MBB: NESCAC

AmherstStudent05 · March 11, 2016, 07:09:48 PM

Amherst marches on to the Elite Eight with a convincing 88-76 victory over Babson.

I have to say up front that I was not able to give this game anywhere near my full attention (I have to earn a living after all). In particular, I missed what had to be the play of the game -- Babson star Joey Flannery going down with an injury late in the first half.

While Flannery admirably showed a whole lot of heart by coming back into the game in the Second Half, he did not seem to be himself. Obviously not the way anyone -- Beaver or Jeff -- wanted this game to unfold. Still, credit Babson who gave us fits all night on D without their best player.

On Hoopsville last night Coach Hixon identified our PGs as the key to our success. Well, they were both excellent tonight, particular Jayde who finished with a game high 19 points. Also, from what I saw DG was playing with a TON of confidence on both ends today. That is great to see as an Amherst fan.

Our free throw shooting continues to be horrendous. We shot 17-32 (53.1%) and missed several front ends of one-and-one opportunities. Our FG% (52.5%) was almost the same as our FT%. We NEED to clean this up.

But, most of all, I want to congratulate Coach Hixon and his staff and players. Always awesome to be able to play for a trip to Salem. Now we need to see who will be standing in our way.

(Oh, finally, big shout out to JumboCast. They do an incredible job top to bottom.)

OldCardinal · March 11, 2016, 10:48:48 PM

Incredible game in Medford tonight. Tufts has responded to the loss of Pace in amazing fashion. Palleschi has been his usual outstanding self. Haladyna and Smith have stepped up in a major way. They had 30 and 25 tonight against intense pressure. Maybe the biggest surprise has been the play of a couple players who did very little until recently, #4 (Dayton) and #24(Feldman). Both played with poise, made shots, played D and grabbed rebounds. #0(Engvall) also made a bunch of great plays. Finally, Spadaford is just an emotional leader. They'll have their hands full against Amherst but I wouldn't count them out. It should be a great game. The gym was crazy loud. Very cool environment. Gotta go back tomorrow.

middhoops · March 12, 2016, 04:13:11 AM

Big props to Tufts.
Against a very talented Johnson & Wales team, and without Palleschi for a long period in the 2nd half; the Jumbos played gritty, tough basketball throughout.
Now they play Amherst at home? Few people saw this happening when Pace went down.
Agree with OldCardinal about Feldman and Dayton. They picked a fortuitous time to show their stuff.
Good luck to both NESCAC teams. Shame they had to meet so early.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · March 12, 2016, 08:23:32 AM

I haven't seen Tufts with Pace, but I have to wonder, after watching that game, if his injury didn't actually help them win. I've seen JWU a few times this year and this seemed like a reverse of the typical game. JWU was tentative and lethargic, while the Tufts guys were more intense and fought harder. They really frustrated Greenaway. Given a ten game series, I'd still pick J&W, but on one night the Jumbos showed up and won easily. It's really, really cliche, but they did, in fact, appear to want it more.

P'bearfan · March 12, 2016, 09:36:43 AM

Congrats to both Amherst and Tufts! Once again, NESCAC teams are advancing deep into the tournament!!

amh63 · March 12, 2016, 09:41:29 AM

Several comments about both games in Tuft's iconic gym.
First, liked the video wrt the upgrade/realignment of the playing floor. Like the remark about Bob Dylan snub of his concert....the writer/singer?...is my generation

.
The first game with Babson was typical of recent Amherst games...getting a double digit lead only to get behind at the half. Of course, Babson's star player had 12 points in the first half after a slow start.
Connor Green had 39 points in the double OT first mtg and only 4 in this game! I kept thinking as Amherst built it's lead in the 2nd half without Green, that Amherst was showing what is the core of next year's lineup.
I thought that Babson insertion of their injured star to jumpstart a possible run to victory was a little dramatic. Gutsy move...though the announcer's remark about keeping the status of the star " hidden" ....my wording here...is why I used the dramatic word. As the game played out, it may have stalled Babson's offense. Flannery did not appear to be able to contribute on the defensive side and rebounding effort.
I also was concerned about the "weak" foul shooting effort of Amherst. However, JMac's last two missed foul shots seemed to me to be a sort of statement by him. The star of the last game who made the two foul shots to win the Cortland game....seemed to just took his shots without care knowing the game was won and the points were not needed.
Racy who went O-6 from Outside the last time around in the Tufts gym. Was quiet in the first half, but found his offensive game in the second half.
I find Hoops Fan's remark wrt to Pace injury and absence to inspire the Tufts player to be " spot on".
For me, I am glad that Pace is not available to play. In the Amherst win over Tufts at Trinity, Pace led the Jumbos with 33 points!
The Tufts players did play inspired ball. I feel that a key to the win was the play of Tank Smith. His ability to drive to the basket and break the press were huge. His points were also huge. Amherst needs to keep him in check ...again.

JEFFFAN · March 12, 2016, 10:39:12 AM

While giving appropriate kudos to Amherst for playing what was arguably the best they have played all year, I think that if Flannery doesn't get hurt (on a fluke play where the foul was called on him) those two teams are still playing. He is as good as I have seen this year - maybe even better than Hausmsn - and when he went down the Jeffs built a comfortable lead that Babson never remotely threatened. Credit to the rest of the Babson crew for playing very hard without their star. Babson will be great next year.

