MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Hope Pollack is OK.  He is a key player, more valuable than stats indicate.  I second AmherstStudent05's picks.  Sinnickson, Swords or Killian all could squeeze someone out with a big NESCAC tourney performance, but those five guys have been fairly dominant in NESCAC play. 

[Vandy74]

Couldn't agree more. A great team performance by the Panthers; every player did seem to bring his A game. And while I agree that box score stats don't tell the story—and at risk of talking out of both sides of my mouth—let's take a look at Joey's stat line last night, on senior day, no less:

30 points (11-17 FG, 6-8 3FG, 2-2 FT), 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block.

Worth the extra attention, I think.

I knew someone else would give the young man his due, Bucket.  It's going to be a very sad day in Pepin when there is no "KI"-zel in "team".  An amazing individual performance.  Like I said, "a clinic".

[jayhawk]

Pollack's knee injury did not look good

David George and the other freshman big man Jacob Nabatoff played well

[lemonjello]

Not surprisingly, Hart Gliedman's miraculous shot at the end of regulation vs. Colby made the Sportscenter Top 10.

[nescac1]

Bit of recruiting news for Conn College: http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/3411/OConnell-NESCAC-Bound.php.

Conn badly needs anyone who can make an impact, as with its only two reliable scorers graduating, next year could really get ugly (especially with the rest of the bottom tier of NESCAC looking poised for massive improvements). 

It's been a fairly quiet recruiting year so far for NESCAC, it seems.  I can't imagine we'll see another Duncan Robinson in next year's class, but this year also features a VERY deep group of quality frosh, with other impact guys like Sabety, Ogundeko, George, Greenman, St. Amour, Brown, Rafferty, Delpeche, many of whom were locked up by this point in the year, and many of whom came in with big-time reputations. 

In particular it is surprising that Amherst, after last year's enormous class, only has one announced (albeit supposedly very strong) recruit so far coming off the national title, but I have no doubt whatsoever that Hixon will (like last year) pick up a few guys late in the process who were also being chased by D1 schools.  The Jeffs are beyond loaded with big guys, an embarrassment of riches there, but could use a few instant-impact perimeter scorers, considering only one guy who has made more than two three pointers the entire season is returning next year.  Williams is in the opposite boat, with boatloads of returning perimeter talent plus several strong perimeter recruits in the fold, but a conspicuous lack of interior players returning. 

[P'bearfan]

Looking forward to the Bowdoin - Middlebury game this afternoon.  This will be a tough test for the P'bears.  Middlebury played very well Friday night in a 21 point rout of Colby.  I haven't followed Middlebury too closely but I see a couple keys for Bowdoin today:

-Swords needs to stay out of early foul trouble and post a double-double (or close). 
-Bowdoin needs to shoot well and often from the 3 pt line.  The last few games they have shot a good pct from behind the arc but haven't taken that many shots
-Bowdoin needs to limit the damage from Kizel and Sinnickson who combined for 50 pts on Friday.  Mathias and Pieri will have their hands full (my assumptions on the match ups).
-Bowdoin needs 12 - 16 points from their bench (Hausman, Palecki, Fuller)

While Swords will present a challenge for Jack Roberts, Middlebury has several players with good size and athelticism that will create match up challenges for the P'bears (e.g. Sinnickson; Merryman; Jensen). A big conern is that Middlebury gets several mis-matches that they exploit.

Should be a good game.

[grabtherim]

Not surprisingly, Hart Gliedman's miraculous shot at the end of regulation vs. Colby made the Sportscenter Top 10.

Worth another look.  Go to the 2:47 mark of this you tube clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E-kKZXOlfY

[Panthernation]

Our preview of Middlebury's matchup with Bowdoin: http://sites.middlebury.edu/panthernation/2014/02/09/bowdoin-preview/

[P'bearfan]

Our preview of Middlebury's matchup with Bowdoin: http://sites.middlebury.edu/panthernation/2014/02/09/bowdoin-preview/

PN....thanks for the great preview.  Your analysis is spot on....and I agree hopefully Bowdoin will be able to work the ball into Swords down low! 

[jayhawk]

Not privy to details of who Amherst is bringing in but there are two freshman 3 pt  sharpshooters - on Amherst Bench  now ( I have seen one play in a game and when open does not miss). Plus incoming freshman commit who can drive and shoot the 3 pt shot.

What will be interesting is whether any of the Amherst students now not playing who have strong point guard credentials play next year.

Not sure what Ray Barry status is and whether he will return

Jaymie Marks ( I know amherst63 his brother is going to play football at Trinity) who played football at Amherst this year plays basketball next year. Spears was starting point guard at St Marks in 2012 , the team included Kaleb Tarcezewski now at Arizona, Nik Stausas starts at Michigan and Eric Green at Holy Cross.  Peter Kaasila also went to St Marks but did not play much because of the incredible quality of the players there -

[magicman]

Good first half for Middlebury as they lead Bowdoin by a 37-32 score

Joey Kizel leads the Panthers with 13 points.  Dylan Sinnickson has 12 points and 5 rebounds. Hunter Merryman has 5 points.

Grant White leads the Polar Bears with 11 points while John Swords has 8 points and 6 rebounds. Andrew Madlinger has 7 points.

If Bowdoin continues to play a zone defense against Middlebury, then the Panthers Kizell and Sinnickson are going to keep knocking down the three pointers with regularity. 5 for 11 from long range in the first half as a team, with those two going 4x8.

[nescac1]

jayhawk, I think Reid Berman will be a very solid starting point guard for Amherst next year.  Obviously, he's not Toomey, but who is?  I imagine he will work on his outside shot in the off-season since that is not an area of strength, but from what I've seen he is an old-school pure point guard who is very adept at getting into the lane and at finding teammates.  Interesting re: Marks, he is a dynamic athlete and could be a real defensive pest off the bench for Amherst, similar to other two-sports stars of the past. 

Saw the first half of Bowdoin-Midd, very evenly-matched teams but Midd had the two most dynamic players on the floor in Kizel and Sinnickson who both continue their streak of great basketball, and that has been the difference so far.  Sinnickson's shot is basically unblockable due to his elevation and high release point.  If Swords catches the ball in good position there is nothing anyone can do, but Roberts has done a great job of pushing him out of his comfort zone into difficult spots on the court.

[P'bearfan]

Not a bad start by Bowdoin but not a great one either.  The P'bears are doing a nice job of getting the ball down low to Swords who has been effective.  However, the P'bears will need to get Pieri and Mathias more involved in the offense in the second half.  In the first half they combined to attempt only 4 shots.

[jayhawk]

right I did not mean exclude Reid Berman who is a very, very capable playmaker

hard to predict future focused on present for now

[amh63]

Middlebury has done a fine job making steals ...in the passing lane with the passes going to Swords.  Two of the steals did not result in points however.  With out Swords in, Bowdoin is going into a man to man defense...advantage to the Panthers, imo.

Thanks Jayhawk with the latest news.  Coach Hixon knew Spears skills in his FY.  Wonder how Coach Hixon talked him into trying out for the team.  Jaymie Spears is a great athlete playing CB on the football team.  Has hops!