MBB: NESCAC

[middhoops]

After watching the Williams-Hamilton game I came away with the feeling that Hart may be too much in the center of their offense to be considered a 1st teamer without them winning more. Hamilton runs more screens, picks, double screens, double picks, etc. than I have ever seen run for a single player in my life. He can really shoot, but he has an awful lot of help from his teammates. I think they need to win before he can be a 1st teamer, at least before his senior year.

Is that fair to a player?  Connor Green gets sweet passes from the best point guard in D3 and Matt Hart has to run off 3 screens just to get a brief glimpse of an open shot, and we penalize that?
Not saying you're wrong, Toad.  Don't you wonder, though, what he'd be like if he played on a better team?

[toad22]

Middhoops: I don't know, I'm just an idiot who likes to watch hoops! I was just struck with how much effort was spent getting him good looks.

[AmherstStudent05]

I did hear a rumor here in Yaounde that Robinson may declare for the draft. One and done. Any truth to that?

I heard the same rumor myself, Old Guy.  In fact, I think I may have started that rumor.  I would even be willing to head up to desolate Williamstown to help Duncan move.

I rarely look at conference only stats, but Bucket's post prompted me to take a peek.  Through four conference games, Mason Lopez of Conn College is averaging 19.5 ppg on splits of 46.9/50.0/77.3.  Those numbers are virtually identical to Sinnickson's numbers (by the way, I noticed a typo regarding my previous post -- I meant to say that I thought Sinnickson would be UNlikely to keep up his impressive run during Midd's final 6 games).  Very impressive.

Not sure if there is room for all these players on the All NESCAC teams!

Also, if there were such a thing for a sixth man award, I think Hausman or Pollack would be early contenders.

Amh63, agreed re RIC.  They may be a little down, but that team always plays us tough.  Toomey's performance against them last year was one of the most impressive individual efforts I have seen from an Amherst player. 

[amh63]

In this calm eye of the storm period, before the last away conference weekend for Amherst, I thought I will make some comments about Matt Hart.  Not so much about All conference spots...as to his play.  I may have watched more Hamilton games than most CAC posters....no, not because of Lin's shoes, but because of Lin and Hart both.  Lin is a PG and hart plays the off guard..that is how I see them.  Lin played Toomey...so is quick and has defensive skills.  Hart, even for his size, rebounds and plays help defense a lot down in the paint.  He is amazing on offense as he moves  quickly when he goes offensive so to speak.  I see him score inside, along the baseline, etc. and is just a scorer more so than a plain shooter with a sweet outside shot.  He, like Toomey will do anything to help his team....he is the one player Hamilton wants to have the ball at the end of the game...to score...to win the game.
In the Elmira game, that I posted earlier on,  he had the ball with time running out...to win the then tied game.  He slipped near the top of the key and while falling, threw the ball out of bounds.  Game goes into OT...stopped watching.  Next day, I read that Hart makes the final play in a win over Elmira in OT.  Redemption!  He scored 30 points!
I do not get into the all conf. Team selection, since I find that it is based on unclear criteria and can be political...translation...not my private picks . However, in discussion with Magicman on another board, I pointed out Matt Hart's skills...since Hamilton plays a number of the SUNY state schools.  I stated that Hart would be a first team CAC pick other than the fact that the spots would be taken  by two All-American guards in Kizel and Toomey this year.
There...my few cents worth on Matt Hart.

[middhoops]

In retrospect, I blew it.  I should have asked if Toomey and Kizel would have to earn their plaudits differently if they had attended Hamilton.

[P'bearfan]

Also, if there were such a thing for a sixth man award, I think Hausman or Pollack would be early contenders.

I would second Hausmann for 6th man.  He provides a real spark off the bench - "instant offense" is the term I heard someone else use.  He also gives Bowdoin great flexibility in the guard rotation.

[magicman]

Magicman...when you know an approximate time period wrt to Plattsburgh's time on Hoopsville...on Thursday.....let the boys on the CAC board, VANDY, MIDDHOOPS KNOW.   Since it is a special 12 hour show...difficult for many to hang around to see your school honored

amh63,
Dave McHugh has told me that Coach Curle will be on at approximately 11:00 AM this Thursday. Since I will be sitting next to the Coach in his office while that inteview is taking place, the phone will then be passed to me for a brief interview (at least I hope it's brief ) I've told Dave that if he wishes to extend Coach Curle's interview and usurp some of the time allocated to yours truly, to please do so, by all means. .

