MBB: NESCAC

[walzy31]

Couldn't let Jeff Holmes' performance last night against Lasell go without comment ... 21 points in 24 minutes to go along with 9 boards, including 4 on the offensive glass. Great to see him assert himself in a rare opportunity to start due to Kaasila's cold. I still wish Holmes got more minutes, but I don't want to start that whole discussion up again.

What's great about Holmes/Kaasila is that they play the same position, are both effective, but get it done in entirely different ways. Jeff can shoot from anywhere, gets more rebounds, and is faster up and down the court while Pete is a bigger presence on defense, makes more free throws, and executes the set offense smoother. The average split in minutes between the two is 25 for Pete and 15 for Jeff. I guess you could make an argument for 20 and 20, but beyond that I don't think there is a strong enough case to go heavy in one direction.

[amh63]

Walzy.... Liked your comments wrt Amherst's center position players.....especially the defense presence. 
There are times when a set offense is necessary vice the fast break offense, especially as dictated by the opponent.
Last night, I actually watched the Trinity vs WCSU game at Trinity on-line to get "a line" on the young Trinity team....against a solid opponent.  Though the announcer often pointed out that "2nd-year Trinity Coach" focus on team defense, the Trinity players tend to drift away from team defense.  Trinity does not have an inside/set offense in their play-plan.  They do have several inside players but both are ineffective and/or inexperience.  Trinity's players like to take shots from outside and they were not falling last night.....and they did not have any effective inside...low post game to fall back on.  Trinity could not stop WCSU bigger players inside consistently.
I may have posted comments that exemplify the need for Kaasila's time in the middle....but so be it.  Amherst does have other outside shooters and rebounding guards....Barrise's 12 boards!..and a guard that can distribute in an up and down game when it occurs.
Oh yes, to continue to see how the league is developing, I plan to watch Wes. tonight...if my computer and/or the webcast allows.

[magicman]

Hamilton College improves to 6-0 as they defeat local rival Utica College 69-62. The Continentals didn't have an easy time of it though as they struggled with turnovers and poor shooting in the early going. Halfway through the 1st half they were down 18-8 and Utica extended their lead to 34-17 with 3:39 left. But Hamilton ended the period on an 11-0 run to pull within 6 at 34-28. Another 10-3 spurt to open the 2nd and with 4:36 gone by the Continentals had the lead for the first time since early in the 1st when it was 6-5. Four ties and seven lead changes would follow until Hamilton broke a tie at 48 with 7 unanswered points. A layup by big man Pat Sullivan off an excellent dish by freshman forward Bradley Gifford gave them the lead for good at 50-48. After a Utica miss, off. rebound and another miss, Hamiton's freshman guard Joseph Lin nails a 3. Pioneers promptly commit a turnover and call time out. Hamilton's Ken Click  scores with a short jump hook seconds later and with 4:18 left the Continentals enjoyed their largest lead of the night at 55-48. Hamilton put the game away at the stripe as Greg Newton and Hans Schulte each went 4x4 in the final 45 seconds. As a team the Continentals hit 14x18 from the line. (78%)  Last years MVP Patrick Sullivan once again led all scorers with 18 pts (8x14 fg, 0x2 3's, 2x4 ft) and 7 rebounds.  Newton was close behind with 16 pts (6x15 fg, 0x3 3's 4x4 ft) and 5 assists. Schulte finished with 13 pts (3x7 fg, 1x2 3's, 6x6 ft) and 6 assists. Hamilton ended up shooting 25x60 from the field (42%) after hitting only 11 of 31 shots in the first half. They only committed 2 turnovers in the second period after 9 turnovers in the first.

The Continentals re-enter the NESCAC league at a time when the league is experiencing a power surge, with the big 3 all being nationally ranked. Talk on this board also points to other teams in the league perhaps edging out Midd, Amherst, or Williams for 1 of the top 3 spots (personally I don't see that happening). I don't think Hamilton will be a team that can do that this year either, but they are well coached, have a good big man in Sullivan and will be capable of upsetting anyone. They only have 2 seniors on the roster, Sullivan and Ephraim McDowell a 6'0" guard who was the 2nd leading scorer on last year's team (11.0 ppg).  McDowell however has yet to play in a game this year. Don't know the story but hope to find out in the next several days. I believe the Continentals will probably be a middle of the pack team this year, but if McDowell comes back they will definitely improve. With all the young players they will return next year and once Coach Stockwell gets a couple of recruiting classes under his belt I'm sure Hamilton will be a player in their new league. I know the school has quite a history and a long list of All-Americans (possibly the longest in the country for D3). If nothing else, Hamilton's 6-0 non-conference record will help out the NESCAC in that area. I can see them having an overall record of 11-2 or maybe 10-3 as they enter conference play.

