MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

And ... Williams v Yeshiva now postponed, no make up date.  Looking at calendar maybe Feb 7 makes sense for both teams?  I can't imagine how Williams can squeeze three more games in but I really hope at least that game is rescheduled.  I imagine Yeshiva really wants that one too ....

At this point I just hope week one of Nescac play is still on.  By then most Nescac players will be isolated for 1-2 weeks on near-empty campuses, so certainly makes sense to play.  Conditions could hardly be more optimal.

[nescac1]

Amherst loses at home to Babson. No McCarthy, Robinson, Alausa (maybe COVID for latter two?).  Day stellar, goes for 35 including 7-17 from 3.  Everyone else?  24 points on 0-17 from 3.  Amherst just seems not to have enough reliable outside shooters with the guys currently missing from the lineup.  Also Robinson was sorely missed as Amherst totaled only 4 assists on the day. 

Ryker Vance was a big presence in the paint with 8-6 plus 5 blocks, he could be a force as he expands his game a bit.  Canin Reynolds, who has a bright future, had to play all 40 minutes which is just too much for him at this stage of his career, but Amherst seemed pretty depleted at guard.

Amherst has to hope Robinson is back soon with a brutal week (assuming all games are played, at this point, who knows) ahead - Wesleyan, Midd, Williams, the latter two on the road.  Wesleyan, other than one bad half vs Williams, continues to steamroll everyone. Nicky Johnson has been killing it since entering the starting lineup and definitely is very much in the ROY race.  He's really good.  He, Maccoux, Peek and James are a tough group to match up with athletically. 

[jumpshot]

lord jeffs start the non-scrimmage portion of their season at home with a loss to Babson 70-59, after conquering seven teams with a combined record of 21-41 (34%), outscoring all 8, including 6 at home, by an average of 33 points 676-412, thus providing much promotional material to today's announcer ...until the final buzzer ("...back to the drawing board").

lord jeff nation impaired by absence of several players ... still ....in-game adjustments other than let Day fire at will?
   

[SpringSt7]

4 in a row for Babson against Amherst. Last time Amherst beat Babson was the 2OT thriller against Flannery and the eventual National Champions. Funny how that works sometimes

[amh63]

Gosh....missed the Amherst's game today...family members in town.  Not too worry wrt the Babson lost. Am concern wrt two senior guards not playing, especially G. Robinson.  New coaches still checking out player combinations is my thought...against a worthy opponent in Babson.  Expect the result will be different later in the season if Amherst meets Babson again in the post season.  Next scheduled game is with the Cardinals of Wes...not a conference counted game.  That will be more interesting!

[amh63]

Back again....one thing that is becoming annoying to me is the Nescac's posting of the scoreboard.  Today has Middlebury playing Middlebury....a scrimmage! . 

[nescac1]

Amherst players other than Day now are shooting 29 percent from 3 and 61 percent from the line, despite playing such a weak schedule overall. Amherst will really need to pick that up if it hopes to contend, but unclear where the shooting will come from if McCarthy isn't back soon.  None of Amherst's other perimeter guys have had much success shooting the ball from deep in prior seasons, either ...

And yes, the Nescac scoreboard was screwed up in football season too.  Quite annoying. 

[amh63]

Got to thinking...yes, that is dangerous as my family members point out.  In the Babson lost, the primary  ball handler was a FY.  Babson scored on a high number of steals.  With G. Robinson still out, the all conference distributor...and a solid scorer/defender....hurt.   

[nescacfaninbos]

In my opinion, NESCAC presidents likely to postpone or cancel athletics soon to avoid possible risk of a few infections resulting in contagion of their campus. Academicians generally uncomfortable with operating dislocations, demands on faculty and staff, and incremental costs experienced in recent past.Trustees value avoidance of criticism, not heroism .... current spikes in cases occurring in an environment of confusion and impaired logistics at national, state, and local level. Ultimate solution is for pathogens to run their course ....

Found this sensible article co-authored by the president of Hamilton. Looks like it was posted prior to CDC revision of isolation guidelines, interesting that they called for a shortening of the period.

https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2021/12/20/how-colleges-can-prepare-spring-during-ongoing-pandemic-opinion

[Colby Hoops]

Seems like Amherst-Wesleyan is on for today -- should be a great game between two very good defensive teams. As noted already on the board, Amherst is very limited offensively and extremely reliant on Day without Robinson. Still, it took some very good shotmaking from Babson to beat them this weekend. Amherst was down two perimeter players, but thought it was an odd choice to continue to play the entire game with two bigs when they couldn't get any offense going. Although Will Phelan hasn't shot it well, I think he at least attacks the rim and moves the ball in a way that Amherst needs, and giving Sommers or Helmke more run is something to at least try.

As I think will be the case this season, we won't really know who is playing until game time. Robinson and Alausa presumably missed the Babson game because of COVID reasons as neither seemed to be on the bench. In what was already going to be an unpredictable league season, it seems like it could be even more so.

[middhoops]

In my opinion, NESCAC presidents likely to postpone or cancel athletics soon to avoid possible risk of a few infections resulting in contagion of their campus. Academicians generally uncomfortable with operating dislocations, demands on faculty and staff, and incremental costs experienced in recent past.Trustees value avoidance of criticism, not heroism .... current spikes in cases occurring in an environment of confusion and impaired logistics at national, state, and local level. Ultimate solution is for pathogens to run their course ....

Found this sensible article co-authored by the president of Hamilton. Looks like it was posted prior to CDC revision of isolation guidelines, interesting that they called for a shortening of the period.

https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2021/12/20/how-colleges-can-prepare-spring-during-ongoing-pandemic-opinion

Interesting piece.
The final sentence/paragraph was daring for a college president.

"The pandemic, it appears, has turned endemic. We need to find ways to live with it."

[nescac1]

Daring, yet obviously correct.

[SpringSt7]

On paper I don't really see an avenue for Amherst to win this game right now, even if Grant Robinson plays. Wesleyan has a lot of bodies they can throw at Day and Amherst seems to really be struggling with interior scoring right now. With that being said, any iteration of a Little 3 game is going to be a rock fight so it wouldn't surprise me if Amherst won 52-50.

Also, with the current restrictions in place, if there isn't a big student section for this game (students returned today), the atmosphere for this game is going to be woeful, which I really hope isn't the case.

[SpringSt7]

Also, with the current restrictions in place, if there isn't a big student section for this game (students returned today), the atmosphere for this game is going to be woeful, which I really hope isn't the case.

Looks like there is not going to be much of a fan presence at this one.

[Colby Hoops]

Also, with the current restrictions in place, if there isn't a big student section for this game (students returned today), the atmosphere for this game is going to be woeful, which I really hope isn't the case.

Looks like there is not going to be much of a fan presence at this one.

It does look like Robinson and Alausa are in street clothes on the bench, so seems like injuries, not Covid.