WBB: NESCAC

[remsleep]

pemper over murphy when it matters...every time...
When are the Bates people going to figure this out?

Today's game involved two major adustments (cover weak side and go to the rack...both by Bowdoin). After Bates came out smokin' in the first 2:40 of the game...Bowdoin simply assessed, adjusted...and won going away.  Bates didn't even try to counter the Bowdoin adjustments...maybe because they don't know how?  

[usmhoops1]

Let the fun begin.  A little surprised that 4 NESCAC schools got in but all 4 are deserving and will all be tough outs in the tourney.  Even with Bates number of losses, still a team that nobody will be too fired up to play.
Some of these first rounds are going to be unreal.  Unless they ship some teams out, I count 12 New England teams in.
The 4 NESCACS, Salem, Norwich, USM, Colby Sawyer, Norwich, Springfield, Brandeis, MMA.  Just getting out of those regionals will be a chore.  Too bad they couldnt do what the D1's do and go Thursday/Saturday  and Friday/Sunday.  That way the real junkies could overdose on 4 days of hoops!!!  I know that cant happen for a host of reasons but wishful thinking!!

[remsleep]

this is an outrage!!!  how could  Colby and Tufts not get in?
Doesn't that selection committee know they play in the NESCAC?! -- besides, they only lost a total of 25 games combined ---but they're NESCAC schools...doesn't that count for anything anymore?!   geeesh...the NESCAC gets hosed again....

[feces monkey]

I think Amherst was on the bubble...

[remsleep]

I think it's on the agenda for the next Conference of the Supreme Presidents of the NESCAC members.... a non-negotiable demand that ALL member institutions get an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament...with an accompanying rider that no NESCAC member should be required to play ANY conference games.  If demand is not met, NESCAC will close down Division III basketball altogether.   These non-NESCAC conferences just don't have the intellecual capacity to truly appreciate and comprehend how important the NESCAC is to the well-being of Division III athletics as a whole.

[Red1]

USMhoops,

I think you hit the nail on the head.  They will shipt some teams out.  Wesleyan will likely be in the mid-atlantic like last year, Norwich will likely join them in that horribly weak region, and I suspect Williams will be playing in the east region.  This leaves 9 teams to deal with, and I think that USM will get the bye.  It will be harder, however, to move 2 more teams than 1.  My prediction is that after their bye, USM will be playing in the east region (which is a little misleading because the games will most certainly be played in Gorham).  The remaining 8 teams will make up the New England bracket.   These are just my predictions.  I could very well be wrong, but I thought I'd give it a try.

Cheers,
Red1

[usmhoops1]

Would not surprise me to see Wesleyan or Williams get shipped out as well.  That would leave 8 teams.  Just not sure how they would bracket them.  2 NESCAC's would have to be in the same bracket 1st weekend.  Maybe somebody getting a bye is possible or 3 sites in New England with some shuffling in Mass and CT with those teams.  The NCAA does not like to fly teams at this level if at all possible.  We shall see in the am. 

I will say that I think it was very smart to allow more time to bracket.  Guess the NCAA should get some credit occasionally!!

[Wydown Blvd.]

I have an idea:

The NESCAC's in a tournament versus the UAA for the NCAA championship!!...lol, congrats to the NESCAC for your 4 teams also

[carolina]

Snowman

Why are you even on this board. If you can't spell we have no use for you. You are a NESCAC hater so just leave. Congrats to all NESCAC schools and good luck.

As far as the Bates/Williams game:  If Williams could hit a foul shot it would have been a different game. In my opinion any team that can not hit from the charity stripe WILL NOT win a championship!!!!!  To the person who commented on Ellen Wilk---- She should be a started. No she is not a great offensive player but if you have someone like that on defense she does't need to play offense. That is why it is called a team game. Defense is what is going to win a championship....well that and foul shooting.

[feces monkey]

Wesleyan vs. Muhlenberg (25-2) at Mary Washington
(winner gets MWC/TCNJ winner)

All of the teams in the bracket have impressive records, but at least the Cardinals didn't get the home team in the first round. I know nothing about the Centennial, so wouldn't even have an idea what Wes is in store for. They didn't look too inspired in the NESCAC semis, but then again, they didn't look too inspired in last year's NESCAC quarters before making a nice run (although against a seemingly weaker bracket).

