WBB: NESCAC

[sumfun]

That's a good part of the bracket over at Bowdoin.  I'll be sure to try to get there now, what would you like me to have autographed.....bball, t-shirt, program?

[Title9Fan]

West Conn deserves a medal for playing through UNE+3 refs last night. 

Next set of refs for Game #2 weren't really needed - Baruch doesn't play defense and their shots were off, so it was a nonstarter. 

Tonight's game should be much more interesting.

[eph partisan]

Wow. Go Ephs. Did anyone see the game tonight? I was watching the Williams men.

[remsleep]

It's SO annoying to be wrong so frequently......the two NESCAC teams that I felt so strongly should never have even been in the dance are now Sweet 16.....meanwhile Colby and Tufts are done.  I think this board is serving as a trap to catch me being stupid.   Anyhow, sincerely, congrats to Bowdoin and Williams....they have taken advantage of the opportunity

[remsleep]

On another crazy note....while in attendance at the Colby-Babson game tonight I was told by some purported Colby insider ( i.e. a parent of a Colby College employee) that there is a movement adrift seeking to make a change at the Head Coach level of the womens' team.  This sounds preposterous to me.   Anything to it?

[amh63]

As "anticipated", Amherst will host the Sectionals and meet Williams on Friday for the third time this year.
I had hoped for a matchup of Amherst and Ithaca since my daughter who lives near Ithaca has been telling me how good the team was during the season.  Surprised that Tufts stayed with Kean for a half.  Surprised also about the Colby lost.  The write-up of the Colby game had the Colby star miss a foul shot in regulation that allowed the game to go into overtime.  That is what makes this "section season" so exciting and worrisome at the same time. 
Though the webcast of the Amherst game quit for the last 4 minutes ( I followed on the live stats), I was pleased to see Amherst play Southern Maine so well.  Like many teams in the NCAA, there are very good players on Southern Maine.  Amherst just seems to have more of them  Hope J.C. D. plays this weekend.  The hand injury maybe more serious than I thought.  Is the coach just being cautious?

[paulie]

Call it sour grapes now that they have lost - because that's what it is - but Tufts was shown no love by the committee compared to Bowdoin. The Jumbos beat Bowdoin by 12 in the regular-season, then lost to them in OT in the conference tournament quarterfinals. Tufts finished 6-3 in NESCAC compared to 5-4 by Bowdoin. I guess it comes down to in-region wins, and Tufts had three of its victories at out-of-region tourneys. Bowdoin had an edge in strength of schedule (they were first, but Tufts was fourth). Plus, the Jumbos didn't help themselves any down the stretch. But that sends Tufts to a team that can beat them without their best player ever (Kean), while Bowdoin gets a cakewalk to the "Sweet Sixteen" against Baruch and Western Conn at home? Even Williams, generally regarded as the fifth NESCAC team to get in, got a better deal by being sent to Ithaca. Oh well. I know they don't have an easy job. All's fair in love, war, and NCAA Tournament seedings. Thanks for your indulgence.

[Title9Fan]

On another crazy note....while in attendance at the Colby-Babson game tonight I was told by some purported Colby insider ( i.e. a parent of a Colby College employee) that there is a movement adrift seeking to make a change at the Head Coach level of the womens' team.  This sounds preposterous to me.   Anything to it?

That's more than preposterous.  It's insane.  I don't know the answer to your question but I know there was some bellyaching (whining) about her running the Colby program too much like a D1 program a while back.  Bet nobody complains about that level of commitment with Gromacki.  Colby should appreciate what it has (a highly credentialed, knowledgeable, skillful coach who treats the D3 women's game with RESPECT) before they loose it.

She's broken the Colby WBB record this year and her team is by far, the most improved this season with a huge upside for next year.  She understands the game (which is sadly unusual in D3 WBB) and is probably the only NESCAC coach who can give Gromacki a run for the money when it comes to game coaching.  NESCAC is full of .500 team coaches who keep their jobs for decades and yet there's a "movement" to get rid of a D1 championship winner who is commited to developing a program?  Grow up, Colby. 
   
