MBB: NESCAC

[walzy31]

Every year I forget how good Jon Pierce is until I watch him play. The kid is so banged up and looks like he is going at 60% yet still drops 19 and has 4 or 5 big blocks on defense. Williamson looked good today and Barrise rebounded well in both games. Hopefully Amherst can spend the next two weeks getting Meehan healthy and then win three in a row in the tourney.

[nescac1]

Williams is (obviously) playing at a very high level and clicking on all cylinders, on both ends of the court.  They will be tough to beat until the NCAA's, although no easy games ahead with two rivalry road games followed by NESCAC tourney.  With Schultz, Wang, and Troy, all you need is at least two (today it was Schultz and Wang) to have their average  or above-average game, and the Ephs are very hard to defend.  But player of the game goes to senior Charlie Cates, who had a big dunk and two huge blocks, plus two assists, to energize the Senior Day crowd down the stretch.  Impressed by Klemm and Emerson when they get minutes ... they would be rotation guys at every other NESCAC school, and will be two of the top six-seven for the Ephs next year.  Klemm is very polished and is a natural scorer / shooter, and Emerson can do what you want out of a big guy in Maker's system -- shoot from the outside, pass from the high post, rebound, block shots.  

I think Midd locks up an NCAA bid with today's win.  Colby, now, is looking a bit precarious and may need to win out plus get at least one NESCAC tourney win ...

Ephs shooting an unconscious 46 percent from 3 collectively on the season ... that is nuts.  

[jesseowenssmoked]

Colby's guards are nothing like Midd's guards, much slower and less aggressive, backing way off at times.  

Less aggressive, true. The past two days the number of open threes by Midd and Williams has been staggering. But i could almost guarantee they're not slower.

Williams and Middlebury, without a doubt the better teams, but anyone who watched those games can't say it wasn't embarrassing how Colby played. If you've watched them all year you know they're better than that. It was like deja vu against Middlebury, after looking great starting out in both games with leads the offense fell apart and the defense soon followed. Bad weekend.

[Bucket]

I'd like to think that Midd's defense had something to do with how bad Colby looked today. Williams partisans would probably say the same thing about the Ephs offense the night before.

Today's 15-point final spread belies how lopsided this game was. Midd held a 20-plus point-advantage for much of the second half until garbage time.

Choice had to take about 20 shots to get the points that he did. I love watching Russell play--I think he's the heart and soul of that team--and he clearly wasn't at full strength after what must have been a nasty collision against Williams. Still, he toughed it out, and without him the Mules would have lost by 30.

I don't think the Mules' guards are slower than Midd's--Sherman has a terrific first step--but no, they are not nearly as aggressive as Wolfin, Thompson, Wholey, Edwards, and Alvarez.

Midd plays such an aggressive D in both the front court and the backcourt; Colby does not. That's why just about every Mule shot was contested and the Midd perimiter shooters had so many open looks. Even the big fella, Locke, got into the action, draining a first half three (to beat the shot clock).

Great weekend for the Panthers. Great weekend for the Ephs. Colby comes back down to Earth. Don't sleep on Amherst. It should be a fun couple of weeks.

[CWM_42]

It was truly and embarrassing weekend for Colby and Bowdoin, but a particularly bad weekend for the Mules.  I watched some of each of the Williams/Middlebury vs. Colby/Bowdoin contests.  Williams and Middlebury are clearly the class of the conference: both solid, balanced teams that are consistent and don't do anything to hurt themselves.

I would also note, as it's been mentioned before on this board that the Middlebury broadcast crew is outstanding.  The Williams broadcast team...well the inanity forced me to turn off the sound.  In the seemingly likely event that Williams hosts the NESCAC Final Four will the Middlebury team still broadcast?

Amherst has to be careful and get healthy soon...they could easily be 3-6 after playing Williams and Middlebury next weekend and then be looking at a trip to either of those spots in the first round of the NESCACs.

At this point, I don't see how Colby, Amherst or anyone else besides Williams or Middlebury can make the NCAAs without winning the NESCAC tournament.

[CWM_42]

"...AN embarassing weekend..."

[Old Guy]

First half today against the Muules was as good a half of defense I've seen a Panther team play, ever (three decades). Colby got out early, 8-2, 12-4. Then Middlebury just shut them down - steals, blocks, forced tuirnovers. Any coach in the stands (or former HS coach like me) could have died a happy person at the half (Midd up 37-18). The Miules had 3 hoops in 14 minutes.

