MBB: NESCAC

P'bearfan · February 14, 2016, 08:58:38 PM

QuoteHuge win by Bowdoin over Wesleyan behind Jack Simonds' 27 and Lucas Hausman's 25 points as the Polar Bears played their best game of the season. Bowdoin led by 18 with a little over 4 minutes to go as they controlled most of the second half.

Just returned home from a great trip to Brunswick. It was a terrific weekend of basketball and it was a wonderful send off for Bowdoin's three seniors: Jake Donnelly; Lucas Hausman and Matt Palecki. Congrats to all of them - they are special players and young men.

polarbear73's note sums it up. I agree that this was Bowdoin's best game of the season. They finally put together all the pieces and played for 40 full minutes with the intensity and focus on defense that they needed to. Their ball movement was just fantastic - when they play that way they are simply a fun team to watch.

For me the stat of this game was that Bowdoin out rebounded Wes 42 - 32. Coming into this game Wes led the conference in positive rebounding margin (+5 or +6 rpg). That's impressive especially for a team that has struggled on the glass.

GoUBears!!

P'bearfan · February 14, 2016, 09:00:19 PM

QuoteImpressive performance by Bowdoin last night. Wes did not have a great game but it was really more about what the Polar Bears did right vs. what the Cards did wrong. To take the burden off P'bear's statistical analysis, I did a little if my own and can say with confidence that when Bowdoin hits 12/26 three point shots and out-rebounds its opponent 42-32 they will win over 90% of their games.

Touche! +K to you GoWesYoungMan

P'bearfan · February 14, 2016, 09:08:03 PM

QuoteQuote from: GoWesYoungMan on Yesterday at 12:02:16 pm
Impressive performance by Bowdoin last night. Wes did not have a great game but it was really more about what the Polar Bears did right vs. what the Cards did wrong. To take the burden off P'bear's statistical analysis, I did a little if my own and can say with confidence that when Bowdoin hits 12/26 three point shots and out-rebounds its opponent 42-32 they will win over 90% of their games.
Wes needs to regroup fast as they face an experienced, talented Colby team with a chip on its shoulder and lots to play for.

QuoteI agree with your assessment, GoWes. The Cards did, in fact, run into a buzz saw, a game that Bowdoin had fans hoped was there, but hadn't seen except for brief flashes during the year. Wesleyan is obviously a very talented and athletic team that played with a lot of heart, but they ran into "one of those nights". No doubt that Wesleyan will regroup.

The real question for the Polar Bears is sustainability, especially against a good Conn College team. Some good games today with a lot still on the line.

polarbear73 was right on the mark - the key question was could Bowdoin sustain their strong play against Conn College on Saturday. The Polar Bears answered that question with an emphatic, "Yes!!".

Back to back games are always tough (though much easier at home) and Bowdoin rose to the challenge. Their defense was strong for the entire game. The offense started a bit slow and at different points they went a little cold. However, in contrast to past games, Bowdoin kept moving the ball and finding good shots.

It was impressive and heartening to see the players string together back to back strong performances. I think this team now realizes what it takes to win in this conference. Kudos to Coach Gilbride for getting all these pieces to come together.

Old Guy · February 15, 2016, 07:56:50 AM

Quote from: jumpshot on February 14, 2016, 03:42:12 PM
Ephs defeat Bates by 20 in a modern gym (Chandler)

Lay off Bates's Alumni Gym - it's a shrine, New England's Hinkle Fieldhouse!

grabtherim · February 15, 2016, 08:38:01 AM

Having been in every gym in our league multiple times, I looked forward to attending games at Bates more than any other. Tufts is cool, but reconfigured, it's not really the same. Alumni is a serious throwback to another time. You can feel the action, hear the sneakers, love the local fans and the students under the basket, all with a fantastic visual. Hinkle yes, I would take it a step further, it's our Fenway and Wrigley. Leave it alone and enjoy it.

Quote from: Old Guy on February 15, 2016, 07:56:50 AM
Quote from: jumpshot on February 14, 2016, 03:42:12 PM
Ephs defeat Bates by 20 in a modern gym (Chandler)

Lay off Bates's Alumni Gym - it's a shrine, New England's Hinkle Fieldhouse!

P'bearfan · February 15, 2016, 08:58:13 AM

QuoteEphs defeat Bates by 20 in a modern gym (Chandler)

QuoteLay off Bates's Alumni Gym - it's a shrine, New England's Hinkle Fieldhouse!

