MBB: NESCAC

[SpringSt7]

OT at LeFrak. An ugly, ugly first half has turned into a thriller. Sam Peek and Garrett Day are unguardable and matching each other with some insane shotmaking that you just don't see at this level. Amherst's second leading scorer has 6 points!

[deiscanton]

Please, please, please, don't let Amherst vs Wesleyan go to 6 overtimes tonight, please.....   If it does, NSN, don't lock it behind a paywall.

[JEFFFAN]

Terrific game but Amherst has run out of gas.   Day was unstoppable but with no second option due to the injuries to Robinson and McCarthy the Cards were just too much.   Really fun game to watch.

[SpringSt7]

Terrific game but Amherst has run out of gas.   Day was unstoppable but with no second option due to the injuries to Robinson and McCarthy the Cards were just too much.   Really fun game to watch.

This just about sums it up. Day was outstanding for the second half (19 points on 8 shots) but had just a pair of FTs for 2 total points in the OTs.

Sam Peek had about as good of a game as I've seen in the NESCAC since the prime Hausman years. 36 points on 14-24 shooting, chipped in 7 rebounds in 52 minutes!!! While Day had to resort to some hero ball, Peek was somehow able to just continue to find his shots within the offense and never really forced anything. It didn't even seem like his team was going out of their way to find him the way Amherst needed Day. Just an incredible performance.

Amherst is in a little bit of trouble all of a sudden. I think we all knew not to take much from the 8-0 start given the schedule but they seem perilously thin on offense right now and Grant Robinson's return will not solve all of those problems. Their wings struggle to create shots and while Schretter is much improved and shoots a high %, he is not a legit third option. Furthermore, it appears they have lost Ryker Vance for a substantial period of time. Best case ankle sprain but it looked like a textbook Achilles. And they have Middlebury/Williams in 4 days.

[jumpshot]

lj fans .... beware of a point guard who takes the second most shots in the last two losses ... we've seen that movie before.

[nescac1]

A few thoughts on the fun Amherst-Wesleyan battle. 

Day and Peek (especially Peek, he's so so smooth) were both awesome.  Peek in particular played like a first team all-American today, but both (especially Day without Robinson) have to do too way much on offense.  With Robinson out, Amherst lacks a second offensive creator.  Wesleyan misses Walker a bit, but even with him, that's an issue for them as well, although Nicky Johnson is very good and getting better.  Peek had one of the best games I've seen from a NESCAC player in the last few years, his game is just beautiful to watch.  He's a senior with a year of eligibility left, and if I was an Ivy or Patriot coach I'd be all over him for next season.  Very D1-ish sort of game. 

Both teams play really really hard especially on the defensive end and on the glass.  Nothing comes easy.  I'd say that that rough shooting numbers were equal parts good defense and bad offense. 

Three plays I'd love to see replays of: the ridiculous Jordan James block (why doesn't he play more?), the ridiculous Day three over two guys, and the beautiful dipsy-do reverse layup by Peek.  All just great, great plays.

Nicky Johnson and Canin Reynolds will be a fun small point guard battle for the next four years.  Both very quick and crafty with the ball, both huge pests on defense, both good passers, both strong for their size.  I give Johnson the edge right now because he's a much better outside shooter and I think a bit better of a decision maker overall. 

Amherst continues to have an absolutely miserable time shooting the 3 for everyone not named Garrett Day.  I think the non-Day Amherst players are 1-34 (!!) from 3 over their last two games.  That HAS to get fixed for them to compete for the NESCAC crown.  But again, unless and until McCarthy and Robinson come back, I'm just not sure who is going to be making those shots for them.  Almost as bad as the misses are the open looks they keep passing up. 

Gabe Ravetz is absolutely fearless, love the confidence he shoots with even when he's having an off day. 

Amherst's injury woes seem to be continuing as a great game was marred by Ryker Vance suffering what looked like it could be a serious lower-leg injury.  Tough break for him and hope he's OK.  Have to give Amherst credit for hanging tough with a very good team down three game one starters and a key reserve by the time OT started.

[Colby Hoops]

I'm a little more optimistic on Amherst assuming they get Robinson and Alausa back. Obviously shooting is a major issue, but 1-34 for non-Day shooters is fluky. Even if they just go 6-34 that makes a massive difference these last two games. Secondly, Sam Peek (and to a much lesser extent Nate Amato for Babson) killed Amherst. Alausa would no doubt be the primary defender on both. Think he might've been able to slow them down enough to make a difference.

I don't think there's a lot of separation between the little three, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Amherst at the top of the league come late February.

