MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Well, first and foremost because I'm a Williams fan.  But if I have to use logic, I'd say the Ephs were in a serious slump but showed signs of life this weekend.  They blew out Wesleyan and beat Conn, while Middlebury played the same two teams and barely beat Wesleyan and got beaten handily by Conn, so the Ephs have a little more momentum heading into the Midd match-up.  That being said, the Eph shooters still can't throw the ball in the ocean and that HAS to change to have a shot against Midd. I just have a feeling a few of the guys who have been misfiring are due to hit a few big shots.  Plus, Schultz broke out of his slump in a big way against Wes and he was huge in the post-season last year.  Now, i'm not SO optimistic as to predict a win over an Amherst team playing some nasty ball of late assuming the Ephs do get by Midd, but I have a feeling the game in VT will go down to the wire and come down to the last few shots, and if that happens, anything can happen. 

Williams fans, anyone have any scoop on Marcus Wells the incoming point?  Sounds like a potential impact player from the article about him, although I guess he plays in an unspectacular league so it's hard to project ...

[Pat Coleman]

Pat (or anyone who knows) has there been another set of regional rankings released after the first one? Thanks.

They come out late Wednesday afternoons.

[lefrakenstein]

Well, first and foremost because I'm a Williams fan.  But if I have to use logic, I'd say the Ephs were in a serious slump but showed signs of life this weekend.  They blew out Wesleyan and beat Conn, while Middlebury played the same two teams and barely beat Wesleyan and got beaten handily by Conn, so the Ephs have a little more momentum heading into the Midd match-up.  That being said, the Eph shooters still can't throw the ball in the ocean and that HAS to change to have a shot against Midd. I just have a feeling a few of the guys who have been misfiring are due to hit a few big shots.  Plus, Schultz broke out of his slump in a big way against Wes and he was huge in the post-season last year.  Now, i'm not SO optimistic as to predict a win over an Amherst team playing some nasty ball of late assuming the Ephs do get by Midd, but I have a feeling the game in VT will go down to the wire and come down to the last few shots, and if that happens, anything can happen. 

Williams fans, anyone have any scoop on Marcus Wells the incoming point?  Sounds like a potential impact player from the article about him, although I guess he plays in an unspectacular league so it's hard to project ...

I'm probably not speaking for most Jeff fans who rightly fear facing an arch-rival in a big game, but I would LOVE to see one more Amherst-Williams basketball game in LeFrak before I graduate. I'm really going to miss those. Going to a D3 school and getting to experience a rivalry like Williams and Amherst have is such an awesome experience. Only Wooster-Witt and Calvin-Hope come close to comparing.

[Hahaha]

ok ok well if you are going to set lines then lets make sure you are half decent at it degenerate..... lets play "Lets make a deal". If I set the lines closer to the games all nescac tournament then you will have to make a guest appearance at a Nescac Conference tournament game of my choice.... otherwise I will reveal myself and you can know who I am, or mor eimportantly you never set lines again because that is how pathetic it is BITCH

[BillWalton]

and I challenge you....to a game of one on one, only we play the way we played back in my day with short shorts and tube socks....

-The greatest bearded center of all time

[ILive4This]

I have on a few occasions set closer lines than Walzy, but its all in good fun. How about we set lines me and you all nescac tourney, and if I am closer you never post on this site again, or at the very least respect the others on the site. I officially volunteer to be your next target, mainly because I think you are pathetic and looking for attention, attention that I am willing to give you simply to make you look stupid.

You are right most people on this site have a good deal of knowledge on the topics they post, and I consider myself to be pretty knowledgeable as well. I do not challenge anyone to a game of 1-on-1 because I know my strengths. We can play a game of H-O-R-S-E, but not with a bball, but rather with bball trivia. I hope you would not use the internet to cheat, as that would ruin the spirit of this game I have created. If this does not suit you, please pick a time and location and we will run a footrace, the likes of which will be video taped and linked to this website.

[ILive4This]

For the record that was aimed at haha, not at the poster who suggested 1-on-1, just making that clear.

[backinmyday]

The most exciting time of the year, NESCAC tournament action...I just wanted to give a quick take on the games at hand, maybe sparking some other opinions...

Amherst and Colby - Although the first game was rather close, having seen both Amherst and Colby, I would say the Jeff's superior size will be too tough to overcome for the Mules.  For the doubters of Adam Choice, the young man seems to be extremely athletic with some talent, his case for making any all-regocnition team may be on the line this weekend.

Trinity and Conn - I am actually a bit concerned for the Hartford kids on this one. Conn seemed to have burned the nets off against Middlebury and may carry this over into Saturday.  Trinity played as hard as I have seen against Amherst all year, but did not execute well at all offensively nor shoot the ball well, both must be remedied or at least improved before the Camels come in.

Middlebury and Williams - Perhaps the most intriguing match up of the quarters.  Both teams have proved this year they are capable of knocking off top tier teams (i.e. Williams - Ursinus, and Middlebury over numerous talented teams).  I'd call this game my Doctor Jekel Mr. Hyde match up. Will the Middlebury team show up that beat Bowdoin by 15+, or the team that just lost to Conn giving up 95?  Will the Williams team show up that showed Trinity Jimmy from Hooisers was reborn, or the team that many of the posters here have come accustumed to having great disappointment in?

