MBB: NESCAC

gordonmann · March 09, 2013, 07:02:14 PM

Fran is definitely classy. One of the absolute best in the business.

On a mostly unrelated note, I spoke with Taylor Epley about life inside the Purple Bubble, how Williamstown compares to his hometown and what it's like to play for a coach that always gives the green light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUddF6u8G2U

old_hooper · March 09, 2013, 07:16:52 PM

Good day to be NESCAC fan. Midd put together a strong performance to come out with W. No disrespect, but the next game maybe a little easier. Rochester is not playing its best basketball and Thompson on Johnny D is what may make that matchup very one sided. If they keep JD under 20 it probably would not be a close game. I am not sure Rochester will make it past Ithaca. If that were to happen, the Panthers probably have a home game. Good chance Williams and Amherst host next week also. Impressive win at LeFrak today. Plattsburgh is a good team but they never got on track. The time off for the LJ looks like it was to their advantage. Kilema development from the beginning of the year to where he is now is amazing. Also, Killian does so many things that don't show up on the stats. You add the other 4 guys to this and the solid contributions that the Jeff's are getting from the two frosh, Coach Hixon has to be pleased how his team is playing at this time of the year.

amh63 · March 09, 2013, 07:48:11 PM

Maybe the video streaming was an North East problem?......in the afternoon broadcasts at a particular window.....was there a comet or other sunspot explosion or even a drone flying around.....jaming frequencies? In any case, hope it does not affect the evening men and women games.
Did catch the last two Amherst dunks late in the game. The Kalema surprise dunk came after Toomey drove into the paint area and send the ball back to Kalema outside the arc. I'm thinking Amherst is running down some time. Kalema sees a opening and cuts down the lane and takes off around the 10 feet mark and elevates over people and throws it down...middle of the lane. Announcers goes crazy....points out that Kalema is allowed the smile on his face as he goes down the court.
Plattsburg goes into a trapping type full court press that causes Amherst problems and turnovers.....one scramble for a loose ball leads to a pass to Williamson to the left of the basket that results in a windmill dunk....Williamson's head was basket level.....partisan crowd rises up again. Believe Plattsburg fans enjoyed the effort....some at least....true believers of BB.

middhoops · March 09, 2013, 08:38:58 PM

Looks like Midd plays Ithaca. Good chance to play in VT?

Vandy74 · March 09, 2013, 08:53:41 PM

Quote from: amh63 on March 09, 2013, 07:48:11 PM
Maybe the video streaming was an North East problem?......in the afternoon broadcasts at a particular window.....was there a comet or other sunspot explosion or even a drone flying around.....jaming frequencies? In any case, hope it does not affect the evening men and women games.
Did catch the last two Amherst dunks late in the game. The Kalema surprise dunk came after Toomey drove into the paint area and send the ball back to Kalema outside the arc. I'm thinking Amherst is running down some time. Kalema sees a opening and cuts down the lane and takes off around the 10 feet mark and elevates over people and throws it down...middle of the lane. Announcers goes crazy....points out that Kalema is allowed the smile on his face as he goes down the court.
Plattsburg goes into a trapping type full court press that causes Amherst problems and turnovers.....one scramble for a loose ball leads to a pass to Williamson to the left of the basket that results in a windmill dunk....Williamson's head was basket level.....partisan crowd rises up again. Believe Plattsburg fans enjoyed the effort....some at least....true believers of BB.

amh63,
In all seriousness there probably is some atmospheric disturbance involved. I was on the road last night making a very familiar 80 mile road trip. The sports talk station I always listen to was impossible to enjoy because it kept being phased out by a country music station for 3-4 minutes at a time whose signal was just as strong when it was dominant. I've made this trip off and on for 30 years and have never heard the country music station before.

magicman,
I hope you know that I said Bobby Comstock was "very good" rather than "pretty good". It quickly became obvious I was listening to a professional announcer doing a great job covering a team he was very familiar with. I was initially frustrated that I was obviously not going to be able to view the game as I had assumed I would be. I was not alone with this frustration and it is for that reason that Fran Elia owed us only an explanation, not an apology. Those who offer uninformed opinions, like myself, are the ones who should apologize and I do.

Speaking of being uninformed could someone set me straight on another matter. I'm hearing and reading that Amherst, Williams and possibly Middlebury will be playing their next game at home. I thought the Sweet 16 was in Salem. Am I now incapable of understanding a bracket design? It's been that kind of a day.

nescac1 · March 09, 2013, 08:54:32 PM

I would be shocked if Ithaca hosted Middlebury. Pretty nice draw for the Panthers for a Sweet 16 game! Meanwhile Williams and Amherst both hit tough ODAC squads. Virginia Wesleyan will be very very tough for the Ephs and while Amherst will be a big favorite vs. Randolph Macon (no real scoring stars on this edition of RMC and their team three point percentage is atrocious), they traditionally play really sticky defense, are well-coached, and seem to be on a major roll right now. Still, I love the chances for Midd and Amherst to advance to Salem. Williams, more like 50-50, depends in part on who hosts the game ...