[nescac1]

Oh, I still think Amherst with Robinson, McCarthy and Alausa is a very formidable team. But the question is when are those guys back and at full strength?  Losing Vance is certainly a blow as well if he is out for an extended period. He's an athletic rim defender and finisher inside, gives them a different dimension than their other more lumbering bigs. 

[SpringSt7]

I think expecting Alausa to be a shutdown wing defender in his first year is a stretch. He's very physically impressive but 6'4 is a tough height at this level when there are 6'7 shooters at the top of the league.

[D3.Lifer]

Why does Amherst get the benefit of the doubt no matter what? This isn't the Hixon groups from the early 2000's. This is a group that has played one of the easiest schedules in the country (well documented on here) and the only two tough opponents they've played they are 0-2 and haven't looked good outside of Day. McCarthy has played on game this year and is a career 6 ppg guy. I just don't think saying him and Robinson will change everything. People on here keep talking about the player Grant Robinson was in 2018-19 ... its 2022. It might be time to accept he's not the player that was coming to Amherst with a ton of hype around him. Think it's time to let the 8-0 start go and come back to reality with what Amherst is. They have a lot of inexperienced players and no one that can consistently make a shot outside of Day. 

[Colby Hoops]

Why does Amherst get the benefit of the doubt no matter what? This isn't the Hixon groups from the early 2000's. This is a group that has played one of the easiest schedules in the country (well documented on here) and the only two tough opponents they've played they are 0-2 and haven't looked good outside of Day. McCarthy has played on game this year and is a career 6 ppg guy. I just don't think saying him and Robinson will change everything. People on here keep talking about the player Grant Robinson was in 2018-19 ... its 2022. It might be time to accept he's not the player that was coming to Amherst with a ton of hype around him. Think it's time to let the 8-0 start go and come back to reality with what Amherst is. They have a lot of inexperienced players and no one that can consistently make a shot outside of Day.

I think it's easy to pile on after two losses, but both games (particularly last night's game) could have gone either way. Agree that Robinson isn't some savior, but I think it's fair to point out that one of their best players didn't play and his presence might've impacted a game that close.

I think expecting Alausa to be a shutdown wing defender in his first year is a stretch. He's very physically impressive but 6'4 is a tough height at this level when there are 6'7 shooters at the top of the league.

On Alausa, I don't think he's some shutdown defender, but he's one of the most athletic players in the league and think he's Amherst's best option against Peek. Just one steal, stop, etc. could've made a big difference!

Overall point is that I don't see a lot separating Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan given the results to date. Amherst's warts are most glaring right now because they rely so heavily on Day and Robinson, but I still think there are reasons for optimism.

[SpringSt7]

My biggest takeaway from the first half was going to be that Williams is a class above everyone else in the league at the moment. Then I walked that take back after the second half and OT because Prowitt-Smith or Karren, whichever you prefer, are not quite at Peek or Day's level right now, and sometimes having the best player on the floor is the difference in these close games.

With that being said I think Williams is still the clear #1, even if the margin is not that great. Their schedule is not all that better than Amherst's but it is better and they did beat Wesleyan on the road. They have the most depth of scoring, the most size, and most importantly right now, they are the healthiest of the 3 as well.

[jumpshot]

Williams will not have played a game in 27 days before this weekend vs. Hamilton & lj's, although the Ephs tried scheduling lots of teams in the interim ....

[jayhawk]

The Amherst situation will clearly unfold over the coming weeks
At least some perspective from one person

Grant Robinson in general has looked very good this year  both as point guard and in his outside shooting ,one of the better true point guards in NESCAC
A true point guard improves the offense for everyone else just by creating opportunities
Time will tell if he can shake off the rust from not playing - but over time if does not get injured should do well
Mohammed Alausa  is an extremely strong guards with excellent skills at finishing inside - will improve and diversify offense
he has hit some 3 pointers but not sure really consistent yet , sample size is small

Visually one can see that  previously Tim McCarthy had a cast on his hand and that has now been removed, assume he is doing rehab and may retuirn

I am not saying Amherst is great but the weaker schedule did  not  improve their readiness for league play, The last two games has helped alot with better intensity
Note that Amherst plays five freshman and two sophomores, with Alausa having never played in a college game.
All in all there is reason for optimism for Amherst to improve if people can stay healthy

[amh63]

Interesting posts on the Amherst vs Wes game (non Nescac).  Like jayhawk, I noticed Tim M. Out of his hand cast and mentally in the game.  I also noticed the all-Nescac Grant R., dressed in all-black civic's, cheering and moving back and forth along the sidelines.  With Tim and Grant entering the Nescac games it will impact the particular games for Amherst....opponent defenses will change for the seniors....period.  If not, they will score.
The upcoming game with Midd will be closely watched by me to see how the Amherst coaches substitute in a Nescac game....and make adjustments.