MBB: NESCAC

[Friar T]

You're basically just agreeing with me Hoops Fan. I stated out of the gate that the region was bad. My statement was that Amherst gets the brunt of the criticism for poor scheduling, and my question was why are they the only ones when, going strictly by the numbers, they have around the same difficulty of schedule as some of the other NESCAC powers.

There's no doubt in my mind that some of the subpar teams of the midwest would mop up on the majority of New England, but I think that goes straight to the heart of the talent level across the country top to bottom. The midwest teams are cleaning up the leftovers of the slew of Division I programs, while NE competes mostly with the other DIII schools in the region for the kids that aren't leaving the area for DI scholarships. This is especially true of the UW schools, which don't have impressive educational standards and basically clean up the instate kids left by the Badgers, Marquette, etc.

That's one of the things I find to be so special about the NESCAC. Our kids are not only talented players, but had to have the academic creds to get them into school as well. We knock a kid for having 1000 on their SATs, while many other conferences would kill for such.

[nescac hoops]

There's no doubt in my mind that some of the subpar teams of the midwest would mop up on the majority of New England, but I think that goes straight to the heart of the talent level across the country top to bottom. The midwest teams are cleaning up the leftovers of the slew of Division I programs, while NE competes mostly with the other DIII schools in the region for the kids that aren't leaving the area for DI scholarships. This is especially true of the UW schools, which don't have impressive educational standards and basically clean up the instate kids left by the Badgers, Marquette, etc.

friar, great point about all of the surrounding d1 teams that the midwest  d3 teams can "mop up" their leftovers.

That's one of the things I find to be so special about the NESCAC. Our kids are not only talented players, but had to have the academic creds to get them into school as well. We knock a kid for having 1000 on their SATs, while many other conferences would kill for such.

"our kids" - correct me if wrong, but didn't you got to grinell? isn't your only connection to amherst through a former assistant coach? quite the nescac die hard you are, never mind the usage of "our", for this to be your "strong" connection/knowledge. either way, i do agree with your last post.

[The Historian]

correct me if wrong,

Okay, I will.

but didn't you got to grinell?

I guarantee you that the Friar never went to "Grinell."

isn't your only connection to amherst through a former assistant coach?

I also guarantee you that the Friar has many more connections to Amherst than one assistant coach.

Opinions are fine when they are just that - opinions.  But if you're going to make factual statements or attribute statements to particular individuals, get your facts (or spelling or capitalization) straight.

Don't make me bring back the report card.

[Friar T]

I went to Grinnell.

Luke Flockerzi was not my only connection to Amherst.

I was using "our" as a term to include everyone in this forum who cares enough about the NESCAC student athletes to have an opinion on the subject. Besides I could've been using "our" to talk about high-level liberal arts colleges as Grinnell falls into that category as well.

Fair enough?

[Dr E. Spengler]

Necsac hoops, that has to be the least coherent thing I have ever read in my entire life.  I blacked out when you started a sentance with "however" though.  So correct me if I'm wrong...

[MeOak21]

Amherst plays 12 teams with +.500 records compared with 9 without, hampered by the fact that they play Williams and Wesleyan twice, and that they drew Springfield in the PVC instead of Westfield St.

Tufts plays 14 above, 8 below

Bates plays 12 above, 9 below, helped by playing Bowdoin and Colby twice.

Trinity plays 13 above, 7 below helped by playing four games out of region.

Why aren't we knocking everyone? All of our schedules are helped by the NESCAC, and hurt by the fact that we all play in a bad region. Granted, some of Amherst's under .500 teams are way below, but in a region this bad does it really matter?

Don't even get me started on the teams outside the NESCAC. Keene St. plays just 8 games against teams over .500, 6 of which are in-conference (3 teams twice), RIC just 10 games with the same in-conference scam as Keene.

Any thoughts?

It is true that the NESCAC has a bunch of teams above .500 but many of the teams' losses are  coming in out of conference play.

