MBB: NESCAC

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Seemed like a pretty easy block call to me (with no rooting interest at all).  It was less clear in the slo-mo replay, but it didn't seem like St. Armour got there in time - he kind of stabbed his feet out and the rest of his body was still catching up when he got hit.  I'm actually pretty impressed he moved so quickly to get there, but I definitely have no problem with the call.

[middhoops]

Typo police here.
Hoops Fan, I'm sure it was a typing error, but number 11 for Midd is Matt St. Amour, not St. Armour.  In messages, Vandy74 and I refer to him as SNM, "Say No More" for reasons that may become evident to non-Midd fans as time goes on.

[nescac1]

Amherst is the lone NESCAC representative in the new top 25 poll, barely hanging on in 25th.  Bates, Williams, and Trinity are the other NESCAC vote-getters in that order.  Trinity has the strongest resume of any NESCAC team at this point, but given that it's been awhile since they've been really good, there is some reputational lag hindering them.  (Ten straight wins including at Williams, one of two losses on the road to a very solid Cortland team).  If they win their three games this weekend, in particular the Bates game (which would nab them all of Bates' votes, I imagine), they may be enough to vault them into the Top 25 depending on who loses ahead of them. 

I'm surprised Amherst is hanging on, considering they've played four good teams, and lost to three of them, including two at home ... granted, one of their losses (to Williams) is a good loss, but one of their wins (barely escaping Goucher) was a bad win, if there is such a thing.  As previously discussed, the rest of their schedule is REALLY weak; wins over the likes of Mount Ida, Johnson State, and Goucher won't do much for their SOS, and the home loss to Brandeis could really end up smarting if Brandeis finishes below .500 (very possible).  Amherst has EIGHT straight home games ahead, so the Jeffs will have a good opportunity to pad its record a bit, although most of those are vs. solid NESCAC opponents, so it won't be easy. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'd say Bates has a better resume than Trinity, but it's pretty close.  Bates is at Trinity and Amherst this weekend, so they'll determine a lot with their play right away.

[amh63]

Now that college football games are over for year...do not count all star type games, can focus on college bb...CAC games!
Surprised that we are still chatting about rankings...yes, SOS, bids, etc.
Seems that Amherst has a three game week!   Play A tough WES team tonight....in LeFrak...it does not count as a conference game...a Little Three game.  Interested to see the rotation changes, if any, and front court player Conklin is dressed.
Nescac1....no loss to Williams is a good loss!

[iwumichigander]

I'd say Bates has a better resume than Trinity, but it's pretty close.  Bates is at Trinity and Amherst this weekend, so they'll determine a lot with their play right away.

i would give Bates a slight edge over Trinty.  By week end, we might see some seperation.  As I think voters have so far looked at the Northeast Region with the conclusion that Amherst as a/the default Top 25.  Within the NESCAC, I felt Amherst had the strongest case (not with standing Middlebury fast start).  Amherst has benefited from its high initial ranking.  I did not, initially, have Amherst so high nor my IWU Titans.

[jayhawk]

Nice win for Amherst at home against Wesleyan. Jayde Dawson played an excellent game at point, he scored, passed, is extremely quick and powerful and was able to make things happen on offensive end.. Johny Mac and Connor and David George solid . Ben Pollack out with Eric Conklin taking his minutes

[middhoops]

Middlebury wins an instate game they should win.  Some players still looking a bit off their games.
Trinity shoots poorly in a home loss to Merchant Marine.

[NothingButNESCAC]

Nice win for Amherst at home against Wesleyan. Jayde Dawson played an excellent game at point, he scored, passed, is extremely quick and powerful and was able to make things happen on offensive end.. Johny Mac and Connor and David George solid . Ben Pollack out with Eric Conklin taking his minutes

Dawson started 0-7 but once he started to make shots in the second half the Jeffs ran away with things. Wesleyan was hanging around for a while with the Amherst lead consistently around 10 points. If Dawson plays like he did to finish the game then Amherst is really tough. Keep in mind that Dawson had only one point on Saturday against Williams.

