MBB: NESCAC

[walzy31]

5 for 5 in the predictions. I assume that the front page of D3hoops has an error on the Trin Wes score as it says 63-56...but on the nescac page it was 63-36 which would seem more of a likely defeat for Wes Tech.
Amherst rolled Conn 83-52 in an all out dominant performance. Bates result is solid (10-30 from deep wont cut it for Williams).

[formerbant10]

It was 63-36 in the Trin/Wes game.

Word is Blake Curry took a turnaround 35 footer and was benched immediately....Walzy, I'm sure you can appreciate that one.

Congrats to Tyler Rhoten for crackin 2,000....that's a lot of points.

[nescachoopsfan]

i was just wondering if anyone saw the tufts williams game friday night, and if they did, did williams play very well or is that their normal game?  i know tufts isnt exactly known for their defensive prowess, but 11-16 from 3 is still pretty good.  basically just wondering if williams elevated their game that night or if they play that well all the time.  obviously they werent the same team the next day against bates, but i havent seen williams play this year.

[Red1]

I think that Wiliams was exactly the same team when they played Bates, the bobcats just had all the answers yesterday.  The Ephs played the same style they always do, shooting tons of 3s, the only difference is that the outside shots didn't fall.  They're low percentage shots in general, and can't be expected to fall all the time.  Plus Bates' defense prides itself on defending the outside shots as well as they defend the inside shots and grabbing a lot of rebounds, preventing 2nd chance points.  They're not the 10th ranked scoring defense, 14th ranked field goal % defense, and 4th ranked rebound margin team in the country for nothing.  That's why I give so much credit to Andrew Newton.  He was able to score quite a few points from the post, and Bates is very stingy on giving up the high percentage shots.   He also grabbed his share of offensive rebounds, and Bates is very good at preventing that.  I don't think Williams played poorly or unusually at all.  Bates' defensive style is particularly good at counterpunching the Ephs' style of offense.

I don't know much about Tufts, but I have heard several times no that their defense is suspect to say the least.  Williams had no trouble knocking down the threes in Lewiston when they got open, and I think it's safe to say they probably got open far more often against the weaker Tufts defense then they did against the stronger Bates defense.  Williams didn't lose yesterday so much as Bates won.

Question:  Between a 15-2 overall record, (4-0 Nescac) an 11 game winning streak, a big win over Williams, and their national rankings in all categories of defense and rebounding, what's the chance that the bobcats might start appearing on the top 25 list sometime in the near future (or at leat in the "also receiving votes section)?

[walzy31]

I'd put Bates at 35th this week(although I think they should be 5 or 6 spots higher). Trinity will probably sneak into 25th or 24th. Amherst will hover in the 10-14 range. Williams will remain out of the rankings.

[rufus]

Red1 - just a quick correction.  The Bobcats are 14-2, unless you are already giving them the win against UME Farmington on Tuesday - and that would be very bad form, remember last year!?

Was also in attendance at the games this weekend and agree with most of what you have to say in your report.  But my perspective was that Williams came out tired from the night before with Tufts.  That was a come-from-behind win and those are tough.  Alumni was rockin' and the heat was pumpin'.  The Ephs really looked out of it in the second half, in particular Newton who played 32 minutes.  He scored 7 baskets and took 3 offensive rebounds, but that really doesn't qualify him as "having his way", with all do respect.  I stayed at the Hilton where the Ephs were and I spoke with them in the elevator and down in the lobby.  They were plain tired and drained.

For the rest of you, Coach Paulsen was up to his usual red faced antics.  It's good to know that some things don't change in NESCAC play.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'd put Bates in the top 25 this week.  There were so many losses by the teams in the 20-30 range that things got pretty easy for me when I looked at it.  There are a bunch of decent teams out in the OAC beating the crap out of each other, the same for the WIAC.  Bates has posted good results and have a clean record.  Also, props for the win over Trinity (TX) over the holidays.

