Men's Basketball

2023 NESCAC Men's Basketball Championship Seeds Announced

HADLEY, Mass. – Williams is the top seed in the 2023 NESCAC Men’s Basketball Championship, which will be played from February 18 through February 26. The Ephs earned the No. 1 seed with an 86-46 victory over Connecticut College in the regular season finale on Sunday, February 12. Quarterfinal games will be played on February 18 at the higher seed while the semifinals and final will be held at the highest remaining seed on February 25 and 26.
2023 NESCAC Men's Basketball Championship Logo> Championship Central

2023 NESCAC MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarterfinals - Saturday, Feb. 18 at higher seeds
No. 8 Trinity at No. 1 Williams – 4:30 p.m.
No. 7 Conn. College at No. 2 Hamilton – 2 p.m.
No. 6 Colby at No. 3 Wesleyan – 2 p.m.
No. 5 Tufts at No. 4 Middlebury – 4:30 p.m.
Semifinal - Saturday, Feb. 25 at highest remaining seed 
Lowest Remaining Seed vs. Highest Remaining Seed - 2 p.m.
Other Quarterfinal Winners - 4:30 p.m.
Final - Sunday, Feb. 26 at Semifinal host
Semifinal Winners - 12 p.m.

 
2022 NESCAC Championship Recap
Due to COVID protocols impacting teams throughout the season and creating a disparity in the number of games played last season, the NESCAC membership agreed to modify the NESCAC Men’s Basketball Championship and all 11 teams were eligible for the tournament. Wesleyan was the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history and hosted the semifinals and final. The Cardinals were joined by Middlebury, Trinity, and Williams in the semifinal round. Wesleyan outlasted Williams in the championship game to earn a 78-75 overtime victory and the Cardinals’ second NESCAC title in program history.
 
Tiebreakers: Williams, Hamilton, Wesleyan, and Middlebury all finished with identical conference records of 7-3. In head-to-head competition, Williams and Hamilton went 2-1 and Wesleyan and Middlebury went 1-2. In comparing Williams and Hamilton head-to-head, Williams defeated Hamilton to earn the No. 1 seed, with Hamilton the No. 2 seed. In comparing Wesleyan and Middlebury head-to-head, Wesleyan defeated Middlebury to earn the No. 3 seed, with Middlebury the No. 4 seed.

#1 Williams Ephs
2022-23 Record: 21-3, 7-3 NESCAC
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 9 (last: 2018)
NESCAC Titles Won: 5 (last: 2018)
Notes: 2022 NESCAC Runner-Up … Williams has qualified for every NESCAC Championship … The Ephs are the top seed for the fourth time in program history (last: 2011) and will host No. 8 Trinity in the quarterfinals … The Ephs defeated the Bantams, 94-79, in Hartford on February 3 and improved to 3-0 against Trinity in the NESCAC Tournament series with a victory in the 2019 quarterfinals… Williams owns five NESCAC titles and has made nine appearances in the championship game, including last year.
 
#2 Hamilton Continentals
2022-23 Record: 16-8, 7-3 NESCAC
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 1 (2019)
NESCAC Titles Won: 0
Notes: The Continentals are in the tournament field for the sixth straight tournament and are the No. 2 seed for the first time since 2019 … Hamilton posted a 72-62 victory over the Camels on February 5 … The two teams have never squared off in the NESCAC Championship … The Continentals are looking to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2019, the same year Hamilton reached and hosted the NESCAC Championship game.
 
#3 Wesleyan Cardinals
2022-23 Record: 16-8, 7-3 NESCAC
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 3
NESCAC Titles Won: 2 (2022)
Notes: Defending NESCAC Champion … The Cardinals are competing in the NESCAC Championship for the seventh time in eight tournaments … Wesleyan is the No. 3 seed for the first time since 2012 and will host No. 6 Colby … The teams will meet for the second straight quarterfinal … The Cardinals earned a 79-59 win over the Mules on the opening weekend of conference play (Jan. 7) and defeated Colby in the 2022 quarterfinals in the only time the teams have played each other in the NESCAC Championship … Wesleyan won its second title in program history in 2022 with an overtime victory against Williams … The Cardinals are looking to make back-to-back appearances in the semifinals for the first time since the 2002 & 2003 seasons.
 
