes a bad decision, especially considering he's only a first-year.  He'd certainly be a strong ROY contender but for what Stevens is doing. 

The other big news for Williams is Alex Stoddard back, and he looked GOOD after he shook off some understandable rust.  He put the ball on the floor beautiful on a slick drive and dish in the second half and you just feel his presence on defense -- he's so long and his feet are so quick and now he's strong to boot.  He can be a big factor for the Ephs on both ends as he gets back into a rhythm.  I'd be very interested in seeing a four-shooter lineup at times with him, Spivy, Porter, Cole and Nate (4.5 counting Nate).  Would be very, very tricky to guard with all that spacing and length. 

Hamilton plays hard and physical on defense, credit to them for hanging in despite being a bit overmatched talent-wise, but looked ROUGH offensively.  Granted, down two starters, but even still.  Hank Morgan and Tej Singh are bright spots, fun frosh with bright futures.  Morgan has some nifty moves but needs to muscle up a bit.   But Hamilton as a whole threw up a lot of massive bricks against of course a very stout Williams defense. 

[Old Guy]

Middlebury 78 - Amherst 64. Any thoughts on that? Sure not what I expected!