MBB: NESCAC

[walzy31]

Amherst and the over; Colby and the under; Hamilton and the over; Bowdoin and the under; Trinity and the over.

7-3 Up 3.7

Amherst Under
Colby Under
Conn College Over
Bowdoin Over
Trinity Over

I think this is the week I finally lose points.

6-4 Up 1.6

Give me all the dogs.  Walzy knows his stuff, but I think he is being too generous with the points this week..

That is a reckless strategy. 3-2 Up 0.8.

Walzy - give me the 5 overs and Amherst to cover - going to leave the rest alone as the points seem perfect.

PS - I think I owe you 1 K right now.

Also a reckless strategy...3-3 down 0.3

Thanks for the lines Walzy-

Bates under
Colby under
Conn  over
Bowdoin over
Trinity over

My pleasure. Thanks for the action.
5-5 Down 0.5

[lefrakenstein]

Looking forward to the Tufts game, tomorrow, it's going to be a battle. Amherst can't look past the Jumbos. Right now Tufts has players with three of the top ten PERs in the league including the league leader in PER after tonight's games (Ferris) and excluding a top-10 PER and second-team all-NESCAC player from last year, Scott Anderson.

Right now, the top two teams in the league in terms of estimated wins are 1) Amherst and 2) Tufts (even after adjusting for the fact that they've played 8 games). Team estimated wins have been very good at predicting the final standings the last two years. Amherst has a sizable lead in the category, but it's going to be tough to beat the number 2-4 teams consecutively, with the last two games coming on the road.

[nescac1]

Curious to hear Pat's take on the Bowdoin-Midd game.  Looks like Nolan Thompson and James Jensen (who has been playing starter minutes of late) both had big days on both ends for Midd.   Meanwhile, for Bowdoin, John Swords, who has been coming on of late, had a big day with 14 points, 9 boards, and 3 blocks.  He is a massive physical presence who, if he starts to reach his potential, would make Bowdoin a pretty dangerous team next year.  He certainly hurt Williams last year, and hopefully the Ephs learned something from that experience.  Nine more assists for Bryan Hurley!

Speaking of big guys, I see that Sean Hoffmann, who has been the Ephs' most energetic and effective bench player in recent weeks, did not play tonight.  He played only one minute vs. Southern Vermont so I assume something happened to him in that game.  The Ephs do have a pair of developing sophomore big guys with a lot of potential in Ryan Kilcullen (very good shooter and athlete for his size) and Ed Flynn (a legit 6'10 and some inside scoring ability).  One or both will need to step up in Hoffmann's absence, and hopefully both will benefit from the added playing time, as they will be significant contributors in future years.

In other D-3 news, Rochester lost tonight and Dibartolomeo, whose talents we've all been extolling, had a rough game, going 1-7.  WPI is the last remaining unbeaten, I don't think many people would have predicted that, especially with such a young team!  Albertus Magnus also lost this week; if Amherst, Williams and Midd can all win again tomorrow, those three teams will all be in very good shape for post-season bids ... I'd say that all would likely be in with a first round win in the NESCAC tourney regardless of what happens the last weekend of the season, especially if WPI can win the NEWMAC automatic bid.  And as others have noted no one should sleep on Tufts, a team capable of making a big run in the NESCAC tourney. 

[walzy31]

Saturday February 2nd NESCAC Spreads

Bates @ Trinity
Bates-9.5
O/U: 136.0


Williams @ Bowdoin
Williams -9.0
O/U: 139.0


Middlebury @ Colby
Middlebury -19.0
O/U: 126.5


Tufts @ Amherst
Amherst -5.0
O/U: 147.5

[Bucket]

Pat Coleman video interview with Nolan Thompson:

http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2013/02/01/road-show-a-bowdoin-middlebury-split/

[Middfan]

Regarding Pat Coleman's D3 Road Trip....

Saw both your interview with the Bowdoin student announcer during halftime and your interview with Nolan Thompson (says all the right things, doesn't he).  Well done. Thanks for all you do for D3 basketball and this website.

[7express]

Saturday February 2nd NESCAC Spreads

Bates @ Trinity
Bates-9.5
O/U: 136.0


Williams @ Bowdoin
Williams -9.0
O/U: 139.0


Middlebury @ Colby
Middlebury -19.0
O/U: 126.5


Tufts @ Amherst
Amherst -5.0
O/U: 147.5

Trinity over
Bowdoin over
Mid over
Amherst under

[nescac1]

Thompson seems like a class guy.  No idea how he ended up as a D-3 walk-on (technically, everyone in D-3 is a "walk-on" but I assume that means he was not recruited for hoops); a heck of a lot of coaches must have not been paying very close attention to his high school play to have missed out on his potential. 

I have been on a bit of a losing streak vs. Walzy's always-tough spreads, but I'll give it a go:

Bates and the under, Williams and the over, Midd and the over, Tufts and the under.  Don't feel particularly strongly about any of those ...

[lefrakenstein]

Saturday February 2nd NESCAC Spreads

Bates @ Trinity
Bates-9.5
O/U: 136.0


Williams @ Bowdoin
Williams -9.0
O/U: 139.0


Middlebury @ Colby
Middlebury -19.0
O/U: 126.5


Tufts @ Amherst
Amherst -5.0
O/U: 147.5

Trinity and under
Bowdoin and under
Colby and over
Amherst and over

[Bucket]

How in this day-and-age, can Colby College provide neither video, radio broadcasting, nor live stats for home basketball games?

[Bucket]

Despite the virtual blackout of all hoops reporting out of Waterville, my sources behind the Iron Curtain tell me that the Panthers lead the Mules, 48-33, at the half.

Quite an offensive performance in 20 minutes of action.

[lefrakenstein]

Amherst by 7 at the half against Tufts.

But, a big concern with Workman leaving the game early in the half and not returning. His last play he took a jump step into the lane and was fouled. Didn't seem at the time like he was hurt, but it's certainly odd that he hasn't come back in. I would definitely feel for him if he isn't able to return in his Senior Night at LeFrak.

Williamson has made the most of his extra playing time though, and has 12 at the half.

EDIT - Workman was fine. It turned out it was a stealth double foul call. (should have had the sound turned on). Workman was just out with foul trouble.

[Middfan]

How in this day-and-age, can Colby College provide neither video, radio broadcasting, nor live stats for home basketball games?

Absolutely agreed!

[Bucket]

Middlebury crushes Colby, 85-62. Final score leaks out of Waterville despite the Mules' Iron Curtain effort at a blackout.

Will post relevant stats when—if (?!)—they emerge.

Stats Update: Peter Lynch leads all scorers w/ 18 on 8-11 shooting. Jack Roberts close to a double-double w/ 8 pts and 8 boards (to go with a couple of blocks). James Jensen adds 13 off the bench.

Steady night for Midd guards: Wolfin w/9 assists to go with 7 points; I believe he's 2 pts away from 1,000. Thompson attempts just 5 shots, nets 10 pts. Kizel with 12, all from 3-pt range (4-5).

Only concern in the blowout win is health. I understand that Merryman had his nose bloodied early in the game and see that he only played 8 minutes. Hopefully, he's ok and will be ready to go for the big games next weekend.

[lefrakenstein]

Williams wins by 12 in overtime in Brunswick. Good thing I wasn't actually betting on that game, the overtime would have ruined my day. Went from 2-0 if someone wins to 0-2 with the extra period.