MBB: NESCAC

[old_hooper]

I was actually more impressed with Anna Maria in the first half than I was with Westfield State.  However the second half of last nights game convinced me they are not as good as Wes.  Toomey performance on Tuesday was stellar.  The first half of the game last night was entertaining.  Both teams were shooting well and the quickness of the Amcats PG daye was giving Amherst players fits.  Speaking of that, frosh Berman looks like his defensive abilities need some work.  Coach Hixon clearly has confidence in him to play and they will need him with the new rules.  It will be a challenge not having at least 2 of the 4 starters (Toomey, Killian, Kalema and Green) not pick up at least two fouls in the first half.  We all know how Coach will pull you out when that happens..  Joe M and Berman are the first ones in the rotation.  Also was good to see Kalema start off well last night.  He has been struggling with his shooting but he will get it corrected.  Hopefully Killian's non return was just precautionary.  He seemed fine and ready to play but must have had a cut since the ref saw him to the bench.  Does anyone know how long Pollack is out?

Coach Hixon is just two games away from 700.  I think a game to zero in on tomorrow is the Skidmore and Middlebury.  This has been a competitive and physical game the last couple years and this one looks like it will be also.  Midd will need to play better than the last couple games.

[Panthernation]

One of the best finishes in recent memory in Brunswick, where Bowdoin made a great run to come back from a 9-point deficit to take a one point lead with under a minute to go, and then things got really fun: Stafford keeps a possession alive with the dribble and beats a double-team driving to the hoop and finishing with a layup (Bates +1), Hausman hits a corner three while getting fouled (Bowdoin +3, 12 seconds left), Stafford comes around a screen and hits a deep three from the wing (tie, 3 seconds left), Matthias hits a runner from about 30 feet straightaway at the buzzer. 74-71 Bowdoin, final.

[nescac1]

I'm sure we will hear more from the Bowdoin fans, but one of the best finishes I've ever seen in a NESCAC game today in Bowdoin.  Bates was up one with the ball, with 12 seconds left, Hausman nails a four point play to but Bowdoin up three.  Then Graham Safford on Bates nails a cold-blooded three to tie the game.  Bowdoin gets the ball back with three seconds left, Mathias brings the ball up and swishes a 30 plus foot double-clutch three at the buzzer to win the game.  Simply incredible end to the game.

Safford and Boornazian are one of the best duos in NESCAC -- two really great players for Bates, both legit all-NESCAC level players.  But they need some help.  If Matarazzo comes back that would help a lot.  The Delpeches have some athleticism but are still learning.  Bates has no one else up front, nor any other major perimeter threats it seems. 

Swords was a beast for Bowdoin.  Bates double and triple teamed him with every touch I saw, but he still managed to be very effective and generally stayed calm.  He keeps getting better.  Lucas Hausman has a very nice offensive game for Bowdoin.  He seems to be the most creative/dynamic offensive player on the perimeter with Hurley out. 

Edit: see Panthernation beat me to it!

[Panthernation]

I'm sure we will hear more from the Bowdoin fans, but one of the best finishes I've ever seen in a NESCAC game today in Bowdoin.  Bates was up one with the ball, with 12 seconds left, Hausman nails a four point play to but Bowdoin up three.  Then Graham Safford on Bates nails a cold-blooded three to tie the game.  Bowdoin gets the ball back with three seconds left, Mathias brings the ball up and swishes a 30 plus foot double-clutch three at the buzzer to win the game.  Simply incredible end to the game.

Safford and Boornazian are one of the best duos in NESCAC -- two really great players for Bates, both legit all-NESCAC level players.  But they need some help.  If Matarazzo comes back that would help a lot.  The Delpeches have some athleticism but are still learning.  Bates has no one else up front, nor any other major perimeter threats it seems. 

Swords was a beast for Bowdoin.  Bates double and triple teamed him with every touch I saw, but he still managed to be very effective and generally stayed calm.  He keeps getting better.  Lucas Hausman has a very nice offensive game for Bowdoin.  He seems to be the most creative/dynamic offensive player on the perimeter with Hurley out. 

Edit: see Panthernation beat me to it!

One more (amazing) thing: Bowdoin scored on each of their last 9 possessions. 20 points (2.22 points per possession!), in 4:50.

[P'bearfan]

Not much to add...it was a great game with an incredible finish.  Really thought Bowdoin was in trouble when they were 9 points down late in the game.  I was certain that Hausman's 4 point play was going to be the play of the game and then Safford hit a 3 to tie it up so that was the new play of the game.  Then I was certain we were headed to OT but I was wrong again.  Incredible shot by Mathias - and he didn't even think twice about it.

