MBB: NESCAC

[jumpshot]

In addition to the points already mentioned, anyone who has followed Michigan the past two years has watched a team less willing to share the ball, as many players seek to get to the professional level with an emphasis on building their own statistics. Duncan has done best on the nights when the team sticks to the offensive schemes, as he depends in part on others to create his shots.

By comparison for example, Duke especially, as well as North Carolina, have coaches who are quick to stamp out excessive individual play during the course of a game.

[toad22]

nescac1, excellent summary of Duncan's UM career, and why it was remarkable, but didn't go even higher.  As both a D3 fanatic and a UM grad and fan, I've avidly followed Duncan's career.  I confess that I thought once the UM strength coach worked with him, he was destined for flat-out stardom.  You nailed the problems: even bulked up he still can't really compete on equal terms in the paint.  Even more key for his style of game, he lacks the lateral quickness to compete at the top of D1 at the wing - a defect I'd not realized because it didn't get exposed against D3 athletes.

Agreed. I think it is Duncan's lateral quickness that has caused him the most trouble. He still has done incredibly well.

[toad22]

Does anybody know when (or if) O'Brien of Wesleyan will be able to play again? He isn't the best player they have, but I think he is the most important player they have. He adds so much to the Wesleyan attack at both ends of the court. With O'Brien, I think Wes was the best team we've played this year. Without him, they don't appear to be the same.

[middhoops]

Agree with Toad.  O'Brien is the quintessential glue guy.

[nescac1]

Interesting night in NESCAC with Trinity upsetting Wesleyan (despite O'Brien playing), Tufts holding on to beat Amherst (if any Midd fans were watching the last sequence, they may have experienced post traumatic stress disorder, but the Jeffs' foul-shot-plus-a-two down three magic wasn't happening this time around), and Midd barely holding on to beat Bowdoin. 

Very impressive team win for Williams.  On offense, it was, as usual, Casey and Heskett leading the way, with a combined 40 points on excellent shooting from both.  Both continue to play at an elite overall level.  But this time lots of guys helped out.  Mike Kempton had a tremendous game, with 4 points, 7 boards, 3 assists, and some great defense including at least one drawn charge.  Chris Galvin distributed the ball beautifully with five really pretty assists, and also played excellent defense including a few steals and a drawn charge.  Cole Teal, while still not totally in rhythm from deep, also had a very strong all-around game.  And the Ephs got some badly-needed bench production from Marcos Soto, with 7 points and 4 boards.  Karp also made an impact in limited minutes and should be fresh for tomorrow.  Lots of great ball-movement throughout the game.  The only negative was the free throw shooting, 15-27 could hurt in a more competitive game.

For the Ephs, the story of late has been defense.  In the current four game winning streak, the Ephs have surrendered only 49, 58, 56, and 49 points.  These have not been among the better offensive teams the Ephs have faced, but still, that is damn impressive.  Williams has so much length out there at all times, and guys are really fighting hard on the defensive end.  It's very, very hard to get easy, clean looks vs. the Williams defense now, especially in the half-court action.  Bowdoin is a stronger offensive team than Williams has faced of late, so tomorrow will certainly be a test. 

Not a great night for Colby, they just gave up too much size and strength to Williams, but the Mules are feisty and will be a lot better next season.  Dean Weiner was back from injury and was very impressive in limited minutes: 6 points, 5 boards, 4 blocks, 1 steal in only 17 minutes.  He's not huge but he is very athletic with great timing, surely the best rim protector in the league when he can stay out of foul trouble.  Colby's perimeter guys really struggled tonight to get any sort of remotely good looks vs. the Williams perimeter D and even when they did they weren't falling. 

[Middfan]

Could someone explain to me why it appears that the Amherst/Tufts game is represented on the NESCAC site as a non-conference game?

[nescac1]

Middfan, I'm not sure, but no doubt Hixon is responsible. 

[middhoops]

Bowdoin is tough.  Half the shots they made in a 72-70 loss at Midd were 3s. 
Reserve bigs Eric McCord and Adisa Majors played huge for the Panthers.  McCord had 7 offensive boards and Majors hit the game winning jumper with 5 seconds left.
Not a lot of fouls called in this game.  Don't let the stats fool ya; it was brutal.

With Amherst and Wesleyan picking up their 3rd conference loss tonight, it give Williams and Middlebury a slight edge in the standings.  Everyone reloads tomorrow.

[Bucket]

Bowdoin is tough.  Half the shots they made in a 72-70 loss at Midd were 3s. 
Reserve bigs Eric McCord and Adisa Majors played huge for the Panthers.  McCord had 7 offensive boards and Majors hit the game winning jumper with 5 seconds left.
Not a lot of fouls called in this game.  Don't let the stats fool ya; it was brutal.

With Amherst and Wesleyan picking up their 3rd conference loss tonight, it give Williams and Middlebury a slight edge in the standings.  Everyone reloads tomorrow.

Should point out that Hamilton only has two losses, as well. If they win out—tough road, obvs, with Tufts, Midd, and Williams—the Continentals nab the top seed.

[toad22]

Williams played very well tonight against a normally high scoring Colby squad. Colby was held to 49 points tonight, 21 points below their league average so far. This was an uptempo game, so Williams was tough tonight. Williams' offense was good as well, with Casey and Heskett scoring 40 points on 23 shots. There were good contributions from lots of others as well. To me, the key to the game for Williams was their intensity, which was high. All the games (4), which they have lost, have been notable for their lack of intensity. I hope they bring it tomorrow, because they will need it. Bowdoin seems very good, and they really need the game.

