MBB: NESCAC

JEFFFAN · March 23, 2025, 06:38:04 PM

Congrats to Trinity for the hoops title! Great for the NESCAC to continue to perform at the highest level.

nescac1 · March 23, 2025, 08:05:23 PM

Would for sure be nice to have a Trinity fan posting consistently here! But alas ... it's a long time since the days of endless Rhoten-Bedford debates (if folks think Regan-Morgan was heated you have no idea)!

So here is a question: there is no question Trinity starts the season at number one. And Tufts I suspect will be between 5 and 10. Unless Regan returns Wes prob towards the bottom of the top 25.

But where do the Trinity guys place on pre-season all American teams? Might Vetter and Okorougo both be first team? Can Lazarre sneak onto fourth or fifth team? There are only at most 3/25 returning from the D3hoops team, so there are a lot of spots to fill! I suspect Gyimisi, Morakis and Espinosa will all be somewhere in those 25 guys although Morakis may just miss.

Greek Tragedy · March 23, 2025, 08:14:36 PM

Who's taking Will Dorion's spot? Obviously his numbers didn't jump out at you, but definitely a key player. He played 33 minutes in each Final Four game, so he was important being on the floor.

nescac1 · March 23, 2025, 08:59:27 PM

Greek, Jared Berry looks very ready for that spot. Doesn't do everything Dorian does but he's likely to be a more potent offensive threat and high level shooter. David Ayles should have a much bigger role too, likely the top bench guy after playing a lot of post season minutes as a FY. Both were highly touted recruits. Those two plus Lazarre should be able to match up very well with anyone at guard and of course Vetter/Okorougo are as good as it gets as a wing duo.

D3BBALL · March 24, 2025, 06:20:23 AM

Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 23, 2025, 08:14:36 PMWho's taking Will Dorion's spot? Obviously his numbers didn't jump out at you, but definitely a key player. He played 33 minutes in each Final Four game, so he was important being on the floor.

Cosgrove could go 3 different ways. If he wants to keep the same type of lineup then Ayles steps in. Could go with Berry, but that would have 4 scorers out there and only 1 ball, and 2 guards under 6 feet and not the strongest defensive lineup. Lastly he could go back to a more traditional lineup and start either Jordan or McDonald.
They lose 2 of the top 10 in minutes played. I think Norris has a very good shot of getting one of those spots. The other is up for grabs.

nescac1 · March 24, 2025, 10:53:57 AM

Updating the NESCAC history in Final Fours after the big weekend ... 21 total Final Four appearances and 4 titles from 3 programs in the 30 Final Fours since NESCAC was first eligible in 1994, with four seasons in which two NESCAC teams made the final four: 2004, 2011, 2014, and 2025:

Williams - 8 final fours, 1 title, 3 second-place finishes (plus two third-place finishes when that was still a thing)
Amherst - 7 final fours, 2 titles, 1 second-place finish
Trinity - 3 final fours, 1 title
Conn, Midd, Wesleyan - 1 final four each

Trinity is both the last NESCAC team standing from this group and the first NESCAC team to make the Final Four, way back in 1995, led by one of the best NESCAC backcourt duos ever, Troy McKelvin and Keith Wolff (they lost to one of those impossible-to-beat Bo Ryan Platteville teams, which also took Williams down a few years later).

Looking at other conferences, WIAC still dominates with 10 championships from 1994 to the present. But no other league has more than two titles during that time period (MIAA, MIAC, UAA and ODAC have two titles each, and a bunch of conferences have one).

With the very top of NESCAC loaded again next season, there will certainly be an opportunity to add to these totals ...

jumbomumbo · March 24, 2025, 06:01:10 PM

Quote from: Greek Tragedy on March 23, 2025, 08:14:36 PMWho's taking Will Dorion's spot? Obviously his numbers didn't jump out at you, but definitely a key player. He played 33 minutes in each Final Four game, so he was important being on the floor.

Dorion will be missed but they will be fine. One of the bench guards will likely move into a starter role and need to understand they need to play the role. I've also noticed Trinity has absolute gym rats on the bench who don't even play - getting extra shots up immediately after games... they will be fine.

el_jefe_90 · March 25, 2025, 12:00:57 PM

This is obviously under the radar given the fact that Trinity is celebrating winning the National Championship, but as expected, the Bantams finish the season ranked #1 in the country. First #1 national ranking in school history.

You may recall Wesleyan also was ranked #1 for the first time ever this season. Wonder how many instances two teams from the same conference had their first ever #1 rankings in the same season.

Congrats again to the Trinity Bantams. Well deserved!

Pat Coleman · March 25, 2025, 08:30:08 PM

Quote from: el_jefe_90 on March 25, 2025, 12:00:57 PMYou may recall Wesleyan also was ranked #1 for the first time ever this season. Wonder how many instances two teams from the same conference had their first ever #1 rankings in the same season.

In fact, it happened twice this year, as Emory and NYU did the same thing.

nescac1 · March 27, 2025, 06:40:44 PM

Shane Regan in the transfer portal. I'd expect him to wind up in D1 on scholarship with his size and ability to create off the bounce:

https://x.com/jakelieberman2/status/1905385855159595122?s=46&t=f6sxXDdfYkdSSeU0Te9c9A

Wesleyan will be an interesting team next year. Loaded with high-end role players but losing both elite engines of the offense. I suspect Pohlman and Cormier step up in a big way at guard and Edelman gets a lot more looks up front. But Johnson and Regan are massive losses.

jumbomumbo · March 27, 2025, 10:17:58 PM

I'm watching old highlights of Nichols - Amherst and am now extremely disappointed I never played in front of a crowd at Amherst. They need to turn it around