MBB: NESCAC

[Old Guy]

We'll see if Middlebury belongs this weekend vs Amherst and Trinity. Midd played well last year against these top teams on the road, but may have sneaked up on them. That's hardly the case this year. Big Hoop contests at Middlebury - almost an oxymoron, isn't it? Men's hockey is away too. I like it.

I'm not sure Middlebury is "a year away," as one post suggested. Harris (unfortunately) is a senior, so is Walsh, a very reliable presence underneath. Smith and Rudin, perhaps our two top players, are juniors. Good experience.

Neither is it, now-or-never; Coglan and Locke, frosh, played well in Maine.

Amherst and Trinity have so much talent that it's hard to believe, if they bring their A games, they won't prevail. But Midd is well-led, well-balanced, competitive, and also talented. If Rudin makes good decisions in the forecourt and we are solid from the line, . . . it's very possible.

There's a good chance I'll be pacing the hallway peeking through the window to the gym in the final minutes of these games. Can't wait.

[fpc85]

We'll see if Middlebury belongs this weekend vs Amherst and Trinity. Midd played well last year against these top teams on the road, but may have sneaked up on them. That's hardly the case this year. Big Hoop contests at Middlebury - almost an oxymoron, isn't it? Men's hockey is away too. I like it.

I'm not sure Middlebury is "a year away," as one post suggested. Harris (unfortunately) is a senior, so is Walsh, a very reliable presence underneath. Smith and Rudin, perhaps our two top players, are juniors. Good experience.

Neither is it, now-or-never; Coglan and Locke, frosh, played well in Maine.

Amherst and Trinity have so much talent that it's hard to believe, if they bring their A games, they won't prevail. But Midd is well-led, well-balanced, competitive, and also talented. If Rudin makes good decisions in the forecourt and we are solid from the line, . . . it's very possible.

There's a good chance I'll be pacing the hallway peeking through the window to the gym in the final minutes of these games. Can't wait.

OG, midd. sounds good....i haven't seen them play in 3 years...when they had a crazy guard with a very irish name...he was nuts....if you see the jeffs let me know what you think of them...i would love an unbiased opinion.

[walzy31]

FPC,

Simon "The Tornado" Beehan is the Midd point guard you remember.

He was 2006 1st Team All NESCAC All Crazy and was Honorable Mention last season.

[frank uible]

The Joseph P. "Joe" Zabilski Award has been given annually since 1996 by The Gridiron Club of Greater Boston to "New England's Best Collegiate Player in Divisions II and III". It is given each year separately on offense and on defense. Sean Keenan received it in 1998, Joe Reardon in 2001 and Scott Farley in 2002. As I recall, Joe Zabilski was an Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Northeastern University.

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks, Frank. The original reference made it sound like a national award.

BTW, for those who missed it last night, Midd coach Jeff Brown was on Hoopsville. Here's the archive:

http://www.d3hoops.com/dailydose/2008/01/21/hoopsville-podcast-from-january-20th

[NESCACAlumn]

Simon's nickname was not the "Tornado" but was in fact the "Celtic Crusader"

[formerbant10]

Simon's nickname was not the "Tornado" but was in fact the "Celtic Crusader"

Walzy is referring to his nickname on the All Crazy team

[walzy31]

Thanks FormerBant.

NescacAlum,
Yes, I refer to Beehan as the Tornado because he would grab a defensive rebound, sprint with his head down full steam until he reached the basket that Midd was shooting at, and then the ball would fire out of the tornado hard and seemingly aimlessly. To Beehan's credit, 80% of these tornado drives resulted in him shooting two free throws.



The Massey Ratings are now out through games played 1/20/08.
Here is how the NESCAC's strength of schedule stack up on a national level:

Babson (NEWMAC - 1)
UW - Oshkosh (WIAC - 2)
Augustana (CCIW - 3)

Amherst (52)
Tufts (71)
Middlebury (100)
Conn (107)
Bates (131)
Trinity (166)
Williams (183)
Colby (198)
Bowdoin (237)
Wesleyan (251)

Thomas maine (N Atlantic - 403)
Crown minnesota (UMAC - 404)
Lyndon State (Independent - 405)
Lincoln Christian (SLIAC - 406)

[walzy31]

Amherst - 42.0 @ So. Vermont (AKA @ Nick Harrington)

[middguy]

Midd seems better this year than any in recent memory - their two losses were to quite good teams, both of which have two losses thus far (Stevens, which is ranked 21, and Ursinus, which has been getting votes). Winning two on the road, without your leading scorer, is a huge accomplishment and speaks to the depth of the team. Granted one may argue that Bowdoin was on an emotional high after beating Williams and was thus more prone to being knocked off (this phenomenon/excuse was eagerly offered by Amherst fans after Midd victories at Amherst in 2001 and against Amherst in 2002 at Midd). Bottom line if Midd picks up at least one win this weekend they have a legitimate shot of a top 3 seed for the conference tournament. Two wins and they will be on top of the conference for the first time since the playoff system, with a top 25 ranking in tow.

As an aside, does anyone know why Harris was out for the past few games, and will he be back in the lineup for this weekend?

[nescac1]

Midd does seem very solid.  I think they will be the league favorite and make national noise next year, if they don't this year.  They clearly have the strongest group of juniors in the league, Rudin and Smith give them stars at the 1 and 5, and Dudley looks like he's developed into a reliable scorer.  Edwards is a great do-it-all glue guy / defensive specialist type.  The x factor could be the 6'10 frosh, Andrew Locke. I googled him, and apparently he was only 6'7 at the start of his senior year in high school:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/preps/295911_prephoopcaps14.html

That means he could still be growing, and certainly is still growing into his body, and his late growth spurt is probably the only reason that a guy that big but still (apparently) coordinated is in NESCAC.   Think Walters at Amherst -- another late bloomer who grew late and now has developed into a force with tremendous size and athleticism at the S.F. spot.  He and Smith could give them a scary front court next year.  Add in a few other young guys who look good (Ryan Wholey was pretty hyped as a recruit but has yet to play much, Kelleher was similarly hyped last year and is starting to get some PT as a sophomore, and Couglin is yet another scorer off the bench) and Midd has as strong an underclassman nucleus as anyone in the league, right there with Williams and Amherst.   This weekend will prove whether they are ready to compete for a league title this year, or are just warming up for a favorite's role next season ...

[NESCACAlumn]

Formerbant10 and Walzy31 I am very familiar with Simon Behan, and the fervor he displayed on the court, we all should be familiar with him, after all he is one of the Greatest Players of Our Time

[JeffRookie2]

Lord Jeff defense has looked really off lately. Allowed So. Vermont to shoot 50% from the field tonight after holding them to 35% earlier in the year. This after a near disasterous performance against Bates (49% from the field). The defense had better straighten itself out quick or I can't see Amherst coming away from this weekend pleased.

[formerbant10]

Formerbant10 and Walzy31 I am very familiar with Simon Behan, and the fervor he displayed on the court, we all should be familiar with him, after all he is one of the Greatest Players of Our Time

Hahaha, haven't heard/seen that term in a while.  Very nice.

[NY Hoopster]

Middguy;

Andrew Harris has his left hand in a hard cast due to either a broken left hand or wrist. It has been reported that he will be out a minimum of three weeks. Here's wishing him a fast recovery in his Senior year.