MBB: NESCAC

[Ole Ollie]

>>Is there any other conference in the country with 3 legitimate contenders?<<

The UAA. 

Wash U--Returns everyone except for one starter from last year's Final Four team and has a former starter returning who was out injured last year.  They may be the consensus #1 team pre season, although I would imagine Amherst fans would beg to differ.

Rochester--Returning all but one starter and one reserve from a team that split with both Wash U and Brandeis last year.  Ranked #9 pre-season by Street & Smith's.

Brandeis--Returns everyone from a team that split with Wash U and Rochester and knocked Trinity out of the tourney last year.  Ranked #6 by Street and Smith.

[JeffRookie2]

By "hasn't lost too much," I hope you mean "lost the winningest class in program history."

I'm not disagreeing with you about Amherst -- obviously, they're still insanely good -- but still, let's give credit to Wheeler/T-Mac/O'Shea/Salerno where credit is due.

emphasis on TOO much, as in, certainly we lost some great players, but not TOO much to compete for another title.

[JeffRookie2]

>>Is there any other conference in the country with 3 legitimate contenders?<<

Brandeis--Returns everyone from a team that split with Wash U and Rochester and knocked Trinity out of the tourney last year.  Ranked #6 by Street and Smith.

Whats the deal with DeLuca? Is he really hurt? If so, how seriously?

[fpc85]

NESCAC will be very competitive. In recent history has there been a year where the NESCAC had 3 teams in the tournament? I am not sure but I would think it is rare. Which would mean that a good team(s) may not be in the NCAA's.

[formerbant10]

Last year:  Williams, Amherst, Trinity----Amherst National Champs
2003-04:  Williams, Amherst, Trinity----Williams & Amherst Final Four

There have been other years with a 3rd team narrowly missing out as well.

[fpc85]

Thanks....I forgot about Trinity qualifying last year. They will be tough again this year. They may be a better team w/ Clarke. Some teams respond better when they have fewer options.....maybe the ball will go to Martin more often.

[eclinchy]

There have been other years with a 3rd team narrowly missing out as well.

Like... two years ago, for example?  I seem to remember Bates making a strong case for themselves in '06, the year Amherst and Tufts made it.  Something about a 16-game winning streak?

[walzy31]

loved zak ray's game...dont get me wrong.

but Bates won those 16 games against maine farmington, sothern maine, maine st josephs, colby, bowdoin, southern maine, colby, skohegan high school, maine lavender island, canada, maine fort kentucky and husson. (alright nescac fans, eaaaasy. that was an exaggeration and i feel the need to explain myself since everyone has been so tense and emotional from the "byline"-lewinski-watergate scandal. )

they also then lost 4 of 5 falling ot tufts, amherst, trinity, amherst. and their one win? bowdoin

[ephoops]

Formerbant:

2003-2004 is a better example than last year.  Williams would not have received an at large bid last year.  Winning the NESCAC tourney was the only reason they were in the dance.

In the the 2003 - 2004 season, Williams and Amherst were legit top 5 teams and Trinity was a legit top 20 team. 

This year it appears that both Williams and Trinity are legit top 20 teams with Amherst either #1 or #2.

[ephoops]

It's nice to see that the two best academic conferences in D3 both have three teams that are legit top 20 teams, with each one capable of making a deep run in the tourney.

[formerbant10]

Formerbant:

2003-2004 is a better example than last year.  Williams would not have received an at large bid last year.  Winning the NESCAC tourney was the only reason they were in the dance.

In the the 2003 - 2004 season, Williams and Amherst were legit top 5 teams and Trinity was a legit top 20 team. 

This year it appears that both Williams and Trinity are legit top 20 teams with Amherst either #1 or #2.

While I agree that the 03-04 season had slightly better teams, last year is relevant because of the expansion of the tournament.  03-04 saw the 'CAC grab 2 of the 7 Pool C bids...making it even more impressive.  I'm pretty sure that at one point in the season all 3 teams were in the top 10 with 1 maybe 2 losses going into the last week of the regular season.

[nescac1]

Check this year out (granted, different selection criteria, I think):

http://www.d3hoops.com/archives/mncaa95.htm

Williams, Trinity, Colby, Tufts all in the tourney (plus Hamilton, which was still in the NESCAC at that time).

Not sure that will ever be topped until the tourney goes to 64 teams ...

On another note, this may well be the strongest senior class in NESCAC history.  Considering it is also one of the weaker junior classes (beyond Baskauskas and Pierce, and maybe one of the Midd guys, no real all-league contenders in that group), there will be a real sense of urgency for many teams.  Amherst has its ridiculous senior core of course, but Williams, Tufts and Trinity are not far behind.  Bowdoin and Conn College also look to be senior dominated teams.  Middlebury is the only potential contender that won't be decimated by graduation this year.     

[Pat Coleman]

Indeed, that was a 64-team tournament in 1995, with eight bids guaranteed to the NE.

[Old Guy]

First team:
Olson
Martin
Rose
Weitzen
Shalvoy

Second team:
Hopkins
Stone
Pierce
Hippert
Baskauskas

Time will tell as to whether a bunch more Jeffs and Ephs (off the top of my head, you could make a case for Coulibaly, Walters, Jones, Geohegan, Schultz, or Snyder) make the list.  Also, I'd feel remiss if I didn't throw a sleeper pick out there for Jeremy Black.  Laugh now, but I'll be waiting for my props come March.

[Old Guy]

Sorry about the empty post. I don't know what I'm doing: I'm too old.

Walzy31: I'm glad Middlebury is flying under the radar but I suspect Harris and Smith might get some consideration for post-season honors when it's all said and done.

I was in Lewiston last weekend and heard that Bates has some serious front-court help - two very large frosh and a transfer.