[Old Guy]

Exciting game tonight with Bowdoin, but also brutal game for Midd partisans. To say Midd was cold from the outside would be an understatement. CLANG! There was a nightmarish start to the second half where Midd couldn't hit a thing — and it's not like every shot was hotly contested, wide open jumpers not even close. I had to take a walk, watched 3 minutes of women's ice hockey vs Wesleyan. Came back, wasn't much better. Bowdoin played well, Simonds, Farley, Reynolds knocking down their threes. Midd couldn't hit anything on offense, it was nightmarish for a while, but their defensive effort never faltered. Tough group.

Highlight of the game was Coach Jeff Brown setting the record for the standing jump, leaping so high in the air that he lost his glasses and phone from his pockets. The incentive was an uncalled double-dribble by (I think) O'Niel who got the ball in the paint, dribbled, picked up the dribble, looked right, looked left, faked a pass out of the post, dribbled again, and then found Simonds all alone in the corner for a three which put the Polar Bears up by five with time winding down. Coach Brown called time out, and inquired of the nearest ref how he and the other two blind mice could have missed the infraction, and got a sympathetic shrug as a response, "sorry coach, didn't see it." No T, he's never abusive, but his leap from the bench could be the ESPN #1 highlight tomorrow. I don't remark on the refereeing; however valid, as it always sounds like sour grapes, not worth it. This was a remarkable moment, as everyone in the gym, no lie, saw this obvious infraction.

Middlebury was down by a pair or three and Daly hit his only three, and then Hilal Dahleh hit a crucial three, and Eric McCord, the player of the game on the Middlebury side, kept the ball alive on a couple of Midd possessions after errant Midd shots, hitting the deck, calling time out.

Score tied 70-70, Midd had the ball with a five second differential between the shot and game cloak, Daly waited till there was 6-8 secs on the shot clock, went to the basket, and cut off at the hoop by tall people, found Majors 8' from the basket who swished a little jumper as the shot clock expired. Bowdoin managed a 40' off-target desperation jumper by O'Neil at the buzzer (some nice defense by Dahleh at mid court to prevent penetration).

Middlebury escapes. Phew.

For Bowdoin, Simonds had 18 points, Farley, 17, and Reynolds 16. Middlebury scoring was remarkably balanced: 12 (Folger), 10 (Majors), 9 (McCord), 9 (Leighton), 8 (Daleh), 7 (Farrell). Daly had a usual customary-Daly line: 9 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists. Midd outrebounded Bowdoin 51-37 — crucial tonight.

[polbear73]

Old Guy,
Good summary of a very good game (plus k) and yes, even from a Bowdoin perspective, the O'Neil non call was as blatant as you described; they probably could have gotten him for traveling and a lane violation as well. To be fair, there were a couple of calls immediately afterward that got Tim Gibride off the bench too. As you inferred, this game wasn't decided by the refs, but by a poised and talented Midd team led by Daly as the set up for the final shot.

Bowdoin also showed a lot of heart and toughness and it's gratifying to see the improved contribution by senior Liam Farley as he plays his last regular games for the Bears. A heartbreaking loss for Bowdoin as Middlebury showed that its high national ranking is more than justified.

[Middfan]

Middfan, I'm not sure, but no doubt Hixon is responsible.

Looks like it's been corrected.  I'm sure that Hixon had it blocked out.

[Cards Fan]

Boy, what an atrocious effort by the Cardinals last night. After a very solid 2-0 weekend, wesleyan cooled off big time against Trinity. Shooting 19% from 3 point range generally doesn't get you the win. Nobody capped 15 points.

Wesleyan is now in a bad spot for NESCAC seeding. They don't appear to have a great shot at a top 2 seed, and they must hope for misfortune on Amherst and Williams part.

[amh63]

Amherst's lost was a downer for me as the temp here in Md dropped again.  Several observations.
The low score indicated an intense game where the defenses of both teams were good.  Amherst won the rebound battle but lost the TO one.  Some questionable foul calls on Amherst but I put that in the " homecourt advantage"  box.
The key was the rise of Vinny Pace play of late as he is very hard to guard going to the basket.  His two made foul shots with less than 4 sec. won the game.  Background to Vinny's foul shots.
Amherst's FY PG GR goes to the foul line.  About 4 sec. on the clock and Tufts ahead by 3 points.  Amherst puts in tall players on the foul lane.  PG Grant R. has  been instructed to repeat a play last seen up in VT.  The first foul shot is made.  The second shot aimed at the front rim heads downward to the right and Mr. Pace gets the rebound.  He is fouled.  That is the ball game!
It is to be noted that Tufts scored over 100 points in an earlier game.  It is also to be noted that Coach Hixon had a very young team on the floor...FYs and Sophs.  Their inexperience in an intense game is reflective in the TOs, IMO.  Both teams did not shoot well from outside.  Amherst shot poorly on the foul line...5-10, yes one was an planned miss.  Tufts shot more foul shots and made more...made 12 foul shots. 
The upset of the Cardinals by Trinity is another indication of the puzzling play of Trinity this season.  It supports a theory of mine that player matchups between teams that have talented athletic players often determine games. 
Has any other posters notice that Trinity has several very tall players on the bench that never gets to play?