MBB: NESCAC

P'bearfan · December 01, 2014, 08:15:48 PM

Bowdoin off to a terrible start in the first half against Babson as the P'bears trail 21-35 at the half. Bowdoin is ice cold shooting just 25.9% from the field. Meanwhile, Babson is hitting 53.8% of their 3 point attempts. More surprisingly Babson is out rebounding Bowdoin 21-18.

Here's hoping that Bowdoin can get their offense cranked up in the second half.

Vandy74 · December 01, 2014, 08:50:39 PM

Quote from: amh63 on December 01, 2014, 10:32:55 AM
Vandy74.....I watched the MIddlebury game in the second half.....late doing chores.
Anyway, glad to hear the OG family was in attendance. Where do you all sit? Saw a hulking person standing at the top level...side behind the team benches ..and thought maybe OG was he. Do not understand the younger younger label.
The game was interesting to watch...with respect to the player rotations for the Panthers. Liked the play of the the freshmen.
Did noticed the dark shoes of Dylan and the distinct...for me...two hand passes he throws. Yes, Sinnickson does have a unique presence on the floor....thinking about another comic book hero...Batman, The Dark Knight...DK, maybe....let me know what the locals think .
Oh yes, you maybe in trouble with referring to OG's wife as Old Girl! .

Amh63......Old Girl is the moniker Old Guy used to point her out to me. We know each other's names in the real world. Bucket explained the younger younger reference although the Young Girl I mentioned is not the mother. Obviously she was also present. There is a second Young Guy as well. Older Young Girl? Older Young Guy?

I like the Dark Knight persona for Sinnickson. Should the longer hair return Thor also comes to mind as the effect of his assault from behind the arc often bespeaks the work of Mjollnir.

We sit on the other side of the gym keeping a very low profile.

P'bearfan · December 01, 2014, 09:10:57 PM

Really tough night for Bowdoin as they lose to Babson 48-68. Nothing went right for the P'bears as they shot only 29% from the floor and 22% from behind the arc.

All credit to Babson who shot the lights out tonght and played tough defense.

Hopefully Bowdoin can regroup before their next tilt against Bates on Thursday.

middhoops · December 01, 2014, 09:12:10 PM

Babson looked quick and disciplined in a 20 pt. win over Bowdoin. Not many teams come away from Babson with a win. The Beavers kept pressure on the ball in order to run in an attempt to negate Swords' presence. Shooting 29% didn't help the Pbears.
Thankful that Midd doesn't play at Babson this year.

lumbercat · December 01, 2014, 09:29:17 PM

The biggest thing that Babson did tonight was shut down Swords and they did it with a couple of physical grinders --6'5" guys who played physical but clean and boxed out like a clinic.
Some in the stands thought Swords may have been sick or nursing an injury but Babson was very coached and well prepared, holding the big guy at bay is no easy task but the difference in the game was Bowdoins inability to shift their attack away from Swords.
Must have been an off night for the Polar Tower.

Vandy74 · December 01, 2014, 10:18:54 PM

Quote from: lumbercat on December 01, 2014, 09:29:17 PM
The biggest thing that Babson did tonight was shut down Swords and they did it with a couple of physical grinders --6'5" guys who played physical but clean and boxed out like a clinic.
Some in the stands thought Swords may have been sick or nursing an injury but Babson was very coached and well prepared, holding the big guy at bay is no easy task but the difference in the game was Bowdoins inability to shift their attack away from Swords.
Must have been an off night for the Polar Tower.

Thanks Lumbercat.

I was curious about this. I only watched the final 12 minutes and the video on my end was too choppy to really appreciate the action on the court. Basically I just listened to the commentator. I wasn't even aware of Sword's presence in the game and checked the box score afterward to see if he had been in early foul trouble. That wasn't the case and his numbers, while not terrible, show a modest input limited by Babson's effective defensive strategy. Speaking for all of Bowdoin's NESCAC opponents it's good to see that it can be done but I expect that even now Coach Gilbride is devising the plan to keep it from happening again.

lumbercat · December 01, 2014, 11:43:19 PM

Babson is a very well coached team - well drilled on playing physical against a big guy who doesn't like contact and keeping him away from the hoop with legal contact when ever possible.

Colby's Hudnut at 6'8" 230 with quickness is the strongest pivot player in the NESCAC. If Strahorn will take some time to focus on the Babson film tonight instead of debating refs on every call in a game he can prep Hudnut on how to sut down Swords and the rest will be history. if Hudnut plays physical and totally focused against Swords he can dominate.