Vandy74, the Elite 8 and the national semis are in Salem. One more game to go before then ...

nescac1 · March 09, 2013, 09:01:43 PM

Ithaca's star player is Travis Warech. He was a three-year Division II starter before transferring to Ithaca for his senior year. He is the same height and weight as Nolan Thompson, who I'm sure will be guarding him. I expect no fewer than 1000 words from the Midd hoops bloggers on the Thompson-Warech match-up.

Bucket · March 09, 2013, 09:04:09 PM

I believe that Ithaca's gym is being renovated, so I don't see how the game can be anywhere but Pepin.

middhoops · March 09, 2013, 09:08:40 PM

Yup. Good point, Bucket.

toad22 · March 09, 2013, 10:06:32 PM

A big night for Williams basketball. The men move on, and the women earn thier first ever trip to the final four. It doesn't get much sweeter than that!

iwumichigander · March 09, 2013, 10:06:58 PM

Quote from: Bucket on March 09, 2013, 09:04:09 PM
I believe that Ithaca's gym is being renovated, so I don't see how the game can be anywhere but Pepin.

Ithaca gym being renovated

magicman · March 09, 2013, 10:07:21 PM

Quote from: Bucket on March 09, 2013, 09:04:09 PM
I believe that Ithaca's gym is being renovated, so I don't see how the game can be anywhere but Pepin.

Bucket,
You are correct. Ithaca's gym is being renovated and they won't be hosting. Looks like the Panthers get to play in front of the home town fans one more time.

JustAFan · March 09, 2013, 10:16:25 PM

Just back from the WPI/Randolph Macon game. Amherst will have its hands full next weekend. RMC shot lights out, so that may color my view, but they are the bet DIII team I've seen play live this year, and I've seen a bunch. They play great in your jock man to man D, they shoot extremely well, they are physically strong and yet very quick, they like to play fast, did I say they play great D?....I could go on and on. Amherst has not faced a team like this in the NESCAC. Williams might have gotten the more favorable draw since they play Virginia Wesleyan next, and VA Wes lost to RMC twice during the season, including in the league finals. Don't let RMC's 21-9 record deceive you; they play in a conference that is the equal of the NESCAC, perhaps better, and they started out 8-8 but since then have gone 13-1. The have some depth, and some agile, strong big guys, and their perimeter guards really play great D that focuses on ball denial and preventing you from reversing ball. They have the personnel to shut down Twomey, and I suspect that this will be a big focus of their game plan. Amherst is going to need Kalema and Workman to really step up and Kaasila to stay out of foul trouble. The more patient you are on offense, and the more you make them work on D, the better your looks will be. Should be a great test for Amherst. The games aren't supposed to be easy once you get to the sweet 16, and this one won't be. Same for the Williams/VA Wesleyan matchup. If anything, Middlebury may have gotten the most favorable draw as a result of Ithaca's upset of Rochester. Too bad the NCAA couldn't schedule both games in the same gym back to back next weekend in a NESCAC/ODAC challenge match!

I'll be curious if the NCAA rewards RMC with a home game next weekend notwithstanding Amherst's higher ranking or if it sends RMC north for the 3d weekend in a row. RMC played at Stevens in NY in round one and at WPI tonight (499 miles from RMC according to the guy who sat next to me tonight!). Will they be forced to travel north again to Amherst next Saturday? If so, will the NCAA compensate for this by sending Williams south to VA Wesleyan?

magicman · March 09, 2013, 10:21:47 PM

Quote from: Vandy74 on March 09, 2013, 08:53:41 PM

magicman,
I hope you know that I said Bobby Comstock was "very good" rather than "pretty good". It quickly became obvious I was listening to a professional announcer doing a great job covering a team he was very familiar with. I was initially frustrated that I was obviously not going to be able to view the game as I had assumed I would be. I was not alone with this frustration and it is for that reason that Fran Elia owed us only an explanation, not an apology. Those who offer uninformed opinions, like myself, are the ones who should apologize and I do.

Vandy74,

I did note that you said Bobby Comstock was very good and it was good of you to come back on the boards and make a note of that fact. Plus K to you for doing so. I was frustrated that we couldn't view the game as well, but was glad that the radio was there to give us some help. I'm sure Fran Elia appreciates the kind words. As Gordon Mann said earlier Fran is one of the best in the business.

Vandy74 · March 09, 2013, 10:36:02 PM

Quote from: nescac1 on March 09, 2013, 08:54:32 PM
I would be shocked if Ithaca hosted Middlebury. Pretty nice draw for the Panthers for a Sweet 16 game! Meanwhile Williams and Amherst both hit tough ODAC squads. Virginia Wesleyan will be very very tough for the Ephs and while Amherst will be a big favorite vs. Randolph Macon (no real scoring stars on this edition of RMC and their team three point percentage is atrocious), they traditionally play really sticky defense, are well-coached, and seem to be on a major roll right now. Still, I love the chances for Midd and Amherst to advance to Salem. Williams, more like 50-50, depends in part on who hosts the game ...

Vandy74, the Elite 8 and the national semis are in Salem. One more game to go before then ...

nescac1,
Thanks for clearing that up for me. And it looks like I'll see Lynch, Wolfin and Thompson one more time in Pepin. Excellent!