MBB: NESCAC

nescac1 · December 10, 2014, 05:29:53 AM

Brandeis has very good talent, they are just, like Amherst, very young, relying mostly on frosh and sophomore players. Amherst seems to always have one cryptic out-of-conference loss (sometimes two) early in the season and they always seem to bounce back from that, so I wouldn't get too excited about this ... everyone is entitled to an off game, especially vs. teams that are highly motivated to knock off a nationally-ranked power (Williams knows all about that). They were always overranked a bit at number two, still have a ton of talent and in this crazy year for D3, will still probably end up as a top 10-15 team. But what Amherst seems to lack this year is a clear leader on the floor, which has to develop over time.

Toomey was in total control over the floor at all times over the past two years. That is really tough to replace. Dawson is really good at getting his own shot but I'm not sure if he is at this point in his career a true point guard or more of a two ... Williams was more effective last year when they realized that Hayden, as talented as he is, is a scorer first and allowed Greenman, while not as strong a scoring threat, to be the primary facilitator. For Amherst, even though Dawson and McCarthy are their two most talented guards, they may be better off handing the reigns over to Berman and letting Dawson work primarily off the ball. Nabatoff, George and Conklin have an enormous size and strength advantage vs. virtually everyone they play but are still learning how to exploit that ... Conklin is a bit like a bull in a china shop who is still figuring out how to harness his physicality at this level. Finally, I'm surprised that Green hasn't exploded yet offensively. I figured he was a lock for 20 plus ppg, yet somehow, he isn't getting enough looks, which is not something I ever thought I'd say, especially without Toomey. At some point, he will break out.

In short, all the pieces are there for Amherst, it's just a matter of getting them all to work together and figuring out who will take control of the offense in close games. No surprise with only one upperclassmen playing major minutes so far, and two transfers and two frosh playing big roles. They will figure things out and be scary eventually ... the only question is whether that will be later this year, or if they need a full year of seasoning as a group to learn to play together.

In other NESCAC news, Tufts picked up a win, but hardly in convincing fashion and Plymouth is not exactly a world-beater. Haladyna finally had a break-out game, his shooting slump couldn't possibly go on indefinitely with his ability level. But the other perimeter guys still need to give them more. Ferris continues to be the bizzarro-Rooke-Ley of this season, with, still, ZERO free throw attempts through 9 games and 205 minutes of play, which is an all-crazy level statistic. Hayden, meanwhile, has 71 attempts through 9 games ... Tufts as a team is making only 11 free throws per game, which is way too low for a team that doesn't rely heavily on the three and with such talented big guys who should draw a ton of fouls on the inside.

amh63 · December 10, 2014, 09:59:06 AM

Feel a little better this morning......got things in perspective...I believe. Read the morning paper, got a late phone call from my best friend last night, and even watched a Div1 game. Life has it's ups and downs. Where am I going?
In the paper, read that people in Vermont is concerned about the cost and availability of firewood. My friend came home from playing bridge at the Nationals in R.i to find out his wife was recovering from surgery in the hospital...broke her kneecap while helping out in church. A small jet plane crashed several miles from me and six persons died. Perspective. Oh yes, the Div 1 game...seems the Woverines of the Big Ten lost another nail biter...45 to 42 to East Mich. The HBC has offensive problems...lost earlier to NJIT.
See the vultures are circling around this morning. Always nice to count on some posters.
Nescac1...thanks. The following comments are given as my thoughts only. They are not excuses for the fine game played by Brandeis. I saw them play earlier..worried a bit that Amherst would see the record and just show up.
Coach Hixon does have his work cut out. Babson is coming in and they are a stronger team than Brandeis at this time. It will be interesting to see if his players will be ready...reading period now, exams ahead...not much practice time.
The game was called tight last night...Conklin fouled out and two others , including George had 4 fouls. Do noticed after watching Tufts in three games that Sabety often is called for fouls under the basket...because of his size/ bulk. Starting to see the same calls on Conklin. Good to see some of the injured dressed. Levine got in the game. Worries...Brandeis had more steals and rebounds!

