MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

If I were to do a power ranking of how NESCAC teams have looked so far, Trinity probably misses the NESCAC tourney entirely, finishing 9th or 10th.  That outcome would, however, surprise me -- there is plenty of talent on hand, but Trinity graduated four starters and is relying on a lot of young and/or untested players, including several frosh who are playing significant minutes.  There is stil a lot of opportunity for the Bantams to improve as they gel. 

[amh63]

Gordonmann...based on play to date, even at home, you maybe correct.  What can CAC posters say.  IMO, it maybe a carryover thing from the Bantams Football team where your team crushed everyone.
Actually, I expect the Trinity team will get its act together by NLT tourny time.  Suggest they avoid the 8th spot, my guru.  Amherst will take few prisoners by then .

[middhoops]

Gordon, if you'd asked that question on this date last year about Middlebury, you'd figure them for the bottom of the league.  Then, they got hot in February.
Have faith in your team.

[gordonmann]

Thanks for the reports.

Keep hope alive!

[nescac1]

Trinity with a dominating win over Plattsburgh.  They may be figuring it out!   Another impressive performance for Bates' Jeff Spellman in a win over Brandeis.  Bates has a very dynamic pair of frosh guards in Nick Gilpin and now apparently Spellman, plus another frosh, Tom Coyne, who has also been productive in the backcourt.  With the Delpeches controlling the paint, if Bates' backcourt can play beyond their years the Bobcats could make some noise.  Especially at home -- that gym is never fun to play in. 

Williams looked like world beaters in the first 10 minutes vs. Oneonta, putting up 30 points.  Then the Ephs relaxed, got sloppy, and played a little too loose, putting up only 9 points in the last 10 minutes while uncharacteristically taking a bunch of ill-advised shots.  Still leading by 13 at the half, but the Ephs need to return to the precise, patient play that was working at the start of the game. 

In short: NESCAC is looking absolutely brutal this year. 

[middhoops]

Wesleyan came out shooting ice cold in the first 15 minutes against RIC.  Down 24-14, the Cardinals came back to get within 28-21 at the half. 

Amherst leads 37-35 at halftime at E. Conn but appear ready to blow it open at any time.

The NESCAC is 4-0 so far on the day. 

[nescac1]

Well, it will go down as a double digit win against a solid opponent but I'm sure App won't be thrilled with this one.  The Ephs couldn't throw the ball in the ocean from outside, once again, and really just were not sharp in any aspect of the game after the dynamite first ten minutes.  Fortunately for the Ephs they built up a big enough cushion that they could cruise to the finish line.  For the second straight game Scadlock was the MVP, putting up 21 points, 6 boards, 1 block, 2 steals, and basically being dominant on both ends.  He has developed into a major force and will just keep getting better.  Cole Teal also had a very strong game, with 15 points on an efficient 4-7 shooting (three triples) and excellent defense.  The rest of the team basically had a game to forget, although kudos to James Heskett for hitting four straight FTAs in one-and-one situation when the team was sort of falling apart. 

IN the end, it goes down as a win, and a win in a mid-week trap game in front a small crowd.  The level of intensity will surely be higher on Friday, but even with that, the Ephs will need to work much harder moving the ball with precision, working the ball to cutters inside, and hopefully finally draining some triples if they hope to beat the Jeffs on Friday.  Still, nice to pull out a win in a game that last year surely would have been a loss!

[middhoops]

Wow, was I wrong!
Eastern Conn came out of the locker room in the 2nd half ready to play.  Had 12 pt lead at one point.
Amherst trails by 9 with 13 mins to go.  Good game.

[PolarBear16]

Nice NYTimes story on Duncan Robinson, discussing time at Williams and Michigan.  While I can easily believe that Duncan is one of the better shooter currently in college hoops, Mike Crotty might be guilty of just a little bit of hyperbole in this article ... he might need to spend a bit more time watching the Warriors, for starters . 

http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/sports/ncaabasketball/duncan-robinson-michigan-williams.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share

If Robinson was shooting upwards of 50% plus from three this year, Crotty might have a point... instead he comes off as a little crazy.
I have a question about Robinson's eligibility. He is listed as a senior, but he sat out a year because of transferring which I thought counted as a redshirt. Is he a senior because he took a post-grad year at Exeter and is therefore ineligible to redshirt?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Nice NYTimes story on Duncan Robinson, discussing time at Williams and Michigan.  While I can easily believe that Duncan is one of the better shooter currently in college hoops, Mike Crotty might be guilty of just a little bit of hyperbole in this article ... he might need to spend a bit more time watching the Warriors, for starters . 

http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/sports/ncaabasketball/duncan-robinson-michigan-williams.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share

If Robinson was shooting upwards of 50% plus from three this year, Crotty might have a point... instead he comes off as a little crazy.
I have a question about Robinson's eligibility. He is listed as a senior, but he sat out a year because of transferring which I thought counted as a redshirt. Is he a senior because he took a post-grad year at Exeter and is therefore ineligible to redshirt?

My guess would be he is a senior academically, but a junior by eligibility.

[Bucket]

Absolutely stunned that Wesleyan loses to a bad Rhode Island College team, 62-55. In Middletown, no less.

I can't imagine a worse shooting stat line than: 34%, 9%, 38%. And that 34 percent from the field was with Joseph Kuo shooting 11-19; the rest of the team was 14-55. And that 9 percent from three: 2-23; Rafferty, Green, and McDonald, a combined 0-15 from behind the arc. Let's just say that I now anticipate them not missing when they play Midd on Friday.

Very much not looking forward to an angry and stung Cardinal squad coming into Pepin.

---

And I guess this is an evening of shockers, as Amherst is getting absolutely trucked by Eastern Conn. The Warriors have plenty of talent, but they've struggled thus far this year and have not fared well at all when facing NESCAC foes, with losses to Middlebury, Conn, and Williams. Yet they lead the Lord Jeffs by 15 with less than 2:00 to play.

[PeterEscobar]

Wesleyan falls to RIC. Dominique Bull (formerly of Mizzu & GWU) and company too much for the Cardinals in their home barn. Tough one for a team who had risen so fast in the polls the past two weeks. Could they have been over looking RIC after RIC falling by 30 to MIT? Going to be a wild weekend in the CAC.

[nescac1]

Two losses in three games for Amherst.  Sadly for Williams, Amherst will be a desperate, angry team Friday.  But obviously something isn't clicking right now for a Jeffs team loaded with talent.  Friday should be a fascinating night.  NESCAC looks wide open this year ... there will be plenty of upsets in league play.

[middhoops]

Eastern CT came out in the 2nd half and played great, keeping a comfortable distance from Amherst, eventually winning 87-75. 
I'll let others lay out the stats. 
Eastern CT played nearly half of the NESCAC this preseason.  Give their program credit for not just scheduling games they expect to win easily. 

[PeterEscobar]

Two losses in three games for Amherst.  Sadly for Williams, Amherst will be a desperate, angry team Friday.  But obviously something isn't clicking right now for a Jeffs team loaded with talent.  Friday should be a fascinating night.  NESCAC looks wide open this year ... there will be plenty of upsets in league play.

Amherst at home: 8-0 with +25 ppg margin
Amherst on the road: 1-2 with a -0.7 ppg margin against Anna Maria, Springfield and East Conn