RFC Summer Semester--New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Preview (NCAA Division III)

New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)
 
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2011 Final Standings 

Looking back:  Amherst finished unbeaten (8-0) in a conference that doesn't send any of its teams to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if the Lord Jeffs, as well as Trinity (Conn.) do battle for the NESCAC crown in 2012.


2012 Predicted Order of Finish (2011 overall record in parentheses)

1. Amherst (8-0): The Lord Jeffs won a close game over Trinity (Conn.), followed by a win over archrival Williams, to complete an undefeated season.


2. Trinity (Conn.)--(7-1):  The Bantams played in just three games decided by nine points or less last season, including that tough seven point loss to the Lord Jeffs.


3. Williams (5-3):  The Ephs will look to return to the top of the NESCAC after a mediocre 2011 campaign in which they lost all three of their games by a combined 30 points.


4. Middlebury (4-4):  The Panthers hope to notch their first eight win season since 1972.


5. Bowdoin (4-4):  The Polar Bears ended last season with a split against their "CBB" rivals, losing to Bates, followed by a season ending win over Colby to retain the mythical crown for the sixth straight crown.


6. Colby (3-5):  The Mules welcome a new head coach in Jonathan Michaeles.


7. Bates (3-5):  A convincing win over Bowdoin in the next-to-last week of the season gave the Bobcats their first three-win season in a decade.


8. Wesleyan (3-5):  The Cardinals are looking for their first winning season since 2002, when they finished 5-3.


9. Hamilton (3-5):  The Continentals hope their institution's bicentennial year (the Clinton, N.Y.-based institution opened in 1812) will result in a winning season.

10. Tufts (0-8):  The Jumbos defeated Hamilton, 21-10, in the season opener on September 25, 2010.  They haven't won since, losing 15 in a row.