MBB: NESCAC

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Northeast
1.   Amherst   19-1   20-2
2.   Worcester Polytechnic   18-1   19-1
3.   Tufts       16-3   17-4
4.   Gordon   16-2   17-3
5.   Bates       14-3   18-3
6.   Williams   16-5   17-5
7.   Trinity (Connecticut)   13-3   16-4
8.   Salem State   14-5   14-6
9.   Norwich   12-3   12-5
10.   Keene State   11-6   14-6


Five out of the top seven; not too shabby.

[nescac1]

It looks, hard to believe, like almost an exact mirror of the SOSI ratings, with only Endicott dropping down.  NESCAC really has to root hard for WPI and Gordon (Gordon certainly does not deserve an at-large bid based on its weak schedule with no wins over any ranked team from any region, but would likely earn one due to its high SOSI) to win their conference tourneys; if they don't, NESCAC will have a tough time getting more than 1, perhaps 2, at large bids.  But, if both those teams win out, then no one else in the northeast can really compete with NESCAC squads for at-large bids, and it's just a matter of how the other regions play out.  Of course, Williams and Trinity have to take care of business this weekend lest their ratings drop out of the top 40 ...

Speaking of Zieja, I saw in the paper recently that a David Zieja is a junior center at Holyoke high school.  Any relation to Steve?  If so, I imagine the 'hurst will be hot on his trail.

[littlejeff08]

first time poster....i find it hard to believe that hixon is recieving so much praise this season...it is obvious to me that he has no idea what he is doing from game to game as far as substitutions.  some guys are playing 25 minutes one game and then 5 minutes the next.  just look at the boxscore..in a relatively close game against middlebury, john casnocha, a senior starter played a total of ten minutes!  how can you expect a team to gel when players don't know if they'll be playing 20 minutes or 3 from game to game.  and people can say to just look at their record but my response to that is that with the amount of potential and talent the amhest team has this year, they are much better than their record and some of these closer games have shown....its sad because i feel that if their is no gelling and set rotation now, there won't be one for the rest of the season, whihc will ultimatly hurt amherst's chances in the NCAA's

[Midd Range]

To the disgruntled Amherst bench player, Olson, Bedford, and Wheeler's minutes are hardly ever touched in close games, and Hixon knows how to keep his whole team committed by getting a lot of people involved.  I think until you start leading your team or become a starter, you should hold off on criticizing a guy with 500 wins.  I do agree with you on one criticism though, the kid from Brown NEEDS to be playing more.  I know it's fun to be able to say that a d1 transfer barely plays on Amherst, but let's be real, if you want to win the national championship, you have to start playing that kid.  And on a side note, first team all-NESCAC, Cohen, Bedford, Ray, Rhoten, and Petrie, second team Stockwell, Petrie, Rose, Kino Clarke, and Martin.   Player of the Year:  Rhoten, not really even a question with his career.  And finally, Rookie of the Year:  BEN RUDIN hands down.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

You put Petrie on both teams (unless he's got a brother I don't know about).

[littlejeff08]

Midd Range--I realize that bedford, olson, wheeler all get there minutes in close games, but almost all great teams will have an eight or nine man rotation set by the end of the season...everyone knows there role, and a team can gel...but this year players 4-8 are different every night...how can you expect a team to come together when everyone but olsen, bedford, wheeler are "disgruntled" because they have no idea what minutes they will be getting on any given night? 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

If they're digruntled, its their own fault.  You need to be ready to play 40 minutes or none every time out.  If you really want a team to gel, the guys shouldn't care or be bothered by the minutes they play.  When the coahc says get in there, you go and play your butt off.  If guys are playing together everyday in practice and in games the whole year and are still need to "gel" its probably their own fault.

[littlejeff08]

spoken like a true coach...but from a player perspective, as a team you have to get used to a rotation on the court before you play your best...regardless of your attitude about "playing your butt off whenever you get the chance" and gelling in practice...games are when you really come to know a player....and it doesnt just effect bench players, it effects the starters level of play also...

[blacklordjeff]

littlejeff08, it there also something to be said for Hixon making the sort of substitutions that fit the game?  Coach has a lot of pieces, who are all talented but bring different things to the table, would it not make sense to sub for situations?  for example I saw the team play against a scrappy Springfield College team earlier in the year.  Coach put in Goldsmith at the five (a player who really is a 2/3) and it changed the game around.  I think Hixon uses his pieces the way he sees fit and it has worked.  I doubt substitution patterns is the reason they lost to Trinity, Occidental, or any losses in the last couple years.