[amh63]

Amherst beats Wes tonight in a "blowout" based on the final score.  It was a very slow start as neither team could hit the basket it seems.  The Cardinals scored first and was up 4-1.  Then both teams settled down and the lid came off the baskets.  Amherst had a 8 point lead at the half and a double digit lead for most of the second half....it was an 18 point lead with under 3 minutes to go and ended with the difference being 24 points.  J Dawson missed his first 7 shots but came up strong in the last five minute with foul shots made and layups...including a jam.  Reid Berman got significant PT and even scored on a driving layup among the trees.  Everyone dressed got time except for big Ben....he ws dressed but had ice on his knee.  Big weekend coming up and good to see another big body available with Conklin getting PT and guarding the big scorer for Wes...Kuo.  Both scored on each other.
Announcer stated  Aaron was there.....must have been...saw his mother taking to Ben Pollack's dad in the stands..familiar location.
Thanks for the lead in post Jayhawk!   Was worried, but it was an easy win.  Wes will be tougher in Middletown in the game that counts in the conference.
Strange thing on the way to verify the final score.....thought it was 70-46, Amherst.....the CAC scoreboard has it 69-46!  Oh well, one point....and I was not drinking...dreaming maybe

[MENESCACFAN]

Attended Bates game tonight.  60-47 win over UMPI in a pretty low intensity game.  Graham Safford did not play at all for Bates, and the Bobcats will be hoping whatever injury he has clears up for the weekend.  Marcus Delpeche had a pretty quiet game and for the first time in a while was outshone by his twin brother Malcolm.  Junior Mike Boornazian the best player for Bates on the night.  Highly touted freshman Shawn Strickland played his first game for Bates.  He is talked about a lot as an impact guy, but a quiet game tonight.  Bates has now matched their win total from last year at 11-2.

Big weekend coming up.  Can anyone shed any light on how Trinity were beaten by a 3-11 team on the back of a 5 game losing streak?!

[jayhawk]

agree it was Jayde Dawson's second half where he played well. He has a come long way since beginning of year. He was a shoot or drive first player.
tonite was a nice flash of his potential. Perhaps with some confidence and the tincture of time we will see more growth. Both Connor Green and Johnny Mac provided significant offense

[lumbercat]

MENESCACFAN-
Thanks for the game report. Believe Stafford not injured but was held out tonight to rest him and give  some time to backups. Stafford has been a workhorse this year logging 35-40 minutes a game so Furbush wisely getting others in tonight. As it turned out the Bobcats didn't need # 3 "The Garnet Freeze" tonight.

[Old Guy]

Maybe Safford got the flu - it's going around; we know he was exposed last weekend.

Just what the doctor ordered tonight for Middlebury - a romp: 94-59 against neighbor Castleton. Connor Huff got the premier etoile with 20 points on deadeye shooting, popping out from the five spot to nail the baseline 15' j (a lost art these days with the 3 point shot). He also had eight boards, seven offensive! Sinnickson was 17 and 10.

The highlight of the game was an alley-oop from Brown to Sinnickson, of which I hope some video emerges as it will compete with Delpeche's dunk for season highlight (I think even MENESCACFAN will agree). Jake Brown took a dribble or two over mid court on the left, saw a streaking but well-guarded Sinnickson on the right and lofted a two-handed pass well above the rim and Dylan went up, and up, and slammed it home, two hands. In our gym the place would have gone wild. It was still good in the opponent's gym: the place went quiet, and fans just looked at one another and shook their heads. It was spectacular!

The first half was fun, very even for the first fifteen minutes, up and down, teams trading hoops, shooting well, Vermonters Copeland and Coloutti keeping the Spartans in the game. Midd was up eight at the half, 46-38, but Castleton couldn't maintain the pace and Midd just blew the doors off in the first five minutes of the second half, game over. Brown had no points but had a great floor game, pushing the ball and finding open scorers.

Big weekend coming up for the Panthers, against the CT teams (Wes., CC), at home. No alibis (I hope) this week. Full strength, an opportunity to assert themselves. Castleton is not a good team by NESCAC standards, but they play a pretty good early schedule: single digit losses to Skidmore - 8 pts, and SoVT  (victor over Williams) - 4 pts, and an OT loss to #23 Husson. Once they get into league play, their record will improve. So we'll take this win.

Hard to evaluate Trinity's loss tonight. The Bantams are the only team USMMA plays, so no chance for comparative analysis. They may be pretty good despite their record.

[MENESCACFAN]

"I think even MENESCACFAN will agree"

I just put the highlight link up.  It was actually somebody else who said what an impressive dunk it was.