MBB: NESCAC

[Friar T]

Friar T;

Last time Midd and Trinity matched up, Harris was still out with an injury.
I thought Midd would easily handle Williams, and I think they will beat Trinity as well. They have better shooters, and have an imposing inside presence. I'm guessing Midd will win, but with less than a 10 point spread. I was underwhelmed by Trinity when they played Colby.

Didn't know this, the lack of Harris would definitely make a large difference.

Friar T:
It's hard to know what to write after a 37 point second half slaughter. Clearly, the Ephs never got a good team rhythm going the entire year. I Think it is very difficult for a team to adjust to the severe slump of a star player. I can't explain what happened to Chris Rose, but it wasn't because he didn't try or didn't care. The whole team seemed to go into a slump along with him, and so went the season. The one bright spot was the play of Matt Weisbrot. He finally got a chance to play for a whole year without injury and he made the most of it. Middlebury should get a bid to the NCAAs. They really do have game this year. 

It also should be hard to write after falling from #4 in the nation to not making the tourney...

Friar T:

- Also keep in mind that Middlebury has played better on the road this whole season.
- Middlebury is also coming off a game in which they shot 58% from the field versus their 36% they shot versus Trinity...

Field goal percentage is sometimes a reflection of hot or cold shooting. More often, it is a reflection of the level of defense played against them. Comparing how a team shot against a Williams defense to how the same team shot against a Trinity defense may have more to do with quality of opponent...

Home-court advantage is a HUGE thing in college basketball regardless of division. However, you have to look at quality of opponent. Going 5-0 on the road in conference is less impressive when you see that Midd played at Colby, at Tufts, at Bates, at Williams and at Bowdoin (only two of these teams had winning conference records and the win at Bowdoin is impressive). To say a team plays better on the road is a ridiculous excuse for losing to two of the top teams in the conference (plus Conn College) at home.

[Hahaha]

This is what will happen this weekend in Nescac Basketball......

Froto will carry Amherst to a 20 point win over Bowdoin.... (-18 1/2)

Middlebury will stomp on Trinty's face since Trinity has never won a big game ever.....(-6)


Anybody have any ideas, id be down to hear them

[formerbant10]

Let us not forget that the Bants (most likely) have the 2nd best record at Amherst....it's their home away from home.

[FormerPolarBear]

Bowdoin with a 4 point upset of Amherst- 74-70
Trinity with a 5 point win over Middlebury- 69-64

I may be going out on a limb, but I cannot pick against Bowdoin.  With that said, Im also rooting for Trinity because I saw Middlebury handle Bowdoin and I think Trinity is a better match up for Bowdoin.  If Bowdoin is fortunate to get to the finals I would rather they play Trinity.

Actual spreads
Amherst -7 1/2 Bowdoin
Trinity -2 Middlebury

[met_fan]

I'm aware that there are plenty of schools out there equal to Amherst and Williams.  I don't know of anyone who objectively considers Hamilton to be one of them.

I do think the NESCAC is more prestigious than the Liberty League, and I do think it would help recruiting for Hamilton to be a full NESCAC member.  However I understand that there are tons of practical issues making that impossible, and I think your traveling partner argument is a very good point.  Either way, nothing's going to change as a result of our bickering.

I don't think his point was that Hamilton is the equal of Amherst/Williams.  In fact, I think he was comparing them more to the other schools who, while still enjoying fine reputations, aren't fighting it out for #1 in the US News rankings every year.

[BillWalton]

I'd take Olson over Webb bc of the showmanship factor.  I'd make Jones and Bol go one on one, winner stays.  Bill Walton gets winner, he used to ball back in the day.

La Verdad, I dig it.

As for LaFREAKenstein, stay up don't let the bad vibes bring you down man, take it from me one of the top 7 color commentators of all time

As previously stated, the homecourt advantage hasn't always come into play at LeFrak. The fans don't really have any organization, what happened to Lord Jeff Nation? This coupled with the fact that teams like Trinity (Williams, Tufts) travel well with their fanbase to Amherst the home court seems neutral.

oh and HAHAHA....you aren't funny

Peace. Love. Basketball

[eclinchy]

I think Middlebury's a favorite over Trinity, neutral site with Harris at full strength.  I don't know how you can count the Panthers out after how they dismantled Williams last weekend.  Smith has been absolutely phenomenal lately -- he and Walsh should do well against the Trin bigs.  Midd by 6-7ish sounds about right.

[Marty Peretz]

Just throwing it out there, but would the NESCAC have to change its name if Hamilton joined the league? New York isn't in New England...just saying...

[BillWalton]

Good Question
how about change it to the North-East Small College Athletic Conference so that they don't have to change the logos website domain etc

[Pat Coleman]

Hamilton is already in the league.

[formerbant10]

Hamilton is already in the league.

For many sports, but not hoops.  To point out the obvious.

[Pat Coleman]

Right -- but it's not a matter of them joining the league. They're in the league. A change to their basketball schedule shouldn't necessitate a league name change.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Besides, they can always use the Big Ten precedent!

[formerbant10]

As far as I know, it was still the NESCAC when Union was in it as well....so I don't see a name change happening.  I think that the presidents like the sound of "NESCAC" too, it's fun to say.

[eclinchy]

Polar Bears feature

Hoping to spark up some NESCAC tourney discussion... it's two days away from the league's final four and we're talking about Hamilton.