MBB: NESCAC

[senatorfrost]

Walzy: I had no idea when the last time I posted was. There hasn't been much to post about, since I haven't been able to go to nearly as many games as I used to. Recently I missed the Bates game. Things change.
 However, I never thought of myself as loyal or disloyal, maybe because I am not an Amherst alum. I am a basketball fan who lives within an hour of Amherst and enjoys their brand of basketball.
  I might add that I thought I got a little carried away on the injury issue-

[formerbant10]

So what do we have on the Trinity/Brandeis Matchup at RIC??

Not a free scouting report....But I'm sure both teams are somewhat familiar with each other.

Game probably shouldn't be a 1st round matchup, but that's what happens when you get a Pool C.

[walzy31]

So what do we have on the Trinity/Brandeis Matchup at RIC??

Not a free scouting report....But I'm sure both teams are somewhat familiar with each other.

Game probably shouldn't be a 1st round matchup, but that's what happens when you get a Pool C.

Steve Deluca and the three Western Mass starters (Kwame, Russ and Pat) will determine the outcome of the game. Oh yeah, and that short kid who dropped 35 on Saturday.

[nescac1]

Senator, I can't believe I am going to disagree with you to actually defend Amherst, but I think they have a ton of talent.  The main difference between Williams and Amherst on that front is that Williams' top guys are Frosh and Juniors, while Amherst's are Seniors and Juniors, which is a big, big difference.  I think Williams' frosh class have the POTENTIAL to equal Amherst's juniors in terms of several potential stars plus a lot of depth, but two years of development is a huge, huge difference at this point.   I think to beat Amherst on a neutral court on any given day, this group has to play at about 90 percent of its current potential with Amherst playing around 60 percent.  I think that will change in future years, but right now Amherst is just so much more experienced. 

I'd say Baskauskas, Hopkins, Wheeler, and Olson are four of the top dozen players in NESCAC.  All four are very difficult to guard one-on-one and are able to get, and make, high percentage shots.  They also collectively create a lot of turnovers via blocks and in Olson's case steals.  Olson is a true point who doesn't look for his shot that much, but he has exploded for big point totals in many big games (no one, not even Bedford, does in EVERY big game).  I actually think the Jeffs are much better off with Baskauskas playing over Coulibaly, just like they were with Olson over Corrigan and they would be with Hopkins over O'Shea.  When Amherst has clearly the league's top player at the "1" and probably one of the top two players at three other spots, and then four more very capable role players in Salerno and McLaughin (tough defenders who also hit open shots) and Jones and Walter (huge, athletic rebounders / shot blockers who can score when they get it going), that is a pretty solid eight man rotation in my view.

Looking at the most succesful Amherst team ever, 2004, I don't think they had more talent.  Look down player by player on the roster based on talent level, and I think it's pretty even: Olson v. Harper (each superstars), Baskausas v. Bedford (potential future poy's emerging as sophs), Wheeler v. Schiel (bigs who can shoot, although Wheeler is less talented but tougher), Hopkins v. Jones (Hopkins more talented but Jones tougher), McLaughlin v. Donovan, and right on down the line ... hard to find any spot where 04 would have a big edge or even any edge.  The difference is that the 04 squad only had around 8 upper classmen who could play, this squad has around 10 even with Goldsmith and Coulibaly injured.  We haven't even seen the frosh class, barely, but I bet that Carcieri and S. Wheeler would get PT on the 04 team.   

[nescac1]

One other thing, Senator: Amherst will have a few weeks to get its act together as there is no way they will even break a sweat until, at the earliest, the elite 8 given how soft their sectional is.  I really don't see WPI, after losing to Coast Guard and their performance in the 2006 tourney, giving Amherst much trouble ...  and who else in the sectional is remotely close to Amherst's level? Salem (deservedly) has a much, much tougher sectional with Trinity, Brandeis and the LEC teams.

Yet another interesting story line from Williams' sectional, should Williams and St. Lawrence manage to survive their first round match-ups (tougher for the Ephs than St. Lawrence ...).  In addition to Paulsen coaching against his former school and vs. his former assistant, St. Lawrence's talent is concentrated in its sophomore class, apparently recruited by Josh Loeffler:

http://www.stevensducks.com/info/staff/bio.asp?MEMBER_ID=140

In addition, when Loeffler coached at Williams he (I assume) was a big part of recruiting the current group of frosh who are contributing to this run.  So including Stevens, that is three programs he has been instrumental in getting into this year's tourney.  Sounds like a coach on the rise to me ...

