MBB: NESCAC

[AncientSonOfHixon]

The final episode of The Road to Salem: http://sites.middlebury.edu/panthernation/2014/03/19/road-to-salem-part-8-the-road-ahead/

P'nation & collaborators: Serious, heartfelt kudos again to you all for this episode and the entire series. Very clever conceptual choice to lead with St. Amour, whose season, like Middlebury's, ended gradually and then suddenly, and who was deliberate about learning from great predecessors (Kizel) while also doing what every athlete does: thinking constantly about what's next, believing it will be better. (The darkened gym sequences were superb.)

Obviously, this whole project took a ton of work. But work wouldn't have been sufficient; it took a ton of talent, too. Whatever you do next, good luck. Though I'm not sure you'll need it.

[nescac1]

Agreed, tremendous job.  I especially loved how St. Amour was described as a fierce competitor, after which that was exemplified by, post-injury, his competitive take on his temporary water-boy duties.  Hopefully he can return to 100 percent health soon and join Brown in what should be a very strong starting backcourt duo for the next three years.  Midd has a nice core returning, if they have better injury luck next year. 

[grabtherim]

The Road to Salem is and has been a quality production all season.  Great work guys. 

[middhoops]

PN and  crew; thanks for a great season of film.
Damon, I'd wish you luck in the future but you just SO don't need it.  You're a pro already.
Please keep this up in the future.  You will be copied but not exceeded.

[nescac1]

Nice article on Duncan Robinson:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20140320-SPORTS-403200411

My favorite line: But the majority of what could become a fantastic basketball career, for Robinson, awaits.  "I can't imagine where he's going to be a year from now, or two years from now," said Maker. "You're not gonna recognize him."

[nescac1]

It's interesting how many guys on the current roster were influenced by former Ephs:

http://ephsports.williams.edu/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20140320p8xinl?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

This article doesn't mention (but another recently did) that Matt Hunt '99 originally spotted Mayer in North Carolina and was instrumental in selling him on Williams.  As noted in the article, I'm sure it didn't hurt in recruiting Duncan Robinson that Crotty was his AAU coach.  I didn't previously know about the Chris Jones-Aronowitz connection.  And I absolutely remember being in the stands for that legendary Chris Jones dunk in the NCAA tournament.  Williams hasn't had a tremendous legacy of dunkers, but Jones and of course Troy Whittington were two guys who could bring the nasty. 

[middhoops]

Nice article on Duncan Robinson:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20140320-SPORTS-403200411

My favorite line: But the majority of what could become a fantastic basketball career, for Robinson, awaits.  "I can't imagine where he's going to be a year from now, or two years from now," said Maker. "You're not gonna recognize him."

The only good news we non-Eph fans can take from Maker's quote is that DR will trade up to D1, maybe following Maker. Then, factually, we can't imagine where he'll be.  Otherwise, this is not good for most of us, other than watching in frustration.
Seeing Robinson on a team with too many weapons to fully use his versatility was at times a bit hard to watch.  He could have taken over a number of games and put up silly numbers.  Not on a team with Mayer and Epley getting so many touches and shots, however.

[jayhawk]

Mike Crotty was also AAU coach for present Lord Jeff Brady Holding and future player John McCarthy
McCarthy was I believe the leading scorer on the AAU team and an all star selection at summer tournament

[GoWesYoungMan]

Given Wesleyan's considerable success in producing film and television talent, I have to (jealously) admire the "The Road to Salem" series. The students behind this effort clearly have talent and have put in the work to write, film and edit a compelling story. I suspect they have been helped by a passion for the game and their team--a lesson to us all. I also think the arc of this Panther season makes this series much more interesting and relatable to a broader audience. As much as they wanted more consistent success for their team, it's the journey that makes the story. If any of the crew is reading this, please consider a graduate film effort at Wes. I'll miss this next year.

[Vandy74]

I also think the arc of this Panther season makes this series much more interesting and relatable to a broader audience. As much as they wanted more consistent success for their team, it's the journey that makes the story. If any of the crew is reading this, please consider a graduate film effort at Wes. I'll miss this next year.

