MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Williams did what it needed to do, cruising over an outmanned Bowdoin squad and conserving energy for the big showdown tomorrow vs. Colby (been awhile since everyone in NESCAC was saying that!).  Karp was as usual a beast and might have had a triple double if the game was closer, as is, he finished with 17-8-7 plus 2 steals and a block, he is making it look easy.  He will need to play big minutes and have a HUGE game tomorrow for the Ephs to hang with Colby.

A few other Eph notes: Alex Stoddard has one of the prettiest releases I've seen.  Long, wiry, with a hair-trigger shot, he reminds me of former Eph sniper Matt Hunt.  4-7 from deep tonight.  And it almost seems like he may still be growing.  Good to see Nate Karren get a couple of buckets inside and play well for the Ephs.  Spencer Spivy had a strong overall game despite not really being on from outside.  He's been playing very well of late.  Henry Feinberg also continued his very strong play of late, and Mickey Babek hit the shots that Williams needs him to make.  Cole Prowitt-Smith continues to be quiet since injuring himself late in the Hamilton game.  Hopefully he will find his groove tomorrow, because the Ephs need his offensive spark.  Finally, great to see Marc Taylor, working his way back from an achilles tear, get his first minutes (and point) of the season.  A long, grueling rehab, must feel awesome to finally see the court. 

For Bowdoin, man, the P'Bears just don't have the same type of talent they usually do.  David Reynolds is a monster, he hit some CRAZY tough step-shots, finished 7-12 from 3 despite guys being all over him, with 25 points.  The bad news is that while he may be a legit first-team all NESCAC guy this year, he's a senior, and there is very little scoring around him.  Bowdoin was hurt by its point guard in street clothes, if he is out it's hard to imagine them competing with anyone left on their NESCAC schedule.  Frosh big man Xander Werkman played up to his name, putting up a workmanlike 9-7 with tough play under the rim.

Curious to hear more about Midd-Colby.  I was able to watch a bit and man Colby is fun to watch.  They have so many players who are just really unusual and don't fit the normal prototype.  There is no one else quite like Noah Tyson or Will King, in particular.  I predict the Midd veterans will have fallen in love with King's game ... he is such an unusual player, able to guard opposing big guys but with incredible vision and passing ability setting up his teammates, just crazy high hoops IQ for a frosh.  Hard to think of another player like him in recent years in NESCAC.  With Cole struggling a bit right now, he's moved into the lead in the ROY race, I have to think.  But i do think Cole has another gear to get to, still. 

Colby is clearly very much for real.  I hope the Ephs are ready and that a good crowd shows up in Chandler.  If Colby wins tomorrow, they HAVE to move into the top 5-6 nationally, right? 

[lumbercat]

Wow- turned on the Middlebury- Colby game after watching Amherst -Bates. There were about 4 minutes left, Middlebury was down by 4 and the gym was like a morgue and half full. The announcer was exuding varying levels of fading monotones. I was totally baffled, couldn't figure it out. What was happening--Were the Panthers in shock losing by 4 at home against a 12-0 Colby team??? It was like they already lost, maybe I missed something just seeing the last 4 minutes.

Where were the fans- maybe still on break.
Was Middlebury playing Norwich in hockey on campus at the same time?

Kudos to Colby to go into the Middlebury gym and outplay one of the NESCAC elites amid the complacency. Coach Brown will build big time on this one. the Snow Panthers will actually benefit going forward.

[nescac1]

Saw in box score that Sellew played 10 minutes in Amherst-Bates and then did not return.  If an injury, that would be a huge blow for Amherst.  I'm curious to see Bates' frosh big man, Omar Sarr, from Sengal ... his numbers his last six games are eye-popping: 10 points, 9 boards, nearly 3 blocks per game, in only 20 mpg.  If he's a raw talent (which at 6'8 and 225 in D3 I'm guessing he must be), I imagine the Bates may really have something there going forward ...

[Colby Hoops]

Final in Middlebury is 89-82 for the road team. That's a big time win for the Mules, and one they certainly wouldn't have won a year ago. They didn't shoot it well from deep for most of the night, but played great defense, rebounded really well and executed on offense so well all night. That wasn't Midd at it's best, but I think that win showed a lot about this Colby team. They're not one dimensional and they play with poise and grit. Colby led by 11 with 9 minutes to go, and then Midd reeled off a quick run to take a two point lead just a couple of minutes later. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I thought Colby was in serious trouble at that point. It would have been easy to succumb to a huge shift in momentum on the road against a great team. This team fought back, what an impressive performance on the road against a great team. Kudos to Coach Strahorn and the players -- just a big time performance.

Colby switched everything the whole game on defense, but they did have Tyson on Farrell and, surprisingly, Dorion on Folger. I was shocked that Midd didn't post Folger more in that matchup. The Mules made Midd earn everything on that end -- one of their best defensive performances of the season. Midd got very few easy looks inside.

On the other end, Colby executed their offense to perfection. Midd pressured way out and definitely limited most easy looks from deep. But Colby used back cuts, split cuts and little rubs off dribble handoffs to get looks at the rim throughout the night. Finally, Dorion and Jefferson hit a few big threes (including a really deep one from Dorion) to seal it at the end.

