WBB: NESCAC

[sumfun]

http://www.ncsasports.org/about-ncsa/power-rankings

Here's a good article for NESCAC fans.  The power ratings that combine Director's Cup points and US News and World Report to rate the best schools for "student" athletes.
NESCAC has 4 of the top 10.

[Wydown Blvd.]

As a fan of the UAA, I laugh... not only is the director's cup a joke (benefiting the teams that offer the most sports), but the US New Report (even if you believe its credible) doesn't compare colleges to universities. So enjoy the power rankings, we'll continue to compete with the Ivies

[sumfun]

I'd say the UAA did very well also in the "power" rankings.  Many schools in the NESCAC and UAA compete with the Ivys....at least it was the case in our household.

[amh63]

I have my private doubts about the USN&WR too.  The Director's Cup is based on results, more so than number of  varsity sports provided  The key factor, I believe, is the one that gives the graduation rate of the student-athletes at the schools.  That must have put Amherst over Williams.   The AD at Amherst remarked at the Williams-Amherst Football game last year (a sport that NESCAC schools play but is not counted in the Director's Cup) that she was most proud of the number of academic All-Americans by the sport participants at Amherst.(led the conference in spite of not having the largest number of student athletes.)

[Wydown Blvd.]

Yes the UAA's compete with the Ivys and Nescac and for the sake of recruiting and athletics you can add the Patriot League, etc... I was just pointing out where I think the errors are in the rankings. When you combine them, the NESCAC benefits the most. People (recruits, parents) put way too much into rankings and sometimes they don't know where the biases are with the rankings, but this composite ranking just irks me.

[sumfun]

Totally agree that have to take all rankings with a grain of salt.

[PostPlay]

Practice starts tomorrow!  And views on the NESCAC season?  Can anyone give Amherst a run for the title?

[Wydown Blvd.]

Welcome to the boards PostPlay!

[sumfun]

PostPlay, welcome.  Amherst had no seniors on the team last year.  Will be interesting to see what they added, but they will be hard to unseat in the NESCAC.  Practice can start on October 15th, but I think the NESCAC doesn't start until November 1?  Girls still having captains practices and pick up games?

[PostPlay]

Welcome to the boards PostPlay!

Thanks!  Happy to be part of the conversation!

[PostPlay]

PostPlay, welcome.  Amherst had no seniors on the team last year.  Will be interesting to see what they added, but they will be hard to unseat in the NESCAC.  Practice can start on October 15th, but I think the NESCAC doesn't start until November 1?  Girls still having captains practices and pick up games?

Thanks!  I agree on Amherst...will be tough to unseat.  Who do you think will be in the othe top slots?

[sumfun]

Bowdoin and Colby, possibly Williams since they gave Amherst a test in the Sweet 16 game, though they were blown out the other two meetings. 

[NH NESCAC Fan]

Hi All - First post...

I'm glad to have found this board.  A good family friend will be playing at Amherst this year.  Her name is Jasmine Hardy and she is a sophomore.  She played at the University of New Haven last year.  She's very excited about joining the team, and is really enjoying the challenging academic side.  I'm looking forward to following the season.  Jas tells me that, yes, they do begin official practice on November 1.

[amh63]

Thanks for the info on the U. of New Haven transfer, Jasmine.  Welcome aboard!.  Could you provide any info on what position she hopes to play?   Also it is interesting to note that there are two NESCAC teams playing in the D3 initial Hoop Classics tournament in Las Vegas (?) over the holidays...Bates and Amherst.  Wonder if the two teams will share flights out of Boston.

[NH NESCAC Fan]

Jasmine is a shooting guard.  She should give Amherst some outside scoring options.  She is also a very smart player with excellent court vision.