MBB: NESCAC

jumpshot · February 20, 2022, 02:43:00 PM

Colby and Wesleyan tied at the half, Tufts up by 4 over Trinity at the half. Stay tuned ....

stlawus · February 20, 2022, 03:43:17 PM

That should put an end to the Tufts pool C nonsense

Cards Fan · February 20, 2022, 03:45:17 PM

Quote from: toad22 on February 19, 2022, 09:17:35 PM
What are the odds of an upset tomorrow? I would guess that the odds in all the games are low, but my pick would be Trinity upsetting Tufts. Callahan-Gold needs to stay hot, but I think they have a decent chance.

Great pick.

jumpshot · February 20, 2022, 03:49:17 PM

Trinity crushes Tufts 90-76 ...where did the Jumbos' defense go? ... good call Toad....

nescac1 · February 20, 2022, 03:58:05 PM

The big question now is will this loss knock Tufts out of Ryan's top 25?

Yeah, I mean, regarding the Tufts defense, they gave up 38 points to Trinity two weeks ago -- and that was with Will Dorion! Trinity was ice, ice cold in that game (the starters shot 5 for 40, which is nuts) and red hot in this one, but still, from 38 to 90 is just crazy. It took Callahan-Gold most of the season to get cooking but he's now living up to the hype as a transfer.

Old Guy · February 20, 2022, 11:07:43 PM

A word or two on the Middlebury game: Form held (#3 vs #11). Bowdoin was game, Midd played well, got out to a 17 point lead in the first half and maintained a double digit lead throughout the second. Bowdoin got within 11 on a couple occasions. I took nothing for granted as as the Panthers had a pretty good tussle at Bowdoin earlier in the year (Sobel had a bad game: 4 points, 5 fouls).

Sobel was very good: 20 points, 14 rebounds, 7 blocks. Very much in control, despite some "close guarding" by Bowdoin's Workman. It's fun to watch him play defense, flashing out on the pick'n roll, and recovering at the hoop — intuitive, quick, resourceful: terrific rebounder. Bowdoin played some 3-2 zone on the first half to some effect, shutting off the wings (Osher & Stevens) and daring Sobel & Brennan to hit the 12-15' jumper, which they did! Osher had 22, hitting his specialty, the pull-up old fashioned 2 point mid-range jumper (plus 7-8 from the line — leading foul shooter in NESCAC). Stevens had 15 points on 6-10 shooting. Midd's bench contributed 12 points (Zodda had 6). Brennan was in foul trouble but was his usual reliable, hard-nosed self with 8 points (4-6) and 9 boards (and 5 assists).

Now the big challenge, against Williams, a very tough match-up. Well done, Panthers!

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · February 21, 2022, 07:54:19 AM

Quote from: jumpshot on February 20, 2022, 03:49:17 PM
Trinity crushes Tufts 90-76 ...where did the Jumbos' defense go? ... good call Toad....

It wasn't really a crushing. It was like 6 or 7 when Tufts ran out of time and had to start fouling.

Trinity looked real good and their best players are pretty young. They're going to be trouble going forward.

nescac1 · February 21, 2022, 08:39:52 AM

I'd say Donald Jorden is Trinity's best player, and he will be a big loss, but they do - like much of Nescac - have a really strong frosh class (since Callahan-Gold is listed as a FY even though he's a transfer). Midd, Williams, Amherst, and Wesleyan I'd say have absolutely loaded frosh classes, with Trinity and a few others just behind those groups. Almost every team has at least one frosh making a major impact this year. One of the best and deepest groups of frosh in memory in Nescac (helped by a lot of gap years, certainly). Both Stevens and Johnson would be ROY nearly any other year and I think both merit inclusion in the national ROY conversation.

While recruiting is far from over, the class of 2026 seems, by comparison, a bit underwhelming across the league. But again, many recruits are still yet to be announced.

names jaismith · February 21, 2022, 12:42:15 PM

Let's give Trinity a lot of credit for their performance against Tufts. Tufts had been solid defensively for weeks but Trinity really torched them when it mattered most. Both Williams and Wesleyan are likely in NCAA tournament no matter what, but chances for a third team are unclear. If I were Mid I would be worried that Bowdoin was able to hang around so long on Sunday. Trinity can be inconsistent offensively but they really compete and unless Midd comes out ready to play for forty minutes, there will be another upset.
Looking ahead to next year, I am sure that both Midd and Tufts will be good again, but it will have to be in a different way as traditional low post players like Sobel and Rogers only come along every once in a while. A long once in a while at that.

nescac1 · February 21, 2022, 01:30:03 PM

FYI, Midd plays Williams next, and Sobel is returning for another year.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · February 21, 2022, 01:49:32 PM

Both Middlebury and Trinity have an outside shot at a Pool C bid - obviously that shot improves for either/both of them with another win.

P'bearfan · February 21, 2022, 03:01:21 PM

Congrats to the Polar Bears and first year Coach Alex Lloyd! This was a tough season, but the team notched it's first NESCAC tournament win since 2015.

Looking forward to seeing the new heights Coach Lloyd and his you team climb to in the coming seasons.

Colby Hoops · February 21, 2022, 04:58:06 PM

Quote from: P'bearfan on February 21, 2022, 03:01:21 PM
Congrats to the Polar Bears and first year Coach Alex Lloyd! This was a tough season, but the team notched it's first NESCAC tournament win since 2015.

I saw Bowdoin touting this stat in the write up as well, and not to rain on the parade, but I feel like it doesn't really count when it's this Covid-format. It's like the NBA play-in format, doesn't really count as a playoff victory to win the 7-10 game in the play-in.

Nevertheless, I do think Lloyd did a nice job in his first year.

maineman · February 21, 2022, 05:37:17 PM

Quote from: names jaismith on February 21, 2022, 12:42:15 PM
If I were Mid I would be worried that Bowdoin was able to hang around so long on Sunday. Trinity can be inconsistent offensively but they really compete and unless Midd comes out ready to play for forty minutes, there will be another upset.

Midd led wire to wire and maintained a double digit lead throughout ending in a 19 point differential. I don't see that as Bowdoin hanging around for so long. Also, for Trinity to face Midd again, both would have to win against Wesleyan and Williams, respectively. I don't see that happening.

The question might be is if both lose in the semis, will their resume be good enough to garner a Pool C? Midd and Trinity will have 6 and 9 losses respectively then, a fair record vs. ranked teams, Midd currently 3-3 and Trinity, 2-5 and current winning percentages of .783 vs .667. Caution, I may be wrong on some of these metrics. And the Tufts announcers were calling the Jumbos, the King of the Nescac and suggesting they still may have a fleeting chance at a Pool C. Who comes in the highest in the regional rankings that come out tomorrow will be huge.

nescac1 · February 21, 2022, 05:48:50 PM

I think regional ranking will go: Wesleyan, St Joes, Williams, Midd, Trinity, and after that no one has a prayer at pool C. Midd needs a win Saturday and I think that would - just barely - put them in the tourney. Trinity I think has almost zero chance. Wes or Williams finish first in region with two wins. Wes and Williams may both finish ahead of St Joe's if they meet in the Nescac final, it will be a close call between St Joes and either of them following a Nescac title game loss (my guess is Wes but not Williams would stay second in region). If St Joe's wins out and Williams - Wes is the Nescac title game, I think it's unlikely the region exceeds one Pool C bid.