MBB: NESCAC

[frank uible]

One is reminded of an old horse racing epigram to the effect - in order to represent class one should win as if he is accustomed to it and lose as if he enjoys it.

[jayhawk]

biggest difference for Amherst was loss of Ben Pollack
He split the zone on offense when he received the ball at the top of the key and very effectively bodied up Mayer
With Pollack out and then 3rd string center Levine hobbled Amherst turned to a freshman who had little experience

The third foul on Toomey appeared to affect his spirit and approach to game  fouls 2 and 3 awful

I am not sure that I would say that Greenman out played Toomey --  that was not a true aspect of this game.

Mayer moved we'll and shows his agility ,, Robinson is a very efficient scorer and Taylor played well

[nescac1]

The first two fouls on Toomey were blatant.  The third was iffy but that is the risk you take leaving a guy in. It wasn't like he was lighting it up before that third foul in any event.  He didn't look right even in warm-ups. My guess is he was ill or something but whatever it was he wasn't the same guy.  But the way Williams played tonight, Pollack, Toomey, it wouldn't have mattered.  Amherst simply had no answer for the Ephs' offensive gameplan. Williams simply hadn't played its A game vs Amherst all year.  Tonight they played their A plus game.  No one in D3 could have beaten them.  My hope is that tomorrow they can play at least 90 percent as well. 

[JustAFan]

Anyone know why tomorrow's championship game is audio only and will not be shown on video? Is this an NCAA rule? Ironic that technology has reached the point where almost every regular season as well as tournament game is available on video but the national championship game is not. What gives?

[nescac1]

I think it may be televised, perhaps that is why. 

[GnacBballFan]

Wow, makes me feel better about albertus after swing this score. Congrats to the ephs! Like I said last week, I think we lost to one of the top teams in the country. And it's looking like maybe the best

[lemonjello]

I wasn't able to watch the game, but based on the commentary, it sounds like the Jeffs' lack of depth finally caught up with them, and the Ephs continued to peak at the right time.  Foul trouble was obviously a problem for Toomey and George, and Killian, Kalema, and Toomey all had off shooting nights.  Having Nabatoff playing big minutes instead of Pollack or Levine clearly hurts, but when the opposition shoots 63% from the floor and 45% from 3, it doesn't really matter who's out there

Congratulations to the Ephs, it was obvious from their play this tournament that beating them a 4th time was going to be a tall order.  I hope they continue to represent the NESCAC well in the championship game, and that Duncan Robinson plays well enough that a D1 program comes calling with a transfer offer  .  He will continue to be a problem the next 3 years, though at least the NESCAC won't have Mike Mayer to contend with as well.

Congratulations are also due to an exceptional group of Amherst seniors.  Aaron Toomey, Tom Killian, David Kalema, and Connor Gach will leave a great legacy behind them, and even though this isn't the way they probably wanted to go out, they have a lot to be proud of.

[GnacBballFan]

Ps if anyone calls that kid Robinson overrated, they are clearly just trolling. That kid should be at a mid major. Just happy my team was able to hang with Williams if we only counted the second half lol. Far from a NESCAC hater here, which I feel like I see a lot if for some reason, go ephs! Stay in New England

[JustAFan]

As usual, right you are nescac1! My bad.  Looks like you need to go to the NCAA site to watch it via CBA sports.

Williams has been putting on offensive clinics since the tournament began, but don't think tomorrow's championship game is going to be easy.  We've all seen baseball doubleheaders where one team dominated in the first game and then got beat up in the second game.  And many of us remember how unbeatable the UNLV Running Rebels and their high flying offense appeared in the 1991 Final Four before they were upset by Duke.  However, if the Ephs stay in attack mode, pushing tempo and aggressively going to the rim, they are going to be competitive even if their outside shooting cools down a spell.

The brilliance of the Williams offense the past month is testament to the teaching abilities of Coach Maker even more than his coaching abilities.  I believe the growth his players have exhibited both in their personal abilities and their ability to execute his offense is a direct result of the teaching that goes on every day in his practices. The growth of the 3 freshman is in part due to their natural abilities but more due to the fact that they are studying under a master teacher.  If I am a D1 athletic director with a vacancy to fill I am drooling right now at the chance to try to recruit Coach Maker when this tournament is over. And if I am a coach at any level I will want to be studying game tapes of the Williams games over the past 3 weeks to pick up pieces to incorporate into my team's offense next season. It has truly been a clinic, and here's hoping there is one more good class left for all involved!

