MBB: NESCAC

[ephoops]

I heard today from a very well-place Amherst official that the feeling is that the incoming class may be the best one they have ever admitted. Time will till, but that is scary given the talent in past classes.

Coach Maker...Welcome to the best rivalry in D3 Basketball (with no apologies to Hope/Calvin)...

One piece of advice to the new coach -- Get to know Dick Nesbitt and his colleagues in admissions at Hopkins Hall.  Tom Parker (aka "the GM"), the esteemed Directors of Admissions at Amherst,  obviously likes the view at the top of NESCAC and the rest of D3 basketball.  Hixon's built a juggernaut with Parker's assistance and they don't appear ready to relinquish their lead dog position --  They don't rebuild, they reload.

Let's hope the trip to Italy later this month is the start of good things to come...

[fpc85]

I omitted Steve Wheeler from my best players list. e has an excellent chance to being considered for all NESCAC. He will be a potent weapon in the conf.

[walzy31]

I heard today from a very well-place Amherst official that the feeling is that the incoming class may be the best one they have ever admitted. Time will till, but that is scary given the talent in past classes.

Coach Maker...Welcome to the best rivalry in D3 Basketball (with no apologies to Hope/Calvin)...

One piece of advice to the new coach -- Get to know Dick Nesbitt and his colleagues in admissions at Hopkins Hall.  Tom Parker (aka "the GM"), the esteemed Directors of Admissions at Amherst,  obviously likes the view at the top of NESCAC and the rest of D3 basketball.  Hixon's built a juggernaut with Parker's assistance and they don't appear ready to relinquish their lead dog position --  They don't rebuild, they reload.

Let's hope the trip to Italy later this month is the start of good things to come...

The Amherst '03 class of Faulkner, Fitzsimmons and Zieja was admitted prior to Tom Parker's tenure began at Amherst. Those three guys were stellar and, in my opinion, kicked off this most recent run that Hixon and Amherst have been on for six or seven seasons.

EphHoops,
Is this really a voice from Williams pointing a finger at Amherst's admissions because a team has had success? Do you see Amherst implying that Dick Nesbitt is to thank for Williams' perennial winning ways in Water Polo, Equestrian, Competitive Trampoline Jumping, Women's Track, Fencing and all the other sports that push Williams to the top of the Sears Cup Standings every year?
No.
The facts point to Amherst being able to lure Ivy/Patriot League talent to their hoops program for the better part of decade, just like Williams has been able to lure Ivy/Patriot League talent to their Table Tennis and Hop-Scotch teams. The academic quality of both schools' student-athletes are extremely high.

FYI - Add Taylor Barrise and Connor Johnson to the list of Amherst '11 talent coming in.

[nescac1]

I'd agree that we should drop the admissions-related comments (something I myself have been guilty of in the past ...).  All the guys at all these schools have immense qualifications, and in any event, we can only speculate or opine based on unreliable hearsay regarding who would have gotten in where based on academics. 

Whatever Parker's views may be (and as an Eph alum, if he IS helping the Jeffs beat Williams, god help him !), Amherst's track record the last few years certainly has to be attractive to prospective recruits (although the leanest Williams overall recruiting period in some time -- the classes of 06 through 09 produced a grand total of two second team and no first team all-league guys -- strangely coincided with Williams' greatest success in recent years).  Moreover, I am not suprised a huge pool of (I believe six) tall (shortest guy around 6'4) and talented recruits jumped at the chance at immediately playing time on a national contender graduating five of its top seven players ... at least two of those six should contend for starting or sixth man type roles right off the bat. 

[ralamar]

I am not suprised a huge pool of (I believe six) tall (shortest guy around 6'4) and talented recruits jumped at the chance at immediately playing time on a national contender graduating five of its top seven players ... at least two of those six should contend for starting or sixth man type roles right off the bat. 

Have we heard about all six yet?  I recall Zaitz, Waller and Holmes.  Does anyone know anything about the other three?

