MBB: NESCAC

[magicman]

Williams leads Hamilton 37-28 at the half.  Wang leads the Ephs with 10 points. Sullivan has 12 for Hamilton.

[amh63]

The Hamilton game is at Williams.  Sullivan was on fire early and hit his first 5 shots...so it seems and gave the Continentals a 7 point lead.  Williams quickly came back and the lead swings to Williams.  Williams is making wholesale subs and even is playing a zone for awhile.  I feel if Click gets the ball more and scores more...Hamilton can stay with Williams.  Click and Sullivan gives Hamilton a better front court offensively.  Outside shooting is going well for Williams.
Sorry Magicman for cutting into your space...gave bad info.....thought the game was at Clinton and needed to correct it.  You are on your own.

[magicman]

Final from Williamstown: Williams 82 Hamilton 61.

[Old Guy]

Final from Williamstown: Williams 82 Hamilton 61 Magicman

Think Williams-Midd next Saturday will be a good game?

We must get by Plattsburgh first (Tuesday night) - no common opponents.

(Never knew winter in VT could be so much fun.)

[amh63]

Nothing going on in the BB world of interest....and I am not a Giants NFL fan.  Returned to watching the game.  Picked up some observations of the game that I would like to share and discuss with other game watchers.  Thought a key point in the game was when Click the inside player for Hamilton got his 4th foul and was taken out in the 2nd half early. ( At the start of the 2nd half, Click scores down low.)   When Click enters the game again...about the 6 minute mark with Williams having a lead of about 15 points or more. Click gets the ball down low and scores.  Williams' coach calls a timeout.  Later, Click again gets in good position down low, receives the ball and takes a shot and misses.  When Williams brings the ball over the half court line, Williams coach calls a timeout.  After he discusses something with his assistants....he does most of the talking and seems a bit agitated.  He goes to his players and makes some point.  Williams is cruising now in the game.  What was the time outs about?   Maybe, I reading too much in the timeouts that occur after Click takes a shot low in the post area.  What I make of it......The Williams coach is preparing for the two games ahead against Amherst on Wed. and with Midd. on the weekend.  He expects the ball will go down low in those games and his low post players will be tested early.  He doesn't like the ease in which Click is getting the ball...at times and scoring there. (Didn't Click take 2 outside shots and making them in the Amherst game?).  He has concerns.  He calls time outs whether Click makes the shot or misses the shot.  Williams defensive play down low is not being executed to his liking.   What to you think....Magicman?  Others.  Oh yes, the way Sullivan played in the game...maybe he will be the 5th player in the Walzy's all conference team.  Bite my lips...I hope it is Willie Workman.

[toad22]

That was probably the best game Williams has played this year. The offensive sets were sharp for long periods of the game. They got the shots they wanted almost every time down court. Wang finally looks healthy. He was playing without his usual pop until very recently. The Ephs didn't shoot it as well as they can, but the signs are good. The interior defense wasn't great, but Sullivan is easily the best power forward we have seen yet this year. This will be a great week to test where the Ephs are as a team. I know that they are getting better fast, but is it fast enough?

[nescac1]

Good to see the Ephs seem to be getting back on track.  Of course, the competition level rises considerably this week with the games vs. Amherst and at Midd.   The Ephs probably need at least a split if they hope to stay in contention for an at-large sport in the NCAA tourney.  Williams will have a tough time defending Amherst's and in particular Middlebury's big guys, so the Ephs need to minimize turnovers, hit open threes, and most importantly, have Wang/Robertson consistently create for teammates, the way they did over the past week.  The other big game this week is, surprisingly, Tufts-Bates -- the winner will be the leading contender for a number three seed in the NESCAC tourney, possibly even higher, as both play Amherst at home later in the winter. 

Some Williams recruiting news, according to this video, PG Adam Harrell from Seattle, WA has committed to Williams College:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWYCst2kOKY, and according to this news tweet, G Luke Thoreson from Idaho has signed a "letter of intent" [fyi reporters, this is D-3, so there is no such thing] to play for Williams: http://twitter.com/#!/CdAPressSports/status/157889146256494592.  If accurate, that would be FIVE guys from the pacific NW (one Idaho, three from Seattle, one from Oregon) on Williams' roster next year, plus two players from Colorado.  Clearly, Maker must have some sort of connection to that region of the country. 

Colby has received commitments from a few big man recruits.  Colby, with the coaching change, needs a huge recruiting year, and it sounds like they have gotten off to a good start:

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/2354/Stewart-Heading-to-NESCAC;-Shorey-to-Gridiron-.php

[walzy31]

Wednesday 1/25/12 Spread

Amherst @ Williams
Amherst -3.0
O/U: 141.0

[amh63]

There is a nice preview story on the Amherst website for both the MBB and WBB games this Wednesday.  Must be a big thing in the Berkshires...since there will be live TV coverage  on regional channels as well as on-line.  Williams' free webcast has come at the right time for us that cannot make it to a packed house to watch the live games.  Amherst site also post all the coverage info for those interested.

[magicman]

Headed over to Middlebury today to take in the Middlebury-Plattsburgh State game. I expect Middlebury to win this one, just hope the Cardinals can keep it competitive. Young Plattsburgh team of mostly sophomores and freshmen have been up and down all year. Hung with Rochester and Oswego on the road but lost badly to Buffalo State over the weekend. Middlebury was my team in the D3hoops survivor pool so I had a dual rooting interest all year. Now that the Panthers have won the survivor pool crown as the only undefeated team left in Division III,  I can hope for a Plattsburgh upset.

Hey Bucket and Old Guy, I'll be sitting behind the Plattsburgh bench with 2 other guys. 2 of us are old guys also with silver hair, 3rd guy is a bit younger. Stop by and say hello if you get a chance. Always good to meet other posters. We'll probably get there about halftime of the women's game if our travel plans goes as scheduled.

[toad22]

I noticed that William's recruit from Seattle is a lefty. Maker seems to like left handed players.

[Old Guy]

Gastroenteritis, the dreaded stomach flu, is sweeping the Middlebury campus, affecting all the teams. Three players missed practice yesterday. We'll know at gametime how widespread and bad it is.

The Middlebury Tigers (h.s. team "young guy" plays on) have a game at the same time tonight. Family before "family" - come to the h.s. game and buy a 50-50 raffle ticket from me. I hope to catch some of the second half and will look you up, magicman, immediately after the game. Bucket is the P.A. announcer.

[nescac1]

Walzy, W-A is always tough to predict, and given both team's inconsistency this year, now moreso than ever.  But I have to give the edge to the home team, Williams, and I like the over, as both teams have started to shoot it a bit better as of late. 

[amh63]

nescac1.....what a surprising pick!

[walzy31]

Walzy, W-A is always tough to predict, and given both team's inconsistency this year, now moreso than ever.  But I have to give the edge to the home team, Williams, and I like the over, as both teams have started to shoot it a bit better as of late.

I've got your two picks locked in and still owe you 4K (been paying you off 1 per 24 hour period). Should be a good one.