Colby's starters scored 84 of their 89 points. Matt Hanna was great getting to the hoop and to the line throughout the game (7/7 from the line and 19 pts). Dorion killed the Panthers on back cuts and hit the threes when they mattered finishing with a game-high 23. Jefferson had his typical quiet 22 on 7-11 shooting -- he just never forces bad shots, it's remarkable. Will King plays like a senior, just so calm and poised finished with 9/6/7. Tyson, Williams and Weiner were excellent on defense throughout. I thought Weiner played one of his best games of the year, including a couple nice post-up buckets.

That was certainly not an A game from Midd, and I expect if these two meet again in the conference tourney it will be a real battle. Defensively the Panthers did a great job taking away the three, but didn't adjust quickly enough to Colby's back cuts. Offensively, Eastman was very good and Delorenzo made some huge shots off the bench. Thought they could have worked the ball down low to Folger much more offensively, particularly as Colby didn't show any inclination to double. Midd heads to the easier part of their league schedule now, so I expect they'll reel of some wins here. They're a very good team.

I'll be at the game tomorrow at Williams. Easy for that to be a let down after such a big win and Karp will be a handful.

[JEFFFAN]

No clue what happened to Sellew but a great performance from the Amherst bench tonight.   Bench outscored the starters 44-41 - when was the last time that happened with anyone, not just Amherst?  Grant Robinson continues to really struggle.   Take the W on the road!

Kudos to Colby for a nice win at Middlebury.   Colby is for real!

[lumbercat]

Saw in box score that Sellew played 10 minutes in Amherst-Bates and then did not return.  If an injury, that would be a huge blow for Amherst.  I'm curious to see Bates' frosh big man, Omar Sarr, from Sengal ... his numbers his last six games are eye-popping: 10 points, 9 boards, nearly 3 blocks per game, in only 20 mpg.  If he's a raw talent (which at 6'8 and 225 in D3 I'm guessing he must be), I imagine the Bates may really have something there going forward ...

I've been suttle in my comments with respect to Bobcat FY bigman Omar Sarr- he's in line to be the NESCAC ROY at least on the defensive side....he's got a way to go but will only get better. He made a statement tonight against one the NESCAC elites. Sellew is one of the best but Omar without question surprised him early before Sellew went out with an injury. Hope he is OK.

Omar Sarr #21 wearing the Bates Garnet

[Colby Hoops]

Saw in box score that Sellew played 10 minutes in Amherst-Bates and then did not return.  If an injury, that would be a huge blow for Amherst.  I'm curious to see Bates' frosh big man, Omar Sarr, from Sengal ... his numbers his last six games are eye-popping: 10 points, 9 boards, nearly 3 blocks per game, in only 20 mpg.  If he's a raw talent (which at 6'8 and 225 in D3 I'm guessing he must be), I imagine the Bates may really have something there going forward ...

Between Sarr (who is definitely very raw and very talented -- he is prone to fouling a lot) and Baxter, that's a nice pair of frosh for the Bobcats.

[amh63]

Sellew got into a collision in the first half and was on the bench with a ice-pack on one of his shoulders.
There was no ice pack at the end of the game as the players lined up for hand slaps.  His replacement played great and Amherst blew the game open with 3-pt. Shooting in the 2nd half...led by Day.

[lumbercat]

Saw in box score that Sellew played 10 minutes in Amherst-Bates and then did not return.  If an injury, that would be a huge blow for Amherst.  I'm curious to see Bates' frosh big man, Omar Sarr, from Sengal ... his numbers his last six games are eye-popping: 10 points, 9 boards, nearly 3 blocks per game, in only 20 mpg.  If he's a raw talent (which at 6'8 and 225 in D3 I'm guessing he must be), I imagine the Bates may really have something there going forward ...

Between Sarr (who is definitely very raw and very talented -- he is prone to fouling a lot) and Baxter, that's a nice pair of frosh for the Bobcats.

Yes some good prospects with the Garnet and Black- that's a compliment coming from a member of the rival Blue and Grey contingent. You guys are playing well and we wish you the best. Tonight you defeated one of the NESCAC leaders on the road which overlooked the Mules at 12-0  in their perennial focus on the usual elites.

[lumbercat]

Saw in box score that Sellew played 10 minutes in Amherst-Bates and then did not return.  If an injury, that would be a huge blow for Amherst.  I'm curious to see Bates' frosh big man, Omar Sarr, from Sengal ... his numbers his last six games are eye-popping: 10 points, 9 boards, nearly 3 blocks per game, in only 20 mpg.  If he's a raw talent (which at 6'8 and 225 in D3 I'm guessing he must be), I imagine the Bates may really have something there going forward ...

No question about it- Omar is a force on defense who will only get better on the offensive end.

