MBB: NESCAC

[jumpshot]

P'bearfan ---

Thanks for recognizing what Ephs, Cardinals, Panthers, etc., have long known. Adversity (the mascot issue and communications debacle) introduces a person to himself and reveals his character.

[maineman]

The best suggestion seen at the game last night for a new Amherst nickname: "The Plague". I can see it now!

Possibly Purple Haze?  I can hear Jimmy Hendrix playing in the background.

[AmherstStudent05]

More and more I am thinking the Amherst Students is the way to go.  Would obviously fit with my handle and is the best way for the administration/alumni to stay in the good graces of a potentially finicky student body down the line.

Hard to fit on my license plate but maybe we could be the Studs for short.

[JEFFFAN]

P'bearfan ---

Thanks for recognizing what Ephs, Cardinals, Panthers, etc., have long known. Adversity (the mascot issue and communications debacle) introduces a person to himself and reveals his character.

Say what?

When Williams was winning in football so much, they were the arrogant ones.   When Trinity wins in squash every year, they are the arrogant ones.   When Tufts wins the national lacrosse championship, they are the arrogant ones.   Amherst is on a little roll and so now the Jeffs are the arrogant ones, following the pattern?

I respectively disagree with the esteemed AMH63 that there is something about Amherst that is drawing the attention to the mascot issue nor do I agree that it is an internal Amherst issue.   The mascot issue at Amherst is part of a much broader political correctness dialogue that is national in scope, affects every educational institution, with Amherst being the current participant.   Not the first nor the last participant in this discussion.  Again, zero unique about this being an Amherst issue.

Personally, I could care less about the mascot and find it pretty funny coming up with goofy names.  Purple Haze; Purple Reign with a mascot formerly going by the name Jeff; Purple Frost (although NESCAC1 makes a good observation about alternative meanings beyond Robert Frost).   Who really cares what the mascot is?  Have fun with this stuff.

Back to hoops?

[amh63]

OK!....to quote my grand child!  Some BB related thoughts.  The win on Wednesday in Williamstown indicated several more things about this year's Amherst team.  The players will get up for Williams and can play in a "hostile" place and win when two top scorers are not hitting their shots.  Yes, another example when tough defensive efforts can put a team in a position to win.
Amherst travels to Hartford in a critical conference game against Trinity who sits presently on top of the CAC.  Solid team who won the regular season crown last season.  Hope Amherst shows it can again play well against Trinity in its refurbished Gym.

In my random viewing of MBB games last night, I watched ranked Maryland upset third ranked Iowa in College Park, Md.  Yes, the Terps...turtle...won against the Hawkeyes.  Interesting "nicknames/mascots".  Understand Hawks, but Hawkeyes?  First loss in the Big Ten..which has more teams than 10...yes some traditions remain.  Number of comments from announcers about the changing game of basketball.
The late game watched was the battle between the GWU Colonials against the Un. of Richmond Spiders...in Foggy Bottom section of D.C.
The game went into OT and kept GWU in a good position to get a 10th seed in the Big Dance.  The Spiders....was the underdog team and was led by a terrific small guard in a game of big strong tall players.  The game was won in the end by defense and foul shooting.  It was GWU that had to come from behind many times to get the win....a team that had not lost at home this season.  Nice to see the HC of GWU again....did not see Matt Hart, the former Hamilton guard on the floor.  Was amazed to see the size...bulk...of the players.  The Colonials used a 6'7" guard on the star of the Spiders.  Their outside shooters were over 6'6", but in the end, it was the driving big men getting fouls inside that helped win the game.   Wanted to see Hart, but saw an exciting game.
Guess there were two games last night that involved CAC teams.  Tufts won and Conn lost.  One away game that had no video and the other at home with video that for me is hard to watch.

[magicman]

The late game watched was the battle between the GWU Colonials against the Un. of Richmond Spiders...in Foggy Bottom section of D.C.
The game went into OT and kept GWU in a good position to get a 10th seed in the Big Dance.  The Spiders....was the underdog team and was led by a terrific small guard in a game of big strong tall players.  The game was won in the end by defense and foul shooting.  It was GWU that had to come from behind many times to get the win....a team that had not lost at home this season.  Nice to see the HC of GWU again....did not see Matt Hart, the former Hamilton guard on the floor.  Was amazed to see the size...bulk...of the players.  The Colonials used a 6'7" guard on the star of the Spiders.  Their outside shooters were over 6'6", but in the end, it was the driving big men getting fouls inside that helped win the game.   Wanted to see Hart, but saw a exciting game.

amh63,

Are you sure you watched the end of the game? You may have left the game too early. The game actually went into double overtime and George Washington took it on the chin falling to the Spiders by a 98-90 final score. Richmond took the lead in the 2nd extra session and never looked back.