Nice to see a good NESCAC rematch on the schedule for tonight. This is a complete pick em game in my book.

magicman · March 12, 2016, 08:51:42 PM

amh63,

Congratulations to your favorite college for advancing once again to the Final Four. They played well today and answered every challenge the Jumbos threw at them. Good luck in Salem.

Saw former Amherst players Kevin Hopkins and Aaron Toomey, now assistant coaches, cutting down the nets. They've had lots of practice.

AmherstStudent05 · March 12, 2016, 08:58:29 PM

For the third time in four years Amherst is Final Four bound as the Jeffs defeated the Jumbos 86-73 in a game that was MUCH closer than the score indicates.

Amherst led by just 1 with three minutes to play before a huge Connor Green three point play put us up four. After that the wheels seemed to completely go off for Tufts on the offensive end (combination of missed shots and turnovers).

Huge credit to Tufts for playing so competitively without Pace. As they have been all post season, Palleschi and Haladyna were so tough to guard.

For Amherst the story of the game was Connor Green. How fitting that in his last game in a NESCAC gym he turned in a vintage Connor Green performance. He had 25 points (on 9-19 shooting) and 5 offensive boards. He also hit several insanely difficult and ones at absolutely critical times in the game. He also attempted (and missed) some wild threes. But all in all our senior captain showed us the way to Salem.

Our free throw shooting was much improved. Also, I thought we played outstanding D in the first half but Tufts was super efficient from three to keep them in the game. During the second half there were long stretches where we seemingly couldn't buy a stop but we tightened up when it mattered.

This was a very tightly officiated game and our two big men each picked up 4 fouls with about 7 or so minutes to play. Fortunately, they were able to play solid D without fouling out (George had a crucial block on Palleschi in the final minutes).

Also, I think we were lucky to survive a night where neither Jayde nor Reid played particularly well. Jayde struggled in particular (after having a quiet game Reid stepped his game up on both ends in crunch time).

Anyway, I am thrilled that Amherst is back in the Final Four.

On a personal note I now face the enjoyable yet vexing question -- a question that has happily been posed to me several times over the years -- of whether I should take a day off work and jackass down to Salem. Is there any chance of this tournament ever being moved to a city with regular, direct service to LGA? But, as I said, it's a good problem to have.

old_hooper · March 12, 2016, 08:58:49 PM

Congrats to Amherst. Making their 7th appearance in Salem since 2003. Conner Green was huge tonight! Gotta feel bad for Tufts Coach Sheldon, his two best teams falling to Amherst in tournament games this year and the memorable loss in 2006. Looks like the purple & white will be playing an undefeated team.

JEFFFAN · March 12, 2016, 09:07:55 PM

Missed everything but the last three minutes but was getting updates via text from one of the better players to go through Amherst in the 1970s! 13-0 run at the end is pretty good stuff. Jeffs were "blessed" to play against two teams without their best players, Flannery and Pace, but you play who is out there, as the saying goes. It does seem that Amherst played as well as it could play the last two nights based on the box score, again utilizing the breadth of their team to win. Conor Green does nothing last night but lights it up tonite. David George playing the best hoops that he has ever played as a Jeff ... and McCarthy's rainbow three at the end to seal the deal. Congrats to a gutsy and very, very good Tufts team on a terrific season.

I, too, am considering a trip to wherever-it-is the Final Four is held!

P'bearfan · March 13, 2016, 11:37:20 AM

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/13/sports/ncaabasketball/taking-their-game-to-the-highest-level.html?ref=sports&_r=0

Nice article on Duncan Robinson and a few other players who have made the jump up one or two divisions in MBB. Dylan Sinnickson and Mart Hart are also mentioned.

P'bearfan · March 13, 2016, 11:38:34 AM

Congratulations to Amherst on making yet another Final Four appearance. When you look at the sustained success Coach Hixon has had you can say one thing: "Respect".

P'bearfan · March 13, 2016, 11:39:37 AM

Also congrats to the Jumbos on a fine season. Not sure how many people had them going to the Elite 8 when the season started. They're a very talented team.

amh63 · March 13, 2016, 12:08:59 PM

Magicman....thanks for your post! Plus K for your support in spite of Amherst being your second favorite Nescac team

. Notice that I am feeling positive even AFTER your school crushed the Amherst women's ice hockey team in the NCAA post season.
I too will start planning my trip to Salem. Toughest part is getting tickets in the Amherst section which will be done on Monday...since the ticket office will only know what schools are in on Monday. Last time I got tickets in the Williams area! Quickly corrected as I was wearing too much purple...without the yellow...of course.

Just saw the press coverage video with Coach Hixon and Conner Green. Scanned the video of the crowd on the floor after the game...saw a number of parents of former players, etc. supports Hixon's comment that the Amherst BB program is built on " family" support.
Just a few comments wrt to the game.
Tank Smith had a huge game as well as all the other starters. Even though Tufts had more RBs and was more efficient from outside and on the foul line....the stat that stood out for me is the points in the paint! Amherst got much more points in the paint! Amherst kept attacking the inside.
I also feel/ think that the 13-0 run in the last 3 minutes was a " mental thing " by the players...coming from a timeout. Coach Hixon commented on it...the players to trust each other...to make the right play.
Nice to see both Amherst BB teams reach the Final 4! Oh one last comment....got a kick after watching one Amherst FY player sneak off and bring back one of the NCAA sectional banners for a possible dorm room decoration. Reminds me of a parent after the '07 championship win in Salem asking permission to take a banner home.