MBB: NESCAC

Vandy74 · March 23, 2013, 09:25:26 AM

Quote from: pick and roll on March 23, 2013, 08:12:07 AM
Some of the other Midd posters have said go Amherst - really hard for me to cheer them on - maybe that will change by the time they get to Atlanta - sorry but not yet.

pick and roll,
Here's hoping you'll come on board soon. It's all about 'CAC pride now. And I, for one, have an honest rooting interest in Amherst in spite of my love for the Panthers. I've already mentioned a father and brother who went there. Another brother played two seasons of football for the Darp before a knee injury spelled finis to his athletic career. He finished up at Middlebury to be closer to his girlfriend.

And that referee interference was potentially crucial. It ended the only run Midd made during the second half. As badly as Middlebury was outplayed, and they were outplayed, if Kizel had canned that trey it could have been the turning point. It was the one and only such opportunity that the Panthers created for themselves in the entire second half and when a flukish positioning of the referee took it away Middlebury played like a team that no longer believed they could win from that point on. I know it hurts, but not talking about it only makes it difficult to point out that in spite of everything that continually went wrong for the Panthers they could still have been very much alive, if that trey had been made, that late into the game.

It's hard to say good bye to the seniors. A class that brings as much to the table as Lynch, Thompson and Wolfin have provided is rare. They have been a joy to watch, collectively and individually. Middlebury fans have been privileged and spoiled by their presence these past four years. Next year's team will have some familiar faces but a very different style of play. Hopefully it will include a healthy Sinnockson who along with an equally athletic Jensen should be great fun to watch. Will Kizel take his offensive game up a notch like Ben Rudin did the last eight games of his senior year? A 13.5 points per game scoring average became 17 points per game by season's end as some of us remember. How soon will Bryan Jones make an impact. Those pretty feeds to Roberts under the boards will play larger in the game plan I expect. A fully healed Bullock and a more mature Merryman and Churchill along with the other underclassmen who will be used in more crucial situations than they were this season as they mature into big game ready players should make for another exciting and talented team to root for.

I can't wait.

amh63 · March 23, 2013, 01:30:03 PM

Thanks, all Panther followers for your support! After watching 3 games was a busy day. Just missed the Ephs' game and therefore nescac1. Hung around looking and chatted with a number of parents looking for Madz's brother. Could it be that I was obviously an Amherst fan that I got puzzled stares.
One quick comment on the game...no one could stop Williamson and Kalema. If Kalema had not missed some lay ups the game may have been a blowout. Amherst's quickness, IMO, tend to surprise opponents....that is two comments.
Game particulars and video highlights can be found on the Amherst website.
Some side notes
Saw U. Rocherster coach Luke F. Hang with Amherst coaches after the last game. Two of Amherst's assistants were recruited by Luke F.
The All- Stars players are staying at my hotel...surrounded by BB players for breakfast.
Spoke with John Di Bart..he was recruited by Rochester's former coach.
Got my answer to my shoe question.

lefrakenstein · March 23, 2013, 02:17:22 PM

Also appreciating all the NESCAC support.

Very nervous for tonight's game. Any team that beats Midd by double-digits must be very, very good. Really hope the Jeffs can pull it out. If they do, I'll be booking my ticket home to Atlanta immediately.

jumpshot · March 23, 2013, 08:12:02 PM

Down goes Frazier in game one tonight!

madzillagd · March 23, 2013, 08:19:07 PM

daoustian · March 23, 2013, 09:27:45 PM

I'm glad I didn't publish my anti Connor Green rant after the Cabrini game. I've never really loved his game even though he came so highly regarded, but if it wasn't for him in the first half having the shameless confidence to keep chucking when nothing was going in for either Amherst or North Central, Amherst would probably be down at the half. It's the weekend of the froshlings.

middhoops · March 23, 2013, 09:47:08 PM

Helmets and shoulder pads may be required in the 2nd half. The refs are letting the boys play so far.

madzillagd · March 23, 2013, 10:34:31 PM

So nice that the Midwest let us play in their tournament.

daoustian · March 23, 2013, 10:34:50 PM

What a crazy game. I hope the rims are wider in Atlanta. The last five minutes of each half had a flurry of scoring, in part because of being in the bonus, and in part because of some offensive urgency. The two-week break will probably help players like Toomey to rest up a bit -- certainly almost no one on the Amherst team had their legs on most of their jumpers today -- lots of short-armed shots. Not a pretty game at all, but at least it's over.

madzillagd · March 23, 2013, 10:40:31 PM

Quote from: daoustian on March 23, 2013, 09:27:45 PM
I'm glad I didn't publish my anti Connor Green rant after the Cabrini game. I've never really loved his game even though he came so highly regarded, but if it wasn't for him in the first half having the shameless confidence to keep chucking when nothing was going in for either Amherst or North Central, Amherst would probably be down at the half. It's the weekend of the froshlings.

My text to my brother about halfway through the 2nd half: I'm looking forward to Green destroying Amherst's future the next 3 years.

Of course that's coming as a Williams fan. It's great if you can play with confidence but you need to have some idea of when it's working and when it's not. He's got no such filter so I can see some 35 pt games in his future and some 5 point games with 20 shots.

lefrakenstein · March 23, 2013, 10:43:10 PM

Wow. What a bizarre, ugly game. So happy Amherst pulled it out and I'll be booking my flight to the ATL shortly. One of the most poorly officiated games I've ever seen, culminating in the absurd tech on Hixon with 2.4 secs left and NCC conceding the loss.

Still Williamson and Workman were fantastic tonight and Big Pete got some incredibly clutch shots down the stretch. So happy that they'll be playing on.

If any if the younger Amherst posters want a place to crash in Atlanta, send me a message.

middhoops · March 23, 2013, 10:45:15 PM

Tough, physical game. Congrats to Amherst.

Vandy74 · March 23, 2013, 11:01:13 PM

Hard fought win for Amherst. Congrats to the Lord Jeffs. I was puzzled by the decision to sit Kaasila for so long but have only watched Amherst play one game other than the 3OT with Middlebury. Even though the outcome was in doubt until about the one minute mark the team seemed to settle down and take control as soon as he came back in. Tough day for the midwest. Texas and the NESCAC playing for d3 title. I hear Marquette won today though.

toad22 · March 23, 2013, 11:30:27 PM

That was a great mud wrestling exhibition. Some of the worst basketball I've seen in many years. I don't know what was bothering both teams, but it made for a pathetic. Kaasila looked sick to me. Does he have the flu? The players of the game were the Ws, Workman and Williamson. North Central plays the most unappealing brand of basketball in the world. It relies on the refs getting tired of calling fouls and just swallowing their whistles. I guess they made it work for them this year, but it sure is hard to watch.

old_hooper · March 23, 2013, 11:44:19 PM

This reminded me of one of the ugly BiG 10 games. The difference is the refs are pretty good in them. A win is a win and got to hand it to LJ they beat NCC at their game. It will be good to have two weeks to regroup.