MBB: NESCAC

[madzillagd]

Free throws.

[magicman]

Lot of prayers answered at Pepin Gymnasium around 5:53 PM today.

The Miracle on Ice had nothing on this game.

[Bucket]

For 39:20, it really was not Midd's night; until it was.

Skidmore took its largest lead of the game, 56-49, with just :40 left, but the Thoroughbreds would not score again, with Midd scoring the game's final 8 points, the final two being Matt St. Amour's game-winning drive and bucket with 1.7 remaining.

For most of the contest, the Panthers struggled mightily to put the ball in the basket, shooting just 27 percent in the first half and 32 in the second. Yet none of this seemed to matter down the stretch as Sinnickson nailed a 3, then Merryman did, and then here was SA's game winner. Throughout the run, there were Skidmore misses at the line--0-4. It's impossible to pinpoint any play as the play--everything had to go right (or wrong, depending on your colors)--but one in particular stands out. After Sinnickson's three had cut the 7-pt deficit to 4, Midd set up a full court press out of a time out. Skidmore breaks the press and there's a pass ahead to Connor Merrill--with no one between him and the basket. He slows just a bit, seeming to be measuring his steps for a game-clinching breakaway dunk. The hesitation allows Connor Huff to get back into the picture, catching Merrill from behind--hard foul with the body, but Huff also gets a lot of ball. Clean, hard foul. Merrill, a local kid who led Skidmore with 15 points, missed both. Merryman's 3-ball followed, setting us up for the game-ending excitement.

Sinnickson led the Panthers with 18 and 9, so it's strange to say that his ankle limited his game--but it did. He had nowhere near the lift and explosiveness he normally has, and it was very apparent as he failed to corral a few rebounds he normally grabs and couldn't get to the rim like usual. But he adapted and made some big, big jumpers--none bigger than his 3 w/ :36 left. Merryman added 17; Jake Brown 8.

The break couldn't come at a better time for Midd. Matt Daley is out of his boot, Sinnickson has a month to really allow his ankle to heal. The kids can turn their full attention to the end of the semester, and the Panthers head into 2015 with confidence and the hopes of even better games ahead.

[grabtherim]

Sometimes when you steal a game the way Midd did today good things follow. Midd had no business getting a W. Could not hit anything until the end was near. Lots to improve on but thats for after winter break. Hope they celebrate big time tonight. Enjoy the moment, then deal with exams, papers etc, and come back fresh and hungry. This conference season will have some major swings. Not much will surprise me. Wide open.

[toad22]

A big win for Williams tonight. The Ephs were about as bad shooting the ball as they are capable of. Even with that, they were able to beat a decent Springfield team at their gym. The defense was quite good, and they worked really hard at rebounding the ball. Darius Sime is really starting to be a disrupter on the defensive end. It is great to end with a strong win on a night they could have lost. Daniel Wohl is becoming a real "go to guy". Also, Hayden got the record he wanted!

[Old Guy]

St. Amour got the ball on the left near the left sideline about ten feet in, neither the elbow or the corner. Tightly guarded, he couldn't get off a shot, so he drove to the foul line, executed a reverse pivot, took a long stride to the hoop, up and under from about eight feet with the left hand, off the glass and through the net, no iron. A timeless shot, creative: could have been Pistol Pete or Hot Rod Hundley. He had missed an open three down the stretch when Skidmore had extended their lead. "Don't hang your head, son, your time will come." He's fun to watch. Just four points tonight but he was in there at the end of the game and had a chance to win it. Five rebounds, six assists. He reminds me a bit of Nolan Thompson (you remember him: he was better than Aaron Toomey - inside joke). Has a well-rounded game. In high school, in tiny Vermont, he scored more than 2000 points, was Mister Basketball two years in a row. In college, he's a player, not just a scorer.

Other impressions: Jake Brown really battled Medunjanin, who had no baskets, six free throws. Connor Merrill from nearby Panton, VT (attended Vergennes High, 12 miles from Middlebury) is a very versatile player, a good one (15 points today). He brought a couple of dozen vocal fans to the game. 

I was not particularly anxious at the end of this game, uncharacteristically. I paced at the five-minute mark, but returned to the gym and friends with a minute and a half left. I had already put the game in the loss column and was working on my rationalizations and silver linings. This was a highly unlikely outcome. Skidmore is snake-bit, but perhaps these early tests, though disappointing, will benefit them later on.

Big noisy crowd, though very few students - 300-400 in attendance. If you watched any of the game on-line, you might dispute this observation. The video projects onto the side of the gym which is not so settled with fans. Middlebury is constructing a new field house and it's not possible to enter the gym on the side that the video camera faces, the main entrance in the past (and in the future) - you have to walk across the floor to get there. There are two to three times as many fans on the side from which the video camera projects, so the bulk of fans are not visible to those watching on-line. There was a men's hockey game at the same time (Midd-Hamilton), historically a formula for an empty gym. No longer. I love it.

I watched the Amherst-Emerson game before heading in to the Midd game. Very impressed with the Jeffs. They seemed totally in control. Emerson got back in the game in the second half and then Amherst just said, "sorry, not today," and easily pulled away for the win. Jayde Dawson scored the first nine points of the game and then sat for ten minutes. Berman was outstanding. They're tall, athletic, fast - pretty good team, no question they will be a force in the league. Based on this small sample, they're the favorites as far as I'm concerned.

Great video picture from Amherst. The announcers, however, only so-so. Same problem: no longer students, they might as well be. Recent graduates - one (the play-by-play guy) is a former player who constantly calls his own number, that is, reflects on his own play relative to the current Amherst team members. He calls all the Amherst players by their first name - "Reed," "Jayde," "Nabo," as if no one but the Amherst cognoscenti are watching, or matter. Oh well, still, in all, a much better presentation.

