MBB: NESCAC

[met_fan]

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.

Yeah....Union and Hamilton were both there when the league was founded in 1971, so apparently the New England part of the name didn't bother anyone.

[NY Hoopster]

Are any of this weekend's games being webcast? If so, can anyone provide the links or other info to tune in? Many thanks!

[eclinchy]

They all are.

http://www.d3cast.com

[La Verdad]

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.

"If Sargeantson, Fliegel and Jackson, along with their sixth man, 6-foot-6 sophomore Mark Phillips, can shut down Amherst's big four, the Polar Bears could land the upset of the top-seeded Lord Jeffs."

They might want to try and stop the little guy too...he's pretty good.

[OLD STUDENT/ATHLETE]

My congratulations and awe to Amherst for having such a great basketball program and being one of the greatest academic institutions in the country.
I am a Centre fan, and hope we are good enough to play you all sometime, maybe this year. You're combination of academics and athletics is what DIII should be all about.

[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.

"If Sargeantson, Fliegel and Jackson, along with their sixth man, 6-foot-6 sophomore Mark Phillips, can shut down Amherst's big four, the Polar Bears could land the upset of the top-seeded Lord Jeffs."

They might want to try and stop the little guy too...he's pretty good.

Touche sir.

I had a Sarge quote about how "We have to try to get the ball out of Olson's hands a little bit," but the article was getting way too long and it wouldn't fit on the page.  I figured I might as well cut the most obvious part.  If you don't know how good Olson is, you probably aren't reading in the first place.

Although it is kinda weird that I just wrote about Amherst without mentioning Olson once.

[uaapride]

eclinchy,

I must say, thank you for all that you do for NESCAC basketball. There aren't many students out there who put the time and effort into writing about NESCAC hoops. It's tough enough to get students at the games, let alone show as much interest as you do. Maybe we could steal you and have you cover some games in the UAA? 

I like Amherst by about 12-15 this weekend. Bowdoin is a very well coached team, but there is no possible way that Bowdoin's bigs have a chance against Jones, Hopkins etc... Fliegal vs. Hopkins/Jones??? PLEASE!!

Although Midd is extremely hot and Harris is back, I still like Trinity. RT3, Martin and co. are not going to lose on their "2nd" homecourt. Great first half, but Trinity will pull away in the end. Trinity by 7.

[FormerPolarBear]

Eclinchy, very well written article.  As a Bowdoin alum, I was very happy to see them receive some pub.  It is much appreciated and I know those guys really appreciated it too, thank you.

[eclinchy]

I like Amherst by about 12-15 this weekend. Bowdoin is a very well coached team, but there is no possible way that Bowdoin's bigs have a chance against Jones, Hopkins etc... Fliegal vs. Hopkins/Jones??? PLEASE!!

Fliegel had 20 and 6 against Hopkins this year and 15 and 5 against O'Shea last year.  He's always been fine against Amherst.

[fpc85]

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.

eclinchy,
great job... will you be at amherst during the weekend?

I like Amherst by about 12-15 this weekend. Bowdoin is a very well coached team, but there is no possible way that Bowdoin's bigs have a chance against Jones, Hopkins etc... Fliegal vs. Hopkins/Jones??? PLEASE!!

Fliegel had 20 and 6 against Hopkins this year and 15 and 5 against O'Shea last year.  He's always been fine against Amherst.

the jeffs are usually better the second time they play a team but the bigs from bc are experienced and talented. It should be a war down low. Fliegel has an unusual blend of a mid range game coupled with superior skills in the post. Sargentson (sp.) may slow whoever (or is it whomever?) he defends. Hop and co. will have to play at a high level to meet the challenge....can't wait to see a great game.

[daoustian]

Pretty cool to see some Centre folks trolling the NESCAC board. 

Recruiting update -- David Zaitz (Amherst '12) is pictured in this story about his HS team's semifinal loss (NY Section 1): http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080229/SPORTS02/802290372/1281/NEWS0226 -- in case anyone was curious as to what the kid looked like. 

[nescac1]

While we're on the recruit topic (and since us Ephs have nothing else to post about, alas), another nice article on Marcus Wells:

http://www.examiner.com/a-1249618~Wells_keeps_it_exciting.html?cid=rss-San_Francisco

I am guessing this kid will, at least by season's end, be the starting point and follow in the tradition of four years starters at the point (Crotty / Shalvoy).  Hopefully with lower expectations the Ephs will play a little more relaxed next season, they certainly have the talent, especially inside where Geoghegan, Whittington, Dodson, Meyer, Timmins-Schiffman and incoming recruit Emerson provide a huge pool of talented bigs, many of them experienced. 

What ended up happening with David Waller?  Supposedly deciding between Amherst and Princeton, right? 

Also, this article mentions a guy going to Bates:

http://www.sunjournal.com/story/253350-3/HSBasketballTourn/Red_Eddies_kept_Rams_on_guard_all_season/

[hoopjunkie]

You know what everyone,however  I think Bowdoin has a shot at an upset !!Olsen will have his hands full with Hippert. If Hippert gets hot lookout . Sarge is really a  great defender & I think Fliegel can play agains the totally overrated bigs for the LJ`s . I have never been a fan of Hopkins or Walters . I think without Olsen the POY those 2 guys are average . No question Amherst has alot of weapons & they are a great team , however the Polar Bear are playing well . I would love to see a Middlebury vs Bowdin final

[eclinchy]

eclinchy,
great job... will you be at amherst during the weekend?

Thought about it, but it's looking unlikely.  Pretty much no one else from Tufts wants to go, and borrowing/renting a car just to drive two hours each way, by myself, isn't my idea of a great weekend.

On the other hand, I'll be in Virginia over spring break visiting family.  I hear there's some kind of D3 basketball going on down there in a few weeks?

[hoopjunkie]

I think none  of us from Tufts ever wants to go to the haunted house err err... gym at Amherst again . Except the womans team . Go JUMBOS