Saw where amh63 wondered if anyone would be posting from Hamilton. I've followed the Liberty League and posted on the Liberty League board for several years. I'm also quite familiar with Coach Stockwell, as he coached at Clarkson (Liberty League member that he took to the Dance several years ago, their only appearance) and then he moved on to Oswego St. (the SUNYAC is my home conference and board as I attend all the Plattsburgh St. games) where he went to the NCAA's last year (they made it to the 2nd round and lost a close one to RIC). That was also the only time Oswego has ever went to the tournament. It won't surprise me when Coach Stockwell takes his third team dancing in the not too distant future.

I'll probably be posting from time to time about Hamilton as well as Middlebury occasionally. I know the Panther's are Old Guy's territory but the Panther's have been my team in the survivor pool for the past 2 years and last year I should have won but Sharry got hurt and missed the Williams game. I'm hoping for his return and a better result this year.       

[OchoLoko41]

Really liking this level of Hamilton knowledge. Welcome to the CAC magciman...

On the Wesleyan front the Cardinals got a bit of an ugly win at Emmanuel College in Boston yesterday. Wesleyan really kept Emmanuel in this one, missing 14 free throws and committing 14 turnovers but the Wesleyan defense was able to get stops when it needed to, allowing Wesleyan to come back after trailing as late as 15 minutes into the second half.

[amh63]

Ah....the wonders of today's technology.   Spent the early evening watching bits and pieces of Div. 3 games while waiting for the start of the Wes. vs. Emmanuel contest.  Some added comments/opinions to the previous posters'.
First...my welcome also to Magicman to the board.  I'm sure that Old Guy and Bucket will not mind your observations.
I too watched the Hamilton vs. Utica game on the big night to honor the retiring/retired Utica AD...did learn that the school was started as a college by Syracuse.  Anyway, watched as Utica went ahead in the first half and Hamilton steadily came back a bit to only be behind by six or some at the half.  Pleased to learn that they won.  One thing I observed about the Hamilton team....they are solid and discipline.
When they fell behind, their offense and defense approach remained, IMO, steady....best way for me to post it.  The coach had the team playing within themselves/talent level.  They did not allow the opponent to dictate/change their game plan.  They will surprise some conference teams.
I watched the Wes. game for the most part and will simply add that Wes., IMO, won the game on the foul line.  Wes. only shot a little over 50% from the foul line...going 15 for 29.  Emmanual shot better but had fewer shots....making 10.  Emmanuel, a team Amherst will play at home later, is another quick smallish team like Lasell.  It played much of the game with its tallest player around 6'3 or 4 inches.
Wes. had players at least 3 inches taller in the front court for most of the game.
With a slight apology to OCHOLOKO41...I will make the following opinion about the overall play of Wes.'s offense.  At this point of the season, Wes.'s offense is limited and will not win them many games in the conference against the top teams.  If one can call the BB team a double quartet....8 contributing players, then Wes. has at this time at best a trio but most of the time a solo player.  In the game against Emmanual, it was the S. Brown offense.  He took about 20 shots with the next player taking 5-7.  Wes. does not have an inside game developed yet, other than give the ball to Shasa and let him drive into the paint. 
They do have some talent other than Mr. Brown. 
Oh yes, even caught the WPI versus Lasell game for awhile.  Yes Walzy, the star of the game experience, IMO, was the man with the mop on the sideline....moving with the flow of the play.  He does stop and watch at times and is in the way of the spectators sitting behind.  However, I would not ask him to move though....he looks and is built like a linebacker.

[magicman]

Thanks for welcome guys. Should be a fun year.

[walzy31]

Friday December 2nd Spread

Amherst @ Springfield
Amherst -9.5
O/U: 174.0

[walzy31]

Lapaz is now 4-0 aganist the spread....When do i get to put some real dough on the table..HOw about an early Amherst v Springfield line and some other games for the week.

If you want spreads for specific lines during non-conference play, ask for the games in question and I will do them if I see them in time. I do put spreads up for all NESCAC Vs. NESCAC games (although a few years back I stopped doing totals for Wesleyan games for a couple of weeks because they were too unpredictable and I was getting fake crushed by the fake bettors).

As for getting real action, all you have to do is find someone willing to take the other side (6-packs tends to be a common betting unit). I would love to bet on NESCAC hoops, but I go through my system and make the line, which is my most accurate prediction of the games. Because of that, I wouldn't take one side or the other because I made the line true.

[walzy31]

Amherst up 37-33 at the half. Barrise lighting it up but some miscues on defense keeping it close. Workman with a great heads up play and a nice Barrise to Waller connection early.

