MBB: NESCAC

[ac08]

you deserve to lose close games when you give up multiple 50/50 balls in a single possession...

[walzy31]

1/29/10 Prop Bets

Sha Brown Vs. Jon Pierce Points Scored in Wesleyan/Tufts game
Brown - 5.0

Trinity/Colby 1st half Total
Over/Under: 58.0

Blocked shots in Williams/Middlebury game
Over/Under: 11.5

Will one of the five NESCAC games go into Overtime on Friday night?
Yes +120
No -150

Willy Hanley Vs. Willy Workman in Amherst/Bowdoin game Fantasy Points
Hanley -9.5

Sha Brown 30 - Jon Pierce 32
Sha Brown Vs. Jon Pierce Points Scored in Wesleyan/Tufts game
Brown - 5.0 (Jon Pierce Covers +7.0)

Colby 27 - Trinity 27
Trinity/Colby 1st half Total
Over/Under: 58.0 (Under +4.0)

Yes
Will one of the five NESCAC games go into Overtime on Friday night?
Yes +120
No -150

Willy Hanley 21 FP - Willy Workman 3 FP
Willy Hanley Vs. Willy Workman in Amherst/Bowdoin game Fantasy Points
Hanley -9.5 (Hanley Covers +8.5)

[walzy31]

I'll take Conn College Money Line at -135

I'll take Trinity + 10 @ Colby

I'll take Weslyan

I'll take Middlebury @ +6.5

I am going to parlay this so I want 12 to 1 odds please. Thanks.

L

L

W

Unknown

Parlay Result = L

[muletrain]

Big win for Colby tonight. Tomorrows game against Amherst will determine who is the "best of the rest" after Williams and midd. Tonight Choice was unstoppable and the rest of the Colby team played great mistake-free ball (only 5 turnovers). If Colby can beat Amherst tomorrow and steal one from Williams or Midd next weekend all havoc will break loose in Waterville.

[senatorfrost]

  Meehan missed some games and practices too. This was probably part of the reason why they lost tonight. However, even though I think it's a good excuse. the NCAA probably will regard tonight as simply a loss.

[ac08]

Right. There aren't any excuses for this one.

[Old Guy]

so much for the home court advantage at Middlebury: students on break AND a big NESCAC men's hockey game at the same time next door, 4:00 pm, Midd-Bowdoin.

[Hugenerd]

  Meehan missed some games and practices too. This was probably part of the reason why they lost tonight. However, even though I think it's a good excuse. the NCAA probably will regard tonight as simple a loss.

NCAA only looks at Ws and Ls, period.  They never get any information on injuries or players missing games, etc. They stick strictly to the primary criteria which is WP and SOS.  You could have your entire starting 5 out and all the NCAA would see is the final score.

[Mr. Ypsi]

  Meehan missed some games and practices too. This was probably part of the reason why they lost tonight. However, even though I think it's a good excuse. the NCAA probably will regard tonight as simple a loss.

NCAA only looks at Ws and Ls, period.  They never get any information on injuries or players missing games, etc. They stick strictly to the primary criteria which is WP and SOS.  You could have your entire starting 5 out and all the NCAA would see is the final score.

The 'NCAA' is a group of d3 coaches, or whoever is on the selection committee (ADs, SIDs, whoever).

[senatorfrost]

  Even if students are away home court is still a big advantage. A team practices there and gets to know the 'spots', angles and backgrounds. I never thought about it before, but I wonder how many points are given or taken away because of level of fan enthusiasm.

[walzy31]

NESCAC Spreads - 1/30/2010

Williams -6.5 @ Middlebury
Over/Under: 152.5

Bates -2.0 @ Wesleyan
Over/Under: 138.0

Trinity +4.0 @ Bowdoin
Over/Under: 127.5

Amherst +4.5 @ Colby
Over/Under: 133.5

Tufts +2.0 @ Conn College
Over/Under: 135.0

I hope I am wrong on the Amherst game.
Not in the mood for any props other than the Williams/Midd Blocks Total that I already made: O/U 11.5

[nescac1]

I'll take Bates and Conn, coming off that four OT game in which key guys all played 50 plus minutes, I figure Wes and Tufts will both be exhausted ... especially Tufts who has to travel after a heartbreaking loss.  That is a lot of points for Midd to be getting at home (especially vs. a Williams team that has played five straight on the road and has underperformed a few times away from home), but I can't bet against Williams, so I'll just leave that one alone.  I'll take Amherst and Bowdoin as well.  I think Colby could well win, but if they do it will be close.  Bowdoin is the hardest team to predict this year, all over the map ...

oh, and under on the blocks, I think both team's shot-blockers will have a tougher time going against better players than they are accustomed to intimidating ...

