MBB: NESCAC

[Mountain Man]

Observation from Williams game.

Williams did look clumsy at times against a quicker team, not on defense but in team rebounding and loose balls

Spencer Spivy is the X Factor. He was recruited to fill that point guard role. You could see glimpses of his talent for sure.

Very interesting to see his progress, maturation & use leading into conference games

[Mountain Man]

Couple of interesting non-conference matchups on tap tomorrow.

Wesleyan @ Nichols  Nichols (2-0) has had five 20+ win seasons in a row and were ranked last year.

Tufts @ MIT    MIT(1-1) took an early season loss to Endicott (11/25 @ Middlebury)
Endicott used a record setting, first half, 3 point barrage to beat MIT.

Wesleyan game to go down to the wire while MIT after the Endicott wake-up will defeat Tufts.

[nescac1]

End of the highlight reel vs Southern Vermont shows what two new Ephs bring to the table - Spivy with a deep three and Jones with an impressive baseline dunk:

https://youtu.be/0iR0CCWdHy4

[Greek Tragedy]

Curious if a team can be "solid" with one stud on the team and "not a lot of talent" around him.

Also, Hamilton only played 4 home conference games and 6 away conference games? Is that even fair? Why wouldn't it be 5 and 5 for everyone?

[nescac1]

Greek Tragedy, I guess I'd describe Salem State more precisely as a team with one stud player, three other decent starters, and not much else to speak of.  Good enough to be (most likely) the best team in a really bad league.   That to me is the definition of a solid (meaning average or a bit above average) team.  NESCAC teams typically schedule very weak opponents in their first few games, since NESCAC is two weeks of practice and often 1-3 games behind the rest of the Division 3 by that point, and it usually shows with very disjointed play in those first few games.  Salem and Albertus Magnus (another solid team, who beat Bowdoin) were probably the best of the generally VERY weak bunch of opponents faced by NESCAC squads in the opening weekend.  The league's schedule starts getting more interesting beginning today as NESCAC squads face (as Mountain Man noted) MIT and Nichols tonight, and Eastern Conn, Endicott, Babson, Yeshiva and Nichols again later on this week. 

[toad22]

Also, Hamilton only played 4 home conference games and 6 away conference games? Is that even fair? Why wouldn't it be 5 and 5 for everyone?

Last year, Williams was in the same boat as Hamilton. They played 4 home and 6 away. in addition, we don't always alternate home and away games, as Williams had to play Hamilton away last year, after playing them away the year before.

[Canvas Hightops]

Midd beats a sub par Johnson team.
Sobel.  Sobel.  7 for 7 from the floor.  Ambidextrous big guy who plays in the paint.
Any chance he takes minutes from Folger, who plays the perimeter on offense?
Looks like the Panthers have plenty of 3 pt shooters.
Jeff Brown finds out Sunday what kind of team he has.
Endicott has been bold against #5 MIT and traditionally strong Babson. 
Bosco and Leighton look ready to step up as scorers. 
Midd could be better than expected.  Really good depth.

[middhoops]

Game alert.
Wesleyan trailing a very athletic and disciplined Nichols team by 12 at the half at Nichols.  It's been an entertaining game.
Even losing, the Cards look daunting.  They're going to be a lot of fun to watch this season.

Williams is routing MCLA.  Colby and Amherst romped.  Trinity up big.  Website says Conn College scored 29 but I haven't checked stats so hope it's typo.

Go Wesleyan!

[ECSUalum]

Game alert.
Wesleyan trailing a very athletic and disciplined Nichols team by 12 at the half at Nichols.  It's been an entertaining game.
Even losing, the Cards look daunting.  They're going to be a lot of fun to watch this season.

Williams is routing MCLA.  Colby and Amherst romped.  Trinity up big.  Website says Conn College scored 29 but I haven't checked stats so hope it's typo.

Go Wesleyan!

51-29 ECSU at half

[middhoops]

Thanks ECSU.  I'm somewhat happier to know it's not final.

We look forward to returning your hospitality.  Two more Eastern Conn fans in Vermont.

[ECSUalum]

Thanks ECSU.  I'm somewhat happier to know it's not final.

We look forward to returning your hospitality.  Two more Eastern Conn fans in Vermont.

93-70 final  Jake Colligan with 36, mostly threes, keeping Labossiere to 15 with the defense we know and love from Eastern.  Will see if we can keep it up vs Wesleyan in Middletown on Sunday!
Midd, would love to see you guys again, that is, you guys not Middlebury College after the thumping we took last year   Seriously best of luck to Middlebury, a school where I will always have fond memories, as my college roomates Dad was an alum and taught us young freshman wipper-snappers how to drink at his old fraternity house, during a ski trip to the Snow Bowl

[Mountain Man]

Williams & Middlebury feasted - Coming out parties for Fab Frosh Spivey & Sobel

Hamilton with solid road win at Bard. Gilmour with 32 & 8 but 2 monster blocks of layups in the last minute = Superb

Wesleyan was outscored by Nichols. Demonstrating my point that beyond Hutchinson & Bonner a third scorer must develop (Krill)

[Mountain Man]

Tufts vs. MIT     MIT 98- Tufts 92 in OT. Clearly the game of the night and the early season thus far in ALL D3.                       Announcers called it a tournament game atmosphere on court.

MIT does not dress Forsythe (freshman of year), loses Jomard to fouls with 7 minutes to go in regulation while Jurko is siaddled with four fouls for the last 5 minutes of game & OT.   
                                                                                                                                     
Jumbos were outstanding all night. Super Soph Brennan Morris poured in 23. Freshman Carson Cohen ran the team chipping in 14 with Freshman Tyler Aronson adding 16. Morris & Cohen are special. Jumbos reloaded, are talented and will require precision to beat.

Tim Roberts, call him Big Game Tim, he singlehandedly outhustled Middlebury in their sweet 16 victory last year & tonight willed his team to victory. 23 & 13 with 21 of his points after Jomard fouled out with 7 minutes to go.

[Mountain Man]

Sobel.  Sobel.  7 for 7 from the floor.  Ambidextrous big guy who plays in the paint.
Any chance he takes minutes from Folger, who plays the perimeter on offense?

Sobel (lefty, post player) compliments Folger & adds athleticism. McCord wearing heavy knee brace against MIT in Sweet 16 could not jump which allowed Roberts to get key rebounds in the last minutes while McCord missed several layups that did not quite get over the rim. McCord has some ligament issue in that knee.

Sobel has come in for McCord & Cahill for Folger so it looks like traditional 4 big rotation (last year=Tarantino & Majors) at Middlebury. Minutes in the early season blowouts go to the younger players. McCord & Folger looked disinterested against small Johnson St. team. Endicott on Sunday will get their attention.

[Old Guy]

Midd beats a sub par Johnson team.
Sobel.  Sobel.  7 for 7 from the floor.  Ambidextrous big guy who plays in the paint.
Any chance he takes minutes from Folger, who plays the perimeter on offense?
Looks like the Panthers have plenty of 3 pt shooters.
Jeff Brown finds out Sunday what kind of team he has.
Endicott has been bold against #5 MIT and traditionally strong Babson. 
Bosco and Leighton look ready to step up as scorers. 
Midd could be better than expected.  Really good depth.

I'd caution against drawing too conclusions from these first two Middlebury games, blowouts. It's great that Midd has been able to play its whole roster. I'm away for this week so missed the game, but noticed that Dahleh didn't play. I think he's important; hope he's not injured.