The crazy thing is that the finish overshadows a great performance by Swords - another double double (18 and 12).  He's averaging a 16.5 and 10.8 per game.  That's a huge step up for a guy who was the center of some heated debate on this board in the pre-seaon regarding whether or not he would be an impact player this year.

There's a lot to like about this Bowdoin team.  They're spreading the scoring around with 4 players averaging double figures and two more averaging over 9 ppg.   They're also playing with a lot of heart. 

Hopefully they can keep it going tomorrow night when they travel to Waterville.  Colby will be another tough match up.

[Old Guy]

I'm in Kennedy Airport awaiting a midnight flight to Burlington, after a long couple of days (last night in Istanbul), reading NESCAC MBB.

The news tonight is the Bates-Bowdoin game in Brunswick. As those who have been on the board the last few years know, I grew up in a Bates family in Lewiston - and grew up fiercely attached to the CBB, so I see this game as another in a loooooooooooong line of classic hoop tilts. As a small sports-obsessed kid, losing no ground as a teen-ager (just as obsessed and now playing pick-up whenever I could in the Bates gym), I'll never forget watching CBB games in Alumni Gym (the Fenway Park of college gyms) and then often driving with my dad the 20 miles to Bowdoin and the 40 miles to Colby for frenzied action there too. And this a half-century ago. If you get a chance, get to one of these games in Bates's beautiful old bandbox. They're barnburners. The teams really go at it. I suspect you won't be able to do so forever. Bates will have to build a new gym.

The Little Three gets lots of mileage out of its longstanding rivalries (all justified) - it derives significantly from the tradition and prestige of the schools, but it ain't got nuthin on CBB: three proud small colleges, founded in the 19th century, in the same little postage stamp square on the map. Priceless.

Tonight's game - another epic (though, as always, I wish the Bobcats had prevailed).

[Old Guy]

I have been waiting for Swords to become a factor ever since his FY.  Actually, looking back a little, the polar bears front court players have height but NEVER shown much otherwise.  My question to others is what do you know that makes you think Swords will step up this season. amh63

In response, Old Guy wrote on October 9 (here I go again, speaking in the third person!):

I can think of two words why Swords will be better this year and perhaps a big factor in the league: "Andrew Locke."

You don't get 6'11", 7'0" players to come to D3 if they are finished talents. Big kids develop late. Andrew Locke was a presence by the time he was a junior - he changed games. As a frosh he was a leaf in the wind (though he led the league in blocked shots, playing eight minutes a game, one of my favorite stats).

I don't follow Bowdoin as closely as some, but I believe Swords' second half was markedly better than his first. He's coming along, and a surprisingly strong senior season by Staiger (6'11") gave Coach Gilbride the opportunity to stick to a development plan for Swords, to ration his minutes.

When I saw him a Midd as a frosh in very limited time, I was surprised by his agility. I thought he would be big, slow, and awkward. He certainly looks like an athlete. And are you aware, did I mention - he's seven feet tall!

I was told two years ago that strength and conditioning (stamina) were crucial for Swords (Locke was never a moose but put on 40 pounds in two years). They don't have similar body types but they may have similar career arcs in college. Looks like Swords may have to play 30 minutes+ this year (and stay out of foul trouble), but he's a candidate for sleeper-of-the-year, though hardly an unknown. Could be an interesting Ephs-Polar Bears contest on Jan. 17, with Swords matching up against the presumptive POY (alas, in Williamstown).


Ahem, P'Bearfan. There were some who predicted a much higher level of play from Swords and are not shocked.

[old_hooper]

What a great game to watch! Both teams looked good and I see them getting better going forward.  Boornazian and Safford look very confident and will give fits to other NESCAC teams.  The twin brothers (Delpeches) will only get better and provide athleticism that this team needs.  Bowdoin is really fun to watch because they are a team.  Swords is now a factor for any team to contend with.  I would hope that they make a bigger effort to get the ball in his hands.  He is a very good passer for a big man and when the ball goes inside the defense collapses on him and he can dish it out to capable scorers in White, Matthias and others. 

P'bearfan, is Hurley coming back?

[P'bearfan]

Ahem, P'Bearfan. There were some who predicted a much higher level of play from Swords and are not shocked.

I'm rarely in the same company as the wise and prescient.....feels kinda of good

[P'bearfan]

P'bearfan, is Hurley coming back.

I really don't know.   He's rehabbing but from what I understand he'd be on the early side of the recovery curve if he was able to play this year.  As I mentioned in an earlier post...would love to see him on the court but don't want him to rush anything.