[gratefulfred15]

First of all, great season for The Lord Jeff's. Still the best team in D3 hoops IMO.

Second, I still think Robinson is overrated. If killian is guarding Robinson tonight guarantee he scores less than ten. I think the LJs were scared off by that skeleton mcrary.

Toomey is still the GOAT.

[Pat Coleman]

I think it may be televised, perhaps that is why.

Yeah, like last year, CBS is protecting its TV audience from the few thousand people that would watch online.

[magicman]

First of all, great season for The Lord Jeff's. Still the best team in D3 hoops IMO.

Second, I still think Robinson is overrated. If killian is guarding Robinson tonight guarantee he scores less than ten. I think the LJs were scared off by that skeleton mcrary.

Toomey is still the GOAT.

If scoring 30 points on 13x18 shooting from the field and 4x6 from long distance, while grabbing 6 rebounds, with an assist, a steal and no turnovers is overrated then I hope my team has a couple of those overrated guys next year.

At the same time you put the Amherst coach down by implying he had the wrong guy guarding Robinson. It sounds like your knowledge of overrated and underrated players is only exceeded by your coaching ability. You should apply for the Williams job if, as a number of people think, he moves on.

And I would be careful how you keep using the GOAT label for Aaron Toomey...in certain instances it has a negative inference (and I'm not implying that in Aaron's case) but when you keep putting it out there in capital letters in view of the results of Friday night's game, you risk a certain implication that readily comes to mind to most sports enthusiasts.

Also in case, as another poster suggested, you may only be 15 and on the outside chance you don't know what the GOAT in a game is here's a link:    http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080104233540AAP726D

I wasn't too thrilled with your reference to Matt McCreary either. You showed a lot of class on that one. Perhaps you should read this.

http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2014-03-21/survivor-mentality     

[nescac1]

JustAFan, amen to everything you said about Maker. It was pretty incredible when, for a stretch, Williams had three frosh playing together last night, and playing well. Duncan's immense talent was obvious from the get go, but Maker had to really push him to stop being so deferential, and boy did it pay off.  Greenman did not look ready for prime time early in the season, struggling to find his offense and turning the ball over. Now he is a one man press breaker who hits clutch jumpers and steers the offense with veteran poise.  Aronowitz is one of the most athletic guys on the team, but also took awhile to figure out his role, which is a great finisher inside and tough wing defender. Look for him to be a breakout player next year.  Watching those three grow into key components of a Final Four squad from where they were in December has been amazing. 

[nescac1]

Williams is now 7-5 in seven Final Four appearances, including two consolation game victories when that was still a thing.  The bad news: three of the five losses have been to WIAC teams, including two heartbreaking losses in title games to Stevens Point.  I don't believe that Williams has ever faced Whitewater, but Eph fans are well aware of the caliber of ball played in Wisconsin.   And it seems like this Whitewater squad is very similar to the 2012 team, with KJ Evans replacing Chris Davis in the starring role and nearly everyone else back and presumably two years better.  Coach Maker, as always,  described Whitewater last night as "talented" and "well coached" so not much insight there . 

Given how effective the zone was against an Amherst team that, like Whitewater, posed a quickness mismatch, I figure we will see plenty of zone today.  Williams can obviously score the ball so the key will be duplicating last night's awesome defensive execution.

[middhoops]

Whitewater is a tough match up for the Ephs.  They are quick, smart and go to the hoop a lot.  Typically Williams stays out of foul trouble.  This game could be different.  The Warhawks are going to take it straight to Mayer to draw early fouls, I'd guess.  The zone that worked against Amherst is probably the right defense against Whitewater as well.
Having seen Williams dismantle quality teams throughout their tourney run, I expect nothing different today.  Breaking down the opponent's defense to create 2 on 1's isn't likely to stop now.  Mayer and the over rated Duncan Robinson have size advantages in this game.  They will get a lot of touches.
The final probably won't be yet another blowout but the Ephs are on a serious roll. 
Let's hope there's no let down after finally beating Amherst.