Bates vs. Bridgewater (Va.) (20-6) at Mt. St. Mary's
(winner gets Mnt. St. Mary's/Baruch winner)

Bridgewater comes out of the ODAC, and its double-round robin schedule is so incestuous, it makes me glad the NESCAC has some variety. I think Bates advances. Mt. St. Mary's has an impressive record, but the Skyline conference looks a little dubious and, frankly, some of the teams in the conference look made-up. Since USM is playing the lamest first-round bracket I have ever seen, a rematch is likely (USM will be there, we'll see if Bates is).

Williams vs. NYU (18-7) at Messiah
(winner gets Messiah/Springfield winner)

NYU has lost five of its last six games, but clearly they play in a well-regarded conference with the UAA getting four in, while Williams has lost two of its last three. Not exactly a pair of streaking teams. I'm guessing this is a match-up of the fourth-best team from each conference. I'd say this is a toss-up, with the winner probably in for trouble against Messiah.

Colby-Sawyer (23-4) at Bowdoin
(winner gets Brandeis/Salem winner)

Bowdoin has already hung a 30-spot on CSC earlier this year in Brunswick, so it's tough to envision the Chargers closing the gap. Won't be 30, but likely a comfortable win. The Brandeis/Salem game could be a dandy. Brandeis is the favorite, but Salem always seem to play with a ton of confidence in the postseason (a testament to its coach) and the Vikings know they beat the best (see: Maine, Southern). That game was at home, however. Either way, the second game of the weekend will be excellent.

Wesleyan 65, Muhlenberg 61
Mary Washington 72, Wesleyan 55
Bates 66, Bridgewater 44
Bates 80, Mnt. St. Mary's 65
Williams 70, NYU 68
Messiah 75, Williams 59
Bowdoin 68, CSC 45
Brandeis 67, Salem 62
Bowdoin 66, Brandeis 58

[feces monkey]

From the Lewiston Sun Journal:

"If I were the NCAA committee, I wouldn't take us. We have eight losses," said Bates coach Jim Murphy. "If you look at how many teams have ever gotten in after losing eight games, I know it isn't many."

Looks like the Bobcats will be taking the loosey-goosey, just-happy-to-be-here approach to the NCAAs.

[feces monkey]

2005-06 NESCAC Women's Basketball All-Conference

First Team   
C     Meg Coffin Bates Jr. Westford, Mass.
F Eileen Flaherty Bowdoin Jr. Fairfield, Conn.
F Maggie Miller Williams Jr. Wellesley, Mass.
F Justine Pouravelis Bowdoin Sr. Old Orchard Beach, Maine
F Hannah Stubbs Wesleyan Sr. Arlington, Va.
     
Second Team   
G Sarah Barton Bates So. Portsmouth, N.H.
G Colleen Hession Williams Sr. Northampton, Mass.
G Jessica Powers Tufts Sr. Massapequa, N.Y.
F Sarah Cox Trinity Jr. Norwell, Mass.
F Matia Kostakis Bates So. Andover, Mass.
F Meghan O'Malley Williams Jr. Topsfield, Mass.
     
Player of the Year   
F Meg Coffin Bates Jr. Westford, Mass.
     
Defensive Player of the Year     
F Justine Pouravelis Bowdoin Sr. Old Orchard Beach, Maine
     
Rookie of the Year   
G Ali Fourney Wesleyan Fr. East Northport, N.Y.
     
Coach of the Year   
Stefanie Pemper Bowdoin

[Red1]

Well deserved all around.

[Wydown Blvd.]

Defense is what is going to win a championship....well that and foul shooting.

Defense wins games. Rebounding wins championships....well that and foul shooting.

[carolina]

Aweeee too bad Bates lost.     I didnt think Coffin deserved POY anyway. Congrats to Williams and Bowdoin!!! Good luck in the next round!!!!!! Atleast someone from Bowdoin should have gotten it since they did win the NESCAC tourny and if not Bowdoin then Williams.