[Bucket]

Saw in box score that Sellew played 10 minutes in Amherst-Bates and then did not return.  If an injury, that would be a huge blow for Amherst.  I'm curious to see Bates' frosh big man, Omar Sarr, from Sengal ... his numbers his last six games are eye-popping: 10 points, 9 boards, nearly 3 blocks per game, in only 20 mpg.  If he's a raw talent (which at 6'8 and 225 in D3 I'm guessing he must be), I imagine the Bates may really have something there going forward ...

Between Sarr (who is definitely very raw and very talented -- he is prone to fouling a lot) and Baxter, that's a nice pair of frosh for the Bobcats.

Yes some good prospects with the Garnet and Black- that's a compliment coming from a member of the rival Blue and Grey contingent. You guys are playing well and we wish you the best. Tonight you defeated one of the NESCAC leaders on the road which overlooked the Mules at 12-0  in their perennial focus on the usual elites.

Wait, are you saying Middlebury overlooked Colby? Because of a "perennial focus on the usual elites"?

Please tell me this is a joke. If not, what evidence are you basing such an assertion?

[toad22]

Saw in box score that Sellew played 10 minutes in Amherst-Bates and then did not return.  If an injury, that would be a huge blow for Amherst.  I'm curious to see Bates' frosh big man, Omar Sarr, from Sengal ... his numbers his last six games are eye-popping: 10 points, 9 boards, nearly 3 blocks per game, in only 20 mpg.  If he's a raw talent (which at 6'8 and 225 in D3 I'm guessing he must be), I imagine the Bates may really have something there going forward ...

Between Sarr (who is definitely very raw and very talented -- he is prone to fouling a lot) and Baxter, that's a nice pair of frosh for the Bobcats.

Yes some good prospects with the Garnet and Black- that's a compliment coming from a member of the rival Blue and Grey contingent. You guys are playing well and we wish you the best. Tonight you defeated one of the NESCAC leaders on the road which overlooked the Mules at 12-0  in their perennial focus on the usual elites.

Wait, are you saying Middlebury overlooked Colby? Because of a "perennial focus on the usual elites"?

Please tell me this is a joke. If not, what evidence are you basing such an assertion?

Must be a joke.

[lumbercat]

Saw in box score that Sellew played 10 minutes in Amherst-Bates and then did not return.  If an injury, that would be a huge blow for Amherst.  I'm curious to see Bates' frosh big man, Omar Sarr, from Sengal ... his numbers his last six games are eye-popping: 10 points, 9 boards, nearly 3 blocks per game, in only 20 mpg.  If he's a raw talent (which at 6'8 and 225 in D3 I'm guessing he must be), I imagine the Bates may really have something there going forward ...

Between Sarr (who is definitely very raw and very talented -- he is prone to fouling a lot) and Baxter, that's a nice pair of frosh for the Bobcats.

Yes some good prospects with the Garnet and Black- that's a compliment coming from a member of the rival Blue and Grey contingent. You guys are playing well and we wish you the best. Tonight you defeated one of the NESCAC leaders on the road which overlooked the Mules at 12-0  in their perennial focus on the usual elites.

Wait, are you saying Middlebury overlooked Colby? Because of a "perennial focus on the usual elites"?

Please tell me this is a joke. If not, what evidence are you basing such an assertion?

Relax Bucket- that's exactly what I'm saying, it was evident in their play--cant blame you for reeling on this one- I'm sure you're upset but the Panthers will be good moving forward.

[Bucket]

Saw in box score that Sellew played 10 minutes in Amherst-Bates and then did not return.  If an injury, that would be a huge blow for Amherst.  I'm curious to see Bates' frosh big man, Omar Sarr, from Sengal ... his numbers his last six games are eye-popping: 10 points, 9 boards, nearly 3 blocks per game, in only 20 mpg.  If he's a raw talent (which at 6'8 and 225 in D3 I'm guessing he must be), I imagine the Bates may really have something there going forward ...

Between Sarr (who is definitely very raw and very talented -- he is prone to fouling a lot) and Baxter, that's a nice pair of frosh for the Bobcats.

Yes some good prospects with the Garnet and Black- that's a compliment coming from a member of the rival Blue and Grey contingent. You guys are playing well and we wish you the best. Tonight you defeated one of the NESCAC leaders on the road which overlooked the Mules at 12-0  in their perennial focus on the usual elites.

Wait, are you saying Middlebury overlooked Colby? Because of a "perennial focus on the usual elites"?

Please tell me this is a joke. If not, what evidence are you basing such an assertion?

Relax Bucket- that's exactly what I'm saying, it was evident in their play--cant blame you for reeling on this one- I'm sure you're upset but the Panthers will be good moving forward.

So, wait. You really are saying Middlebury overlooked Colby? And that it was evident in Midd's play? Based on what? The 4 minutes you watched online?

[lumbercat]

Down by 4 with 4:49 left they were done- never seen a Middlebury team look like that with the game on the line at home...never.
The Gym was dead, the announcers were dead, the bench was dead. Go back and watch the end of the game, they were beaten.
Maybe Colby just kicked their butt early on but I haven't seen that in a Middlebury team at home in recent memory.....maybe just one of those nights.

Don't get crazy over it- it's one game.  The Panthers will win the Nescac and it will start tomorrow.