MBB: NESCAC

[Old Guy]

Kizell hits on a tough drive to tie it with 5 seconds to go, Travis Farrell dashes up the court and lets fly with a contested, off-balance, 22 footer .. . the buzzer goes off, nuthin' but net. The officials check to make sure, but everyone knew he had released it in time. Pandemonium to silence in a split second.

Tough loss. Panthers didn't play their best game offensively - 23% (4-17) from three (43% average for the year); 52% (11-20) from the line (75% for the year). We were ahead 36-35 in the middle of the half, but then were down by 3-6 points most of the rest of the way. Oddly officiated game: five offensive foul calls on us in the second half.

Credit Scranton: they're a smart, very well-disciplined team. They took 25 seconds on every possession. When they scored a hoop as the shot clock was expiring twice in succession in the second half I knew we were in trouble. We won the battle of the boards (36-26) but they got back on defense - we really had no running game, in our set offense the whole game. They're good defensively - every basket was a struggle. Kizell scored the last nine points for us - very tough, had 21 points (8-14).

They have four guys (Danzig 6'4", Farrell 6'3", Hawk 6'4", Morgan '6'3") who go hard to the basket and score or dish to the perimeter. They're hard to tell apart. Scranton hit 8-16 threes. Half of the missed threes were by their 6'8" center, Swabeck. They run their offense through him but they have no inside game. Swabeck played 38 minutes, had no points, and one rebound. (He was their leading three point shooter coming in though - 53 threes - 41%). Tonight he mostly he kept Sharry busy on the arc.  Danzig, a frosh, the coach's son, is a really good player.

Tomorrow's game here is interesting, contrasting styles. Cabrini (29-1) likes to push it and has talented athletic players. I think Scranton could smother them too. I'm intrigued by the match-up and have four tickets for the game, but I'm not sure I can watch someone else cut down the nets in our gym.

Full house, big noisy crowd, saw an exciting finish, got their money's worth. Lots of long faces in the Midd crowd. No Amherst-Midd rematch in VA. Midd's 25 game win streak at home was snapped - that's a nice run. 

Thanks to the Middlebury players and coaches for a great season - 26-4 and the four losses by nine points, all on the last possession. They're a real team, lots of courage; they represented themselves and the school beautifully throughout the season.

(I was writing this as Bucket was submitting his post - excuse the repetition: it's apparent we saw the same game.)

[remsleep]

Refs kept Amherst in the first Half - several tick-tack fouls against F&M who should be up by 8 instead of 1...

od....what game were you watching?   I had no dog in this fight but there was some serious home-cooking in the officiating for significant stretches in this game.   Not suggesting that Amherst should have won....but they didn't stay in the game because of officiating going against F&M...that's waaaay off

[Reserved Seat]

Officiating was inconsistent.  F&M picked up some cheap fouls early.  Hayk's third foul appeared to be on Salandra,  Number 11 had his arms wrapped around Milligan constantly.  Not impressed with the calls either way.
fouls first half 11 F&M  7 Amherst
       second half 8 F&M 18 Amherst(6 in the last three minutes when Amherst was trying to get back in the game)

fouling F&M down the stretch helped as F&M clanked many of them

[ephoops]

Black Friday in the NESCAC...

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Just got back from Lancaster.  Got to sit with Walzy in the second half of the Amherst game.  It was a rough one.  In both games, the refs did ok in the first half and just came out incredibly inconsistent in the second half.  It didn't matter much with MIT's big lead, but it ruined an otherwise incredible matchup for Amherst and F&M.

For a while I thought the refs were going to decide the game, but Amherst had a number of clear chances at the end and didn't come through.  Amherst's defense really hurt them, especially early on.

Both of these teams are championship level squads - it was a great game anyway, but it could have been epic if the officiating had been a bit more consistent.  Going both ways no one ever knew what might be called next.  As I said, it seemed like Amherst was on the losing end of it, but they had their chance in the end and that's all you can ask.

I do think the NCAA could have supplied better officials for this stage of the tournament.  I've seen far worse, but I expected better for sectionals.

Toomey has some great experience to build on for next season.  He's going to be special by the end of his career.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Quick thought on the officials, since for the first time covering Division III basketball I knew or had seen all the officials in an entire sectional Friday... one of those at the Amherst game should NEVER have been there. I won't go into the boring details, but he in now way deserved to even be in an early round NCAA game. Don't think he impacted the game.. but still bad all the same.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Quick thought on the officials, since for the first time covering Division III basketball I knew or had seen all the officials in an entire sectional Friday... one of those at the Amherst game should NEVER have been there. I won't go into the boring details, but he in now way deserved to even be in an early round NCAA game. Don't think he impacted the game.. but still bad all the same.

I found it odd how in both games the quality of the officiating turned so drastically in the second half.  I thought they let a lot go early in the Amherst game, but they were quite consistent.  That went out the window after halftime.  As you said, ultimately they didn't decide the game, but it was touch and go there for a while.