If they loose or give up Gear-McBride, they didn't deserve her in the first place. 

[amh07]

Hope J.C. D. plays this weekend.  The hand injury maybe more serious than I thought.  Is the coach just being cautious?

I thought I heard an announcer say she had a broken hand. 

[pureshooter]

On another crazy note....while in attendance at the Colby-Babson game tonight I was told by some purported Colby insider ( i.e. a parent of a Colby College employee) that there is a movement adrift seeking to make a change at the Head Coach level of the womens' team.  This sounds preposterous to me.   Anything to it?

That's more than preposterous.  It's insane.  I don't know the answer to your question but I know there was some bellyaching (whining) about her running the Colby program too much like a D1 program a while back.  Bet nobody complains about that level of commitment with Gromacki.  Colby should appreciate what it has (a highly credentialed, knowledgeable, skillful coach who treats the D3 women's game with RESPECT) before they loose it.

She's broken the Colby WBB record this year and her team is by far, the most improved this season with a huge upside for next year.  She understands the game (which is sadly unusual in D3 WBB) and is probably the only NESCAC coach who can give Gromacki a run for the money when it comes to game coaching.  NESCAC is full of .500 team coaches who keep their jobs for decades and yet there's a "movement" to get rid of a D1 championship winner who is commited to developing a program?  Grow up, Colby. 
   
If they loose or give up Gear-McBride, they didn't deserve her in the first place. 




she's probably not long for that place anyway, just a stepping stone on the way to a D-1 program. I know when she arrived she got rid of most if not all of the players she inherited.
The problem with Running it like a D-1 program is, it's not D-1, kids got to go to class and actually study for a while.

[Title9Fan]

"she's probably not long for that place anyway, just a stepping stone on the way to a D-1 program. I know when she arrived she got rid of most if not all of the players she inherited.
The problem with Running it like a D-1 program is, it's not D-1, kids got to go to class and actually study for a while."

Not sure who wrote that, so I've taken it out of the quote box.

The difference(s) between D1 and D3 is somewhat (and often) overstated.  It's become sort of an oversized myth that gets repeated like muscle memory.  The kids at the Ivy D1s, Stanford and other top colleges have every bit the level of academic challenge and discipline as the NESCAC athletes.

I don't think the Colby coach "got rid" of anyone....she says what she wants right up front and she is candid when she's talking to recruits about what they can expect on her team (I've heard it) which is commendable.  (Another trait she has in common with Gromacki). 

If Colby isn't as committed to a winning women's basketball problem as the coach is, perhaps it should have been more up front in the interviews.  Anyone hear Geno's recent ESPN interview about mediocrity in women's basketball as opposed to men's?  It's the same thing between D1 and D3.  They are different, but the goals should be the same:  To develop every player to the best of their ability and then to coach and play the best game possible.  He said missed lay-ups are NOT okay just because it's a women's team.

Well the same is true in D3.  Mediocrity is not okay.  Or is it?

[frank uible]

In colleges like Colby, coaches are not let go solely for failure to win.

[pcarr]

Hope J.C. D. plays this weekend.  The hand injury maybe more serious than I thought.  Is the coach just being cautious?

I thought I heard an announcer say she had a broken hand. 

I broadcast the game for D3hoops on Saturday, and Amherst people said that she did have a broken hand.  They hoped she could play this weekend, but they were in wait-and-see mode.

[wbbhoopsfan]

if she is back and Beryuti is out at Kean, look for Amherst to win the title.  Anyone feel there is a better team?  I think Kean has an athleticism edge - and have certainly been just as dominant - but you can't remove arguably the top player in the country and expect to run the table.

[Title9Fan]

In colleges like Colby, coaches are not let go solely for failure to win.

Gee.  I had no idea.