MBB: NESCAC

[magicman]

As for last season, I certainly didn't not indicate Middlebury did not deserve to be in the Final Four... that couldn't be further from the truth. They got through a tough Sectional Weekend and earned their way to the Final Four... and while their game against St. Thomas was certainly close, but St. Thomas had also gone cold in the middle of that second half, allowing Middlebury back in the game. I just felt from watching Middlebury play that they were a bit overwhelmed by the moment during parts of that game... that was all I was trying to say.

As the sender of the email that Dave responded to on Hoopsville last Sunday, I have to say that I did misunderstand his comments about Middlebury and last year's Final Four.  He said they kind of got woke up to the fact of what the DIII Final Four looks like. It was the "deer in headlights" comment by the Northeast reporter, Matt Noonan, that actually had me a little fired up. In listening to the broadcast a second time, Dave is correct in that he never stated Midd didn't belong there. I did send him a second email, immedialely after his response, saying I was sorry I misinterpreted his statement. The entire conversation just seemed to not give Middlebury the respect I felt they deserved. Mr. Noonan implied that Amherst was actually in first place overall, when both Midd and Amherst were tied with 6-0 records. He said he felt, in his opinion that Amherst was built to possibly overtake Middlebury (which they may do) and end up with the top spot. He did say in reponse to a question by the host that he thought Middlebury was for real, but not to count out Williams. (I don't think most knowledgeable followers of the NESCAC have) He then followed that up by stating that the Panthers had been a surprise this year. Dave did say that Amherst has swept Williams for the season, if you count the Little Three as well, but Amherst has only met and beaten Williams once which was in their non-conference meeting. Williams and Amherst will play their conference game on Feb. 10th at Amherst.

I just felt that a team that was in the Final Four last year, was possibly a 3 pointer away from playing for all the marbles, was undefeated this year and ranked #1 for 8 straight weeks was worthy of a little more support. They certainly weren't a surprise to me.

In closing I'd like to thank Dave for hosting Hoopsville as it gives all of us DIII fans an opportunity to hear from coaches and reporters from various regions of the country. You do a great job and thanks for responding to my email and straightening me out.        

[jayhawk]

Nice article on new Amherst recruit, Ben Pollack from Farmington, CT in Hartford newspaper today. Ben is averaging 18 pts and impressive 19 rebounds game per game, according to article second team all state in CT as junior. Excellent student with 4.0 average.Stories about him focus on his leadership skills and being a defensive "quarterback."  Rebounding total in my mind really a highlight suggests aggressive and tough around the backboard
link:http://www.courant.com/sports/boys-basketball/hc-hs-spotlight-0203-20120202,0,7483699.story

[amh63]

Jayhawk.....Thanks!  Caught the video which covered the story.  He should fit in well at the school and on the team.  Gets shorter in every story I read about him....doesn't matter since he seems to be growing and it is the mindset more than the size.  With the 6'8" mobile player from Georgia also coming, Amherst will have good depth in the front court for several years.  Expect some wing players and guards to show up since Amherst will graduate 5 seniors.

[walzy31]

Friday February 3rd AND Saturday February 4th NESCAC Spreads
(I am traveling. All karma wagers must be placed before the tip of Friday's games...you can't wait to see Friday's result and then bet on Saturday's games)

FRIDAY
Bowdoin @ Middlebury
Middlebury -18.0
O/U: 122.5

Colby @ Williams
Williams -26.5
O/U: 126.0

Trinity @ Tufts
Tufts -18.5
O/U: 128.5

Amherst @ Bates
Amherst -14.0
O/U: 151.5

Hamilton @ Conn College
Hamilton -3.0
O/U: 132.0


SATURDAY
Bowdoin @ Williams
Williams - 13.5
O/U: 134.5

Amherst @ Tufts
Amherst -5.0
O/U: 153.5

Trinity @ Bates
Bates -4.5
O/U: 133.5

Colby @ Middlebury
Middlebury -24.5
O/U:112.5

[nescac1]

amh63, who is the Georgia big guy you refer to?  I must have missed that one.  Amherst really needs a swing player in recruiting.  They seem to be incredibly deep at the five (Buckner looks good and now bringing in two more frosh) and (assuming Barry ever gets healthy) in great shape at the point for the next couple of years, but with Waller and Barrise graduating this year, and then Williamson and Workman the year after, Amherst will need some fresh blood at those spots.  Williams, meanwhile, desperately needs an impact PG for next year with Wang graduating and Robertson a rising senior, but the Ephs are deeper with young talent in the frontcourt (six capable guys in the FY and Soph class, all of whom have a lot of room to develop) than at anytime in recent memory. 

As for picks, I am more focused on football this weekend (Go Giants), but here goes:

Friday: Middlebury and over, Colby (hate to pick against Williams, but that is just too big a spread) and over, Tufts and under, Amherst and under, Hamilton and over. 

Saturday: Williams and over, Tufts and under, Bates and under, Midd and over.   I'll double down on the over in the Midd-Colby game ...

Most of these picks were pretty tough ...

