MBB: NESCAC

[grabtherim]

Friday February 10th NESCAC Spreads

Tufts @ Hamilton
Tufts -16.0
O/U: 150.0

Williams @ Amherst
Amherst -7.0
O/U: 139.5

Middlebury @ Trinity
Middlebury -18.0
O/U: 129.0

Wesleyan @ Bowdoin
Bowdoin -1.0
O/U:143.5

Conn College @ Colby
Conn College -1.0
O/U: 126.0
(this game would be a pick'em if Colby hadn't beaten Trinity and would also be the game of the day)

Thought you had Midd giving too many points to Williams a few weeks ago, and feel the same way this week again with the spread you have versus Trinity (18).  Press my action from the Williams win on Trinity.  Looking for the Midd win but I say it will be closer than 18. 

[lefrakenstein]

Friday February 10th NESCAC Spreads

Tufts @ Hamilton
Tufts -16.0
O/U: 150.0

Williams @ Amherst
Amherst -7.0
O/U: 139.5

Middlebury @ Trinity
Middlebury -18.0
O/U: 129.0

Wesleyan @ Bowdoin
Bowdoin -1.0
O/U:143.5

Conn College @ Colby
Conn College -1.0
O/U: 126.0
(this game would be a pick'em if Colby hadn't beaten Trinity and would also be the game of the day)

I'll take:

Amherst and under
Trinity and under
Wesleyan and under
Hamilton and under
Conn and under

[Ashley Parker Angel]

Friday February 10th NESCAC Spreads

Trying to keep this good run going:

Hamilton and under
Williams and under
Middlebury and under
Wesleyan and under
Colby and over

[Colby Hoops]

I guess I'll get in on the action.  Hamilton, Williams, Trinity, Bowdoin, Colby.  I'll stay away from the over/unders.

[lumbercat]

OK guys I gota play on the last regular season weekend:

Hamilton - under
Williams - under
Trintiy- under
Wesleyan- under
Colby- over

Still trying to get a grip on the whole travel and scheduling situation with Hamilton coming into the conference. We will be  keen observers when the Bates Bobcats make that brutal trip to the outback in Clinton on Sunday.

[nescac1]

Great first half in Amherst.   So far, the game has been far smoother and better-played offensively than the first match-up between these two.  Williams has run its offense as well as I've seen all year, tremendous balance.  The vast majority of Williams shots were smart ones, a vast difference from the Bowdoin game (wish they had played this crisply last Saturday).  At least five or six easy finishes inside, largely off pick-and-rolls, including a nice dunk from Mayer, and TONS of open looks from three.  Unfortunately for Williams, they have missed a lot of open threes and a few close shots as well, but hit enough to build a slight lead.  For Amherst, Toomey has been fantastic, getting into the lane at will, and Barrise is on fire -- Williams HAS to make someone else beat them other than Barrise from deep. Also, Amherst has been hurting Williams on the offensive glass, keeping the Jeffs in the game.  Hixon did not look happy with the Jeffs' D in the first half and frankly they are lucky Williams only scored 41, as they really had a ton of open looks.  You know Amherst will come out and play better D in the second half, so for Williams to hang on, they will have to keep the Jeffs off the glass, maybe get a few offensive rebounds of their own, and limit Barrise. 

[OchoLoko41]

Good first half of basketball going up at Bowdoin with Wes up 38-30 at the half.  Callaghan and Beresford are leading the charge for the Cardinals with 14 a piece, while Brown is playing more of a facilitators role with 4 assists so far.

Took Hanley a little while to get going but some nifty fast break points jump started his offense. 

Really hope Williams holds on for the win and the big three way tie in the little 3 that would result.

[nescac1]

Ephs in a bit of trouble.  Just can not buy one from deep lately, while Amherst has been red-hot from three.  And Amherst continues to just kill Williams on the offensive glass.  Amherst up six. 

[nescac1]

Great game in Lefrak.  Familiar sight for the Ephs ... a desperation heave from Wang (who played very well all game) from three to win fails to go, and they lose yet another heartbreaker.  Just not the Ephs' year in hoops, between injuries early and an inability to eek out a close game against their rivals.  I just hope they are saving up all their good karma for the NESCAC tourney, where they will likely have to play Amherst or Midd in the first round just to advance.  Toomey hit a truly fantastic, very high degree of difficult solo shot for the win, the defense did all it could and he just made a spectacular individual play.  Williams really played beautiful offense all game, can't fault anything in terms of the Ephs' offensive game-plan or execution, so many lay-ins off beautiful off-ball movement, just needed to hit a FEW more open threes.  Barrise was on fire all game for Amherst, but what really was the difference were all of Amherst's second chance opportunities, the Amherst front court guys were just too aggressive and athletic for the Ephs to deal with inside, and Amherst has too many talented offensive players to keep giving them extra shots like that.  The Ephs are bound to break through eventually in one of these close games, I just hope they manage to do so come tourney time, they certainly played well enough to beat anyone today, Amherst was just one shot better. 

[Ashley Parker Angel]

Big one for the Cards on their quest to secure the three spot heading into the tournament. I hope they can make it happen tomorrow in good old Waterville.

[pjunito]

Nescac1 - How do the conference playoffs work? How many teams make it?

[Old Guy]

The #2 seed in the tourney gets Williams in the first round, is that right?  No problem, clearly a "mid-tier" team (two 2 point losses to Amherst, one point loss to Midd). That's sarcasm. They're tough. Even more incentive to win tomorrow for the Panthers.

[OchoLoko41]

Nescac1 - How do the conference playoffs work? How many teams make it?

While admittedly im no nescac1 i'll answer this one.  top 8 teams make the tourney based on in league record.  when it comes down to crunch time head to head results are used to break ties followed by records against common opponents.

Wesleyan notched a nice win up in Brunswick tonight with Beresford and Callaghan leading the charge, Beresford getting 20 points with 6 for 10 shooting from behind the arc and Callaghan continuing to kill it with a monster 25 pt 15 rebound game.  On the Bowdoin side Hanley was one of the few bright spots with a truly balanced game (13 pts, 6 rebs, 4 assists, 5 blks).

Forgive me if im becoming boring by banging this drum again but if you dont like watching the Cardinals then you just dont like good basketball.  This is just a group of good lookin fellas that play good hard defense and where any one of 4 or 5 guys can be "the man" on any particular evening.  Their bench is by far one of the most animated in the CAC, with both stars and benchwarmers cheering as enthusiastically as possible for even the smallest of Wes victories (if any of you get the chance, check out Tim Gallivan, you cant teach that level of enthusiasm).  This is the type of basketball that Joe Reilly(right now the clear coach of the year favorite in my opinion) was supposed to instill in Middletown and I for one am delighted to see it happen.

In other news, as heartbroken as I am to see Amherst win, that was on helluva shot by Toomey... gotta love free webcasts

[Bucket]

Midd thumps Trinity, 76-47.

Big game tomorrow.

[7express]

Nescac1 - How do the conference playoffs work? How many teams make it?

8.  Wesleyan is locked in at #3, the Middlebury/Amherst winner tomorrow is the 1 seed and won't have to leave school to get the auto bid; loser of that falls to #2.  Not sure about 4,5,6,7 or 8, other than the fact Williams will be opening on the road, probably in the 6/7/8 spot.