NothingButNESCAC · December 02, 2014, 12:32:02 PM

Very excited to see the three Maine teams matchup. My guess is that last night was somewhat of an aberration for them. They shoot poorly, looked out of sorts on defense, and ran into a hot-shooting Babson team. I'm looking forward to seeing some games in person this week finally.

http://nothingbutnescac.com/2014/12/02/much-to-be-thankful-for-stock-report-121/

WPI89 · December 02, 2014, 01:59:36 PM

How does Midd not even have a single vote in the "other" part of the top 25? I would think they go .500 at worst against the top 25. Were they so far off the radar that the quick start means nothing? Final 4 - 2 or 3 years ago, no?

Am I off on this?

P'bearfan · December 02, 2014, 02:02:48 PM

QuoteHow does Midd not even have a single vote in the "other" part of the top 25? I would think they go .500 at worst against the top 25. Were they so far off the radar that the quick start means nothing? Final 4 - 2 or 3 years ago, no?

Am I off on this?

I made the same point earlier. I'm not sure what the criteria are especially this early in the season but leaving Midd off the list entirely is a major oversight IMHO.

madzillagd · December 02, 2014, 02:06:49 PM

I think their probation period ends this week with two more victories and we'll see them comfortably in the Top 25 next time around. If Plattsburgh manages to get past Keene and be 7-1 by their 1/6 matchup, that win will push Midd up into the Top 10 when they beat them.

middhoops · December 02, 2014, 02:10:52 PM

Some have already tried to put the jinx on poor Hayden Rooke-Ley. Now it's Middlebury's turn?
Midd doesn't need a bullseye on its back. Mid-January will be here before you know it and the ratings will reflect reality when top teams play the other heavyweights in their own conferences.
Frankly, Middlebury hasn't beaten anyone whose name shows up on that list, yet. I don't sense that anyone is feeling disrespected in this neighborhood.

middhoops · December 02, 2014, 02:11:50 PM

Madz, it won't take long for magicman to write a treatise on that one!

grabtherim · December 02, 2014, 02:32:24 PM

Quote from: WPI89 on December 02, 2014, 01:59:36 PM
How does Midd not even have a single vote in the "other" part of the top 25? I would think they go .500 at worst against the top 25. Were they so far off the radar that the quick start means nothing? Final 4 - 2 or 3 years ago, no?

Am I off on this?

The only ones left from the Final Four team are the coaches so it does not and should not mean anything in the polls. It's nice to see your name on a poll this time of year, but not so important. Better to be the team on the rise with something to prove as the season moves along, then one falling off the cliff early. With a teamful of players who have not been a part of deep runs, I like having players with something to prove versus something to justify.

amh63 · December 02, 2014, 02:37:19 PM

Some comments on the Bowdoin vs Babson game.
Agreed that Babson is a difficult team to beat at home. Fine talent and a fine coach. The two big scorers last night was a guard, no.3, who the announcer stated was a surprise starter. The player hit five out of six 3-point shots in the first half. The other is presently the top scorer for Babson...was the ROY last season in the conference...can hit the three but is a big scorer inside. Amherst was hurt by him in the game last season at Babson.
Swords only went to the basket strong ONCE...late in the second half late..a dunk. Otherwise he was "weak" offensively around the basket for most of the game. Like last year, Swords likes to chat with the refs whenever he gets a foul...got all his fouls in the second half, I believe. He does run the floor better this year...though Babson wanted to get the ball quickly down the court...ahead of Swords...it seemed to me.
Hurley impressed me. Announcer stated that Hurley averages over 37 minutes on the floor for Bowdoin. Still wearing a brace he is indeed the floor leader. Hurley hit two long outside shots late in the game when Bowdoin was running out of time and way behind. Nice stroke...maybe should have taken more earlier. Wise clever player on two out of bound plays...made against the star Babson player. First one...time running out for Bowdoin..Hurley throws the ball at the waist of the Babson defender. Ball hits the defender hard and bounces out, giving Bowdoin another try. Second one...Hurley in another out of bound play under the Bowdoin basket this time, throws the ball off the backside of the defender...who was helping against any ball going to Swords. The thrown ball bounces to Hurley who had stepped on the floor and he makes a layup.
Bottom line for me. The Polar Bears are not ready for " prime time" yet. Polar Bear HBC should have preparad his team better for a solid opponent. Swords has not shown much improvement offensively over his play from last year, imo.