MBB: NESCAC

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I've seen them play and they are very good... though clearly inconsistent. They make up for their lack of size with speed, quick ball movement, and no fear. They are well coached and have a lot of weapons that can hurt you - so double-team at your own risk.

Again, their only flaw that stands out to me is their inconsistency.

[amh63]

This could be called the year of inconsistency....as to D3 teams in general and to CAC teams in particular.  In part it is due to youthful talented players...and its "companion" flaw of lack of experience leaders.  There is also the factor of injuries, etc.  Whatever the perceived causes for the uneven play of teams during the season....it is now the time that teams play with what is available...and when players must have the mental toughness to advance. 
I see it as the time of year when players make the right decisions on the floor....to realize wins come with team play....when to hustle and when to even slow things down.
Yes a little preaching to the choir here....and a time to cross one's fingers or stroke a rabbit foot .

[P'bearfan]

Yes a little preaching to the choir here....and a time to cross one's fingers or stroke a rabbit foot .

I don't own any rabbit's feet but I will be wearing the same black and white herringbone sport coat that I wore this past weekend for every remaining game!

GoUBears!

[polbear73]

Yes a little preaching to the choir here....and a time to cross one's fingers or stroke a rabbit foot .

I don't own any rabbit's feet but I will be wearing the same black and white herringbone sport coat that I wore this past weekend for every remaining game!

GoUBears!

Please do P'bear. I will spring for the dry cleaning after the season.

[7express]

I know this has been said on this board before, but the only road team I see with absolutely no shot to win is Colby.  I can see 3 of the 4 winning, and honestly, if we saw Amherst play Trinity and Williams play Wesleyan again in 2 weeks, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised.

[NEhoops]

All four quarterfinal games will be competitive. Colby played at Trinity earlier in the year without Hudnut and are starting to figure out how to play without him.

Tough loss for Bowdoin at home to a very good Husson team. NESCAC teams don't typically play the week before the tournament and while I'm sure the Polar Bears didn't overlook the Eagles, it probably wasn't an easy game to get up for. Unfortunately that most likely ends their chance for an at-large bid.

Also of note, Bates beat St Joe's on the road and Williams will host Castleton St tomorrow night for the last game before the tournament.       

[pinseeking1]

February Madness is upon us. Here's my bracket:

Quarterfinals:

     Trinity/Colby: Trinity's the better team. Too tough for the #8 seed to win on the road. Trinity wins.

     Bowdoin/Williams: Williams will need an outstanding shooting night from the Big 2, but it's not enough. Bowdoin's inside/out game too strong for the Ephs. Bowdoin wins.

     Bates/Wesleyan: Bates' gym is just too much of an advantage for the Cards to overcome. Bates wins.

     Tufts/Amherst: Amherst recovers from a tough loss at Middlebury and plays well on the road. Amherst wins on the road.

__________________________________________________________

Semifinals:

     Trinity/Amherst: Amherst's experience helps to propel them into the finals.

     Bowdoin/Bates:  In the rubber game for these two teams, Bates wins on the neutral court in Hartford.


_________________________________________________________

Finals:

     Amherst/Bates:  Amherst's luck runs out and Bates wins its first (?) NESCAC Championship!



(A little hope involved in some of the picks, but that's what makes predictions fun, isn't it?)

[CatCountry2013]

February Madness is upon us. Here's my bracket:

Quarterfinals:

     Trinity/Colby: Trinity's the better team. Too tough for the #8 seed to win on the road. Trinity wins.

     Bowdoin/Williams: Williams will need an outstanding shooting night from the Big 2, but it's not enough. Bowdoin's inside/out game too strong for the Ephs. Bowdoin wins.

     Bates/Wesleyan: Bates' gym is just too much of an advantage for the Cards to overcome. Bates wins.

     Tufts/Amherst: Amherst recovers from a tough loss at Middlebury and plays well on the road. Amherst wins on the road.

__________________________________________________________

Semifinals:

     Trinity/Amherst: Amherst's experience helps to propel them into the finals.

     Bowdoin/Bates:  In the rubber game for these two teams, Bates wins on the neutral court in Hartford.


_________________________________________________________

Finals:

     Amherst/Bates:  Amherst's luck runs out and Bates wins its first (?) NESCAC Championship!



(A little hope involved in some of the picks, but that's what makes predictions fun, isn't it?)

Let it be known that Bates (due to its 4-4-1 academic calendar) unfortunately is on winter break this week and most students will not be on campus for Saturday's quarterfinal.  The atmosphere in Alumni with be nothing like previous games unless some miraculous student-led campaign to get students back earlier occurs.

[polbear73]

All four quarterfinal games will be competitive. Colby played at Trinity earlier in the year without Hudnut and are starting to figure out how to play without him.

Tough loss for Bowdoin at home to a very good Husson team. NESCAC teams don't typically play the week before the tournament and while I'm sure the Polar Bears didn't overlook the Eagles, it probably wasn't an easy game to get up for. Unfortunately that most likely ends their chance for an at-large bid.

