MBB: NESCAC

[Bucket]

Announcer at Middlebury/Lyndon State "scrimmage" states that Mid has not lost to an in-state rival in the past 4-5 years. The Panthers are down 43-39 at the half. I am willing to consider making a donation to help Mid travel to find some worthy home and home opponents, rather than continue a Division IV  pre-Christmas and out-of-conference schedule. Perhaps the intramural leagues at Dartmouth, University of Vermont, etc., would be willing to provide the opposition ....

Middlebury is willing to travel anywhere--witness last year's trip to Maryland for the Hoopsville Tournament. Or annual tournament trips to places like NJ, Pennsylvania, and Mass. Good luck finding many quality teams willing to return the trip to Vermont.

[Bucket]

Nescac1, great insight as always. All the games this weekend should be very competitive.

With all good recruiting talks we also need to realize who will be gone next year. Here is a look at what teams have returning, the list includes returning players that are averaging 10+ in mpg and ppg this season.

AMH - Green/Racy/George
BAT - Boornazian/Marcus Delpeche   
BOW - Hausman
COL - Hudnut/Jann/Westman/Wilson (they will most likely return Pat Stewart who averaged 11ppg as a sophomore)
CON - Pavlin/Tonhazy (who knows if they will be back next year)
HAM - Santos
MID - St. Amour
TRI - Starks/Ogundeko
TUF - Smith/Palleschi/Sabety
WES - Davis/Kuo/Mackey/Rafferty
WIL - Aronowitz

This is a somewhat skewed way of identifying valuable returners. For instance Jake Brown, who has started all 22 games and will be the conference's top returning assistman at 6 per game, doesn't register.

I'd be more interested in seeing how many starters, or 20-plus minutes per game players, are returning for each team.

[amh63]

Some good games to watch tonight...D3 of course...may impact regional rankings coming out?
MIT vs WPI...at WPI so the webcast will be without cost.
Springfield vs Babson...at the top dog in NE.
Keene vs ECSU...a good game to see common opponents that CAC teams played...actually many of the above.

[lefrakenstein]

Just wondering what people's thoughts are on Amherst's shot at a Pool C spot if they win out in the regular season and make the NESCAC finals but lose to Trinity.

The Massey ratings have Amherst ranked 25th, with the 70th best strength of schedule, which isn't great, but isn't disastrous either. (Middlebury's is ranked 257th, for example).

http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?s=cb&sub=NCAA%20III

Just wondering what people in the know think.

[Old Guy]

Announcer at Middlebury/Lyndon State "scrimmage" states that Mid has not lost to an in-state rival in the past 4-5 years. The Panthers are down 43-39 at the half. I am willing to consider making a donation to help Mid travel to find some worthy home and home opponents, rather than continue a Division IV  pre-Christmas and out-of-conference schedule. Perhaps the intramural leagues at Dartmouth, University of Vermont, etc., would be willing to provide the opposition ....

That's harsh. I responded to a similar observation by Jumpshot on Jan. 30.

Actually, Middlebury also didn't lose to any NESCAC rival other than Williams or Amherst for a five year period, 2009-13 (45-0 against pretty good competition).  I cite this only to ensure the impression isn't left that Midd only beat up in-state teams over the last few years. (This year, of course, involves some comeuppance.)

I'm pretty sure the Panthers would play other in-state schools, UVM, St. Michael's, Norwich (!) if they would put us on their schedules. I don't think Dartmouth intramurals will schedule us either.

The "scrimmage" against Lyndon last night was a pretty good game. Lyndon, I am told by Bruce Bosley, the "announcer" who prepares extensivlye and really knows New England hoop (among other things), that Lyndon is playing with a reconstituted roster after injuries, etc. They're not bad; they can score. They have a victory away (in Bangor!) against Husson, 101-85 (and Husson is 15-5 with single-digit losses to Bates, 74-65, and Colby, 99-94, at Colby).

