MBB: NESCAC

[amh63]

I have been less than clear on the play of this year's Amherst team.  In part is the early opponents.  Though the opponents have played a few more games, they did not challenge Amherst.  Worcester St. does have a 6'10" center....his height was gleamed from standing next to Big Joe, as the website of Worcester St. Is limited.  However, WState's center does not have the stamina or skill set to impact stronger teams.  It was good to see the mix and match of players in the two games to date.  There was also the frustration of some players as they missed shots inside and outside.  I saw the frustration on Green as he missed a foul shot.....for me, it was good to see as it indicates that he is working on his game.  George showed a medium range shot ability and was still intimidating on the boards and his shot blocking.  The outside shooting was off and on for Racy and Green and others too. 
In general, players seemed a bit perplexed at times on the fouls being called...new rules??  Maybe, but I think it is also the refs adjusting too.  It does make defense more of a challenge this season, IMO.  Having depth at all positions is even more important while everyone is adjusting to new rules.
It is interesting that Conklin was the MVP of the tourney.  At times he scored at will under the basket.  His strength, big body and skill set is impacting games.
It was good to see that everyone is going after rebounds and Amherst is going inside and running the floor.  Looking forward to the Monday game.  Hope to get another look at the freshmen play.

[P'bearfan]

Yesterday was a good a day for Bowdoin as they defeated Daniel Webster 86-74.  The Polar Bears looked much better in all aspects of the game and it was good to see that much progress in just one day.

This was an important win for the team psyche.  Bowdoin trailed early in the first half but kept fighting back and narrowed the deficit to 2 at the break.  In the second half, Bowdoin took the lead and slowly but steadily built it through the end of the game.  It was good for the players - especially the younger ones - to see that they could come back and win a game.

Bowdoin was much more balanced on offense with 4 players scoring in double digits.  Lucas Hausman again led the way with 26 points, but he was followed by FY Jack Simonds with 21.  Matt Palecki had a big game with 14 points and Liam Farley added 10 points off the bench.  This is the type of offensive balance that Bowdoin will need to be competitive this year.

Rebounding was another dimension in which Bowdoin was more balanced.  While Bowdoin out rebounded WCSU in Friday's loss, 33 of their total 47 rebounds (70%) came from just 4 players (Palecki, Fuller, Simonds and O'Neill).  Bowdoin again won the battle of the boards against Daniel Webester (41-32) but this time the load was more spread out with 8 players grabbing at least 4 rebounds each.

There's still much for the Polar Bears to work on but this win should give them the confidence that they have a solid foundation to build on.  Bowdoin will host UNE on Tuesday night.

GoUBears!!

[lefrakenstein]

I'm curious what posters who've had the chance to see Amherst think of Hixon's decision to replace Nabatoff with Racy in the starting lineup. It seems in keeping with current NBA trend of going with small lineups.

[nescac1]

Just a general note of congrats to NESCAC athletes on an amazing weekend for the conference: Midd beat Bowdoin for the national title in field hockey, Williams won a title in women's cross country and finished second in men's cross country, Amherst made a final four in men's soccer, and Williams did the same in women's soccer.  Impressive stuff! 

One other regional hoops note.  I thought Babson would be a bit down from last year's Final Four squad after all the guys they lost.  But wow they replaced them in a major way with two Junior scholarship-level transfers who are lighting it up early.  Center Isaiah Nelson is averaging 17-10 on 70 percent shooting, and guard Matthew Droney is averaging 11 ppg and 4 asp on 60 percent shooting.  And of course all-American Joey Flannery is still around.  Babson has a very bulky lineup, and their style is always physical to begin with: 6'7 230, 6'7 220, 6'5 210, 6'5 200, 5'10 165, with their top two bench guys going 6'6 205 and 6'5 220.  They are kind of the Vancouver Grizzlies of D3 -- in an era in which more and more teams are going with lots of shooters and quickness (see Jeffs going with Racy at the four and Tufts which has ZERO forwards listed on its roster, all centers and guards), Babson shoots very few 3's and pounds you inside.  Very unusual especially in the Northeast.  They look like the best non-NESCAC team in New England for sure. 

Babson has no seniors in its top seven guys, so they (like Amherst) are a year away from peaking.  Right now, those two look like the two Northeast heavyweights and next year, could well be the top two teams nationally given that each has a ridiculously good Junior class.

[middhoops]

Outstanding assessment, nescac1.  +k

[ronk]

Just a general note of congrats to NESCAC athletes on an amazing weekend for the conference: Midd beat Bowdoin for the national title in field hockey, Williams won a title in women's cross country and finished second in men's cross country, Amherst made a final four in men's soccer, and Williams did the same in women's soccer.  Impressive stuff! 