I also thought it was a little premature to give Hixon a warning early in the first half.  With about 11 minutes to go in the first half one of the refs talked to one of the Amherst assistants and told him if Hixon said one more thing about the calls he was out.  Hixon stayed quiet until about 6 minutes to go in the game.  I'd just never seen warnings come so early and with relatively little provocation.

[ronk]

It was the perfect storm that you described, nescac1.

Scranton hit huge clutch shots (and huge 3s) in the second half every time it looked like Midd was going to make a run and go ahead. And they milked the clock on every possession taking it under 10 seconds, and often under 5, every time down the floor. We shot better in the second half (though not from three, going 4-17 for the game), but we were limited to only 20 attempts in the half. There weren't that many possessions. We were getting good inside looks, converting many, though Scranton also put us on the line a lot and we struggled mightily there. (Which again was uncharacteristic for us this year.) We also had several big offensive fouls go against us down low, turning the ball over on precious possessions.

Still, we tie it w/ five seconds left and it looks like we're going to OT, but Scranton had just one second too many, pushing the ball up the court and hitting a deep, off-balance three w/ a hand in the face at the buzzer.

It was a crushing, heartbreaking loss. It seemed like we were so close to gutting it out and escaping on a night that clearly wasn't our night, and then, just like that, it's over.

Will post more later when I have my wits about me. Tremendous effort by this special group of guys, and I hate to see this run end for them.

Bucket/Middlebury fans,
  I've felt your pain. Five years ago, in eeringly similar circumstances, the Scranton women lost by 3 in the sectional semifinal on their home court with a 63-game streak on the line, 2 AA players, one of whom would be a member of D3hoops' team of the decade, 2 consecutive Final 4 appearances and the wife of a good friend refereeing the game. In that case, the game-tying 3-pt attempt missed, although, it was from a missed FT at the far foul line and was really a try to get fouled and make 3 FTs. I remember it still as if it were yesterday. 

[nescac1]

Good recaps as always, Bucket and Old Guy, and as always, you both represent Middlebury with class.  Sounds like Scranton employed the perfect formula for a smaller underdog team: milking the clock to limit possessions, keeping the favorite from getting into any sort of offensive rhythm, and nailing timely threes.  Midd is here to stay as a national power, they have two more years with Kizell, who will be an all-American before he is done if he keeps improving, and their frosh class seems loaded with size, talent, and athleticism.  But small consolation I know for that type of heartbreaking home loss to an underdog. 

Midd fans, turn away now, here is a link to the game-winner, very, very tough shot to say the least: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5CYem5mLvA

Definitely a shocking day for NESCAC fans who have become accustomed to seeing at least one conference team make a Final Four run virtually every year ...

[amh63]

Not really recovered after the game last night.   First, Congrats to F&M, the Dips played hard and won in a tough hard fought game.
I sat with some OLD friends that tried to restrain my remarks during the game.  Actually, as Amherst struggled in the first half, I was quite calm.  Amherst finished the first half, with one starter and four reserves on the floor.....for over 5 minutes and Amherst only down 1....being down 10 for so long.  Amherst appeared quicker and the Dips played a zone for about two minutes to end the half.
I felt confident that Amherst would prevail in the second half.  Aaron and Willy, their two all conf. players had been sitting on the bench for around 9 minutes in the first half....accordingly to Walzy....who seems to keep track of such facts.
Then the second half started and I started to question the refs calls.  Many quick early fouls on Amherst.  I thought, the refs were making it up after calling so many fouls in the first half on F & M.   What ever the reasons, it impacted Amherst, IMO.  Willy was taken out and big Pete was taken out, etc....at critical times.  Very uneven levels of call.  Players getting hammered and no calls, players touch fouls being called.  Amherst could not get into any flow and still I believed the game would be in reach.
I felt that it was F &M's front line reserves that won the game for them...along with their star guard...number 4..Milligan.  After looking at the box last night when I got home, what stood out was.....the times the starters were in the game.....the number of fouls they had.
The Dips did not make a 3-point shot....but boy did they make shots....over 60% in the second half.  Amherst had more steals and rebounds...even more offensive boards.
As I drove home, I had over two hours to myself on carless roads to think about the game.  I looked up in the sky and saw the full moon.  I knew that Midd. had loss, ECSU had loss, Va. Wes. had won by a few and thought....maybe it was the moon and not the refs,,,that had prevented me from watching a special game between two special teams.  I will never know, 
I thank the seniors here for a special season that gave me hope for a return trip to Salem.
I will wait awhile.....watch the Amherst WBB team advance.. work in the garden to prepare for Spring.
Maybe when Summer ends....I will think about the start of the BB season.

[ECSUalum]

amh63,
Amherst will be back and better than ever next year, have a great spring!!!

