MBB: NESCAC

[Colby Hoops]

Was at the Williams-Amherst game last night. Great game and Nescac1's recap is right on.

Amherst is not far from being really good, they're just missing a guy who can create good looks when the offense doesn't yield something right away. Riopel is that guy to some degree, but he's probably best as a really good second scoring option. McCarthy is a great player, but he's not a great 1on1 scorer and he's being pushed out of his comfort zone a bit to try and be the guy. Really he's best when he can spot up, attack closeouts and make cuts off the ball.

Robinson will probably be that guy in time, but that's too much to ask of a freshman, and there's not really any big guys who can be relied upon to get a bucket down low (will echo that Schneider played very well last night). Still think the Mammoths will be a tough out for anyone.

On the Williams side, I think Bobby Casey probably doesn't get as much attention as he should. As great as Heskett is (and he's really good), Casey is what makes the offense hum. Finally, for Williams to make any prolonged tourney run without Scadlock, they're going to need more from Greenman. He has not shot the ball well from deep this year, but he was huge in last year's final four run, making some clutch threes.

[nescac1]

All good points, Colby Hoops, agree 100 percent.  Whether it's Greenman, Teal, Feinberg, Soto, at least one more guy, ideally more than one, will need to provide some consistent offensive punch to help out the big three.  Teal has been playing well in ways other than shooting, if he can just get his normally-reliable shot straightened out, I think he's the most likely player to be that guy.  Feinberg is kind of alternating between good plays and not-so-good plays right now, he should get there eventually, but it might not be this season ...

Regarding Schneider, it's pretty common in NESCAC for the light to go on for big guys who are a bit raw with upside in the second semester of their junior year, and Schneider (on paper, but also via the eye test) seems to be fitting that pattern.  In his first ten games, he averaged 4 ppg, 3.6 rpb, 1.3 bpg, 2.1 TOPG.

In his last five (vs better competition overall), 9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2 bpg, 1.3 TOPG.  Basically, he's very quickly turned from a total non-factor to a real asset.  He seems to be more decisive with the ball which is cutting down on turnovers and allowing him to score more efficiently.   Amherst really needs him to continue to build on that and come closer to reaching his massive upside potential if they hope to turn their season around ... the schedule is VERY tough the rest of the way for the Mammoths (Hamilton, Middlebury, and Williams are three very tough home games, at Wesleyan, and the Bowdoin/Colby and Tufts/Bates travel weekends, which are never easy). 

NESCAC is filled now with big men still new to their roles and in many cases still finding their way.  But nearly every true 5 of note in the league ... Karp, O'Neil, McCord, Schneider, Weiner, Lynch, J. James ... returns for at least one more season.  I think we can expect to see at least a few of those guys continuing to break over either this year or next.   

[wheels81]

So is Amherst the Mammoths or the Mastadons?  Quote from Wednesday recap on main page?
"The Mastodons fouled Williams' Cole Teal with four seconds left and he missed his free throw, giving Amherst a chance to tie but Michael Riopel's 3-pointer was off the mark"

Wheaton (IL) College has a Mastadon on display in it's Science building and has one as it's Mascot as well.  Largest Mascot character in NCAA.  When did Amherst get their new mascot?

[JEFFFAN]

So is Amherst the Mammoths or the Mastadons?  Quote from Wednesday recap on main page?
"The Mastodons fouled Williams' Cole Teal with four seconds left and he missed his free throw, giving Amherst a chance to tie but Michael Riopel's 3-pointer was off the mark"

Wheaton (IL) College has a Mastadon on display in it's Science building and has one as it's Mascot as well.  Largest Mascot character in NCAA.  When did Amherst get their new mascot?

To be clear, in the eyes of most "seasoned" alumni, they will always be the Jeffs.  Call em what you want but they will always be the Jeffs to me.  The change was stupid and the process (don't ask) even worse.

I was pleased with how Amherst played last night.  If this team makes it to the NESCAC playoffs, I am good with that.  They are young - I like Robinson - and they play tough, but this team is not remotely as fully loaded as prior teams.  We will take moral victories this year!

[amh63]

wheels81....timely post/question wrt to Mascot.  Go to Amherst's website and lead story relates to the origin of the present "Mascot " bones in the Geology building.  In brief, both labels refer to the same former beast. 
It was an interesting night of watching D3 Nescac Basketball.  I watched the game in Willytown...large crowd with a number of students dressed in the Ephs' Mascot attire.  At halftime with the score tied at 37 apiece, I checked in on the WBB game in LeFrak....and saw that Williams was ahead!  I stayed with the women's game.  Interesting background info on the Ephs' team by the announcer.  Seems that the Williams' HC felt that an upset was possible.  Seems Williams had leads against top ranked teams like Tufts at the half...only to loose them in the second half.  Williams has a big team and starts young players...some familiar terms used posts to discribe the Amherst's MBB team.
Today's D3 hoops prime story covers a number of big wins over ranked teams last night, etc.  One caught my eye...the Springfield win over MIT in Cambridge.  Springfield has played a number of Nescac teams.  The upset of MIT was in part by Mr. Ross of the Pride who had his expected impact.  Both teams had their starters play big minutes with few subs.  I took that stat to indicate that both teams' lineups were set, barring injury.  I also took the upset to improve the "records" of the CAC teams that beat Springfield somewhat. 
One last comment.  I am encouraged by Amherst's stat of RBs and decrease in TOs...thro the EPHs had fewer TOs.