100% agree! I'm far from the biggest Bates fan but Alumni gym is a treasure.

nescac1 · February 15, 2016, 09:20:44 AM

Ditto, Alumni Gym is the bomb. Also love Cousins.

Now that regular season is over, thoughts on all-conference? I think Hausman and Simonds locked up POY and ROY respectively this weekend. COY to me comes down to Sheldon and Cosgrove -- if either team wins the tournament, that coach should win. Otherwise, probably Cosgrove.

I'd say Hausman, Aronowitz, St. Amour and Davis have four slots locked up on the first team. Ajayi has been a two-way monster to end the season and probably has earned the fifth spot, as well as DPOY. Second team, I think Palleschi, Pace, McCarthy, and Ogundeko are all locks. The fifth spot to me comes down to Green and Hudnut -- Hudnut had the stronger year when he played, but also missed a fair amount of action. Green was up and down but did have some huge games.

polbear73 · February 15, 2016, 09:21:52 AM

Great to hear from you P'bearfan and thanks for reporting on a great weekend of basketball in Morrell Gym. I was beginning to worry that you were suffering from the effects of breakfast at the Brunswick Diner!

AmherstStudent05 · February 15, 2016, 10:38:21 AM

Quote from: nescac1 on February 15, 2016, 09:20:44 AM
Ditto, Alumni Gym is the bomb. Also love Cousins.

Now that regular season is over, thoughts on all-conference? I think Hausman and Simonds locked up POY and ROY respectively this weekend. COY to me comes down to Sheldon and Cosgrove -- if either team wins the tournament, that coach should win. Otherwise, probably Cosgrove.

I'd say Hausman, Aronowitz, St. Amour and Davis have four slots locked up on the first team. Ajayi has been a two-way monster to end the season and probably has earned the fifth spot, as well as DPOY. Second team, I think Palleschi, Pace, McCarthy, and Ogundeko are all locks. The fifth spot to me comes down to Green and Hudnut -- Hudnut had the stronger year when he played, but also missed a fair amount of action. Green was up and down but did have some huge games.

I agree that Hausman and Simonds are locks for PoY and RoY, respectively. Hausman would become just the third player to win multiple PoY awards since 2001 (Olson and Toomey being the other two).

I also agree that Aronowitz and MSA are locks for the first team as well. In my view Ajayi is a better player than Davis and he plays on a team that had a better year in the conference. I think Ajayi is a lock for the fourth spot and I don't see how Davis gets in over him. I think the fifth spot is still up for grabs.

There is no way JMac gets All-NESCAC recognition over Conner Green. No way. Green was our best, most consistent player in conference play. Not to mention the fact that he is a senior and a reigning First-Team selection (attributes that, historically, appear to be valued highly by coaches in filling out their ballots). I still think there is a reasonable chance Green plays his way on to the first-team if he leads us to a Championship, but I would acknowledge that Palleschi (a personal favorite of mine), Pace and Davis are probably all ahead of him at this point. He is a lock for at least a second team spot however.

I expect to see the coaches reward Hudnut as well for his outstanding career.

Interestingly, were he not a freshman, Simonds would have probably played his way into the Second Team conversation. However, under the DR precedent, we know that a NESCAC freshman needs to play like an All American just to make the second team, so I guess Simonds will have to wait his turn.

amh63 · February 15, 2016, 11:04:28 AM

It was brutal weather for the Hamilton game...wind chill advisory out....-30 in the morning. It was much warmer in LeFrak. Glad to see the Seniors honored and meet some family of the present players...Conklin, Riopel, Berman, Natbatoff, etc.
Some general comments/ observations. Thought JMac and his father?was listening to another parent after the game...turns out it was one of the refs. The group had some Hamiliton fans/players around. Deduced it was a gathering of former fans/ players/coaches of a common summer league team.
Rio's father describing his son as a "freak of nature". All other family members including Rio's grand mother are much shorter. Up from the Eastern Shore of Virginia...above Norfolk.
Will be in Florida when the CAC tourney games start. A senior assistant coach has a possitive attitude about the upcoming games. Hartford is an easy ride for the Amherst players. Also, if Colby...a team that is playing well...upsets Trinity, then the semi and final games will come to LeFrak. Guess Amherst has to win over Bowdoin...another team that is playing well.

P'bearfan · February 15, 2016, 11:04:42 AM

QuoteGreat to hear from you P'bearfan and thanks for reporting on a great weekend of basketball in Morrell Gym. I was beginning to worry that you were suffering from the effects of breakfast at the Brunswick Diner!

