MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Crazy stat department: five of the top ten national leaders in points allowed per game are from NESCAC, and there are two more in the top 50.  Only Colby is in the top 50 nationally in scoring offense.  We may once again see some very low-scoring affairs in league play:

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men/d3/current/team/146

[D.B. Cooper]

I don't know how it happened, but Hamilton College lost to my alma mater F&M in an intense struggle in Clinton NY, I had been watching the Continentals online for several games this season and felt like all Centennial teams would be solid underdogs to them especially when they are on their home court. Hamilton's best player Morgan did not dominate like he did in the other games I saw. Well anyway just a few thoughts. Anyhow the NESCAC is loaded with strong teams, and I am sure legit FF contenders this year. GL & good health to all.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

F&M has been underperforming my expectations for them entering the season.  They're very capable of winning this game.  That being said, Hamilton is coming off a great weekend and should've taken care of business at home.

This might end up not being such a bad loss in the future, but the Diplomats are going to have to have a strong conference season to make that happen.  They're perfectly capable of winning the Centennial, especially if they play more like they did today.

[GoUBears]

Here is a fun scatter chart showing NESCAC games to date by opponent NPI and win/loss margin. Enjoy!

https://postimg.cc/SYrxdS6m

[names jaismith]

Some predictions, likely way off, for the first weekend of conference play.  Some crucial games for those teams hoping to stake a claim as a contender for a playoff spot, while others more certain of a place in the conference tournament will be wanting to make a case as a part of the upper tier.

Friday
Colby 71 @ Conn 74
Bowdoin 65 @ Tufts 83
Williams 61 @ Wesleyan 74
Middlebury 62 @ Trinity 83
Amherst 67 @ Bates 63

Saturday
Middlebury 66 @ Wesleyan 82
Williams 64 @ Trinity 71
Bowdoin 69 @ Conn 65
Colby 71 @ Tufts 84
Hamilton 67 @ Bates 65

So Trinity, Tufts and Wesleyan flex their muscles; work to do, in some cases a lot of work, for everyone else.

[jumbomumbo]

Some predictions, likely way off, for the first weekend of conference play.  Some crucial games for those teams hoping to stake a claim as a contender for a playoff spot, while others more certain of a place in the conference tournament will be wanting to make a case as a part of the upper tier.

Friday
Colby 71 @ Conn 74
Bowdoin 65 @ Tufts 83
Williams 61 @ Wesleyan 74
Middlebury 62 @ Trinity 83
Amherst 67 @ Bates 63

Saturday
Middlebury 66 @ Wesleyan 82
Williams 64 @ Trinity 71
Bowdoin 69 @ Conn 65
Colby 71 @ Tufts 84
Hamilton 67 @ Bates 65

So Trinity, Tufts and Wesleyan flex their muscles; work to do, in some cases a lot of work, for everyone else.

Love the confidence in Tufts tonight. I'll be at the games this weekend and hope to have some good writeups. I believe Tufts beats Bowdoin, but in close fashion. 65-60. Not sure they're fully healthy this weekend. Bowdoin starting 5 looks real good and runs Princeton offense to perfection. If anyone can defend this action, it's us. Also, Colby always plays us tough, a 13 point win against them this year and I'll be over the moon.

[jumbomumbo]

Some predictions, likely way off, for the first weekend of conference play.  Some crucial games for those teams hoping to stake a claim as a contender for a playoff spot, while others more certain of a place in the conference tournament will be wanting to make a case as a part of the upper tier.

Friday
Colby 71 @ Conn 74
Bowdoin 65 @ Tufts 83
Williams 61 @ Wesleyan 74
Middlebury 62 @ Trinity 83
Amherst 67 @ Bates 63

Saturday
Middlebury 66 @ Wesleyan 82
Williams 64 @ Trinity 71
Bowdoin 69 @ Conn 65
Colby 71 @ Tufts 84
Hamilton 67 @ Bates 65

So Trinity, Tufts and Wesleyan flex their muscles; work to do, in some cases a lot of work, for everyone else.

I'll also take the over on Williams losing by a combined 20 points this weekend.

[rdanie03]

Some predictions, likely way off, for the first weekend of conference play.  Some crucial games for those teams hoping to stake a claim as a contender for a playoff spot, while others more certain of a place in the conference tournament will be wanting to make a case as a part of the upper tier.