[littlejeff08]

I agree that certain situations determine subing patterns, but of the games ive seen recently there is no rhyme or reason as to why certain players are playing and others not...to be honest it often looks as if hixon is just chosing a position and then picking out of a hat to determine which player will go in...

[walzy31]

littlejeff08,

I laugh when I read your posts.
Hixon has started the same five players all 22 games this season. As for a set eight players, he has already established his eight. They are the starters plus Adolphe, Mclaughlin and Goldsmith. The 9 and 10 men (but sometimes get in sooner if foul trouble arises) are Corrigan and Hopkins (who I suspect is in the dog house a little bit right now).

The five starters are ranked 1,2,3,4,6 in minutes per game with McLaughlin being the only bench player who plays more minutes than a starter (O'Shea). That is very common for a team's sixth man to get more minutes than one of the starters.

You don't make sense to me. Hixon starts his five, if things go wrong (matchups, fouls, bad performance) he will put Mac and Goldsmith in. As he sees players get tired he will put in the other subs. No coach goes into a game with a set schedule to sub rotation or minutes played. You go out and put in the best five who will help your team win.

What I really think is going on is that someone at Williams made the username "littlejeff08" to try and cause some bickering between fellow Amherst fans. I could make a name "ephfan09" and talk about how Paulsen does the same thing (as proven through Snyder and Wall's minutes), but that would be lame.

Until you go out there and coach 20 winning seasons, 500+ wins, a final four and many NCAA appearences I don't think you can criticize his coaching.

Out of some of the best active coaches in D1 (Lute Olson, Beheim, K, Williams, Skinner, Donovan, Pitino, Cal, Calhoun, Bruiser haha) I am sure at least one of them in a questionable coach when it comes to personnell, but no one can criticize these guys because they are incredible coaches. Hixon is simply the D3 equivalent to Lute Olson.

[littlejeff08]

sorry, i didnt know that hixon had reached "god" status...and i can criticize his coaching if i see fit, this is what a message board is supposed to be about....all im saying from what ive seen is that hixon doesnt look like he quite knows what to do with this team, regardless of their 20-2 record...with the amount of talent amherst has they should not be trailing at halftime to colby

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Hey, by the way, I've played basketball in my day as well.  I'm not just thinking like a coach.  It's the player's job to be ready for whatever happens.  There were times when I was sitting and thought I should be playing, but that's the coach's decision, not mine.  I never questioned him when I was on the floor, but felt like I wasn't playing well enough to be there.

Just because, you or your friend or whoever it is on the Amherst team is having trouble dealing with the PT, doesn't mean there is something wrong with the way the coach substitutes.  If anything, minutes are more sporadic among better teams becuase they have so many lop-sided games where the starters sit most of the second half.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

You can criticize any coach all you want, but just be aware that if we disagree with your rationale, we're all going to let you know about it.

By the way, I agree Hixon could do a better job, but then again, if he did, he may be coaching at a different level of basketball.  He's done ok for himself with what's he's able to do.

[formerbant10]

Hixon is a great coach, he wasn't handed those 500 wins when he first signed up. 

I think Walzy and BLJ (who seem to know quite a bit about the Jeffs) have the right idea.  He has his starters and the guys that have proven they can play in any game.  Every game is subject to change based on matchups and who has been hot that particular week in practice.  If a player that starts is having a rough game, Amherst has enough talent on its bench that said starter does not have to continue on in that particular game.  Coaches have a better eye for this sorta thing than players and fans do, especially one that has been around the game as long as Hixon has.  Players and fans are biased towards themselves or the crowd favorites.  A good coach does what he must to win the game that night.  No college players are at risk of getting fired are they?   

Amherst has two losses right now, one to a very good Occidental and the other to a very hot Trinity team who always seem to play the Jeffs tough.  That's pretty damn good and not just in my opinion.

And what does it matter if they trail a team like Colby at halftime and still win.  Colby's offense is tough to defend and if their players are hitting open shots they can play with anyone.  A sign of a good coach is one that can make halftime adjustments and come through with a victory.....and shockingly that's what happened! 

And if you think Hixon has some sporadic minutes for players, try watching a UConn game.  Nobody has a faster hook than Calhoun.  He's been known to have his 6th man in the game within the first minute and then back out 30 seconds later.  But his players don't complain too much when they win games do they?