MBB: NESCAC

[middhoops]

I am beginning to think I lack both the attention span and technical abilities to watch so many games at once.  Or at least follow the lives stats of some and watch others.  Lots of great games out there now.
Williams is getting beat.  Midd beat them in two first halves this year.  I'm unimpressed although my friend nescac1 may be more concerned than I.  He needn't worry.
The Cabrini game is a barn burner, tied at the half with R. Stockton.  Pburgh St. is playing a couple points behind ECSU; anyone's game.
Great night for D3 hoops fans.
Vandy, you better be lurking.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Regarding his potential...  I'd agrue that you're making the wrong observation.  You're focused on his short comings; not his progression.  Swords development since freshman year has been astounding.  Even last year he played less than 15 minutes a game was in frequent foul trouble and had a very limited offensive contriubtion.  This is a guy who started playing basketball late and is just learning the game.   A lot came together for him this last year and his play has blossomed.  Could his game get better....yes certainly but if I were an opposing coach I would pray that he spent his summer doing something other than learning to hit an 6-8 ft turn around jumper.

Tough to focus on anything but shortcomings when the sample size is one game.

I believe that the expectations for John Swords are solely due to his height. If he were six inches shorter and had 16 and 16 and 5, he'd be getting a lot of credit for the performance. But people see a seven foot guy and expect him to have all the skills that the 6'6" guy has and when he doesn't have them, the lack gets characterized as "shortcomings". He must have done some things pretty well to get 16/16/5.
And as P'Bearfan said, he has improved drastically over the last couple of years.

If John had the footwork and the touch and the killer instinct to go with his physical size, he'd likely have gotten recruited hard by D1, and at this point, the NBA might be calling.

I'm not trying to dis on the guy, he played well.  Your argument has a converse as well, if he were 6'6" and moved slowly he would never get 16/16/5.  He is what he is.  The height helps in some areas and likely hurts in others.

I suspect this game gave the team some much needed experience that perhaps will pay off next year.

[middhoops]

The Ephs are on something like a 14-2 run coming out of the half.  I feel like I know this song all too well.

[AncientSonOfHixon]

Greenman is sick. Fearless kid.

[middhoops]

Amherst will be hosting Plattsburgh.  Get ready to read a lot of magicman this week.  It's all good.
Looks like the Ephs will face Albertus Magnus. 
Cabrini got bounced by Richard Stockton.
Wesley is getting beat by VA Wesleyan.

[nescac1]

Great, great second half for Williams, played about as well on both ends as they possibly can.  All five starters in double figures, so great balance.  I feel like a broken record, but I don't know exactly why it often seems to be the second half that Williams really ignites and plays with 100 percent energy, efficiency, and poise.  The defense, once again, was night and day from first half to second.  Either Maker gives a hell of a half-time speech, or adjusts the strategy based on what he sees to great effect.  But like in the two Midd games, Williams came out of halftime with a dramatically different level of focus and a far more effective strategy. 

One key play for Williams did happen in the first half -- Ephs were down 14 and Gordon was getting a lot of clean looks from three thanks to some defensive confusion.  Williams went on a bit of a run highlighted by beautiful coast-to-coast layup at the buzzer by Wohl to cut the lead to seven.  After that point, it was the Mike Greenman show.  He was clearly the MVP for Williams today, hitting three consecutive triples to start the second half, all pure, to completely change the complexion of the game.  He hit 5-10 from 3 on the day, with two of the misses going halfway down.  Also, he really pushed the pace out there to the Ephs' advantage.  He had no turnovers and while he only had one assist, he must have had five or six hockey assists.  Certainly, his play was the key to the dramatic second half improvement.

In addition to Greenman, Wohl and Robinson had tremendous two-way games.  Wohl always plays great defense, moves the ball well, can drive at key moments, and helps on the boards.  The real variable is his outside shot -- in games where he is hitting his threes, he is a major weapon, and today was one of those days, as he finished with an impressive 18-5-6 line, no turnovers, and 3-5 from deep.  Finally, Duncan Robinson had a quietly efficient game, scoring 16 points on only eight FG attempts, to go along with 7 boards and 4 assists.  He hasn't really been on fire from deep of late, but has been helping the team in other ways.  Duncan has to be a bit careful about picking up cheap fouls, something he has done from time to time, although always out of an admirable effort to create turnovers.  Still, he is too valuable to risk limiting his minutes via low-percentage plays. 

Kudos to Hans Miesma from Gordon, who is a really solid center, one of the better fives I've seen this year.  He played Mayer to a stalemate, as both guys finished with 13 points and 11 boards.  After what Mayer did last night, that is an impressive effort. 

Great to see the Ephs in the Sweet 16, and fingers crossed they can make their fourth Elite 8 in the last five years, which would be absolutely incredible.  It looks like Albertus Magnus is going to be the opponent, and they are the sort of team, with quick, dynamic individual athletes and a center who can match up with Mayer, who gives the Ephs trouble.  Will be a tough game for sure.  For Williams to advance, they need to find a way to play the same level of defense in the first half they seem capable for playing in the second, and also, it would help if Epley and Robinson, who have the ability to light it up from three but haven't really been doing so lately, get into a shooting groove.  With two NESCAC teams in the Sweet 16, should be another fun weekend!