Matt Hart got into the game but only briefly, playing 4 minutes and scoring 1 field goal for 2 points.  The home winning streak of the Colonials came to an end as well.

Here's a link to the box score:  http://www.gwsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2015-2016/gm20rich.html

[amh63]

Magicman....Thanks!  Yes, I left a little early, it appears......it was approaching the bewitching hour in the first OT.  Contrary to your ability to staying up, I went to bed thinking the game over with just a few seconds left.
Both teams were losing players due to fouls. 
See that there is a battle in the SUNYAC to get the right to host.  This is a year that playing at home maybe the key factor for many conference races.

[Bengalsrule]

See that there is a battle in the SUNYAC to get the right to host.  This is a year that playing at home maybe the key factor for many conference races.

Good observation there amh63.  This weekend and next should help clear up a very cloudy Sunyac picture.  Everyone is still in contention for a playoff spot and half the conference has a shot at 1st place!

[P'bearfan]

Headed up to Brunswick tomorrow to watch the Polar Bears take on Colby tomorrow afternoon.  Will be my first game in Brunswick this season and I'm definitely looking forward to it.

GoUBears!!

[pinseeking1]

Travel partner weekend today. The only one-game weekend of the NESCAC season... Feeling bad for this year's lone wolf team (Williams). They don't get a NESCAC game this week.

[nescac24]

Amherst hangs up 50 in the first half on Trinity and leads by eight. The former Lord Jeffs just have a lot of of offensive options and multiple wings/guards who shoot the three without regret; 2-3 guys can be off and they're still very explosive.

[Bucket]

Middlebury blows a 15-point second half lead, going scoreless over the game's final 6:04 and falls at Hamilton on a buzzer beater, 64-62. The bucket, with .8 to play, represented Hamilton's only lead of the second half.

Panthers were playing without Zach Baines, who was fresh off a 20-point outing against Lyndon State early in the week. The freshman did not dress, but was on the bench.  Matt Daley's minutes (20) were limited due to foul trouble; he fouled out with about 3:00 to play.

Continentals got the job done at the line, sinking 16/19, which kept them in the game and gave them the opportunity to win it at the end. Still, Midd coming up empty (0-8, two turnovers) on every offensive possession inside 6:00 is a crusher. Matt St. Amour's miss—a 12-foot runner on the baseline with :51 to play—was the best look, taking a couple of bounces on the rim before falling off.

Impressive youth for the Continentals. If they all stay together, they could be an upper tier team in a year or two. 

[AmherstStudent05]

Amherst secures an impressive 89-82 win over Trinity.  The two teams combined to rack up over 50 fouls in an ugly game that I was afraid might never end.  Luckily, we aren't interested in style points.

Once again, Johnny McCarthy was outstanding for us as he was a dominant presence on both ends of the court.  Again, when he is on his game, we are tough to beat.  Jayde had another strong outing as well although he was a little sloppy with the ball at times. Jeff Racy started the game on fire but then had to ride the bench after picking up two early fouls and he could never re establish himself as a factor.

As we know, Trinity is an incredibly physical team with lots of talented players. It is seemingly almost impossible to keep Ogundeko off the glass. But, with Johnny Mac on his game we are tough to defend, even for a team like Trinity.

So after today we are once again in the driver's seat for the top seed.  Obviously still a LONG way to go, but we are right where we need to be. 

[amh63]

Well put AmherstStudent05!   Though Dawson and JMac played fine on offense, both players that normally shoot foul shots well would miss a shot in the last minute.  Started to think Amherst did not want to put the Batams away.  During that period, Trinity players were making Both of their foul shots.
Will take the win.

[Vandy74]

NSN lost the video feed with @ 4 minutes left in the 1st half.  I went over to the Midd-Hamilton women's game.  Getting caught up in some chores I missed the opening minutes of the 2nd half and tuned in to find the Panthers ahead by 15 points.  We all know what happened from there.  Missing Baines certainly hurt but when a team can come back from a 15 point deficit against you excuses are exactly that.  Congratulations to a young Hamilton team that will only get better over the next few seasons.

The Little Three and the CBB members have their non-conference games between each other.  The Middlebury-Hamilton "rivalry" only seems to include football.  It's too bad this match-up couldn't have been for coveted possession of the Mac-Jack Rocking Chair.