MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Gabriel, I'm not sure how you can judge NESCAC vs. Centennial THIS year after one game.  Certainly, based on the top 25 poll, the NESCAC is considered to be far stronger.  And just because one Centennial team didn't lose badly to a NESCAC squad which may be first, second, or third (or possibly even fourth) best in the league, I wouldn't get too excited ... remember, unlike the rest of D-3, NESCAC has only been practicing two weeks, so look for rapid improvement by NESCAC teams as the season moves along. 

Very nice win for Williams, dominating a solid Salem State team.  Williams played zone much of the game, daring Salem to shoot over it, and Salem kept shooting, but rarely connected.  Very smart and strong defensive performance by Williams, they were all over SAlem whenever they tried to go into the lane.  Salem pressed much of the game and it didn't bother Williams at all.  In fact the only Williams turnovers were off ill-advised 3/4 court passes, rather than a result of pressure from Salem.   

All five starters played well for Williams.  Daniel Wohl showed that he will be a major factor this year, with 14 points, 9 boards, 3 assists, 2 blocks, a steal, and very steady ball-handling vs. the zone.  Taylor Epley struggled again from the field, having many close-in shots just barely rim out, but to his credit he stayed aggressive and turned things around in the second half.  Michael Mayer was again an absolute force, putting up 17-13 in only 17 minutes.  The way he is playing, he rivals Toomey for best player in NESCAC, and he is the most offensively skilled post I've ever seen play for a NESCAC team.  He just keeps getting better.  He has yet to match up with a very tough big guy, but the way he can shoot and drive from the high post, I don't think many D-3 bigs have the foot speed to stand a chance one on one.  James Klemm after a tough first game was back to his old offensively-efficient self.  The bench was pretty quiet, except that Sean Hoffmann once again showed that he has developed into a capable back-up center, and John Weinheimer had a break-out game, slashing into the lane and creating for both himself and his teammates.  He had a very strong game on both ends and is a guy who can defend multiple positions, which is a bonus. 

The only negatives for Williams: Ephs did miss a few too many bunnies and open threes, they will need to finish a bit better against Wesleyan.  Nate Robertson and Michael Mayer both picked up a few early fouls, and both need to be more careful to avoid careless fouls, since the Ephs can't afford to play without either for very long.  The only time Salem was competitive was one stretch when both sat with foul trouble.  Overall, a great opening weekend for the Ephs, and I think Tuesday's game should be really fun to watch. 

[Bucket]

On a night when Joey Kizell is oh-fer from the field (0-6) and the Panthers are dominated on the boards (42-26...when is the last time that happened???!!) and the opponent's stud forward goes for 30 and 13, I wouldn't give Midd much of a shot. But I would be wrong.

Midd beats host Lebanon Valley (who knocked off Staten Island the day before), 72-63, in a game that was close throughout, though the Panthers never trailed in the second half.

Nolan Thompson and Jake Wolfin paced the Panthers--18 and 17 pts, respectively--and Kizell didn't let his shooting woes get him down, dishing out 7 assists. Again, the Panther front court struggled with fouls--Jensen (13 pts, 5 boards) and Lynch both finished w/ 4 and were in and out of the game.

Merryman continued to be dialed in from deep--4/6 from 3, finished with 14 points. 

[Old Guy]

Midd prevails 72-63. Thompson (MVP) and Merryman 13 points today, 14 testerday)make the All-Tourney team. Pretty good game: Midd up ten at the half 32-22, LBV closes to within four a couple of times in the second half, P{anthers pull away in the last five minutes. Not sure how you guys to extended analysis from the webcasts - all I can do is pay attention to the score.

Where's Ryan? Midd outrebounded 42-26. LBV with 14 offensive rebounds. Lynch again in foul trouble.

Thompson had a very nice game - 18 points (3 threes), 4 steals. Jake Wolfin too - 17 points on 5-8 shooting, 4-5 from the line, 4 assists. Joey Kizell's off to a slow start shooting (0-6 today) but he had 7 assists. Roberts had four blocks and gave Midd a presence underneath when he was in. James Jensen played very well today (13 points, 5 boards, 2 blocks).

[Old Guy]

sorry for the redundancy - Bucket and I will have to compare notes. At least it's clear we saw the same game.

[amh63]

Amherst wins its tourney this afternoon.  Curry College beats Colby-Sawyer yesterday 97-96 to advance to the title game....led by Sedale Jones with 25 points.  Today Curry scores 96 points with S. Jones going for 41 points!  However, Amherst wins by scoring 117.  I am relating this info on Curry since they will be playing several other "CAC" schools later this season.  Mr. S. Jones is a player at 6'4".  He scores inside and outside......he played at UMASS-Amherst several years back.  Curry also has several BIG front court players...wide body types so watch out.
Yesterday, Workman had a double/double in points and rebounds and even had around 7 assists.  Today, Toomey had a double double in points and assists with 12.  Big Pete had a double double in points and rebounds with 22 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes.   All five starters scored in double figures.  Killian seems to be the deep threat this year along with Toomey. 
Anyway, I defer the recap to the pros on the website....since there was no video feed of the games.  Defense, imo, needs some work....especially against quick players.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Jones is a tremendous offensive player.  He's odds on favorite for the CCC player of the year.  I'm impressed with how well he played against a team as good as Amherst.

What did you think of his defensive abilities?  He's been known to wander a bit on D and play pretty inconsistently.

[Panthernation]

Just had Middlebury's Top Assistant Alex Popp on our sports talk radio show, a few interesting comments worth passing along:

-Popp said that Ursinus' John Ward and Lebanon Valley's Danny Brooks were both All-NESCAC caliber players, and that it was good for Midd to get a chance to match up against those guys early in the season in preparation for NESCAC play.

