MBB: NESCAC

[Bucket]

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).

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).

Wow, so sorry to hear about Fuller. That's a very scary injury. I'm glad he's going to be ok.

[maineman]

Speaking of injuries, does anyone know the status of the Middlebury injuries?  Most notably Matt Daley........does anyone know the timetable?  It would be nice to have him back for a game before conference play starts at Bates.

[magicman]

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.

Wow...Old Guy using the quote button...I'm 

[middhoops]

Babson looking a lot like Brandeis two nights later.  The Beavers have a 15 point lead on Amherst at LeFrak with around 8 minutes to go in the game.

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Game over.  A replay of the Brandeis game in too many ways for an Amherst team that is very long on talent but still needing more time to come together as a team.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

All over.. Amherst loses 68-49. We were already guaranteed to have four of the top five lose this week... didn't think we would be guaranteed to have five total losses in that grouping.

[maineman]

If Amherst sets the bar in the NESCAC this year, and we'll have to wait until conference play begins to find out, maybe the conference is down this year?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I was just looking at that Amherst schedule - five road games, then eight home games, then four road games to finish off the year.  Any reason for this or just odd scheduling fluke?

[amh63]

Hope Amherst....aka.... Coach Hixon learned several things from this lost.  First, Dawson is not the PG for this Amherst team.  Late in the game, Berman AND Dawson were in together....Dawson was at the 2 position.  Dawson is weak on defense and decision making...like not being aware of the time in the first half.  He is a driver to the hoop which is needed when the other team is playing a zone.
Amherst needs to get the ball inside to their big men, even against the zone when the outside shot does not fall.  The big men needs to rebound better...off missed shots.  Babson had a number of 2nd chances and put backs. 
This is the 2nd game when an opponent worked a weave...patient offense...fustrates the Amherst players.
Did see something strange.  In the 2nd half, both JMac and Conner Green took  outside shots from the right side...almost identical shots.  Both shots from good shooters was off the same way...could see it soon after it left their hands...went to the left of the basket.
Oh yes, the players need to hit their foul shots!  Has not gotten better..over 7 games.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

By the way, Amherst has lost their last two games - both at home - by an average of 19.5 points! They are off until Dec. 30 when they travel to Drew... they are then at Goucher (1/2) before heading to Eastern Connecticut (1/6)... before heading to Hamilton (1/9) and Williams (1/10). My bet is one night at Amherst and that coming before the Hamilton trip. Lose two in a row at home to end this part of the season... it isn't going to be a fun holiday break.

[lumbercat]

C'mon Jeff's, stop running for the exits--so you lost a couple....... I respect your history but you guys are not going to win em all every year--that's not realistic.....I can't wait to hear all the left wingers trashing the Jeff's because they lost 2.

Amherst and Williams have one thing in common- their fans are front runners in Football and Basketball....should either program, Football or Basketball, experience adversity, the Purple, arrogant clan sells out.....guaranteed......Williams and Amherst are the consummate front runners.....win or you stink.

[Old Guy]

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.

Wow...Old Guy using the quote button...I'm 

Only took me eight years - that's a steep learning curve for me.

[nescac1]

Babson is a very good, experienced squad that executes with tremendous precision, but can't say I saw that one coming for the Jeffs.  I think we all (myself included) saw the talent level and forgot to factor in the inexperience ... with Pollack clearly still physically limited, the Jeffs have basically one upperclassmen, and zero seniors, playing significant minutes ... and (when Riopel is healthy) four guys entirely new to the program in the rotation.  Compare that to the last two years of senior-dominated teams which just knew how to win tough games.

In particular, the inexperience on the perimeter will take some time to overcome.  In terms of sheer talent, the McCarthy/Dawson combo is roughly equivalent to Toomey/Kalema.  But those guys were battle-tested seniors who earned their stripes over four years.  I would NOT want to play this LJ team in two years.  I might not even want to play them later THIS year.  But right now, they have a lot of guys still figuring out their roles and figuring out how to smartly attack college defenses. 

On another note, a third "official" recruit for Williams in the ED round, added to 6'6 g/f Miye Oni and 6'9 center Jake Porath (who were actually teammates at Viewpoint High School before Porath transferred to California power Chaminade):

HS BASKETBALL: Congratulations to Scranton Prep's Bobby Casey, who is going to Division III power Williams College to play basketball.

Casey is a 6'1 combo guard who is an excellent three point and free throw shooter and very crafty with the ball.  Looks like he could stand to pack on a few pounds of muscle ...

Nice ED group for the Ephs.  Seems like App has followed in Maker's footsteps of scouring the entire country for players. 

[polbear73]

Speaking of Coach Maker, a rough start at Marist: 1-8.  Something tells me it won't be that way for long. 

[nescac1]

Maker inherited, let's say, a limited talent pool, and worse yet the team has been decimated by injuries with several of the best players missing significant action.  Give him two years to recruit guys who fit his system and I think the results will be dramatically different. 

[amh63]

Hoops fan....I think it is a combo of scheduling....the Nescac rotation of home and away games on an annual basis....and some scheduling of away games ...learning experience for a young team.  The conference does play back to back conference games on weekends...fri and sat.
Lumbercat...interesting viewpoint....but you can do better.  Speaking for myself, have not jumped the ship.  Recovering from a cold...maybe grumpy..ok.  Had not shaved for several days...was thinking that I would shave when Amherst wins a game.  Since it will be a new year when Amherst plays a game...thought better of it...shaved this morning.  Taking a more stoic outlook on sports.
Interesting incident occurred on the floor near the end of the game.  Technical fouls called on both jMac and Flannery.  Seems Amherst's Freshman was guarding Babson's offensive star...returning NE POY.  Flannery held to 9 points...had been averaging around 24 pts/ game.  Expect future battles in the years ahead....maybe again this year even.