[nescac1]

If Albertus Magnus hangs on, the hosting decision will be interesting.  Williams is ranked above Albertus in New England, so I would think of those two teams, they would be the choice.  Virginia Wesleyan was ranked third in the South in the last published regional rankings, but may have moved up.  Mary Washington ranked fairly low in their region.  So I would think that VWU and Williams would be about a toss-up for hosting, unless they go purely by geography, in which Mary Washington might be the most central site.  Fingers crossed that the Ephs get the honors.  It would be interesting if Williams ends up playing VWU for the third time in five years in the tourney, the first two games were classics.  But first things first!

[amh63]

Richard Stockton upsets Cabrini on the road 85-76.  Therefore RS's win over Bpwdoin was not so surprising.  Meanwhile there is a continuous "discussion" going on about an past game.  Maybe it is best to leave the topic for awhile and support the now.
The big hurdle that many posters put in front of Amherst is removed...though I was not worried.  Concerned about the Cardinals of Plattsburgh making a return visit to meet Amherst in the 3rd round.....just like last season.  Hoping for the same result in the rematch.
Hoop Fan.....what is your read on Richard Stockton other than they are a good team?

[7express]

Amherst will be hosting Plattsburgh.  Get ready to read a lot of magicman this week.  It's all good.
Looks like the Ephs will face Albertus Magnus. 
Cabrini got bounced by Richard Stockton.
Wesley is getting beat by VA Wesleyan.

So, this is interesting:

Va Wesleyan to Williams is more than 500 miles and the NCAA needs to fly Dickinson out Midwest to Wash U/IWU since they were an upset winner @ Wooster.   So, even though Va Wesleyan and Williams are the 2 likely candidates, I think Mary Washington gets the pod next weekend since everyone in that half can bus there.  Thoughts??

[pjunito]

It won't be at Albertus.. lol. That is my only thought.

Albertus lost two years ago in the second round of the NCAAs to Middlebury. Darius Watson and Lemar Larsen are the only players that are still on the team from that 2012 team. This team is completely different than that one. The key is that Albertus has a pg very quick and a big man who can play with anyone in the country. Should be a very fun game. Best of luck to both teams...

But, Go Falcons!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Amherst will be hosting Plattsburgh.  Get ready to read a lot of magicman this week.  It's all good.
Looks like the Ephs will face Albertus Magnus. 
Cabrini got bounced by Richard Stockton.
Wesley is getting beat by VA Wesleyan.

So, this is interesting:

Va Wesleyan to Williams is more than 500 miles and the NCAA needs to fly Dickinson out Midwest to Wash U/IWU since they were an upset winner @ Wooster.   So, even though Va Wesleyan and Williams are the 2 likely candidates, I think Mary Washington gets the pod next weekend since everyone in that half can bus there.  Thoughts??

Yeah, I think Mary Washington is the winner.  Not sure why they'd try Albertus, but neither Williams nor VWC will be able to host without a flight - and they're not paying for any flights they don't have to pay for.

[nescac1]

I wouldn't be too upset by that, considering I live an hour from Mary Washington.  Although I will miss Saturday's game regardless of whether the Ephs advance, as I'm attending a bachelor party that day for a Mary Washington alum.  I don't suppose there is any chance I can convince him to change the venue ...

[magicman]

Amherst will be hosting Plattsburgh.  Get ready to read a lot of magicman this week.  It's all good.
Looks like the Ephs will face Albertus Magnus. 
Cabrini got bounced by Richard Stockton.
Wesley is getting beat by VA Wesleyan.

So, this is interesting:

Va Wesleyan to Williams is more than 500 miles and the NCAA needs to fly Dickinson out Midwest to Wash U/IWU since they were an upset winner @ Wooster.   So, even though Va Wesleyan and Williams are the 2 likely candidates, I think Mary Washington gets the pod next weekend since everyone in that half can bus there.  Thoughts??

7express,

I hadn't visited this board yet and was just over on the GNAC board posting the same thing essentially that you stated: Mary Washington and Albertus Magnus are the only schools that won't need a flight. Obviously the choice would be Mary washington over Albertus. That's where I think the Sectional ends up.

I was hoping that somehow my Plattsburgh Cardinals could host a sectional next weekend. I needed the following to happen.

Cabrini Men had to lose.......Check
Brockport Men had to lose...Check
Plattsburgh Men had to win...Check (obiviously)
Amherst Women had to win...Check
   and either
Amherst Men had to lose....didn't happen.. but didn't look good for a while
         or
Tufts Women had to lose....they won in overtime....missed it by^that much  

[toad22]

Virginia Wesleyan is within 500 miles of Williams, and so is Mary Washington. Va Wes has taken a bus to Williams 2 of the last 4 years for NCAA tourney games. I don't know if that means that Williams will host, but plane flights are not a problem.

[Pat Coleman]

Mauro's stats are not available because Williams did not preserve them in those days - but I do recall that he lead his team in 1954-55 to wins over Dartmouth, Vermont, Rhode Island, Umass and probably some other "DI" colleges..

Numbers are preserved just fine:

Anthony Moro 584 points in three seasons.

http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/statsPDFArchive/MBB2/F/Men's%20Basketball_Men's_College%20Division_1953_789_Williams%20College.pdf
http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/statsPDFArchive/MBB2/F/Men's%20Basketball_Men's_College%20Division_1954_789_Williams%20College.pdf
http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/statsPDFArchive/MBB2/F/Men's%20Basketball_Men's_College%20Division_1955_789_Williams%20College.pdf

Virginia Wesleyan is within 500 miles of Williams, and so is Mary Washington. Va Wes has taken a bus to Williams 2 of the last 4 years for NCAA tourney games. I don't know if that means that Williams will host, but plane flights are not a problem.

Results
From: VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
To: WILLIAMS COLLEGE
Miles: 532.0