Tufts: 7 losses; 5 Out of Conference
Williams: 10 losses; 8 OOC
Middlebury: 7 losses; 4 OOC
Bowdoin: 7 losses; 3 OOC
Colby: 10 losses; 6 OOC
CC: 9 losses; 5 OOC

If the rest of NE is so bad in comparison to the NESCAC- what's going on here?

The above .500 records still aren't very impressive because they don't play each other twice. The good teams (which very often split in double round robin play) avoid potential losses in conference.

Friar T- Just a couple things: KSC has 12 games with teams .500 or better. RIC has 12 as well. I'm not sure what you mean by "in-conference scam".

A little help please...

Hey critical Dr. S.- What is "sentance"? I'm not familiar with this word.

I forgive you though, this isn't a grammar/spelling contest

[geronimo]

I went to Grinnell.

Luke Flockerzi was not my only connection to Amherst.

I was using "our" as a term to include everyone in this forum who cares enough about the NESCAC student athletes to have an opinion on the subject. Besides I could've been using "our" to talk about high-level liberal arts colleges as Grinnell falls into that category as well.

Fair enough?

I went to Grinnell as well, just so I could follow the Spife.  I think mrmike should transfer to Grinnell as soon as possible.

[nescac hoops]

Necsac hoops, that has to be the least coherent thing I have ever read in my entire life.  I blacked out when you started a sentance with "however" though.  So correct me if I'm wrong...

hahahhahahaha. you and the historian need to "not throw stones when you live in a glass house". ill let you correct the misspelled word in your own post and that ask that we not be too critical of people's writing here. i read posts here b/c i miss getting to watch these teams play, not to write eloquent, perfectly composed s-e-n-t-e-n-c-e-s.

[geronimo]

This leads me to the question, why is it that we challenge Amherst's scheduling (myself included)...

Incurable herpes on the next person who mentions Amherst's schedule.  That subject is so played, yo.  In fact, if you insist on belly-achin' about Amherst's schedule, it's you who are soft, not Amherst's slate of opponents.  I'm pregnant, and I don't bellyache as much as you schedule haters.  Like I always say, if my aunt had a unit, she'd be my uncle.      

[The Historian]

I'm pregnant.       

Congrats, geronimo.  I hope your child is not as large as "Super Tonio."  Although if he is, you should contact Williams.  I'm sure they could use him in the post.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/02/01/mexico.baby.ap/index.html

[Dr E. Spengler]

My misuse of the letter a, does not in fact mark the writing of someone who is incapable of forming a cohesive and coherent sentance.  I read and write posts to mock the rest of you...

I hope it feels so good to be right. There's nothing more exhilarating than pointing out the shortcomings of others, is there?


Hey! You're not allowed to rent here anymore!



yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

[nescac hoops]

I read and write posts to mock the rest of you...

cool way to spend your time. sweet life.

[whoarewebobcats]

and with that, i declare nescachoops the winner. awesome.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

My statement was that Amherst gets the brunt of the criticism for poor scheduling, and my question was why are they the only ones when, going strictly by the numbers, they have around the same difficulty of schedule as some of the other NESCAC powers.

Because Amherst is the only one that anyone actually considers nationally competitive.  Bates has gotten some love, but no one's going to call them a contender.  Trinity doesn't have the schedule this year, but at least in the past they've tried to go down to Pennsylvania for a few games against stronger schools.

Tufts: 7 losses; 5 Out of Conference
Williams: 10 losses; 8 OOC
Middlebury: 7 losses; 4 OOC
Bowdoin: 7 losses; 3 OOC
Colby: 10 losses; 6 OOC
CC: 9 losses; 5 OOC

That might be exactly why you don't see any of them listed on anyone's top 25 ballot.  It's not just schedule or competition level it's a combination of both.

[ajsnc13]

Just as a little note, Bowdoin only truly has one out of conference loss and it was the first game of the year to Salem St.  The other 2 "out of conference" losses were to Bates and Colby each by one point.  Also, Tufts plays a difficult non-league schedule which helps their case.  Overall the NESCAC dominates!