[quicksilver]

Here's video highlights of the last couple of minutes of the Bowdoin-Bates game. Pretty amazing stuff, especially for so early in the season .  .

[lumbercat]

Old Guy- as usual so well stated. Thanks for summing up this great rivalry from a Bobacat perspective.

Despite all the preseason accolades for Bowdoin these teams looked very evenly matched tonight. Swords is a force, no question, but don't underestimate this Bates team.

Stafford has been incomparable since PG Matarazzo went down with an injury. Stafford played 40 minutes last night against Colby and may have done the same tonight. He was there in the end with a huge 3 that looked to clinch overtime until the PBears fired up a last second prayer. Kudos to the Black and White....tonight's game was reminicient of the Bowdoin Football last second Hail Mary against Colby.
The difference was Bowdoin shooting 3's at 50% tonight...not sure that will happen again anytime soon.
Look for a very competitive CBB state series this year.

[middhoops]

Midd goes to Skidmore today.  This is probably a "pick 'em" game.  The Thoroughbreds are a tough match up for the Panthers.  They have a beast of a point guard who was dominant as a freshman in last year's game.  Local Vermont product Connor Merrill, a 6-6 C/F is a statistical dream.  .565 from the floor, 10 for 18 from 3, six boards a game and leads the team in blocked shots. They have four guys scoring 14ppg or better.
Skidmore's only loss was at Babson.  They crushed Castleton.
This is probably going to be another game where Middlebury just outscores their opponent. 
The return of James Jensen has been instantly noticeable.  His tenacious D and tough rebounding has been most welcome and hopefully will become infectious.  Hunter Merryman is developing into a dependable scorer and improved rebounder.  And, not to create any more fuss here...but, Matt St. Amour emerges as more of an impact player with each game without yet finding his shooting stroke.  Joey Kizel is quietly expanding his game to get the most out of his young team mates.
Too bad this game isn't available on video.  Wonder if Old Guy will make the drive to Saratoga after/during what must be some really nasty jet lag?
Williams plays a tough Springfield today.  Amherst plays Emerson who beat Tufts and lost to Wesleyan.  I'll wait for the esteemed amh63 to 'splain that one.

[amh63]

I too watched the early season "epic" game last night.  Thought about a post but thought better...deferring to P'Bear 's "lineage".  Also, it gave me time to gather my thoughts...intimated a bit by the now relative nearness of Old Guy.
To Old Guy...always the teacher...welcome home.  Did you bring back a recruit?
Now some thoughts of the CBB battle in Polar Bear land.  I too enjoyed watching the game.  The ending was just icing on the cake for me.  Why?  First, it allowed me to "scout" the play of Swords, against some talented...but young front court players of size.  To pretend to be a coach and see how Amherst will stop/counter/slow down a still emerging Swords.  Second, I wanted to see for myself, in a meaningful game, how coaches dealt with the loss of key players at the PG position.
The players taking and making the last shots for their teams...short fuse shots..provided me the answer.  Players that showed both leadership, pose and time management judgement at a critical moment.  Maybe it was the time element...still, both PGs did not send the ball to a hot Big Man...did anyone else see Boor..of Bates waving his arms on the left side?
Lastly, a smile came to me when Bowdoin's Sr. PG made the winning shot at the buzzer. 
I had posted awhile back that I had met Mathias and his parents at an Amherst game in Stevenson, Md. Mathias was an ED recruit to Bowdoin at the time.  His parents have strong Amherst connections and went to chat with Coach Hixon after the game. 
I have been following the Senior guard over the years and overshadowed by the talented Hurley a little...I often wondered where he might be at Amherst.  With that shot last night, he found his "voice" so to speak.  Amherst will have to keep a close watch on him for sure.

[toad22]

I'm very worried about the Williams/Springfield game today. Springfield has only lost to one team, Hampton-Sydney (#20), and that in OT. Their stats are very similar to Williams'. Springfield is a 53%/46%/68%, vs. Williams' 55%/42%/78%. Williams shoots a lot more 3s, 46% vs. 30%. and more FTs, 28/game vs. 22/game. From the little film I've seen, Springfield is a very tough minded team, that should be an even matchup. This is a game where Williams will really miss Mike Mayer. He would dominate inside, whereas Ryan Kilcullen will mostly play at the foul line, and outside. Kilcullen is shooting it at 63% overall, and 69% from 3pt land, so I won't cry too hard. The rest of the team is pretty beaten up, so it would be a real bonus if we can come out of this one with a win.