MBB: NESCAC

[formerbant10]

Trinity's success depends on a few things for next year.  The first being the return of RT3.  If Robert Taylor is healthy and motivated, watchout.  The second health issue is Pat Hasiuk's ankle, which kept him out the whole season.  Trinity had a decent/good year without them.  Talent wise, they have a great lineup again.  Pat & Russ Martin, Kino Clarke, Mike Hoar, RT3, Hasiuk, Paul Rowe and Aaron Westbrooks are just as talented as any top 8 in the conference.  The two young guys are now a year older and will (hopefully) be a year better.  They don't have great size down low, but they are very athletic and can defend so I don't think rebounding will hurt them too much.  They might be the fastest team in the conference.

The biggest question to me is how the team takes the return of Taylor.  He left as a starter, but a freshman started in his place this year.  The other big question for me, is whether Steve "Snooze" Dunn has a good summer and comes ready to play big.  He has great potential, just has to get after it.

[Mike T]

Hoopsfan,
Since you ignored my question on whether you have seen Amherst play, I'll just assume thats a no. Since you havent seen either wittenberg or amherst play,dont weigh in on this discussion. fool.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Well, I was going to let that one go.  I've posted this on here about fifty times, but I'm always good for one more.  I used to see about 40 games a year, until I decided to move to d3 no man's land for grad school.  I saw Lawrence-Grinnell this year and that was it in d3.  It's really sad.

That being said, I've never watched much NESCAC; it was never convenient.  Which is exactly why, when the talk on this board becomes that of comparing players and picking who is better, I try to stay out of it.  Rarely will you see me taking a side on who is the best guard or which team matches up best.

That being said, I do keep up with things nationally.  Out of the 25 d3 top 25 voters, how many of them see more than 4 or 5 of the teams in a given year?  Very few, before the playoffs anyway.  I'm certainly not at that level.

People talk to each other, we hear reports of eye witnesses.  I trust some and am skeptical of others.  It's not like d3, where you can see all the top teams on television.

I don't comment on most NESCAC matters, especially when comparing teams, because well, there are plenty of guys on here who know what they're talking about.

When it comes to the final four, I think people have a right to give their opinion on the match-ups.  You're more than welcome to call me unknowledgable and whatever else you want.  I never claim to be.  However, other people occasionally appreciate what I have to say.  You don't; that's cool.  But I am going to keep posting on here, feel free to debate or whatever.  I welcome it.  The debate is what makes this site fun.

[Mike T]

save me the long-winded excuse. you havent seen either team play. period. all the other posters have seen at least one of them. BOOM.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

save me the long-winded excuse. you havent seen either team play. period. all the other posters have seen at least one of them. BOOM.

Maybe the other posters in this room, but this is a really, really small percentage of posters on this site.  Most of them aren't NE based, so they stay out of the individual rooms, but they are talking all about these games all over the place.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

We could ask Pat how many of these teams he has seen.  He might have gone to Woo-Witt at some point this year, but I doubt he's seen Amherst.  Do you want to argue his ability to weigh in on this game as well?

[thunder32]

So while we are waiting for the D3 final four i was just wondering who everyone has for their D1 final four teams.  Mine are LSU B.C Uconn and the Zags.  I have BC winning it all but i may just be a little partial being form mass.  I hate Duke that is why i have LSU.

[thunder32]

oops guys didnt mean to make a new folder if Pat wants to delete it feel free to

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Good job catching your own mistake.  But since you are the originator, you might be able to delete it yourself.  I'm not sure, but there are usually options at the bottom of the page.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Nevermind, I successfully merged the board back into the original NESCAC one.  I'm suprised I have rights to do that... troubling.

[thunder32]

Thanks alot hoops fan.

[Amherst95]

So while we are waiting for the D3 final four i was just wondering who everyone has for their D1 final four teams.  Mine are LSU B.C Uconn and the Zags.  I have BC winning it all but i may just be a little partial being form mass.  I hate Duke that is why i have LSU.

Texas, UCLA, UConn, BC.  UConn over UCLA.  I tend to be biased in favor of New England teams and UCLA, though.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I have Duke, Gonzaga, UCONN and Ohio State, with OSU beating Gonzaga in the final.  Paulus is going to lose the final four game for Duke; stupid freshmen.

[baller i b]

Morrison, Aldredge, Gay, and Foye will lead their teams to the final four. I think the Zags will get past a suprising regional final game against Arkansas. Texas will beat LSU, b/c LSU will be drained and overexcited about beating a very beatable Duke team. UConn will win over the Coach of the Year's Tar Heels, simply due to the fact that UConn is the best team. 'Nova's four guard set will allow them to blowout OSU in that regional final.

Gay over Aldredge, for the 'ship!

[nescac1]

I'll go with Florida over Memphis.  I like both these teams -- athletes at every position and seem to play well as a team w/out real individual agendas, in particular Florida.  I love Florida's bigs but their perimeter guys are athletic as well.  I think Duke is way too reliant on Redick, one cold game out of six and they're done.  If everyone comes back next year, Florida is a slam-dunk preseason number one (I'm assuming Hansbrough is gone from UNC).  

On a different note, this is confirmed:
Senior Ethan Timmins-Schiffman scored the 1,0000th point of his high school basketball career on February 7. Ethan entered the game needing five points to hit the milestone, quickly scored the team's first five, and finished the game with a total of 31 points. He is the fourth Friends basketball player to reach 1,000 career points following Lou Romanoli, Braden Neff, and Kay Binetti. In addition to leading the basketball team, Ethan is a respected student-leader in a range of activities, including his service as clerk of the upper school Business Meeting. He was accepted early decision to Williams College, where he was a top basketball recruit.

A badly needed big guy for Williams.  Of course, it sounds like the rich get richer with Amherst getting another Wheeler to attend.  I have to agree that Bedford got shafted not making first team, if there was a draft of every N.E. Div III player, I'd say Bedford and MAYBE Cohen due to paucity of true centers goes first every time.  How an all-american talent who is the best player on easily the best team in the region, and a senior to boot, doesn't make the top two guard slots over two guys whose teams couldn't even win a mediocre conference beats me.  I guess those NESCAC AD's should make sure they get their votes in next year.

Martin's comments are interesting.  I think Amherst's very recent final four experience will really be huge for them, and Wheeler, Olsen and Bedford are all on huge rolls.  I think they really are impossible to defend because they have so many scoring options on fire of late.  But Illinois Wesleyan is the same way, and they are more battlle-hardened after the schedule they faced and the bracket they had to advance through.  Their perimeter game is even with Amherst (only team out there who can say that) but they have a little more talent up front.  That's why I think those two very talented teams will make it through to the final, with IW winning in a close game.