[middhoops]

Lot of prayers answered at Pepin Gymnasium around 5:53 PM today.

The Miracle on Ice had nothing on this game.

Middlebury struggled mightily to put the ball in the basket. 
Skidmore had the game in hand with less than a minute to go but like some people I don't understand, were unable to accept the gift offered to them.
"Oh, those missed free throws......."

[Vandy74]

For 39 minutes and 20 seconds only one part of Middlebury's offense had clicked.  Merryman and Sinnickson were a combined 8-15 from behind the arc.  The other Panthers were 2-12.  Over that same 39 minutes and 20 seconds Aldin Medunjanin had hit 6 of his 8 free throw attemps.  His teammates were 1-7.  So down by 7 points with 40 seconds remaining what does Middlebury have to do?  Score quickly and foul anyone except Medunjanin.  That's what they do.  Sinnickson hits a three.  A Skidmore player not named Medunjanin is fouled and misses both shots.  Merryman hits a three.  A Skidmore player not named Medunjanin is fouled and puts up another 0-2 from the stripe.  The struggle for a loose ball under the Panther basket results in a Middlebury possession and a timeout.  With 7 seconds remaining the ball is inbounded to a player named Matt.  Say no more.

[magicman]

Lot of prayers answered at Pepin Gymnasium around 5:53 PM today.

The Miracle on Ice had nothing on this game.

Middlebury struggled mightily to put the ball in the basket. 
Skidmore had the game in hand with less than a minute to go but like some people I don't understand, were unable to accept the gift offered to them.
"Oh, those missed free throws......."

I know...I was watching the game on the NSN webcast. Couldn't believe what I was seeing. Wish my Cardinals had that kind of luck tonight. Oneonta played the best game I've seen them play in like, forever.   

[Vandy74]

Lot of prayers answered at Pepin Gymnasium around 5:53 PM today.

The Miracle on Ice had nothing on this game.

Middlebury struggled mightily to put the ball in the basket. 
Skidmore had the game in hand with less than a minute to go but like some people I don't understand, were unable to accept the gift offered to them.
"Oh, those missed free throws......."

I know...I was watching the game on the NSN webcast. Couldn't believe what I was seeing. Wish my Cardinals had that kind of luck tonight. Oneonta played the best game I've seen them play in like, forever.   

Well magicman, Oneonta did beat a Williams team that should have been riled up by it's loss to SVC and has since then played some very good basketball.  Eastern Conn. is 8-1 and now ranked and the Hartwick team they lost to is EC's only loss.  I don't know anything about Oneonta's basketball program in the past but this season's squad is 4-3 against some very credible competition.  Maybe not such a bad loss for the Cardinals.  Certainly we Middlebury fans aren't thrilled that you got the early wake-up call.  +K to ease your pain and as thanks for the several I've received from you lately.

[maineman]

Michigan could have used Duncan Robinson versus NJIT, I guess?

[amh63]

Maineman...had similiar thoughts as Mich could not hit a basket from outside.
Seems that many CAC teams had trouble from outside.  Even Amherst, whose score showed a blowout.  Many young shooters and others missed their shots.  OG maybe correct...exams are coming up, etc.  It was only in the last 9 and half minutes that defense and TOs that resulted that gave support to the seemly easy win.
Some observations on the present state of the LJs.  The " starting" lineup is made up of two sophs, both at least 6'8" and very long and athletic...both bigger and stronger this year.  Conner Green is at the 3 position but gets his rebounds and blocks as well as his points from everywhere.  The guards are two freshmen.  Yes Dawson is a FY player academically.
Hixon is rotating the front court.  Conklin and Pollack often enter the game together.  Both are the bruiser type in built.  Big Ben is still rusty inside offensively but sound on the defense with blocks, etc.  Conklin is a big boy and can match up against Sabety, imo.  Racy, now the designated outside shooter and comes in to give Green a rest.  Bigger and stronger this year, he can guard quick smaller guards.  Reid Berman is playing the PG well.  Hit a three last night even.  Still learning but is more a distributor.  Presently, Reid has more floor time.  When he is in, his teammates can expect passes to them.  Dawson often wants to score more than run plays...more TOs from his passes.
The Va. FY, " rio" is a surprise to fans.  More a finished product than expected.  Has a good outside shot, quick to the ball and has hops.  According to the announcers, he had a concussion. He was not dressed yesterday...but felt much better on Friday.  He is a big guard that Hixon has put in for his other freshman guard...referred to as Johnny Mac by the announcers.  JMac is a player...a scorer inside and outside and quick as lightning on the defensive side.  May presently lead the team in steals. 
Amherst is developing nicely into a team.  When the injured players return, the Jeffs will be even deeper at all positions.

[lefrakenstein]

JMac is a player...a scorer inside and outside and quick as lightning on the defensive side.  May presently lead the team in steals. 
Amherst is developing nicely into a team.  When the injured players return, the Jeffs will be even deeper at all positions.

"JMac" currently has 17 of the team's 37 steals, or nearly half. He has more than 4x as many as any other player. Potential future DPOY... but might have to wait until George graduates.

[nescacobserver]

amh63 good analysis of the Lord Jeffs.  This team will get measurably stronger when Ray Barry returns in January.  I have no idea how Hixon is going to manage this situation, re: Berman and Dawson, but many people familiar with the team feel that Barry is the best player among the three.  Certainly the best on-the-ball defender of any player on the team.

[polbear73]

This Amherst discussion is bad news for the rest of the conference. I too watched yesterday and could not help but be very impressed. As much as a blowout as yesterday was, I couldn't help wondering how good this team will be after totally assimilating the newcomers, getting Barry back, and jelling in the usual Hixon way as the season progresses. Frightening