MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Seems like Walters is getting a lot of hype for someone who got no PT last year -- then again, not many 6'8 perimeter players in division III.   Amherst's junior class is ridiculously deep and tall, with the big-time transfer and several guys who grew once they arrived at college.  Should as usual be an interesting battle at Amherst for playing time with all of those tall back-ups  -- Walters, Jones, Hopkins, Wheeler II, Baskausas, Coulibaly -- any of whom could start at most NESCAC schools.   I know Williams could really use one more experienced big guy ... and that's assuming Weisbrot is healthy.  Without him at 100 percent and at least one frosh stepping up as an inside scorer, could be another year of bombs away. 

Anyone hear any word / have any prediction on any guys who are ready to break out the way Chris Rose and Kino Clarke did last year?  Who on Bowdoin will step up for Petrie?  With no Martin around Weitzen should have a huge year, but that will hardly be a break out, could easily put up 20 a game.  He's one of the few guys in the league who have to be doubled in the post.   Coulibaly could be a candidate if he gets the minutes.  So could Rowe/Westbrooks if they work on their shooting. 

That's not great news re: Shalvoy, hopefully he'll be OK for the season.  Williams got hit with injuries big-time last year with all three big men limited to some degree and Gibbons injured as well.  I guess that explains the losses to Amherst (just kidding on that one, even a healthy Williams team wouldn't have stood a chance).  Few teams in the league have the depth to survive a major injury, and the Ephs are definitely not one of them, at least not this year.       

[ephoops]

What happened to Shalvoy???

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

He got in some guys face and got punched; his head came clean off.  It's sad really, although they think he'll be ready after Christmas.

[YoungSnukes]

"Wong is an Amherst sophomore. 6'3 combo guard."

you JeffRooks, nice scout. You are truly a fool. Heard some rumors of a condor bout to be dominating, any truth?

YoungSnukes, one time

[walzy31]

I heard a rumor that Don Quinn was the new assistant coach for Amherst this fall. That it came down to him and some Colby-Sawyer alum and coach Hixon said he would give it to whoever did the best stand up comedy routine. Obviously the CSC grad stood no chance and DQ will be laughing on the bench with all the goofballs on the Amherst team...goofballs who would start at Colby and Conn.

[JeffRookie2]

"Wong is an Amherst sophomore. 6'3 combo guard."

you JeffRooks, nice scout. You are truly a fool. Heard some rumors of a condor bout to be dominating, any truth?

YoungSnukes, one time

What part of that is not true?

[formerbant10]

Ballaholic,

If you don't think Cohen is the best big man in the league, then who is?

The only returning 1st Teamer puts him ahead of pretty much everyone in my opinion.  And remember he missed 2 conference games for a family wedding...still impressed the other coaches enough to vote him on.

I remember another recent big guy who touched the ball every possession and took a lot of 15 footers that usually went in.  Isn't it strange that the two of them were the top 2 scorers last season?? 

Last year Colby needed everything they could get out of Cohen, it may be a little different this year with Westbrooks back, but Cohen is still the go-to-guy for the Mules. 

Add in his defense and his rebounding and there is no doubt that he is the best big man in the league. 

I may be biased in Cohen's favor, but the numbers he put up last year were mind boggling. 

[cyclable]

With folks talking about best centers, it might be a good time to see first team, second team, and player of the year predictions.  I'd say Cohen at this point is the favorite for player of the year, but that award typically takes into account a teams record not just individual performance.  So the mules would probably have to finish in the top four....

[formerbant10]

Most of the time the POY comes from the top team, but if there is a player who is clearly better than the rest it shouldn't matter what his team record is.  Remember that it's not MVP, the award goes to the Best Player.

And yes Cohen is the favorite at this point.  Stockwell and Ray would be right behind him, both taking a little bit away from the other's chances.  But its all up in the air right now, long way till November 1 let alone March.

[ballaholic4]

Formerbant,

I know that Cohen had ridiculous numbers, but numbers aren't everything.  If you just went by the stats, Cohen would have won POY last year; my guess is that if the coaches could have voted for 1, 2, and 3; he probably still wouldn't have gotten any votes.  Again, i must re-emphasize that this is to take nothing away from him, I think he was the only junior deserving of first team. 

Rhoten and Cohen look the same on paper, they just don't have the same impact on a team.  That's why you can't just go by stats.  So if you're looking at impact big man, I would have to go with Stockwell.  Speaking from experience, he's a MUCH tougher matchup; and although he's cheap at times, his physicality wears down other teams.  Altough I think Ray is a great floor leader, that doesn't get you 16 straight wins, that all comes on the shoulders of the main guy down low. 

Cohen would be PERFECT for a team that had one explosive wing player to take the pressure off him and he's such a good defense player.  I just don't think he's the type of guy you can just keep giving the ball to and expect to win games.  Let's not overlook the fact that the refs up in maine love this guy, he got to the line over 30 more times (almost 10 p/g-that's some allen iverson ****) more than the next closest guy; and that was Martin and he's a beast.  He doesn't shoot threes, and a dominant big man who gets a lot of misses wiped away by "fouls" should be shooting about 54-57%, Like martin.  He's also not the greatest passer in the world, he has a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio in the wrong direction. 

I think those two will battle for POY when it comes down to it, I just think that Bates' string of wins and stockwell's toughness will stick in the coaches minds. 

[MaineMan33]

Formbant, you seem to always know whats going on down in hartford, what does Trinity have now that the King Rhoten has left his throne? 

[maineballer]

"Cohen would be PERFECT for a team that had one explosive wing player to take the pressure off him and he's such a good defense player.  I just don't think he's the type of guy you can just keep giving the ball to and expect to win games.   
[/quote]

Colby will be a force not be taken lightly next year, the return of westbrooks to that side brings that explosive wing player everybody says cohen needs and will for sure ease some of the pressure. Everybody talks about colby having no help on the guard front which i find amazing that a guard of Nick Farrell quality is over looked. He was the top soring pg(12.8) behind pat martin(12.9) in the nescac, was 3rd in ass.(5.56) right behind andrew olson(5.59) and 2nd in steals(2.32). i think those are stats that nobody can ignore.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I love that one post has become "everybody."

[thunder32]

I dont know, I think that Cohen would be more dangerous with more a bruiser down low because from what I have seen of the kid is that he doesnt like contact as much as most centers do on offence.  I see him more as a power forward with a face up post game than a center on offence, but on defence he is a pure center but then again all i have to go by is the playoff game two years ago I didnt get to play against him this past year because he had the wedding that weekend.  and as for poy canidates I think that if Kelly makes his team a top four team he may be take it over Cohen or Stockwell.  But I think even though Cohen made first team this year, Stockwell has the edg for player of the year right now just based on the teams preformances the last couple of years.  I may be totally wrong on my assessment on Cohen let me know what you guys think.

[thunder32]

with all this talk about big men any thoughts on Stone from Conn?