MBB: NESCAC

[daoustian]

Pretty animated stuff here.  I'd say "get a room, you two" except you guys already have one here on the forum.  Very few other places in the world will you see people get so excited about D3 basketball -- worth keeping in perspective.

JeffRookie: regardless of what is up on the Playoffs link, I get all warm and fuzzy every time I see the front page and the pic of the Amherst team holding up the trophy in Salem that has been a part of the header on the front page for the past 10.5 months or so.  That's all the reminder I need.

Nice work to those who compiled the All Decade Team -- generates discussion and enthusiasm.  Looking forward to seeing the all 00s team come out in January 2010 -- though people can then be upset about players whose careers straddle two decades (08,09,10,11) not getting the recognition they deserve, though if we're all around to read about that many moons from now, consider yourself fortunate. 

[Friar T]

Good call on the banner of the main page. Gives cred to our man Pat giving respect of greatness.

I get all warm and fuzzy too seeing Fletch's mug on there.

[eclinchy]

To see Williams not make the tourney would be hilarious.

At least we agree on one thing.

But to say that "Pat can be biased against anyone he wants" is pretty ridiculous.  This is a website that covers 389 teams.  For it to reflect the publisher's blatant bias against just one of the 389 would be horribly unprofessional.  Luckily for us, that isn't a problem -- Pat has been fair to the Jeffs, the Ephs and the other 387.

Speaking as a diehard Jumbo who's usually equally annoyed by Amherst and Williams, I don't see anything wrong with saying that Amherst fans are insufferable.  Even though I hate to see Hixon and Olson and company win as much as they do, I have a ton of respect for how successful they've been.  Their fans, however, have done nothing to earn my respect.  Pat and I seem to agree on a lot here -- respect the team, resent the fans.

[Pat Coleman]

T: I'm sorry man -- I hear you but there are also people who come onto the boards and believe every word they read. I have to debunk people's ravings because someone will take them at face value, no matter their credibility. 

And eclinchy, not even resent all fans, man. Every fan base has a vocal minority.

[toad22]

In terms of the NESCAC players over the last decade, the committee certainly got it right making Mike Nogelo the top pick. He was hands down the best player in the NESCAC in the last ten years. He was a pleasure to watch every night. I hope I live to see a player better than Nogelo playing for Williams in the future. The odds probably arn't very good.

[formerbant10]

I'm dizzzy

[dman]

congrats to mike nogelo and mike crotty on making the all-decade team....nogelo could probably lace-em up tonite and still be the best player in the league, if not the country.....

[La Verdad]

And eclinchy, not even resent all fans, man. Every fan base has a vocal minority.

Good point.  Don't throw everyone under the bus just because of a couple posters (kind of embarrassed that I'm probably in that group  ).

First, Walters...who is this guy? Walters is a D-III, 6'7" small forward who shot 5-10 from 3pt vs Conn including 4-4 to start the second half (felt like 7-7). Huh?

Olsen: Looked bored. Tickled himself with a no look alley-oop and a few bulls-eyes from about 27 ft vs the 2-3 zone.

Jones: I like this kid.

Amherst fans, thank you for your praise of the Camels.

Fletch was a bit of a late bloomer.  Played pg for a good part of his high school career and has grown 2 or 3 inches since getting to Amherst.

You should've seen Andrew at the beginning of the season...bored was an understatement.  Maybe one of his bigger weaknesses.

I like Jones too.  He just wants to win. 

there is one award that is a no-brainer: the defensive player of the year.  Andrew Sargeantson from Bowdoin is hands down the best defender in the NESCAC. 

Doesn't Bowdoin play a match-up zone? 

[ILive4This]

few more minutes if anyone wants to get in a posters poll for this week. As always the NESCAC should have quite a presence.

[The Observation Deck]

First time I saw Fletcher Walters play I thought he looked way way out of place on the perimeter. But he just poured in points, couple of threes in back to back possessions, etc.

[FormerPolarBear]

La Verdad...
  Bowdoin does play a match-up zone.  They also have presses, a 1-3-1 zone, and other defensive schemes.  However, they play man-to-man defense the majority of the time.  Since when does playing zone a small percentage of the time, ban one from being considered a good defender?  Syracuse has had some pretty good defenders in their historic program and i believe they play zone all the time.  Sargeantson is the best defensive player in the NESCAC, hands down.  If you disagree, take a trip to Maine and watch him shut down Pierce this weekend or just simply ask all of the other great scorers he has already locked down.  

[Old Guy]

 ". . . but there is one award that is a no-brainer: the defensive player of the year.  Andrew Sargeantson from Bowdoin is hands down the best defender in the NESCAC." formerpolarbear

Not sure it's a "no-brainer": There are folks at Middlebury that might include Tim Edwards, our defensive specialist, a big (6'3-6'4") two-guard who picks up the opposition's best offensive player. I didn't see Middlebury's 17 point win at Bowdoin, so can't address who played better defense in that game.  

[mrmike88]

I was sold on Walters early on last season when he had a big game against Brandeis.  Part of the reason the rest of the conference (and country) hadn't noticed much of him was because his main role last season was to spell Dan Wheeler.  Let's face it - once we got into the conference schedule and the postseason Dan logged a lot of minutes!

Someone who's seen the team live this year can probably answer my question: last year, Walters always went left with the ball (he's a lefty), and it boggled my mind why no team we played tried to force him right.  Has he developed his right hand at all this year?  Is that why he's come on of late?

[walzy31]

It only needs to be asked the first time. After that it's not nearly as relevant. (As in, I wouldn't bother to ask Hope that question after a second national title if that brought them even with Calvin.)

But I appreciate your stance, and particularly the non-combative way you made your stance known.

No Pat. If Amherst wins a second national title this year, please ask someone on the Amherst team what the Amherst/Williams banner count is during the post-game press conference.

I have not seen many of the players listed on the All-Decade team play. Sure there were some NESCAC guys I think could be up there (Tabb & Olson). Can't disagree with Nogelo and Crotty. NESCAC1 described Coffin's absence on the team to a tee (he was damn good for 1.5 years). I was surprised by Dauksas from Ill Wes' place on the team. I saw two games of his during the 2006 final four and was not wow'ed to the same level as I am by Adair dropping 25 and 12 every night or Olson no-look passes and NBA threes. Maybe I caught a bad weekend of his, but I thought Peja Amelionovich was their premier player also.

[walzy31]

I was sold on Walters early on last season when he had a big game against Brandeis.  Part of the reason the rest of the conference (and country) hadn't noticed much of him was because his main role last season was to spell Dan Wheeler.  Let's face it - once we got into the conference schedule and the postseason Dan logged a lot of minutes!

Someone who's seen the team live this year can probably answer my question: last year, Walters always went left with the ball (he's a lefty), and it boggled my mind why no team we played tried to force him right.  Has he developed his right hand at all this year?  Is that why he's come on of late?

Mike,

Fletch still shoots the three with his left hand. I think in order to best get a scout on Fletcher you would have to see him in person. Otherwise I will say he goes both ways, can dribble and pass with both hands, can dunk, is from Michigan, can shoots threes, wears the #32 jersey, is averaging 25 and 9 the last four games, and always has a real intimidating grin on his face. If you decide to triple team him based on that summary of his game, please reference CCSalive's post about the other four scrubs Amherst starts.