[oftdip]

Amh- you are ever the class act... Your poignant and obviously emotional recap and thoughts are from a true collegiate hoops fan... I agree the game was a tale of two halves of inconsistent calls; it played a huge part on both Hixson and Robinson's game plans - F&M got the first run of the game and played tight enough to keep the 8-10 pt lead throughout the 1st half - if the 1H had gone another 1:00, the Jeffs would have been up by 5 at the half...
I do believe the Dips defense had an effect on Toomey who was primed to have a big night - 22 pts is still a great night... He is the real deal and just was off enough to make a difference... I also believe while Amherst was deeper, more athletic and even quicker, it was not the F&M defense that made the difference, it was their offense - when Porter (#1) and Hayk (#24) went out early 1H with 2 fouls, both were replaced with solid replacements in Early and Salandra... Milligan saved one of his best game at Mayser for last night - he will be greatly missed next year - I hope there is enough left in the tank for MIT tonight... Your Jeffs are also a class program and will always be back next year... We could use another good fan for tonight's battle - I can get you another "Let's Go Dips" towel to wave!!! I rooted for Amherst in 04 in the Final Four when they ripped my heart out and cut down OUR nets... There is more room on the bus for one more great fan!!!

[Old Guy]

I went tonight to the Cabrini-Scranton final. I had a bet with my 16 year old son - my ten bucks against a hour of yard work for him - and he gave me Scranton and ten points. I was pretty confident: you always want the team that beat you to advance, makes you look better. He won, easily. Cabrini 78 - Scranton 58. Scranton couldn't miss against us last night but didn't shoot well tonight. They got just one shot at the hoop as they were outrebounded 38-23. I don't know if Cabrini can go all the way, but they are 30-1.

[walzy31]

Not really recovered after the game last night.   First, Congrats to F&M, the Dips played hard and won in a tough hard fought game.
I sat with some OLD friends that tried to restrain my remarks during the game.  Actually, as Amherst struggled in the first half, I was quite calm.  Amherst finished the first half, with one starter and four reserves on the floor.....for over 5 minutes and Amherst only down 1....being down 10 for so long.  Amherst appeared quicker and the Dips played a zone for about two minutes to end the half.
I felt confident that Amherst would prevail in the second half.  Aaron and Willy, their two all conf. players had been sitting on the bench for around 9 minutes in the first half....accordingly to Walzy....who seems to keep track of such facts.
Then the second half started and I started to question the refs calls.  Many quick early fouls on Amherst.  I thought, the refs were making it up after calling so many fouls in the first half on F & M.   What ever the reasons, it impacted Amherst, IMO.  Willy was taken out and big Pete was taken out, etc....at critical times.  Very uneven levels of call.  Players getting hammered and no calls, players touch fouls being called.  Amherst could not get into any flow and still I believed the game would be in reach.
I felt that it was F &M's front line reserves that won the game for them...along with their star guard...number 4..Milligan.  After looking at the box last night when I got home, what stood out was.....the times the starters were in the game.....the number of fouls they had.
The Dips did not make a 3-point shot....but boy did they make shots....over 60% in the second half.  Amherst had more steals and rebounds...even more offensive boards.
As I drove home, I had over two hours to myself on carless roads to think about the game.  I looked up in the sky and saw the full moon.  I knew that Midd. had loss, ECSU had loss, Va. Wes. had won by a few and thought....maybe it was the moon and not the refs,,,that had prevented me from watching a special game between two special teams.  I will never know, 
I thank the seniors here for a special season that gave me hope for a return trip to Salem.
I will wait awhile.....watch the Amherst WBB team advance.. work in the garden to prepare for Spring.
Maybe when Summer ends....I will think about the start of the BB season.

I rarely do this, but I agree 100% with Amh63 on his recap (minus the stuff about the moon). Milligan played a heck of a game and I wish we could play them again just like I'm sure Midd wishes they could play Scranton again.

Great to see Dave McHugh in person for the first time since Salem 08 and to meet Hoops Fan. Based on how many posts Hoops Fan has made and how old he is, you would think he started posting up from the crib...a true basketball fan.

As I get older and wiser I come away from Lancaster noticing one big thing that I never had thought about from the other perspective. Home court matters a lot, but not just for the obvious reasons of fans and gym familiarity: what region's officiating crew comes to town and how a game is called is the bigger effect. Amherst had their chances for sure, but the flow and ability to know what was going to be a foul and what wasn't kept Amherst out of rhythm and now I can see how non-NE teams could feel the same frustration coming to Lefrak or Pepin and not getting officiated the way they are used to.

Weird that Amherst makes their 1st ever Final Four during my first year in school there and now MIT make their 1st ever Final Four in my first year in school here...

[Hugenerd]

Weird that Amherst makes their 1st ever Final Four during my first year in school there and now MIT make their 1st ever Final Four in my first year in school here...

Which course, if you dont mind me asking?  I just defended my PhD thesis last spring (Course 10).