WPI89 · December 10, 2014, 10:43:25 AM

I thought the pickins' were going to be perfect for Babson against Amherst. Figured the Jeffs for another "ugly" win against Brandeis - I use the term ugly very loosely as I have seen a combined 10 minutes of Amherst video this year - mostly getting it from the analysis on this board.

Then last night happens and turns a perfect time for Babson to come to Lefrak into the worst possible time. I know you lose at Lefrak about once every 3 years - can't imagine you have lost 2 in a row at home in a decade??? (maybe more than that).

Still should be a good game - would have "favored" a Babson upset - now I say Amherst by 10 - as they pull away late.

JEFFFAN · December 10, 2014, 02:09:28 PM

I think that this group overestimates Amherst based on historical success. This is a team with one senior and having lost one of top 2-3 players in program history alongside two other very good three-year starters. Not to be trite but you can't teach experience. There is talent there - George, for instance, is physically beyond what many other NESCAC players have to offer - but the only significant contributor from last year is Connor Green. Everyone else was either the fifth starter (George) or sixth/seventh man. Not making excuses - last time I looked no one from Jeff land is looking for sympathy - but talent does not equal performance, at least yet.

polbear73 · December 10, 2014, 02:36:01 PM

In a non noteworthy game last night, Bowdoin beat Maine Maritime by 22, breaking a 3 game losing streak. Non noteworthy except for the continued absence of Fuller and Palecki. With an already short roster, Bowdoin can't afford to be without these two for any extended period of time.

booyakasha · December 10, 2014, 03:30:30 PM

Quote from: polbear73 on December 10, 2014, 02:36:01 PM
In a non noteworthy game last night, Bowdoin beat Maine Maritime by 22, breaking a 3 game losing streak. Non noteworthy except for the continued absence of Fuller and Palecki. With an already short roster, Bowdoin can't afford to be without these two for any extended period of time.

The good news for Bowdoin is these two have an extended break to get healthy before the start of the "second season". The bad news for Bowdoin is neither will help much with scoring in transition, which Bowdoin completely lacks. I attended the games against Bates and Colby, and cannot recall a single basket in transition (not saying there weren't any, but there certainly weren't more than a couple).

polbear73 · December 10, 2014, 03:35:36 PM

Very good point. Madlinger, White, and Mathias excelled at the transistion game.

amh70 · December 10, 2014, 05:08:39 PM

As a first time contributor, I've enjoyed reading the many knowledgable posts to this site. Just a quick question for those in the know about Amherst. Is the first year player, Michael Riopelle, hurt or just not dressing? He really impressed me in Amherst's first few games but has been undressed (you know what I mean

) for the past few games. he's a bit thin, but smooth and has a great stroke from outside and appears to have a feel for the game that a lot of the other young players on the team (excluding McCarthy) don't have. And no, I'm not his father or uncle, just an Amherst grad living in Canada.

hoya73 · December 10, 2014, 05:22:19 PM

Amh70--Welcome Aboard! Michael was the victim of a hard foul a few games back but I believe should be back soon. Fall actually looked worse than it turned out, I think.

Jeffs have work to do--run the offense and rotate better on defense. Hope this was a wake-up call.

amh63 · December 10, 2014, 05:43:30 PM

Welcome aboard amh70. The freshman you speak of....known to the announcer as "rio"...me too...has a "concussion" and that is all the medical people can convey. Yes, he is skilled and smooth with the ball. He is also fast. Like other FY players, he is slim....lean..... like a cowboy. Baby face but will shoot over you in a sec. Undercut while taking a two hand dunk..in a break away.
WPI89 points out that the Babson Beavers like to run and comes into LeFrak with soph forward that was ROY last season and made D3hoops special squad this week...scored 60 plus in two games over the weekend. Last year he was the top scorer in the game at Babson..against Amherst....19 points. Believe Babson has three or 4 top scorers from that game returning.
hoya73....agreed with you points. If Amherst can control the boards,,,they can run too.