Also of note, Bates beat St Joe's on the road and Williams will host Castleton St tomorrow night for the last game before the tournament.     

Agree that any chance for an at large bid for Bowdoin is gone. Husson as good as advertised and all credit for the win goes to them. They are very quick with good anticipation to the ball and spot, more than making up for height disadvantage. Bowdoin didn't overlook, but didn't appear to play with same intensity of last 3 conference games. Hausman finished with 17 but appeared frustrated as driving lanes were often closed and a couple of calls on offense and defense went against him. Too many Bowdoin turnovers, caused by Husson's quickness were captialized on, a lot of times by pull up 3's. Bright spots included for Bowdoin included a solid performance by Palecki, the inside out game was effective and keyed by an aggressive Swords, good minutes by Fuller, and a warrior performance by Hurley.

[grabtherim]

What about Bates Coach Furbush- nobody on this board  or elsewhere had the Bobcats doing anything this year. Furbush has done a fantastic job and deserves consideration.

Below is what I wrote on December 15th, and I don't think I was alone.  Now let's see how Furbush reacts to the pressure of post season games.  Despite the pain in watching him before, during and after games, to the victor goes the spoils, unless Trinity loses in the first round of the tournament Cosgrove should be a lock for Coach of the Year.  Does anyone know when the voting takes place?

"I think the Bobcats are no fluke and will have a strong season.  The twins showed signs last season and it appears they are getting better.  The experience of their coach may well be starting to pay dividends also.  As with most young coaches, when he started out, he showed too short a fuse when a call did not go Bates way and when games got tight late, acting more like a player then a bench leader.  It will be interesting to for me to see how he reacts to pressure situations now with a few years experience and a strong team.  I think Midd will have their hands full with Bates as will every team which visits their classic gym this season."

[Bucket]

February Madness is upon us. Here's my bracket:

Quarterfinals:

     Trinity/Colby: Trinity's the better team. Too tough for the #8 seed to win on the road. Trinity wins.

     Bowdoin/Williams: Williams will need an outstanding shooting night from the Big 2, but it's not enough. Bowdoin's inside/out game too strong for the Ephs. Bowdoin wins.

     Bates/Wesleyan: Bates' gym is just too much of an advantage for the Cards to overcome. Bates wins.

     Tufts/Amherst: Amherst recovers from a tough loss at Middlebury and plays well on the road. Amherst wins on the road.

__________________________________________________________

Semifinals:

     Trinity/Amherst: Amherst's experience helps to propel them into the finals.

     Bowdoin/Bates:  In the rubber game for these two teams, Bates wins on the neutral court in Hartford.


_________________________________________________________

Finals:

     Amherst/Bates:  Amherst's luck runs out and Bates wins its first (?) NESCAC Championship!



(A little hope involved in some of the picks, but that's what makes predictions fun, isn't it?)

I believe it would be Bates's first NESCAC championship in any sport, much less basketball. Could happen!

[maineman]

A few questions?  Is it definite that Sinnickson will not be returning next year?  How much does the schedule without a travel partner affect the team?  Midd missed the NCAA's last year and the NESCAC tournament altogether this year during their two year run.  Who gets to travel by themselves for the next two years?

[Old Guy]

Has anyone seen Husson play this season?  They have a very good record and I have heard that they are a strong team but haven't seen them.  They only have two players over 6' 4" so I'm curious about their style of play.

Before playing Bowdoin, Husson lost to Bates and Colby, away, in competitive games earlier in the year, and lost 101-85 at home  to Lyndon State, a team one poster contemptuously observed was merely a "scrimmage" for Middlebury. I suspect they're a good team, not a powerhouse, but capable of a special effort and performance.

[polbear73]

Has anyone seen Husson play this season?  They have a very good record and I have heard that they are a strong team but haven't seen them.  They only have two players over 6' 4" so I'm curious about their style of play.

Before playing Bowdoin, Husson lost to Bates and Colby, away, in competitive games earlier in the year, and lost 101-85 at home  to Lyndon State, a team one poster contemptuously observed was merely a "scrimmage" for Middlebury. I suspect they're a good team, not a powerhouse, but capable of a special effort and performance.

They certainly were a good team last night, perhaps motivated by their first-ever win over Bowdoin in 8 tries. 

[Bucket]

A few questions?  Is it definite that Sinnickson will not be returning next year?  How much does the schedule without a travel partner affect the team?  Midd missed the NCAA's last year and the NESCAC tournament altogether this year during their two year run.  Who gets to travel by themselves for the next two years?

I don't think anything is definite with Dylan quite yet, though I am hearing that he might have an opportunity to play his final year of eligibility at a Division I school.

I do know that he'll be playing baseball for the Panthers this spring.

As to the lone-wolf team next year, I would guess that Williams will have the pleasure, but again, I don't know for sure. Hamilton, as the newcomer, was the first to play this way. Then Midd, with Hamilton assuming our playing partner status with Williams. So, I would guess it would be Williams's turn and Midd will be paired up with Hamilton.