MBB: NESCAC

[Cards Fan]

Cards Fan, that Trinity-Conn shot has to be the least-probable shot in NESCAC history, and certainly one of the most memorable.  What are some of the other really memorable shots from NESCAC action over the years?  I can think of (with videos):

- The Eric Savage deep three vs. Colby: https://www.gotuftsjumbos.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/20200301r42qh8 (2:19)
- The Andrew Olson three vs. Tufts in the NCAA tourney: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNLDBaUncQs
- The Willy Workman FTA miss and put-back vs. Midd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3xeop5q-Pk
- The Tucker Kain three to send the game to OT vs. Amherst, after which he just list Amherst up in OT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSpqIoAmzCA
- Ryan Kilcullen game-winner vs. Amherst: https://vimeo.com/116439477
- James Heskett's controversial shot-clock beater vs. Amherst: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdOyWeqgSsE
- Nathan Krill's game-winner in the NESCAC semis vs. Amherst: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBaBNBZK9g8 (1:40)

I think I have to rank Olson's shot first given the combination of stakes, prominence of player involved, drama, crowd reaction, and insane degree-of-difficulty (and I still will take Olson first if I can pick any Amherst player I've ever seen, btw, the only NESCAC players of any sort I'd take over him are Mike Nogelo and of course Duncan Robinson). 

I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton (and there is definitely recency bias here, just because of memories that faded), but of those I recall, I rank them: (1) Olson, (2) Savage (incredible shot that ended up being determinative in a NESCAC title game, tough to top, but Olson somehow managed), (3) Workman (my memory did not exaggerate who insanely athletic this play was), (4) Trinity-Conn (lowest stakes but damn what a crazy shot), (5) Krill, (6) Tucker Kain (the play leading in was as beautiful as the shot, and it kept a huge Eph home winning streak alive), (7) Kilcullen (8) Heskett.  This list is a bit Williams-Amherst heavy just because those are the shots I best remember, I'm sure I'm missing a ton from other big NESCAC games!

Definitely unreal. I remember I had just put the game on with a couple minutes left in regulation to see if Conn could grind out their first win. Reminds me of UConn Cincinnati a few years ago, when Jalen Adams drilled a three-quarter courted  to send it to 4OT!

Now imagine if McCarthy didn't rim out on his three-quarter court heave after Krill's buzzer beater. Would surely be the most incredible shot I've ever seen in my life, given the stakes.

[SpringSt7]

Wasn't there a crazy McCarthy one footer a couple years earlier against Bowdoin?

Also to add to the Amherst-Williams bias, the missed free throw from Cole Prowitt-Smith and putback by Mickey Babek in last year's NESCAC quarterfinals to force OT was quite the play. No one can say that rivalry doesn't deliver!

[ronk]

 As a Scranton fan, got to add Travis Farrell's 3-pointer to beat Middlebury in the 2012 NCAA round of 16.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOXEHtNrCTo

[nescac1]

Spring Street, good call on McCarthy.  He had at least a few big time shots to win or tie games over his career, just crazy clutch especially when compared to fairly pedestrian overall shooting stats.  I'm sure an Amherst fan can provide specifics .... I can't recall any particular game.

The Babek shot was indeed massive.  I wasn't thinking of it since didn't lead to a win but very clutch and very high degree of difficulty ....

[amh63]

Thanks all!..... for the memories 

[P'bearfan]

Wasn't there a crazy McCarthy one footer a couple years earlier against Bowdoin?

Also to add to the Amherst-Williams bias, the missed free throw from Cole Prowitt-Smith and putback by Mickey Babek in last year's NESCAC quarterfinals to force OT was quite the play. No one can say that rivalry doesn't deliver!

Sadly, yes there was.  If I recall correctly, Jack Bors hit a 3 pointer with only 3 seconds or so left on the clock to give Bowdoin what looked like their first win over Amherst in years.  McCarthy got the ball just before the half court line, crossed into the forecourt and hit (banked??) a 3 to win the game.  I was watching from home at that was simply heart-breaking.  It was a great play by McCarthy, but boy that one hurt.

[Painter66]

As a Scranton fan, got to add Travis Farrell's 3-pointer to beat Middlebury in the 2012 NCAA round of 16.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOXEHtNrCTo

It's been nine years, and that moment still haunts this former Midd player. That team had a chance to win it all.

[Royals85]

As a Scranton fan that was at that game unbelievable game.Still remember coach running up into the Scranton fan base after that shot.Then we got hammered the next night by Cabrini!!

[Royals85]

Yeah it was Travis Farrel that hit that shot not Tommy Morgan

[grabtherim]

As a Scranton fan, got to add Travis Farrell's 3-pointer to beat Middlebury in the 2012 NCAA round of 16.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOXEHtNrCTo

It's been nine years, and that moment still haunts this former Midd player. That team had a chance to win it all.

Painful, Painful, Painful.  Did I mention this was painful? 

[nescac1]

On the last Bill Simmons - Ryen Russillo podcast, they were discussing fun ideas for unothordox sporting events and proposed a match-up between the Williams men's team and UConn women.  As usual, they have no understanding of just how good D3 hoops is .... I think the Williams men would probably win that match-up something like 110-50.  The size and strength mismatch would just be so massive.  A game between the Williams men and the WNBA champions would be a lot more interesting, but Williams would still be a very heavy favorite. 

[SpringSt7]

Maybe a UCONN women vs. 2018-19 MCLA men's team would be a better game, because Williams beat that team by 83

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

On the last Bill Simmons - Ryen Russillo podcast, they were discussing fun ideas for unothordox sporting events and proposed a match-up between the Williams men's team and UConn women.  As usual, they have no understanding of just how good D3 hoops is .... I think the Williams men would probably win that match-up something like 110-50.  The size and strength mismatch would just be so massive.  A game between the Williams men and the WNBA champions would be a lot more interesting, but Williams would still be a very heavy favorite.

I think they were talking more about making money than finding good matchups, but you're right. I think UConn women vs D3 men's team would get more PPV buys than UConn vs a top HS team full of d1 prospects.

I'd love to see a D3 squad play some elite HS team, like IMG or DeMatha.

[Sabrina76]

On the last Bill Simmons - Ryen Russillo podcast, they were discussing fun ideas for unothordox sporting events and proposed a match-up between the Williams men's team and UConn women.  As usual, they have no understanding of just how good D3 hoops is .... I think the Williams men would probably win that match-up something like 110-50.  The size and strength mismatch would just be so massive.  A game between the Williams men and the WNBA champions would be a lot more interesting, but Williams would still be a very heavy favorite.

UConn's women's team regularly scrimmages with a group of men (who aren't on any team, high school letter winners) for competition. They would be killed by Williams (as would the WNBA champions). The US women's national soccer team lost to a Dallas U-15 boys team by 3 goals a couple of years ago. Bobby Riggs lost in the quarters of the national 55s right before he beat world #1 Margaret Court. People simply don't know levels in sports. It's not just that they don't understand D3, they really just don't understand levels in sports.

[nescac1]

I think really good D3 teams would generally struggle with top-5 national high school teams, the type that have multiple high D1 guys on the court together.  The talent is just so immense on some of the really loaded high school squads.  The Williams JV team (granted, worlds worse than the Williams varsity) occasionally plays pretty loaded prep school teams and has a really tough time.  It would be fun to watch though.   

Interesting re: the soccer match-up.  I would have thought maybe soccer is an area that the mismatch would not have been quite as bad as basketball, just because size (while still important) matter less, but still not shocked to hear that.