An interesting and accurate take GoWesYoungMan.  As I have been trying to decide how to add my own plaudit to PN and their wonderful series I keep going back to a statement I made to a senior player's parent following his son's final home win over Hamilton.  Regarding how new the Panther program is to this expectant level of success I pointed out that ambitious players in this senior class would not, as high school freshmen, have had Middlebury College on their radar.  Neither would aspiring sport cinematographers with a love of the game.  That wasn't a completely accurate statement since the 2002-03 team had gone a respectable 15-10 which was the true turning point in the program but 12-12, 6-18 and 12-12 seasons followed.  The 1006-07 squad went 15-10 again.  It was the last time since this difficult season that the Panthers failed to advance into the NCAA tournament.  This senior class' freshman high school year.  Sports has an intriguingly cyclical nature.  That team also included a star player from a Vermont high school in team leading scorer Andrew Harris.  It included this season's Asst. Coach Kyle Dudley as a sophomore player who was joined by his high school teammate Ben Rudin.  Rudin was always an exciting player to watch although he didn't reach his full potential until his senior year.  But that season he put on the kind of show that we have come to expect from Joey Kizel each and every game.  In the final 8 games he raised his scoring average 3.5 ppg.  Longtime Panther basketball coach and mentor Russ Reilly was an Asst. Coach as well.  From 2006-07, the last non-NCAA tournament season for a program that previously had never been there, to seven years hence, the first season to fail to achieve such a level of success, that's how much the bar has been raised, and how quickly it has been done.  Just how good is this disappointing 17-9 record?  In the history of Middlebury College basketball prior to 2007-08 only the 17-8 record in 1974-75 is better. 

So you are absolutely correct that "the arc of this Panther season makes this series much more interesting and relatable  to a broader audience".  That broader audience includes any serious Panther fan over the age of twenty.  "The Road to Salem" is the finest testament to Coaches Jeff Brown and Russ Reilly, the other Assistant Coaches and players of the past decade here at Middlebury that anyone could make and I join the list of those thanking PN and wishing them the greatest possible success in all their future endeavors. 

[toad22]

I'm looking forward to being down at Salem for tomorrow night's games. Williams has finally begun to look like they are going to achieve their potential. I want the Ephs to play as well as they can, and let the chips fall where they may. I feel that the team has several great games to play before they are done. Mike Mayer is finally ready to play up to his full potential. Ditto that for Taylor Epley. Epley is much thinner than he started the season, and as a result, better at getting to the hole, and better at staying in front of people. Overall, I have never felt better about a run at the title than I do this year. BTW, this is my 7th trip.

[middhoops]

One of the interesting brain tinglers for tomorrow is the whole Mayer/George match up.
Michael Mayer started the season hurt.  Then played hurt and poorly by his high standard.  Then looked 'pretty good' at times.  Then showed signs of being the ol' Michael Mayer.  And, finally, he's playing like the most unstoppable big guy in the remaining four.
David George showed crazy athletic skill early.  Once conference play started, he was less intimidating as he learned the ways of the NESCAC.  Now, at absolute prime time, he is flowering into a multi-dimensional defensive force.  He gives the LJs an enormous advantage at the back of the defense in this final four.

So, you got the craftiest, most offensively explosive big guy still playing against a very quickly improving, physically developed, quick jumping fy player.
Can coach Maker find a way to get quick and easy fouls against David George?  Think Dave Hixon hasn't been working on that one all week?
Much as we all love to watch D3 basketball played on the floor:  the chess game, aka strategies to win may matter nearly as much.
amh63 is going to say to himself, "Yes, I was right!", only fair, far more subdued.

I would like to see Williams win the whole thing because if there is any chance that Mike Maker and his prize freshman go to a low to mid-major D1 program; I just SO ok with that.
From a board guy perspective; I dearly wish my Panthers were there.  Lacking that, I want our best to meet IWU in the final.  If you haven't noticed, the CCIW bloggers go all year.  Win or lose, we'd have someone to spar with.  And those guys are loyal, smart and prolific.  (except NCC who isn't a guy)

[toad22]

If Maker were to move on, he would never bring anybody with him. Duncan is here for the duration. Sorry guys.

[nescac1]

Gameday, at last!  Go Ephs! 

[gratefulfred15]

Robinson= overrated
Kizel= overrated


This "is kizel elite?" debate is as contentious as the "is joe flacco elite?" debate.


Toomey= the GOAT!!!