One other regional hoops note.  I thought Babson would be a bit down from last year's Final Four squad after all the guys they lost.  But wow they replaced them in a major way with two Junior scholarship-level transfers who are lighting it up early.  Center Isaiah Nelson is averaging 17-10 on 70 percent shooting, and guard Matthew Droney is averaging 11 ppg and 4 asp on 60 percent shooting.  And of course all-American Joey Flannery is still around.  Babson has a very bulky lineup, and their style is always physical to begin with: 6'7 230, 6'7 220, 6'5 210, 6'5 200, 5'10 165, with their top two bench guys going 6'6 205 and 6'5 220.  They are kind of the Vancouver Grizzlies of D3 -- in an era in which more and more teams are going with lots of shooters and quickness (see Jeffs going with Racy at the four and Tufts which has ZERO forwards listed on its roster, all centers and guards), Babson shoots very few 3's and pounds you inside.  Very unusual especially in the Northeast.  They look like the best non-NESCAC team in New England for sure. 

Babson has no seniors in its top seven guys, so they (like Amherst) are a year away from peaking. Right now, those two look like the two Northeast heavyweights and next year, could well be the top two teams nationally given that each has a ridiculously good Junior class.

  Hobart looked pretty good yesterday in winning @ Scranton; they also have no seniors and could move into that group that is a year away.

[toad22]

I was very pleased for Williams to come away with two wins this weekend. When you play five first years in the rotation, anything can happen. As it turns out, Williams has a ton of talent, but much of it is so young, that they will need a lot of luck to emerge from the early season games without a somewhat battered record. The best part about the Ephs this weekend was that the veterans played below-par in the first game, and coach App chose to play the last 3-4 minutes with one senior, two sophomores, and two first years. The two first years, Scadlock and Casey, really carried the team to victory. In the second victory, the veterans, Aronowitz, and Greenman, played the crucial last few minutes, and played really well to secure the win. It is great for this team to get great experience, and secure wins. I am hopeful about this team, but they have a long way to go to play with the best in the Nescac.

[pinseeking1]

Another strong performance today from Bates with a 21 point win over Maine - Fort Kent. Bates held the lead for the entire game, but Fort Kent came within 3 in the second half before the Mike Boornazian (15 points, 5 reb) led a spurt that put the game beyond reach. The scoring attack seems much more balanced this year, as compared to last season. Sophomore point guard Shawn Strickland (9 points, 7 assists) and Jerome Darling (6 pts) both looked strong as they compete for the point guard position. Marcus Delpeche continued his strong play with 16 points and 9 rebs. Very good ball movement, too. This team has a lot of different weapons. So far, so good...

[30 for 30]

//

Magicman....thanks again for the detailed info wrt DR.  plus K
I was watching the GWU vs UVA game in Foggy Bottom DC....area near the State Dept, etc.
Yes, I wanted to watch Matt Hart play against the 6 th ranked U. Of Virginia...a favorite of Bucket, I believe, and me too.
Mr Hart played on the " second" team and got more fouls than points, it seemed.  It was not a game for Hart to show his talent...Virginia was touted as a physical team and were much bigger than GWU.
Oh yes, GWU WON!  The Colonials led for most of the game!
There is another connection to posters here.  The head coach of GWU was the former coach of UVM.  He was the former coach of Catholic U...an alum too...the school of D3hoops founder..Pat C.
Also, there is a transfer from Darmouth on the team...and GWU is the school that Red A. attended...yes the Boston Celtics coach was a D.C. native.


Matt Hart making noise in DC. It was only a matter of time. 17 points plus a nice floor game in only 12 minutes.

http://blogs.gwhatchet.com/courtside/2015/11/22/army-game-blog/

[nescac1]

It's kind of crazy to think that pre-season first team all-American Lucas Hausman would be the third best player in NESCAC had Robinson and Hart not transferred. 

[30 for 30]

Crazy indeed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8R2wNi0Ids#action=share

[Academic Cyclist]

Really tough start for my Mules. Blowing a 25+ point lead in the second half is pretty brutal...especially on a neutral floor to a team that ultimately lost to WPI.

Even though we won, the consolation game was also a bit concerning. Giving up 88 to a bad Curry team is not a great sign. We really need to step it up on D in order to make some noise in the NESCAC.

These next 5 games are critical - need to reset the tone. First 3 should be comfortable wins (vs. Thomas, @ Regis and vs. Maine-Presque Isle) and then it's two big games at home vs. Bowdoin then Bates. Major difference between 6-1 and 4-3 heading into the winter break...

[jayhawk]

for Williams and NESCAC interest

On ESPN college basketball website there is a twitter quote about Dave Paulsen

    PaulBiancardi Paul Biancardi
    George Mason HC Dave Paulsen is one of the best X & O coaches we don't hear enough about. Won big at Bucknell & Williams

[amh63]

George Mason Un. was playing a game in Charleston, S.C., I believe, against the Un. of Virginia recently.  Heard a mention of Paulson by the announcers.  Then recalled that the Williams grad moved on to the D.C. Area.  Seems that his team has a bunch of transfers that can play.  Did not watch the whole game...so I do not know who won.
Expect Nescac1 may be posting from a game at GMU in the near future...in the neighborhood so to speak.

[Bucket]

George Mason Un. was playing a game in Charleston, S.C., I believe, against the Un. of Virginia recently.  Heard a mention of Paulson by the announcers.  Then recalled that the Williams grad moved on to the D.C. Area.  Seems that his team has a bunch of transfers that can play.  Did not watch the whole game...so I do not know who won.
Expect Nescac1 may be posting from a game at GMU in the near future...in the neighborhood so to speak.

Virginia won handidly.