[Rick Vaughn]

Some observations about the Midd-Williams 1st half...

Blake Schultz proved he is the NESCAC MVP.

Wolfin struggled early, but made some big plays late.

Williams' narrowly avoided serious foul trouble (Schultz, Big Joe, and Troy all have two).

Midd needs someone to step up and score without Sherry.

Locke struggle with the athleticism Williams threw at him.

Great coaching by Maker late - 13 point lead down to 5.  Calls a 30-sec TO, gets Big Joe a dunk and Wang makes a 3 to end the half.

Should be a good 2nd half...would love to see both teams cut down on turnovers.

[nescac1]

Agree with Rick's thoughts.  Wang hit a HUGE contested three to make the lead eight at halftime, after Midd had closed the gap.

Great effort by Williams.  The big three for the Ephs, Whittington, Wang, and Schultz, dominated three of the best defenders in NESCAC, Locke, Thompson, and Edwards, respectively.  It was almost painful to watch Locke try to guard Whittington, he had no chance at all.  If Troy hadn't gotten in foul trouble with four fouls, a few of them dumb, it could have been worse.  He had two monster dunks, one off a sick feed from Wang, one just right over Locke similar to how he abused Kaasila.  These big slow guys just can't guard him.  Wang got off to a rough start, Thompson is very disruptive, but as the game went on his points came easier and easier as he started to drive at will.  Schultz was simply scorching hot from outside, although many of his looks were wide open and set up by teammates.  He played great overall.  

For Midd, I was impressed by Davis, as usual the Ephs struggle with strong guys playing the four inside; Sharry really would have helped Midd today.  Other than Davis and Thompson, Midd really struggled on offense.  Their shooting from floor, except for those two guys, was abominable.  Some credit goes to the Williams D, which was REALLY good today, but even when open, the Midd shooters never looked comfortable and were putting up bricks.  Edwards played tough, but didn't really hurt the Ephs badly, Alvarez gave them a spark when he was in, but Locke, Wholly, and in particular Wolfin really struggled on both ends of the floor.

Key shot of the game came from William Hardy, who calmly drained a HUGE long two when Midd made a major run, to push the lead to three and settle the Ephs down, and from that point forward, it was all Ephs.  Midd's defense was very tough and they forced a LOT of TO's, but the Ephs did better than I expected on the boards, and the one-on-one play of three Eph stars was just too much for Middlebury, clearly three of the best offensive players in NESCAC and when all three are clicking, like tonight, the Ephs are tough to stop (even though the complementary players had a bit of an off day).  

One entertaining moment, seems to be no love lost between Schultz and Edwards, that was clear when Edwards bowled Schultz over at one point, and Schultz refused to be helped up by him.   Both scrappy, very aggressive, very physical players.  Of course, today Schultz won the battle, but I imagine there is a good chance these teams will meet again -- and with Sharry, Midd will stand a better chance.  

Big win for Colby sets up a HUGE game in Williamstown next weekend ...

[walzy31]

NESCAC Spreads - 1/30/2010

Williams -6.5 @ Middlebury
Over/Under: 152.5

Bates -2.0 @ Wesleyan
Over/Under: 138.0

Trinity +4.0 @ Bowdoin
Over/Under: 127.5

Amherst +4.5 @ Colby
Over/Under: 133.5

Tufts +2.0 @ Conn College
Over/Under: 135.0

I hope I am wrong on the Amherst game.
Williams/Midd Blocks Total: O/U 11.5

Williams 79 - Middlebury 64
Williams -6.5 @ Middlebury (Williams Covers +8.5)
Over/Under: 152.5 (Under +9.5)

Bates 73 - Wesleyan 69
Bates -2.0 @ Wesleyan (Bates Covers +2.0)
Over/Under: 138.0 (Over +4.0)

Bowdoin 60 - Trinity 56
Trinity +4.0 @ Bowdoin (Push)
Over/Under: 127.5 (Under +11.5)

Colby 72 - Amherst 68
Amherst +4.5 @ Colby (Amherst Covers +0.5)
Over/Under: 133.5 (Over +6.5)

Conn College 83 - Tufts 81
Tufts +2.0 @ Conn College (Push)
Over/Under: 135.0 (Over by a lot)

8
Total Combined Blocks in Williams/Middlebury Game:
Over/Under: 11.5 (Under +3.5)