[Old Guy]

Wonderful piece on Middlebury and MIT, unlikely powerhouses, by Sports Illustrated's Alexander Wolff:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/alexander_wolff/02/03/middlebury.mit.wolff/index.html?sct=cb_wr_a1

[7express]

Bowdoin @ Middlebury
Middlebury -18.0
O/U: 122.5

Colby @ Williams
Williams -26.5
O/U: 126.0

Trinity @ Tufts
Tufts -18.5
O/U: 128.5

Amherst @ Bates
Amherst -14.0
O/U: 151.5

Hamilton @ Conn College
Hamilton -3.0
O/U: 132.0


SATURDAY
Bowdoin @ Williams
Williams - 13.5
O/U: 134.5

Amherst @ Tufts
Amherst -5.0
O/U: 153.5

Trinity @ Bates
Bates -4.5
O/U: 133.5

Colby @ Middlebury
Middlebury -24.5
O/U:112.5
-------------------------

Friday:
Middlebury and over
Colby and over
Tufts and over
Amherst and under
Conn College (this is gonna come back and bite me I think) and under

Saturday:
Williams and under
Tufts and under
Trinity and over
Middlebury and over

[Ashley Parker Angel]

Friday February 3rd AND Saturday February 4th NESCAC Spreads

Tonight:
Bowdoin and over
Colby and over
Trinity and under
Bates and under

Saturday:
Williams and over
Amherst and under
Bates and under
Middlebury and over

Sunday:
Hamilton @ Wesleyan?

[jayhawk]

Amherst has several potential swing players on team including freshman Joe Mussachia- see link for All State- MA ESPN link:
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/high-school/tag/_/name/joe-mussachia
He is a freshman who is bidding his time till next year. Also Amherst Tom Killian

[jayhawk]

I don't think Amherst has big guy for Georgia coming but one from South Carolina
James Sanderson, see link: http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2012/jan/17/sanderson-earned-his-starring-role/

Also I think there may other Amherst recruits the year is not

[amh63]

Thanks again Jayhawk.........The fellow I was referring to is from Charleston, S.C., not Georgia.  Jayhawk has you covered nescac 1.
There are several other players that can be called swing players around...The shooter from upper NY who has been touted as a combo of Wheeler and Barrise....who at 6'3" or 4" can be a shooting guard #2.  The 6'6" Lippe, is strong and able and also a football player..QB.  Then there is the mysterious 6'10" FY walk-on who appears in several frames of the re-season video. I'm letting the coaches surprise me next year.

[nescac1]

Gotcha, thanks Jayhawk.  Amh63, I am guessing if the sophomore shooter was truly at the Barrise / Wheeler level (remember, those are both guys who were already key players as sophomores, and both showed a lot as frosh), he'd be getting some burn right now ... it's not as if Amherst has guys coming off the bench who are lighting it up from outside to keep him on the bench, anything but.  Mussachia is a different story as (1) he is only a frosh and like most NESCAC coaches, Hixon won't rely on a frosh unless the guy is a superstar (2) he played in a very weak league which means he probably needs more time to adjust to the college game and (3) he was highly touted coming out of high school.  I'd guess that, barring a superstar recruit, you will see Mussachia, Williamson, Barry (if they go with a 2 PG line-up), and Killian fighting for Waller and Barrise's minutes next year. 

Williamson, as an Eph fan, has always really scared me, I can't quite figure out why he isn't a big-time player yet, only Troy Whittington has had similar athletic ability among recent NESCAC players, in terms of combo of strength, quickness, and jumping ability.  He is capable of the truly spectacular play, but also can kind of disappear for awhile, if he ever improves his touch, watch out ... 

Anyway, back to this year.  Williams badly needs a sweep this weekend to position itself for a decent seed in the NESCAC tourney and to keep the very slender hope of a potential at-large NCAA bid alive.  Williams is definitely on the right trajectory of late, and barring a disaster they should handle Colby.  Bowdoin seems to be, finally, on a bit of a roll, so that game will be more interesting. 

Amherst has a tough road weekend with a long trip to Tufts and Bates, both playing pretty well.  Bates with that gym is never an easy place to play, but Amherst has a lot more horses.  Playing Tufts on the back end of that trip will be especially difficult.  If the Jeffs win both games they are in very good shape for an at-large bid, I'd think, even with a few tough games ahead vs. Midd and Williams.  Meanwhile Wesleyan should handle Hamilton at home so long as they aren't looking past the Continentals, setting up a mad scramble for the 3-7 seeds in the NESCAC tourney in the final weekend.   I expect Middlebury, humbled off a first loss, to bounce back in a big way this weekend to set up a potential first-place showdown with the Jeffs.   

[jayhawk]

article in Sports Illustrated.com  highlighting MIT and Middlebury basketball :http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/alexander_wolff/02/03/middlebury.mit.wolff/

[Bucket]

Middlebury leads Bowdoin at the half, 30-24.

Strange game, no real flow. Both Hanley and Sharey held in check, so far.

Kizel carrying the Panthers on the offensive end.

[Bucket]

Hanley now playing the way he's capable. 12 point Panther lead down to 5, w/ 7:00 remaining