Funny you mention the Brunswick Diner. We made a first ever visit there on Sunday. We typically have eaten at the Tavern or other local spots.

nescac1 · February 15, 2016, 11:37:28 AM

AmherstStudent, maybe I'm just biased on Davis since he has hit two, huge, game-winning shots vs. Williams. But I do think he belongs on the first team. But looking at it more closely, yeah, Ajayi should be in over him if it comes down to those two (I think ultimately both make it on). Ajayi has just lit it up in conference play with insane 56-53-82 shooting numbers, and strong numbers across the board: 17-8-1.5 plus an impressive 2.5 combined blocks/steals per game. Given his two-way excellence, he is certainly very deserving.

As for Green vs. JMac, ultimately both guys probably make it on (it wouldn't surprise me to see six guys on the second team, because I think as you say the coaches will want to reward seniors Hudnut and Green, and I think JMac, Palleschi, Ogundeko and Pace have to all be all-NESCAC dudes). You've seen them play a lot more, so you probably have the better read, but JMac just does so many different things, especially on the defensive end, and while not as consistent a scorer as Green he is a much more efficient scorer and always seems to have a knack for hitting huge clutch shots. Certainly, he's the guy on Amherst I'd pick first if starting a team.

Those 11 dudes have by far the strongest cases I'd say outside of Simonds, who as you note will have to wait almost certainly until next year.

AmherstStudent05 · February 15, 2016, 11:58:31 AM

Quote from: nescac1 on February 15, 2016, 11:37:28 AM
AmherstStudent, maybe I'm just biased on Davis since he has hit two, huge, game-winning shots vs. Williams. But I do think he belongs on the first team. But looking at it more closely, yeah, Ajayi should be in over him if it comes down to those two (I think ultimately both make it on). Ajayi has just lit it up in conference play with insane 56-53-82 shooting numbers, and strong numbers across the board: 17-8-1.5 plus an impressive 2.5 combined blocks/steals per game. Given his two-way excellence, he is certainly very deserving.

As for Green vs. JMac, ultimately both guys probably make it on (it wouldn't surprise me to see six guys on the second team, because I think as you say the coaches will want to reward seniors Hudnut and Green, and I think JMac, Palleschi, Ogundeko and Pace have to all be all-NESCAC dudes). You've seen them play a lot more, so you probably have the better read, but JMac just does so many different things, especially on the defensive end, and while not as consistent a scorer as Green he is a much more efficient scorer and always seems to have a knack for hitting huge clutch shots. Certainly, he's the guy on Amherst I'd pick first if starting a team.

Those 11 dudes have by far the strongest cases I'd say outside of Simonds, who as you note will have to wait almost certainly until next year.

I would take JMac first as well, nescac1. Unfortunately, he had a somewhat brutal mini slump a few weeks back (the nadir actually being the non-conference game against Wesleyan), and while he has returned to his superior form the past few weeks, the combination of that little slump, Green's continued fine play, and Green's seniority tells me that Green goes first. Again, I think both are deserving all conference picks and i very much hope to see both rewarded, but if Amherst is only getting one player I don't see that person being anyone other than Green.

Bucket · February 15, 2016, 12:52:12 PM

Quote from: amh63 on February 15, 2016, 11:04:28 AM
A senior assistant coach has a possitive attitude about the upcoming games. Hartford is an easy ride for the Amherst players. Also, if Colby...a team that is playing well...upsets Trinity, then the semi and final games will come to LeFrak. Guess Amherst has to win over Bowdoin...another team that is playing well.

Bulletin board material for the Polar Bears!

amh63 · February 15, 2016, 05:55:41 PM

Bucket....not really! The Amherst players are aware of the game ahead as do the Bowdoin players. All the tournament teams are aware. It is win or go home time. At halftime of last Friday's game, some Amherst fans...parents were checking the score of the Trinity-Hamilton game. Later, some fans were excited when the game in Hartford went into OT. Conner Green was checking for the score after the Amherst game.
There are times when I believe the HC is aware that a parTicular player has family up for a game. Maybe insert a bench player if possible. After the Hamilton game, Riopel was excited to tell his family gathering around that he got so many rebounds in the game. In the same game, a backup freshman center was inserted...not the taller, freshman center Big Joe S. Who is normally the first FY off the bench. Do not know the reason...but Hamilton was making a last minute attempt to catch Amherst at the time as they did in the Friday Trinity game.