Bowdoin and Bates - Again interesting in that they just met, especially since it is reported here that Ellis did not even play in Bates's last weekend victory.  The Bowdoin team is physical and superior in the paint and can turn a game of basketball into rugby.  They work extremely hard and have earned every ounce of respect and recognition.  Bates I can not figure out.  They may be the most overachieving team in recent memory. To beat Bowdoin, on the road, twice, would be nothing short of outstanding, especially if it is again without Ellis.

Amherst vs. Williams (for all you Senior Jeff's and Eph's) Is my only prediction and I'm doing it so I can sit at my computer and read pages upon pages of Hixon vs. Paulson, Shalvoy vs. Olsen, Hopkins vs. Goehegan, Rose vs. Himself, part VI.  

[ILive4This]

What a disappointing season for the Jumbos. I will be honest, I really do not like tufts, this stems from totally non basketball (and non-admissions) related issues. However I really was expecting more from them this season. They played Brandeis very tough earlier this year winning by 2 (4 if you do not count the two tech free throws from before the game even started, for a dunk during warmups by a Deis Frosh). That being said I would have seen them playing close to 500 ball in conference, however that just did not happen. They lost to Wesleyan at home, which was really unexpected. Not saying much for next years as I believe they lose a fair amount of talent.

[Mr. Ypsi]

If posters really want Hahaha removed, he is perilously close to violating TOS #3, and a complaint to the administration would probably accomplish that.  Personally, I find such (borderline illiterate) trolls to be quite amusing - at least up to a point.  His attack on Walzy has probably raised Walzy's stock considerably!

[ILive4This]

I dont actually wont him removed, i just like challenging him as a troll, it is amusing for me.

[Friar T]

Walzy is the king of the NESCAC spread. No one has been accurate as often or for as long, and he doesn't even see 75-80% of these teams play. For some no-name to come in on his first five posts and challenge him and use insulting words like "degenerate," is not only absurd, but probably proof of a needed stay in Bellvue.

Also his comments on gambling and then challenges to bet are similar to a scene in Dumb and Dumber

Lloyd: I'll bet you twenty dollars I can get you gambling before the day is out!
Harry: No!
Lloyd: I'll give you three to one odds.
Harry: No.
Lloyd: Five to one.
Harry: No.
Lloyd: Ten to one?
Harry: You're on!
Lloyd: I'm gonna get ya!
Harry: Nu uh!
Lloyd: I don't know how but I'm gonna get ya.

[hoopjunkie]

iliveforthis I will give you & others my take on the dissapointing Jumbo season .
It came down to these factors :

Ryan Okeefe a 6`3"  shooting guard missing 10 games at various times in the season not only was he the 3rd leading scorer on the team he would defend the 2 guards on other teams . Watching Dan Cook at 5`11" try to guard 6`6" Brian Baubaucas was a joke .

Jon Pierce could not stop the main scorers on the other teams ie Adam Choice at Colby . He is such a one dimensional player he reminds me of zach randolph of the Knicks . Great stats but a terrible team player . No assists & no defense . Same can be same about jeremy black , could not guard anyone . So game after game big games from point guards & forwards .

Only  bright stars on this team were Dave Beyel & Jake Weitzen . Beyel a sophmore should have been starting from day 1 of the season . As it was he really started developing & should be be a force next year. Weitzen was almost too unselfish trying to pass when they were no finishers . his shooting pct. was down since every team keyed on him & Pierce & no one else .

[ILive4This]

Weitzen played well in every game i saw him play this season which I think was 3....either way, his ability given his size is one thing that always impressed me. It is unfortunate that he did not have the help he should have this season.

[CCsalive]

In years past Trinity has proven to be a tough match for the Camels, but I do recall Conn playing tough against a senior Tyler Rhoten squad (it must have been 05-06). With so few league games, and so few truly meaningful games, it is really tough to predict the Camels potential in a game like this. The 05-06 Camels were a good team who lost to Williams at the buzzer and lost to great Bates and Tufts teams on the road, but both were games that the Camels were winning in the second half. That Conn team earned the #8 seed and fell to Amherst (but the refs screwed Stone in the first 8 minutes calling two quick love taps-one in the front court when a 'herst player had rebounded the ball and 8 players had already run down the floor and Stone and the 'herst player got their legs tangled-a good ref has to call a travel and let the star player stay in the game). Last season the Camels had a year much like the 07-08 Tufts debacle.

The first CC vs. Trinity match-up appears to have been a close contest, if not a sloppy one (Saturday after CC v Amherst). Conn trailed by only 1-pt at the half and the difference appears to have been the second half shooting:
Conn        9-24 37.5%
Trinity      17-29 58.6%
Trinity out rebounded 30 to 22 on the night and each team had 16 turn-overs.
Interestingly, for a team that has been out-sized all year long Conn shot 13-15 from the FT line as opposed to Trinity's 6-6.

I do believe this will be a close, well-played game. Conn's yearning for a big win, their biggest since going to the Final Four, could be the deciding factor.