[walzy31]

Friday December 2nd Spread

Amherst @ Springfield
Amherst -9.5
O/U: 174.0

Amherst 81 @ Springfield 71
Amherst -9.5 (Amherst Covers +0.5)
O/U: 174.0 (Under +22.0)

Alex Berthiaume with 32 for Springfield on 20 shots. No one else indouble-figures.

Toomey finishes with 21 (19 in the 2nd half) and is joined by Workman (15) Barrise (14) and Waller (11). Congrats to Barrise for the first Amherst complete game of the fall and for being one board short of a 2nd straight double-double. Funniest quote from Springfield commentators (who did a great job) was "I don't know Taylor Barrise personally...but it looks like he likes to shoot threes."

Kaasila/Holmes combine for 13pts 16reb.

Springfield looked dangerous. I wouldn't be surprised if they run through the NEWMAC aside from MIT and make it into the tourney. Berthiaume really is a good player.

[Hugenerd]

Springfield looked dangerous. I wouldn't be surprised if they run through the NEWMAC aside from MIT and make it into the tourney. Berthiaume really is a good player.

WPI might have something to say about that.

[amh63]

See that Walzy brought up all the points that were critical to the game.  It is noted that going to the Springfield website to gather some "filler stats", that the game had 7 lead changes and 6 ties (all in the first half).  Amherst won the rebound battle, 37-33...though the announcers pointed out that Springfield out rebounded Amherst  badly in the first half.  Though turnovers by both teams were close, Amherst had 10 more points than Springfield from turnovers.  Likewise, Amherst had 10 more points from 2nd chance shots.  It was a battle with Springfield smaller guards making inside drive points while Amherst inside efforts by Workman and Toomey were mostly stopped, or blocked.
Springfield's pg scored the most points against Amherst since P. Cream of Springfield awhile back (also 32 points).  He is a jr. transfer player from St. Michael's.  He is a player who had a great night.  I must also point out that the "Kaasilla/Holmes" center also provided 2 blocks and 3 assists.....not a bad game from the 5 position.
First game that Amherst didn't score over 90 plus points and the first time Amherst allowed an opponent to score above 70 points, I believe.  Enjoyed the tight game.  With two early fouls, Toomey missed the better part of the first half...sitting on the bench.
Oh yes, Amherst now has its roster posted!...no longer "preliminary".  Several surprises.....my "favorite" pg Spencer Noon is not on the roster.  There are two new FY players listed....a 6'6" forward and a 5'10" guard....means a 20 player roster.  I counted 17 players from my limited on-line seat.

[lefrakenstein]

Couldn't let Jeff Holmes' performance last night against Lasell go without comment ... 21 points in 24 minutes to go along with 9 boards, including 4 on the offensive glass. Great to see him assert himself in a rare opportunity to start due to Kaasila's cold. I still wish Holmes got more minutes, but I don't want to start that whole discussion up again.

What's great about Holmes/Kaasila is that they play the same position, are both effective, but get it done in entirely different ways. Jeff can shoot from anywhere, gets more rebounds, and is faster up and down the court while Pete is a bigger presence on defense, makes more free throws, and executes the set offense smoother. The average split in minutes between the two is 25 for Pete and 15 for Jeff. I guess you could make an argument for 20 and 20, but beyond that I don't think there is a strong enough case to go heavy in one direction.

I have always wondered how effective they could be on the floor together. I remember coach Hixon saying in an interview once that he would consider doing that, but it hasn't really happened. When I say that I think Holmes should play more, I'm definitely not trying to take anything away from Kaasila, he's obviously a very good player as well.

Two new freshman added to Amherst's roster recently. Gene Garay and Max Lippe. Garay listed at 5'10.

Amherst went to a very short bench, with only 3 reserves seeing time, and Williamson getting less than 10 minutes. Particularly surprised not to see Killian out there, he has been one of the first off of the bench in the early games, which is usually a good way to tell who Hixon has in mind for the final 8-9 player rotation. I wonder if either Killian, a veteran player like Connor Johnson, or maybe even one of the freshman will be in the rotation by the end of the year.

[walzy31]

Saturday December 3rd Spread

Amherst Vs. Westfield St (@ Springfield)
Amherst -26.0
O/U: 154.0

[Old Guy]

Middlebury's off this weekend - games next Tuesday and Friday before the break for exams and the holidays. Players are looking forward to Johnson & Wales on Tuesday at home and Skidmore Friday over there.

I took a look at the J&W webpage and saw they are off to a slow start, 1-3. Their last game was a loss to RIC, 89-62. Lamonte Thomas didn't play: no explanation in the recap. He went for 33,34, 44 in their first three games, against good teams.