The Panthers played well in the second half and had to. Sinnickson was 27 and 11, St. Amour continued his solid play with 19 points (5-6 from the floor, 3 threes, and 6-7 from the line).

The Panthers with have to play well this weekend against two top NESCAC teams (Trinity-Amherst), or risk being on the outside looking in.

[grabtherim]

I agree on St. Amour.  I'm not as concerned with his numbers.  What I have seen is a noticable jump to his step recently which has led to him being a bit more willing to take chances.  Although he has been on the roster all year, I think this season is truly part of his rehab, he is gaining strength, confidence in what he can do on the knee, and and his best hoops are still in front of him during his junior and senior seasons.     

St. Amour continued his solid play with 19 points (5-6 from the floor, 3 threes, and 6-7 from the line).

[amh63]

GTR...agreed with your point of " taking" chances" wrt to St. Amour.  Coming back from a major injury requires mental toughness.  I had neglected St. Amour's efforts in a prior post...only noting Sinnickson's efforts....my Bad...maybe a little depressed in the Panthers' lost.
I did watch the Midd comeback game that turned into a big win...large point spread.  The game was a very physical game in my eyes...M. Daley being knocked to the floor...rough play under the basket.  Announcer mentioned that it appeared the refs let the players go after calling a tight game in the first half.  Little energy from the Midd. Players in the first as a number of shots did not fall.  Much more effort in the second half.  Coach Brown's rotation of players in the first half reminded me of the action of the UConn WBB Coach....taking out his three front court players after the first 5 minutes due to his perception of their lack of effort.
Yes, in a physical game with banging under the nets and scrambles on the floor, etc. St.Amour's efforts needs to be noted.
My only regret is the fact that Daley's progress, along with St. Amours and DK's efforts are coming just before Senior day in Pepin...when Amherst arrives!

[NothingButNESCAC]

Getting ready for the weekend and have a lot of stuff up already including a quality interview with Jaquann Starks.
http://nothingbutnescac.com/2015/02/10/hometown-hero-jaquann-starks-16-talks-hartford-hoops-and-humility/

Also wanted to pass along a video that I helped make in the lead-up to the Bowdoin-Bates game. We will see if it has any effect in getting more students to the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAzTreCpXHk

Adam

[P'bearfan]

Also wanted to pass along a video that I helped make in the lead-up to the Bowdoin-Bates game. We will see if it has any effect in getting more students to the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAzTreCpXHk

Outstanding!!!  +K

GoUBears!

[lumbercat]

Nicely done Adam.
Looking forward to a great matchup this weekend.

[polbear73]

This is great, Adam.  Hopefully this will get the word out: it should be a great game with two teams that are fun to watch. 

[P'bearfan]

This is great, Adam.  Hopefully this will get the word out: it should be a great game with two teams that are fun to watch.

Yes, my family and I are coming up for the game - hope the snow holds off enough.  Looking forward to a great battle.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Regional Rankings are out: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2015/02/11/first-regional-rankings-released-today/

[NEhoops]

lefrakenstein,

If a Pool C bid is coming from the NESCAC it will most likely to go AMH, BAT or TRI. TRI play in conference has been impressive. Also if they beat MID and win a quarterfinal game they will have 20 wins. However, their best non-league win by far was a victory at home against Springfield and they had a bad loss at home against Merchant Marine. BAT has one of the biggest non conference regional wins at Babson among a few other solid victories and don't really have a "bad loss". If they win out (not an easy task against BOW/COL this weekend) they will also get to 20 wins. AMH has two great wins (on the road) over ECSU and RIC and if they win out and win a quarterfinal game they will have 20 wins. They also have the name recognition of a program that consistently gets to the tournament. Tough loss at home against Brandeis, but that was relatively early in the season. 20 wins isn't a magic number for any team, but just a easy point of reference.           

BOW can also make a case if they win out. A lot that is out of their control would also have to happen. Their best win(s) are against at Bridgewater/Westfield. 

[7express]

I think Amherst is in good shape regardless of whether they win the NESCAC tourney or not.