Friday
Colby 71 @ Conn 74
Bowdoin 65 @ Tufts 83
Williams 61 @ Wesleyan 74
Middlebury 62 @ Trinity 83
Amherst 67 @ Bates 63

Saturday
Middlebury 66 @ Wesleyan 82
Williams 64 @ Trinity 71
Bowdoin 69 @ Conn 65
Colby 71 @ Tufts 84
Hamilton 67 @ Bates 65

So Trinity, Tufts and Wesleyan flex their muscles; work to do, in some cases a lot of work, for everyone else.

I'll also take the over on Williams losing by a combined 20 points this weekend.

I'll take over on that being 30/

[D3BBALL]

Wow not a lot of faith in Williams. Like all the predictions, should be a fun weekend to watch games. I think Williams makes a game of at least one of the 2, maybe even sneaks out a win. Would be great if both Bates and Bowdoin get a win this weekend. Can't wait to see Cuevas play against Tufts. Might be a welcome to NESCAC conference moment!

[el_jefe_90]

Here it is! The official start of the NESCAC season. You never know what this conference will bring. Here's to a fun 7 weeks!!

[ephsandbantams]

Some predictions, likely way off, for the first weekend of conference play.  Some crucial games for those teams hoping to stake a claim as a contender for a playoff spot, while others more certain of a place in the conference tournament will be wanting to make a case as a part of the upper tier.

Friday
Colby 71 @ Conn 74
Bowdoin 65 @ Tufts 83
Williams 61 @ Wesleyan 74
Middlebury 62 @ Trinity 83
Amherst 67 @ Bates 63

Saturday
Middlebury 66 @ Wesleyan 82
Williams 64 @ Trinity 71
Bowdoin 69 @ Conn 65
Colby 71 @ Tufts 84
Hamilton 67 @ Bates 65

So Trinity, Tufts and Wesleyan flex their muscles; work to do, in some cases a lot of work, for everyone else.

I'll also take the over on Williams losing by a combined 20 points this weekend.

You said 30 last week- the Ephs are growing on Jumbo Mumbo

[names jaismith]

I think Williams, while not as elite as in past years, is really well coached and a tough opponent. I just like the fact that Wesleyan and Trinity are home for these games and home court in NESCAC play can mean a lot.

[jumbomumbo]

Some predictions, likely way off, for the first weekend of conference play.  Some crucial games for those teams hoping to stake a claim as a contender for a playoff spot, while others more certain of a place in the conference tournament will be wanting to make a case as a part of the upper tier.

Friday
Colby 71 @ Conn 74
Bowdoin 65 @ Tufts 83
Williams 61 @ Wesleyan 74
Middlebury 62 @ Trinity 83
Amherst 67 @ Bates 63

Saturday
Middlebury 66 @ Wesleyan 82
Williams 64 @ Trinity 71
Bowdoin 69 @ Conn 65
Colby 71 @ Tufts 84
Hamilton 67 @ Bates 65

So Trinity, Tufts and Wesleyan flex their muscles; work to do, in some cases a lot of work, for everyone else.

I'll also take the over on Williams losing by a combined 20 points this weekend.

You said 30 last week- the Ephs are growing on Jumbo Mumbo

I still stand by 30+. But this post has em at 20, so if that's the new line I'll adjust and find free money where I can

[nescac1]

I'm curious how much home court actually means in NESCAC play.  I feel like in recent years, road teams have fared pretty well and the advantage may be less than assumed. I could be wrong, but I'd be curious to see a home-road record breakdown in league play over the last few seasons. 

I do think that for every team the Wesleyan-Trinity weekend could be a rough one this year. Having to play two deep teams that play smothering, physical D within 24 hours is not easy - by far the toughest pairing this year. 

[SpringSt7]

Tufts putting it on Bowdoin right now, notably without James Morakis. Did not understand the Bowdoin love this week, somewhat understandable given the Harvard result but this is a team that lost to Bates and whose best win was  either 6-7 Emerson or 10-5 Husson. They have a long way to go while Tufts is tough, long, and well coached. They will need Morakis back and at full health whenever that may be, ideally sooner rather than later, but I will continue to stump for them as a contender in the league