amh70 · December 10, 2014, 06:49:19 PM

Thank you for the welcoming words and insight amh63 and hoya73! I think Riopelle will a keeper. I also agree that Amherst needs a lot of work, not surprising given their youth and inexperience. However, I think last night's game was a bit of an aberration. I may be wrong, but Hixon has a habit of putting a pretty good product on the floor by February.

jayhawk · December 11, 2014, 07:12:37 AM

appreciate comments from Nescac1 about Amherst
Team is young and will get better with time
Michael Riople along with Johnny McCarthy are freshman to keep an eye on.
I thought Johnny might have been able to start last year if was on team as a 2 guard.
"Rio" is probably the most consistent 3 pt shooter on the team, he is a player who has excellent leaping ability,was a point guard in high school, and for someone his age tends to make few mistakes. Probably would have played a lot in recent loss if was not injured.
Babson is a talented team
Regardless of outcome anticipate Amherst will get significantly better as the season goes on .

Not sure about Ray Barry's return but may be something to keep an eye.
An extremely tenacious defender and potential ability to get into the paint and make plays

P'bearfan · December 11, 2014, 08:02:56 AM

QuoteIn a non noteworthy game last night, Bowdoin beat Maine Maritime by 22, breaking a 3 game losing streak. Non noteworthy except for the continued absence of Fuller and Palecki. With an already short roster, Bowdoin can't afford to be without these two for any extended period of time.

The good news for Bowdoin is these two have an extended break to get healthy before the start of the "second season". The bad news for Bowdoin is neither will help much with scoring in transition, which Bowdoin completely lacks. I attended the games against Bates and Colby, and cannot recall a single basket in transition (not saying there weren't any, but there certainly weren't more than a couple).

I was able to attend the game against Maine Maritime. Keegan Pieri looked great scoring with ease from a variety of locations on the floor. Bowdoin scored 24 of their points in transition so they have hopefully ended the mini-drought where they had trouble finishing at the rim.

Bowdoin looked out of synch on both ends of the floor for much of the game against the Mariners but this was due to new faces in the rotation. The defense, mainly a 2-3 zone, settled down in the second half and was pretty effective. The offense looked a little rougher and it will probably take more time for these players to gel with each other. Liam Farley had an impressive game (12 points, 6 rebounds) and if he continues to play more minutes may help provide offensive punch off the bench. Watching the game one could walk away with the impression that it was a quite night for John Swords. The Mariners often double and triple teamed him in the low post but Swords still finished the night with a double double (12 points, 11 rebounds).

Both Palecki and Fuller were out of the line up. The good news for Bowdoin is that Palecki is possible for Friday's game against Me Farmigton. If he doesn't play in the game he should be back on the court shortly after it. The bad news is that Fuller is likely done for the season. He was hit in the lower leg late in the first half of the Bates game in a seemingly routine play and developed compartment syndrome. Fuller's condition worsened and on Saturday he had emergency surgery. Fortunately the surgery was successful and Fuller is expected to make a full recovery (not a small thing given the nature of this injury).

nescac1 · December 11, 2014, 09:07:48 AM

Wow, compartment syndrome is no joke. Best of luck to Fuller for a full and speedy recovery. Certainly a blow to Bowdoin which is now really thin up front. The Bears' starting five is going to have play marathon minutes in close games.

Old Guy · December 11, 2014, 09:36:23 AM

Quote from: nescac1 on December 11, 2014, 09:07:48 AM
Wow, compartment syndrome is no joke. Best of luck to Fuller for a full and speedy recovery. Certainly a blow to Bowdoin which is now really thin up front. The Bears' starting five is going to have play marathon minutes in close games.

Thanks for the discussion of the Bowdoin-Maine Maritime game, P'bearfan. I looked at the box score and was a bit confused by the minutes the mainstays played given the one-sidedness of the game: They played kinda "marathon minutes" in a blowout. ME Maritime is 1-6; the score at the half was 36-15. Swords (30), Pieri (32), and Hurley (32) all played over 30 minutes and Hausman 26; three of the Polar Bear subs played only 2 minutes.

I think the explanation that the Bears used the opportunity to develop some coherence in their play makes sense. Those minutes also highlight Bowdoin's lack of depth indeed.