[gordonmann]

So is Amherst the Mammoths or the Mastadons?  Quote from Wednesday recap on main page?
"The Mastodons fouled Williams' Cole Teal with four seconds left and he missed his free throw, giving Amherst a chance to tie but Michael Riopel's 3-pointer was off the mark"

Wheaton (IL) College has a Mastadon on display in it's Science building and has one as it's Mascot as well.  Largest Mascot character in NCAA.  When did Amherst get their new mascot?

Whoops! My mistake. And I didn't even spell Mastodon right.

I'm a doofus. Sorry about that.

[Greek Tragedy]

So is Amherst the Mammoths or the Mastadons?  Quote from Wednesday recap on main page?
"The Mastodons fouled Williams' Cole Teal with four seconds left and he missed his free throw, giving Amherst a chance to tie but Michael Riopel's 3-pointer was off the mark"

Wheaton (IL) College has a Mastadon on display in it's Science building and has one as it's Mascot as well.  Largest Mascot character in NCAA.  When did Amherst get their new mascot?

To be clear, in the eyes of most "seasoned" alumni, they will always be the Jeffs.  Call em what you want but they will always be the Jeffs to me.  The change was stupid and the process (don't ask) even worse.

I was pleased with how Amherst played last night.  If this team makes it to the NESCAC playoffs, I am good with that.  They are young - I like Robinson - and they play tough, but this team is not remotely as fully loaded as prior teams.  We will take moral victories this year!

And Marquette will always be the Warriors to many in the state.

[Vandy74]

So is Amherst the Mammoths or the Mastadons?  Quote from Wednesday recap on main page?
"The Mastodons fouled Williams' Cole Teal with four seconds left and he missed his free throw, giving Amherst a chance to tie but Michael Riopel's 3-pointer was off the mark"

Wheaton (IL) College has a Mastadon on display in it's Science building and has one as it's Mascot as well.  Largest Mascot character in NCAA.  When did Amherst get their new mascot?

Wheaton College does have a mammoth displayed on campus but moniker-wise, they're the Thunder. 

Staying with the CCIW on a slow news day, the conference this season is much like the NESCAC.  Of the nine teams, four are NCAA postseason worthy, while two others have already proven their ability to play the spoiler role.  IWU's lone conference loss is to Carthage.  The Aston Francis led Thunder needed OT to defeat Elmhurst.  At North Central, Connor Raridon and Alex Sorenson are the marquee names, but the Cardinals' seven man rotation is as solid as you'll find anywhere.  Previously #2 ranked Augustana presently holds the #8 slot.  I've watched quite a bit of CCIW action and Augie has impressed me the least among the contenders.  A while back there was some discussion on this board about the two conferences scheduling some regular season head-to-head competition.  It's still a good idea.

[Mr. Ypsi]

So is Amherst the Mammoths or the Mastadons?  Quote from Wednesday recap on main page?
"The Mastodons fouled Williams' Cole Teal with four seconds left and he missed his free throw, giving Amherst a chance to tie but Michael Riopel's 3-pointer was off the mark"

Wheaton (IL) College has a Mastadon on display in it's Science building and has one as it's Mascot as well.  Largest Mascot character in NCAA.  When did Amherst get their new mascot?

Wheaton College does have a mammoth displayed on campus but moniker-wise, they're the Thunder. 

Staying with the CCIW on a slow news day, the conference this season is much like the NESCAC.  Of the nine teams, four are NCAA postseason worthy, while two others have already proven their ability to play the spoiler role.  IWU's lone conference loss is to Carthage.  The Aston Francis led Thunder needed OT to defeat Elmhurst.  At North Central, Connor Raridon and Alex Sorenson are the marquee names, but the Cardinals' seven man rotation is as solid as you'll find anywhere.  Previously #2 ranked Augustana presently holds the #8 slot.  I've watched quite a bit of CCIW action and Augie has impressed me the least among the contenders. A while back there was some discussion on this board about the two conferences scheduling some regular season head-to-head competition.  It's still a good idea.

I'd love to see it, but doubt it will ever happen.  That would be a helluva trek, and many, many very good potential opponents would be bypassed in either direction.

[WUPHF]

That Middlebury-IWU game was one of the best games I watched last season if my memory serves me.

[Vandy74]

That Middlebury-IWU game was one of the best games I watched last season if my memory serves me.

It's the opinion of a friend who was at the game that if those two teams had played a ten game series each would have won five.

[WUPHF]

That Middlebury-IWU game was one of the best games I watched last season if my memory serves me.

It's the opinion of a friend who was at the game that if those two teams had played a ten game series each would have won five.

+1 That is clearly know when you watched a great game.

[frank uible]

About 14 years ago, give or take, Wheaton beat Williams at Williams to break Williams' home winning streak.

[Vandy74]

About 14 years ago, give or take, Wheaton beat Williams at Williams to break Williams' home winning streak.

Middlebury hosted it's first season opening tournament in November.  Regularly including a CCIW team would be a great idea.  Even though Vinny Kmiec has cleaned out his locker, I'm sure Panther fans would love to see a rematch with North Central, especially in Pepin.

[gordonmann]

Or both conferences could send teams to the D3hoops.com Classic and we'll pair them up there.