[nescac hoops]

Do you see Amherst implying that Dick Nesbitt is to thank for Williams' perennial winning ways in Water Polo, Equestrian, Competitive Trampoline Jumping, Women's Track, Fencing and all the other sports that push Williams to the top of the Sears Cup Standings every year?
No.
The facts point to Amherst being able to lure Ivy/Patriot League talent to their hoops program for the better part of decade, just like Williams has been able to lure Ivy/Patriot League talent to their Table Tennis and Hop-Scotch teams. The academic quality of both schools' student-athletes are extremely high.

Walzy,
I'm pretty sure that the only sport that Williams scored in that Amherst doesn't have is women's crew - given that UMASS, Smith and MT HOLYOKE all have crew teams and use the Ct. river, I would think Amherst would also take advantage of their geography. Also, rules state that points in the Directors' Cup competition are awarded based on a school's success in NCAA championship events. Division III schools are allowed to score in a maximum of 18 sports (9 men's and 9 women's). Besides, Amherst fields 27 teams to Williams 31 (2 of which are mens and women's skiing that Amherst doesn't have but is D1 at Williams and doesn't count towards the Directors Cup). Thus, leaving women's crew and wrestling as the only "extra" sports. Your national championship team this year was Women's XC...

[frank uible]

Skiing counts in the Directors' Cup.

[nescac hoops]

Frank,
Williams is D1 in skiing. Thus, I doubt any points count toward the D3 Director's Cup. Here are the points form the winter - http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nacda/sports/directorscup/auto_pdf/March20DIIIRandS.pdf
As you will see the wrestling team gave 25 points (a team Amherst doesn't have).
The Women's Crew team (the other team Amherst doesn't have) contributed 100 pts with their national championship, still leaving Amherst about 125 pts behind in the final standing if you disregard those 225 points. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nacda/sports/directorscup/auto_pdf/DIIIJune11Standings.pdf

[frank uible]

In the not distant past (and I have noticed no change) Williams, Middlebury and others have been awarded DIII Directors' Cup points for skiiing.

[speedy]

Frank is correct - both Williams and Middlebury were awarded points for skiing in the Sears Cup tally, with Williams garnering 48 points and Middlebury 75 points.

[nescac1]

Article on upcoming Williams Italy trip:

http://williams.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2008-09/news/0814_Men-s_Hoops-_4-game-_10-day_trip_to_Italy_begins_Aug._15

Also notes the new Williams assistant coach.  This says the Ephs return 16 guys, which is more than the roster lists -- must be a few guys moving up from JV.  Good chance for the team to get acquainted with the new offense, and for Maker to figure out candidates for his rotation this season ...

[nescac1]

Amherst has one of the more interesting NESCAC schedules I've seen in awhile:

https://cms.amherst.edu/athletics/teams/winter/basketball-m/schedule

Their first 14 games are ridiculously easy, other than at Williams, probably not a competitive game in the bunch.  Even with a lot of turnover, they should at worst be 13-1 to start the season.

Then, the last ten games are absolutely brutal, with emotional home games against the biggest rivals (Brandeis and Williams) sandwiched around a very difficult eight game, 18 day road trip featuring TWO trips to Maine and tough contests at RIC and Brandeis, ending with a huge showdown (possibly for NESCAC regular season title) against Middlebury. 

[fpc85]

Easier schedule in the 1st half is pretty standard for the jeffs....no surprises there. It will give them a chance to improve and develop chemistry. They lost a lot and need time to get ready for the difficult part of the season.

[walzy31]

I agree that the Amherst schedule looks odd. I think FPC is right and it should help Amherst in a season where the torch is being transitioned. Those final 10-12 games of the season are going to be a huge test.

I'm pumped for the Cal Tech and Pomona games. The early line on the Amherst / Cal Tech game is Amherst - 50.5 (Cal Tech has an active 20 game losing streak with an average margin of defeat of about 35).

[ephoops]

Below is the link to stories about Williams' trip to Italy.  The team is 2-0 against inferior competition.

http://williams.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2008-09/archives