MBB: NESCAC

[auerbach]

slam dunk contest at tufts ? c'mon.....enough already !

[formerbant10]

Auerbach, I'm not taking Europe lightly.  You should notice that I said with a foreign passport (means he doesn't count as an American) and in Ireland (not one of the top basketball countries) he could probably play.  Please read carefully what I say.  There's a reason that the only a few guys playing in Europe right now; Adam Harper (Germany) and Tucker Kain (England).  While the NESCAC may be the strongest conference in NE's D3, we don't have a stranglehold on the pro ranks.

I'm not sure where you're going with the two balls on the floor question.  Do I support Trinity, yes and will for quite some time.  Does that mean I don't see their flaws?  No, I know what their strengths and weaknesses are better than pretty much anyone.  But the information I choose to give/withhold is up to me and me alone. 

[fisheralum03]

question on location of Gym. Is the college on Boltwood AVE??? I did a mapquest and it says you need to get off at I-87 and then back on I-90. I've made the drive to Boston many times and never had to get off on 87. Why is that??

[mrmike88]

To get to Amherst, take I-90 East to I-91 North, then get off at Rte 9 East in Northampton.  Take it into Amherst (past all the UMass signs).  You'll start going up a hill when you cross into town.  At the top of the hill, go right at the stoplight (Rte 116 South) and the gym will be on your left a little ways down.

Fisher brought a decently-sized contingent last year.  One of the things I love about the NCAAs is the rowdy crowds.  Saturday was the first time all year LeFrak really buzzed during a game; the students came out in large numbers and made a lot of noise.  As much as I have maligned student attendance at Amherst basketball games, with last weekend's turnout I wouldn't be surprised if we come pretty close to hitting capacity this weekend.

[fisheralum03]

thank you mrmike. I knew you don't need to take 87.

[CCsalive]

Aurbach for president.
Formerbant-Are you saying that Tony Parker could play in the French first division because he's a citizen? I'm just kidding, pal.

Anyone else read Alexander Wolff's book about bball's evolution world-wide? It made me hate him as a writer. He brags about playing semi-pro ball in Switzerland in the 1970's...annoying.

Yes, European clubs limit the # of Americans, but that's not why Abba isn't getting paid to play...for goodness sakes the guy is probably reading this and some of you have him thinking of trying out for Barcelona.

I bet some of you think JJ Reddick will be a better Olympian than Kobe...one dimensional players and role players are critical to teams, but they are not great players. In Eph-land Hunt, Nogelo, Kain, Crotty, these are great players...Abba is well below them

[auerbach]

bant, i think you look back on your old foes and their strengths are stronger and weakness' are not as bad as reality. i was at championship weekend scouting for europe. there were three players in the tournament we have interest inand from what i saw 2 can play. one was way over rated,as a matter of fact a big letdown. i want one on my team and the other can play for somebody over there.i will have my second look at the two that i think can play this weekend. much like the u.s. we have role players ..... fitz led his team in rebounds during college and would have scored more but zieja was prolific( blackhole?) scoring much like your old teamate,so fitz never got his due. he played well in europe. harper is more of a shooter over there. he was a defensive specialist here.d player of the year. he understands passing lanes not sure he's a great defender.abba don't think so,there are plenty of decent irish americans that qualify under the grand parent thing. it bothers me to hear talk of europe like it is a decent d3 league. in my opinion ,on average, 3of 5 first team all nescac could play in europe.

[CCsalive]

There's a Long Island kid (out of St. Mary's) who played at William and Mary and plays for the Irish National Team...his stool is better than Abba.

[formerbant10]

If he's on the national team I'd hope he is.  But there is a Hunter College Alum playing in Europe and scoring at will.  Not a very good player over here, but has scored 40+ on a few occasions.

Auerbach, I agree with you saying that not too many NESCAC players will/can play in Europe.  I may be nice in my posts, but I do my best not to exaggerate a players abilities.  If you feel like I am, sorry for it.  Who are the 3 players you have interest in?  What country do you coach in?

CC, I believe TParker had been playing in the 1st division since he was 15...I don't think he'd be NESCAC POY though (Clearly Joking here).  Alex Wolff actually suited up for the ABA's Maryland Nighthawks yesterday along with 7'7" Gheorghe Muresan.  Both played very little and didn't score.  But they were great for the team's PR.  Wolff is the owner of an ABA expansion team the Vermont Frostheaves who will begin play next winter.  Haven't read his book, but I like him as a writer and he's a HUGE Middlebury fan.

[walzy31]

Abba, Halas, even Keala Mills (if they were able to play him on offense and then take him out before the other team ran down the court) are shooters, who can dribble, and who play defense (except Mills). Harper is scoring 25-30 a game and never averaged more than 18 at Amherst. I don't really care who can play where...but I am trying to argue that NESCAC players have more opportunity to play in Europe than they might know. I am not saying in the leagues where Gasol, Parker or Milicic came from...but there are some countries where the divisions drop to 4th and 5th. That is all.

Tony Parker ain't no Steve Nash

Fisheralum,

FYI, The game is in Western Mass not Boston. MrMike's directions are the ones you should follow.

I know what their strengths and weaknesses are better than pretty much anyone.  But the information I choose to give/withhold is up to me and me alone.

If I had to sum that up with one word I would choose "Loyality"

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

...his stool is better than Abba.

A great quote.

[fisheralum03]

I know walzy, I was using Boston as an example b/c the drive is so easy.

[JeffRookie2]

Man, how about John Casnocha. He must read these posts because since he got called out by someone (I forget who) he has absolutely been on a tear. If he keeps shooting like this, the Jeffs could be pretty darn tough to beat.

Also, I heard the other day that the jeffs have recruited dan wheeler's little bro who is apparantly quite the baller. I have to do some work right now, but tonight ill look up some stats on him.

[mrmike88]

One of the things about Hamilton's game plan that really intrigued me was how much pressure they put on the guards in the backcourt.  There was NO spacing for Olson, Bedford, Corrigan, and McLaughlin.  I was worried at first that a tigh perimeter D might be effective in shutting down the three-point shot and disrupting the perimeter passing that is a staple of the Jeff offense.  Instead, what happened was that the Continentals left themselves vulnerable to the Princeton-style backdoor cut, and Bedford flat-out abused them in that respect.

I'm wondering what Tufts will look to do this time.  They were fairly successful clogging interior passing lanes and they did a good job disrupting flow, but it still wasn't enough.  Prior to Saturday, I would have assumed that the Jumbo guards would pressure like Hamilton did, but now I highly doubt that...

[met_fan]

fisheralum,
The reason your directions say to get on I-87 is because the NY Thruway turns from I-90 east to I-87 south at exit 24 in Albany.  You can either get off exit 24 and continue on I-90 (free for a while) or stay on the Thruway, which becomes I-87 south and get off at exit 21A (I believe), putting you on the Berkshire spur of the Thruway.  This eventually turns back into I-90, joining up with the other route option.  Both ways take about the same time, but the changing number of the Thruway confuses a lot of people.  The second route is given on directions because it avoids going through more congested I-90 through Albany at a slower speed limit.