Speaking of Williams' recruiting, another mention of future Eph Whittington on a blog, this time it does mention Williams:

"Troy Whittington was recently featured on MSG at a game I was at. He is a house down low who can score, rebound and block shots from seemingly nowhere. He'll be attending Williams College next Fall. The talent in this league isn't top tier. But the ball is a very good brand."

[tballs]

Trinity definately has a tough one this friday.  Brandeis is a big team with a lot of depth.  Pretty much everyone who plays can put the ball on the floor, go to the hoop and shoot 3s.  They also like to go small, sub-ing one of their big guys for another guard who is real quick and gets in the lane and to the hoop.  outside sources say their best player is a 6' 6" kid who has game that is similar to Rose. 

Should be a great matchup, but trinity cant play like they did against williams and sit back and jack 3 and not attack the hoop.  Trinity is a lot better when the ball goes into R. Martin- he should touch it in the post every possesion and kick out from there to shooters. 

is it a 6 or 7 oclock start time? 

[mrmike88]

I'd compare DeLuca more to Wheeler than Rose.  When he played Amherst earlier in the year he set up much more in the low post than outside.  He, like Wheeler and Rose, is a very good outside shooter, but he's much more of a banger than Rose.

The game is at 6:00.

[nescac hoops]

Senator,

Great to have you back!
You posted on December 27th, 2006 and then did not post again until Williams won on Sunday. That is true loyality only interrupted by what I'm sure was a crazy situation with your computer/internetprovider/wirelessconnection/electricaloutlets/abilitytogetonline
that coincidentally fell during the same two months that the Ephs were "finding themselves."

walzy, i'm pretty sure that this is the same senator that tried to defend the amherst's loss in the final four to wiliams on an injury. at best, he is a neutral fan but probably favors amherst and not one that would "hideout" during the eph's hiatus from the win column. he is one of your own, please don't equate him with us. i am almost enjoying the amherst posters arguing amongst themselves more than the eph win itself.

[The Historian]

From what I hear, All-NESCAC selections and POY will be announced this afternoon at 3:00.

[The Historian]

2006-07 NESCAC MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-CONFERENCE

First Team

G         Nick Farrell                            Colby              Sr.       Aspen, Colo.

G         Andrew Olson                       Amherst          Jr.        San Diego, Calif.

G         Zak Ray                                 Bates              Sr.       Bangor, Maine

F          Rob Stockwell                       Bates              Sr.       Temple, N.H.

F          Dan Wheeler                        Amherst         Sr.       Bloomington, Minn.

Second Team

G         Kino Clarke                           Trinity            Sr.        Brooklyn, N.Y.

G         Pat Martin                             Trinity            Sr.       Springfield, Mass.

G         Chris Shalvoy                       Williams          Jr.        Rochester, N.Y.

C         Russ Martin                          Trinity             Jr.         E. Longmeadow, Mass.

F          Jake Weitzen                       Tufts              Jr.        New York, N.Y.

Player of the Year: Andrew Olson, Amherst

Defensive Player of the Year: Zak Ray, Bates

Rookie of the Year: Jon Pierce, Tufts

Coach of the Year: Dave Paulsen, Williams

[nescac hoops]

i am in absolute shock that both ray and stockwell are first teamers. how does a team with 2 of the 5 supposed best players in the league finish 8th in the conference?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I was surprised to see both of them as well, but these awards aren't for teams; they're for individuals.  Those guys are both very talented, even if they can't figure out how to win games together.

[Col. Partridge]

If these awards are for individuals and not teams, I fail to see any reason why R Kelly was not at least a 2nd teamer.

[nescac hoops]

hoops fan,
they knew how to win game together before, such as last season when i would argue the league was even tougher. those two, in particular stockwell, simply didn't have the year this year that they had in years prior. it's not as though there coach is awful...he was coach of the year last year. if you want to reward seniors who had overall strong careers that's fine...but the where is cohen on this list?

I was surprised to see both of them as well, but these awards aren't for teams; they're for individuals.  Those guys are both very talented, even if they can't figure out how to win games together.

[hoopjunkie]

Who the heck is R Kelly capt?.

Couple of suprises - Cohen nothing ? that is wild . I thought he carried
Colby not Farrell .

Wheeler - could have  been 2nd team .
I agree with Ray & Stockwell  they are excellent .
Thought Chris Rose would be somewhere .
Great call on Weitzen for Tufts - the best passer other then Olson in the league .