#4 Middlebury Panthers
2022-23 Record: 19-4, 7-3 NESCAC
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 6 (last: 2017)
NESCAC Titles Won: 4 (last: 2017)
Notes: 2022 NESCAC Semifinalist … Middlebury has qualified for the NESCAC Championship for the 18th time since 2001 and is making its seventh straight appearance … The Panthers are the No. 4 seed for the first time since 2016 and will host No. 5 Tufts in the quarterfinals … Middlebury earned a 72-56 win over the Jumbos on January 28, but are 0-2 versus Tufts in the NESCAC Championship series following a loss to the Jumbos in the 2019 quarterfinals… The Panthers have won four NESCAC titles (last: 2017) and own six championship game appearances … Middlebury is seeking to make back-to-back trips to the semifinals for the first time since the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
 
#5 Tufts Jumbos
2022-23 Record: 18-6, 6-4 NESCAC
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 2 (2006 & 2020)
NESCAC Titles Won: 1 (2020)
Notes: Tufts is the No. 5 seed for the first time since 2011 and will travel to No. 4 Middlebury … The Jumbos are making their 12th consecutive appearance in the NESCAC Championship … Tufts suffered a 72-56 loss to the Panthers on January 28, but improved to 2-0 against Middlebury in the NESCAC Championship series with a win in the 2019 quarterfinals… The Jumbos are looking to return to the semifinals for the first time since 2020 when they won their only NESCAC title.
 
Tiebreaker:  Colby and Connecticut College finished with identical conference records of 5-5. In head-to-head competition, Colby defeated Connecticut College to earn the No. 6 seed.

#6 Colby Mules
2022-23 Record: 18-6, 5-5 NESCAC
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 1 (2020)
NESCAC Titles Won: 0
Notes: Colby has qualified for the NESCAC Championship for the fourth consecutive season and is the No. 6 seed for the first time in program history … The Mules will travel to No. 3 Wesleyan and square off in the quarterfinals against the Cardinals for the second year in a row … Colby dropped a 79-59 decision to Wesleyan on the opening weekend of conference play … The 2022 quarterfinals marked the only other time the teams have played in the NESCAC Championship … Colby’s last appearance in the semifinal round was in 2020, the same year it advanced to the championship game for the first time in program history.
 
#7 Connecticut College Camels
2022-23 Record: 14-10, 5-5 NESCAC
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 0
NESCAC Titles Won: 0
Notes: Connecticut College is in the NESCAC Quarterfinals for the first time in 11 years … The Camels are the No. 7 seed for the first time since 2011 and will visit No. 2 Hamilton … The Continentals posted a 72-62 victory over Connecticut College on February 5 … A win over the Hamilton would be the Camels’ second NESCAC Tournament victory and first since 2001 … The two teams have never met in the NESCAC Championship.
  
#8 Trinity Bantams
2022-23 Record: 16-8, 4-6 NESCAC
NESCAC Finals Appearances: 3 (last: 2008)
NESCAC Titles Won: 1 (2008)
Tiebreaker: Trinity and Amherst finished with identical conference records of 4-6. In head-to-head competition, Trinity defeated Amherst to earn the No. 8 seed.
Notes: Trinity has qualified for nine straight NESCAC Championships and is making its 20th appearance overall … The Bantams are the No. 8 seed for the first time in program history and travels to top-seeded Williams for the quarterfinals … The Bantams fell to the Ephs, 94-79, in Hartford on February 3 and are 0-3 versus Williams in the NESCAC Tournament series following a loss in the 2019 quarterfinals… Trinity has reached the semifinals 14 times, including the last two seasons … The Bantams won their only NESCAC title in 2009 and have played in the championship three times.