[broke_ya_ankles]

its a shame that bates has any losses really, the 1 point loss at Endicott obviously was a winnable game and the loss to USM was just a fluke bates is head and shoulders above USM so that never should have happened, and with the quality conference wins they are getting now they would be in serious contention for a high national ranking if they hadnt of blown those 2 early season games

[rufus]

Thanks for the "leap of faith" Hoops Fan and BYA.  Having seen 13 of the 16 Bates games, I think that I can honestly say  that this team is for real.  The wins over Trinity(TX), Springfield(a very good team that just can't seem to win), and now, the convincing win over a good Williams team, all bode well for the future.  I'm just too familiar with the past years when coming into NESCAC play the Bobcats had great records, only to drop 6 or 7 of the league games.  I'm cautiously optimistic, and Reilly is literally at the top of is game.  His coaching has been supurb and he has something that he has never had before - a bench.  There are youngsters getting good minutes for good reasons - they produce!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the wheels don't fall off this weekend.  But they have a tough UME Farmington team tomorrow.

BYA - yeah, the loss to Endicott still haunts.  Bates was up by 1 with 7 seconds to go and Endicott made the basket.  We should have never been in that situation, but I guess you have to learn to lose as well.  But I give credit to USM, they were the better team that night. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Endicott is a on a roll right now.  While the game was definately winnable for you, I'm not sure that loss is going to look all that bad come the end of the season.

[formerbant10]

I don't think Bates gets into the top 25 this week.  While their record should put them right up there, I think the voters won't know what to think of them till they play Tufts, Amherst and Trinity.  I think Trinity gets closer to the 25 spot with a bunch of teams losing, but they still might not get in.  Amherst benefits from a bunch of teams in front of them losing a game this weekend.

Rufus, being a Bates fan recently has been tough.  They have been great in the 1st semester and then faltered when it came time for conference play....but they did make it to the finals last year, which was a step further than they made it the year before.  Maybe this is their year.  The final weekend matchup w/ Trinity and Amherst should be the deciding weekend just as it was last year.  Only this time the advantage goes to Amherst and Trinity as they have the home games.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Bates had the schedule in their favor last year; it seems like this higher level of play is coming a year too late.  It will take a lot to get through the NESCAC this year for them.

[formerbant10]

The schedule is not much different than it was last year.  And to be honest, it's tough to tell if they are really playing at a higher level.  They still are capable of losing 3 games in the conference easily....but could win all 3 also because their defense seems to be very good. 

And if they are playing at a higher level, it'll be easier for them to get through the NESCAC this year because the NESCAC doesn't have 2 or 3 great teams that they'd have to go through like there has been in the recent past. 

[Red1]

I will always believe that playing a strong team on the road is tougher than playing them at home, and I will always believe that Trinity and Amherst are strong teams this year.  Bates was 3rd last year losing only to Amhers and Tufts.  Trinity was 4th losing to Amherst and Bates.  If Bates wins all 3 Nescac games over the next two weekends, which they can, then they should be looking good for 3rd again.  To do better than last year would require 2nd or 1st place.  i.e. defeating Amherst and/or Trinity.  This year, however, those games are on the road.  This would tend to make me think that it would be tougher this year than last.  I believe that Bates could beat an Amherst or a Trinity in Lewiston, but I'm not quite as confident about playing those teams on the road.

As for the 15-2 thing, I majored in math which renders me completely unable to count beyond the number of fingers on my hands.  (I can function quite well in the realm of theoretical math though.)  14-2 is correct and I apologize. 

Cheers,
Red1

[rufus]

Formerbant - Yes, I have to remind myself that they have come a long way from the "door mat" days.  Making it to the finals last year, as Red1 says, shows great improvement, and quite frankly helped the program alot.  But I have to concede to your feelings about the home team advantage.  Close games and being at home generally result in a smile on the home team faces.  Great teams win regardless.  But I will repeat it once more - the two differences between this team and previous clubs, is the amount of bench strength, and the fact the Joe Reilly is doing an excellent job.  But there is still a great deal of basketball between now and then and anything can happen. 

Red1 - try using fingers and toes - it works for me!