-On the best things about coaching at Middlebury, he said that the basketball intelligence stands out, that the coaching staff is able to install 25+ sets in the first two weeks and the team can run them all right away.

-On recruiting (he is the top recruiter), he said he and Jeff Brown tend to look for the "hard working, overachieving" type player to fit their team. 

-He said that this year's team's strength is its depth, talked about how many talented players (Jensen, Merryman, Bulluck, Brierly, Daley, Pendergast, Sinnickson) there are coming off the bench, said that Midd has the best depth in the NESCAC.

-On Nolan Thompson: "I've been around basketball for over twenty years and I've never seen a leader quite like Nolan Thompson... In two years together, I have never heard him make an excuse for anything."

Popp will continue to come on the show throughout the season.

Also, here is our recap/analysis of this weekend's tournament from our blog: http://blogs.middlebury.edu/panthernation/2012/11/17/middlebury-wins-rinso-marquette-tournament-our-thoughts/

[madzillagd]

I am suggesting that this year the CC is better top to bottom. The league seems to have the best balance it has ever had.

Through the opening weekend the NESCAC is 15-5, the CC is 8-11.  Early but so far the comparison isn't panning out.

[Panthernation]

Michael Mayer was again an absolute force, putting up 17-13 in only 17 minutes.  The way he is playing, he rivals Toomey for best player in NESCAC, and he is the most offensively skilled post I've ever seen play for a NESCAC team.  He just keeps getting better.  He has yet to match up with a very tough big guy, but the way he can shoot and drive from the high post, I don't think many D-3 bigs have the foot speed to stand a chance one on one.  James Klemm after a tough first game was back to his old offensively-efficient self.

Mayer is a big reason why we picked Williams to win the NESCAC, but I think it's a stretch to suggest, as well as he's playing, that he's already more skilled offensively than Ryan Sharry.

[nescac1]

Based on what I've seen, Mayer right now is already substantially more offensively skilled than Ryan Sharry was as a senior.  Is he (yet) a better overall player than Sharry was?  No, because Sharry was stronger, a slightly better rebounder, and a substantially better defender.  But Mayer is, in my estimation, Sharry's equal as a perimeter shooter and finisher, but has a FAR greater array of post moves, better touch around the basket, and is certainly much more of a driving threat from the elbow / a better ball-handler.  Williams has had three all-American centers: Geoff Chapin, Ben Coffin, and Troy Whittington.  Mayer is going to end up as a significantly better offensive player (but not a better rebounder or defender) than all of them. 

[Bucket]

In my best Senatorial Texan accent: I know Ryan Sharry. Ryan Sharry is a friend of mine. Nescac1, Mayer is no Ryan Sharry.

[Old Guy]

Mayer and Sharry are very different players. Sharry became an effective player with his back to the basket on the blocks, but he was better and happier facing the basket. He was a good foul shooter and drew lots of fouls in the paint. On defense he didn't have Kaasila's bulk, but he was an excellent shot blocker and a terrific rebounder on the defensive glass. Based on this weekend's games, it's pretty clear we miss Sharry most on the defensive end. Both Ursinus and LBV had good luck in the paint, at the rim, showed no reluctance to go to the hoop. Didn't happen last year with Sharry in the middle (and the year before, with Locke, my goodness . . . ). I think we can't wait a few more games before we anoint Mayer as Sharry's equal. Sharry's stats last year (pts, rebounds, fg%, blocks) will be hard for Mayer to match - and it's not like the Panthers build their offense around him (12 shots a game).

Through the opening weekend the NESCAC is 15-5, the CC is 8-11.  Early but so far the comparison isn't panning out.

Strikes me that quality of competition is a factor in this comparison. Some real laughers in the NESCAC weekend of games. Someone smarter than I will have to do that analysis. 

[nescac1]

In two games that they played each other last year, Michael Mayer averaged 18.5 and 9.5 rpg.  Sharry averaged 20.5 and 5.5 rpg.  That is pretty much a dead heat.  But here's the thing: Mayer was a sophomore, and Sharry a senior.  Mayer as a sophomore was better offensively than Sharry as a sophomore.  Mayer as a junior is easily better offensively than Sharry was a junior, and I'd say, is better right now than Sharry ever was offensively.  Again, I'm not talking about defense ... there Sharry was a dominant force, and Mayer is just OK, and I don't think ever will be a stellar defender (although he has improved on that end as well).  But offensively, Mayer is more skilled.  His array of moves and his ability to drive are simply unheard of for a 6'9 guy at the D-3 level.  I don't think anyone watching Sharry from last year vs. watching Mayer from this year, who didn't know their reputations, would think it was even a close call as who is more SKILLED offensively.  Sharry is stronger and more athletic / physical, but that's different from skill level.  That's not saying Mayer is, just yet, an all-around better player.  But why don't you wait to judge until you watch Mayer play this year, at least ... both, in my mind, are clearly all-American caliber big guys.  Sharry just had more years to show what he can do. 

[Old Guy]

Mayer vs Sharry: I agree. Let's make this evaluation at the end of this season.

[toad22]

Ryan Sharry was a great all around player. He scared the hell out of me as a Williams fan (from freshman year on). I do not pretend to compare Michael Mayer to Ryan Sharry as a complete player. Mayer is an early season junior who hasn't yet done very much. However, there is no doubt in anybody's mind in Williamstown, that Mayer is on track to become the best offensive center in the history of Williams. He has already, in two games this year, demonstrated skills that I have never seen a D3 center perform. He is something else. I have watched, and played, basketball for more than fifty years, and I have seen very few players, at any level, with the skillset that this kid has. It is going to be fun watching this guy mature and perform. He will be double teamed by everybody, so his numbers won't fully reflect his abilities, but he will make a major mark on this league.