PS: Don't know if you're aware of this but some kind, anonymous person contributed $150.00 in my name to Dave's Hoopsville Campaign and together with my slam dunk contribution put me at the Championship level. This gave me several extra perks, one of which is an appearance on the show. I'm not sure if that's good or bad.

[middhoops]

magicman, Hoopsville owes you at least an interview.

[Vandy74]

Williams 32 Castleton 29 at the half.  This is a good game.  Williams led by 10 at one point. Castleton came right back and tied it up. 

[P'bearfan]

Bowdoin up 56-23 at the half against Thomas College.  Great to see Brian Hurley on the floor!

[nescac1]

Big news for Bowdoin, with Hurley back.  While it will surely take him awhile to have any sort of impact, by the NESCAC tourney, he will make the team so much deeper and more dangerous overall. 

As for Williams, I am mystified by the inability to get shots for Mayer.  Castleton has no one who can guard him and yet the Ephs haven't come close to getting him any looks near the basket (his points have come off offensive boards).  Ephs need to work him free inside. 

[P'bearfan]

Bowdoin defeats Thomas College 106-42.  The P'bears we're lead by Andrew Madlinger (17 pts) Matt Mathias and Lucas Hausman (16 pts each) Neil Fuller (11 pts and 9 rebounds) and Keegan Pieri (10 pts).

Brian Hurley logged 12 minutes and 2 assits (and 1 foul) in his first game of the year.

Now Bowdoin needs to get ready for a very challenging weekend against Trinity and Amherst.

[nescac1]

Well, so much for my half-time analysis: Mayer was a non-factor in the second half, yet Williams played much better, taking control of the game with a very strong play after a somewhat lethargic first half.  The Ephs played very good defense all game, limiting Castleton to 35 percent shooting.  Carnelius Green was by far Castleton's best player, and he finished an absolutely nasty alley-oop dunk, one of the best I've seen in D3 play this year for sure, if not the best. 

For Williams, as usual it was the Duncan Robinson show, highlighted by a swished three that was launched, I kid you not, from halfway between halfcourt and the three point line, at least 28-29 feet from the hoop.  When you talk about in-the-gym range, he is the poster child ... he was dominant on both ends, finishing with 20 points, 8 boards, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, only 1 TO, and five triples -- in other words, what has become a ho-hum game for him.  Incredible.  Mike Greenman gets better and better each game and this Eph frosh group (including Aronowitz, out with an injury) is going to be really exciting to watch grow together for the Ephs. Greenman displayed lightning quickness and a silky stroke on his deep ball to finish with 15 points, 2 assists (although it seemed like more) and 3 steals. 

For the veteran Ephs, the good news is that Daniel Wohl continued his stellar all court play of late, scoring off penetration and creating plays on the defensive end of the court.  The rest of the vets had a very, very quiet night.  The Williams' senior class, in particular, did very little tonight.  Those guys will be needed to step up in a much bigger way than 20 combined points if Williams hopes to beat Midd at Midd.  That game is looking like, as usual when these two meet, a toss-up right now. 

[middhoops]

Am I the only one here who wonders where Epley's three point shot went?  O for 8 at Castleton, only the most recent in a mid season slump for him.  Hopefully he just doesn't shoot well in Vermont this week.  Also hope that Mayer shoots as few times (5) against Midd.

[Vandy74]

Williams 75 Castleton 62  Williams came out focused in the 2nd half with a 16-5 run.  Castleton cut the lead to 8 with 9 minutes left and kept the score respectable with their scrappy play but there was no stopping Robinson and Greenman, a combined 8-16 from 3 point land.  I really didn't want an angry bunch of Ephs showing up in Middlebury Friday night but it was fun to see that Castleton does have a squad that can play with anybody up to a point.  They do own the only victory over WPI this season with an early upset similar to what happened to Williams against Southern Vermont.  Entertaining game to watch but I'm glad a nephew's Middle School contest delayed me enough to not make the cold weather drive down to Castleton to witness it in person.