Not just one guy for Midd - a harassing, extended man-to-man team D with erasers underneath. It was beautiful. Edwards started out on Choice, who ended up with 18 well-earned points. Everything was contested. Davis also guarded Choice, in the second half. Edwards, Thompson shared Haylon, who had 0 points, and he can really shoot. Russell just keeps working - he had a big bandage over his eye today. Sherman's points were after the game was decided.

Middlebury was very good today.

Re Bucket's description of Davis' flush last night off a backboard pass from Wolfin. I loved it, BUT there were 17 minutes left in the game. The slam, last I looked, still counted only two points. It enlivens the fans, true, but sometimes that's overrated. A couple years ago, in a NESCAC tourney game agianst Colby we went on a run, Andrew Harris was unconscious, we went up 15 or so, and our fans were chanting "You can't stop us," and there were 15 minutes left! Colby came back, behind Farrell and Cohen, tied the game in regulation and beat us in OT. Don't celebrate till 40 minutes have passed. Like I said I'm "old" and old-fashioned.

Re: announcers - they should be objective, like officials. They can be vigorous and animated, but not partisan. I get sick of "YOUR (home team). These people watch too much TV.

RE: Frank Ubile's comments about the "real deal." Williams is the real deal. After this weekend, I think Middlebury is the real deal, though they have stiff challenges left. There is more than one real deal. These are kids, students, playing because they love their sport, and their school, and their teammates. There are many real deals.

[mainehoops]

It pains me to say this but this has to be my final post on D3Hoops.  It has been a fun week going back and forth with many of you.  I will continue to read daily, although I think it is best for me to go in another direction after these two losses. 

A parting message to any Colby player reading this:  Don't get discouraged by one bad weekend.  At the end of the day, you are in great position to go 7-2 in league (with home games to Conn and Wes remaining) and to take the 3 seed.  You know you can play MUCH MUCH better than what we saw!  Forget about this, it did not happen.  Once you win the first NESCAC game you will have your chance at redemption.  Play PHYSICAL and play ANGRY, but mostly play SMART! 

Go Mules!

[ephoops]

RE: Frank Ubile's comments about the "real deal." Williams is the real deal. After this weekend, I think Middlebury is the real deal, though they have stiff challenges left. There is more than one real deal. These are kids, students, playing because they love their sport, and their school, and their teammates. There are many real deals.

Amen...

[senatorfrost]

  I was wondering what happened?? It's still not over yet,  but the large lady was just helped out of her chair. Now she's walking very slowly over to the microphone. I decided that one of the things I should do while I wait to see if she makes it to the mike or not,  is give some karma to my man Frankie. Here you go Frankie.

[senatorfrost]

  I also gave Karma to NESCAC1 and Eph Hoops. They don't show off about it but they were named charter members of my hall of fame of NESCAC whatever this thing we all waste time on is called. I'm going to go and give out some more karma.

[Pat Coleman]

It pains me to say this but this has to be my final post on D3Hoops.  It has been a fun week going back and forth with many of you.  I will continue to read daily, although I think it is best for me to go in another direction after these two losses. 

A parting message to any Colby player reading this:  Don't get discouraged by one bad weekend. 

I'll say the same to you -- don't get discouraged by one bad weekend! Stick around.

[walzy31]

It pains me to say this but this has to be my final post on D3Hoops.  It has been a fun week going back and forth with many of you.  I will continue to read daily, although I think it is best for me to go in another direction after these two losses.  

A parting message to any Colby player reading this:  Don't get discouraged by one bad weekend.  At the end of the day, you are in great position to go 7-2 in league (with home games to Conn and Wes remaining) and to take the 3 seed.  You know you can play MUCH MUCH better than what we saw!  Forget about this, it did not happen.  Once you win the first NESCAC game you will have your chance at redemption.  Play PHYSICAL and play ANGRY, but mostly play SMART!  

Go Mules!

MaineHoops,

Don't throw the towel in now. Like you said, Colby is the 3rd best team in the league. Back your Mules. Get them going. Don't retire....you have a +4 Karma after 11 posts...that is a good trend to continue.

[senatorfrost]

 Maine Hoops: Tufts beating Amherst was sort of a crushing blow BUT my point was it's not over until the fat lady sings. Even if she sings, there's always next year. You're going to get a home game in the NESCAC tourney which is hardly the end of the world so don't disappear just because you might not be #1.

[FISHERMAN]

If you don't respect Kaasila (Amherst) and what he's doing, then you have a big dump in your pants.