MBB: NESCAC

Old Guy · March 05, 2010, 09:39:45 PM

52-36 Midd with 8 minutes gone in the second hald. Now not to go to sleep again. Gordon has good guards.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · March 05, 2010, 09:45:25 PM

Gordon got it back to nine then Edwards hit a tough fall away three with a hand in his face. I think Middlebury is just a bit too much for Gordon.

Old Guy · March 05, 2010, 10:08:31 PM

Middlebury hangs on to win by 7, 64-57. Locke was the difference, maybe 10 blocks.

nescac1 · March 05, 2010, 10:14:06 PM

Congrats to Midd on representing and earning their first NCAA win. Nice job by Edwards, as usual, shutting down Gordon's star. According to the box score, THIRTEEN blocks for Locke -- wow, unlucky for Gordon. As usual, Midd is a bit offensively challenged, but their defense is so tough that they can beat anyone, even when they have some droughts on O.

SUNYIT up three on Plattsburgh with a bit over a minute to go ... that would be an upset. The awesomely-named Diloo Brown is lighting it up for SUNYIT. Plattsburgh has come back from way down to make it a nail-biter.

Bucket · March 05, 2010, 11:04:06 PM

Tim Edwards hounded Gordon's leading scorer, Aaron Trigg, into a nightmarish 3-15 night. Trigg can play. The two times he was able to see daylight he drilled long jumpers; looked like Jeff Hornacek out there. But Edwards turned in his best defensive performance of the year, if you ask me; he was in Trigg's jersey all night. And then there was Locke--13 blocks and at least 3 or 4 "intimidations"...Gordon players doing everything possible to twist away from him and missing badly at close range.

Midd had a couple of droughts for sure, struggling from the floor at times--but when Midd really needed a basket, Thompson, Edwards, and Sharry were there in the clutch. Each of those guys had big buckets in the second half when Gordon looked poised to make one last run.

Great atmosphere. Gym was full and loud and hopping. Can't wait to do it again tomorrow.

Old Guy · March 05, 2010, 11:40:08 PM

Edwards - 12 points, 11 rebounds, 3-5 from three, 38 minutes. Thompson - 17 points, 5 boards, 3 assists: very active at both ends. Sharry a quiet 14 points (5-15 shooting - he can play better), 9 boards, a three, 3 assists. Locke played 31 minutes, his high for the year. He had ten blocks before he picked up his second foul. I think Gordon went at him hoping to get him in foul trouble, a reasonable strategy, but not tonight.

Midd shot 34% for the game, Gordon 30% but was 21-25 from the line - ft shooting kept them in the game. Plus their grit.

Hard to exaggerate Locke's impact on this game. His man, Walker, 6'7" a good player, was 4-15 from the floor.

I watched the RIC-Rutgers Newark game. The first half was Lakers-Magic, up and down the floor, dunks, tough shots - we all looked at each other and said, "we win and we have to play one of these teams?" Second half both teams returned to earth. Rutgers-Newark couldn't buy a hoop from the outside. RIC played with greater disciipline. They're talented with big guys and very quick guards. I was impressed. Amherst dominated them?

Once more into the breach, dear friends, once more.

toad22 · March 05, 2010, 11:48:04 PM

Old Guy: RIC was down a couple of starters the night they played Amherst. Also, they were trying out a full court zone press, with horrible results. It was a layup line for Amherst in the first half, in which I believe they scored over 60 points. RIC is a better team than that. I think they will give Midd a contest tomorrow, though I expect Midd to win by a few.

nescac1 · March 06, 2010, 08:35:25 AM

RIC's tallest starter is 6'4 ... don't see how they can possibly compete with Midd. One of their top players is Mason Choice, btw, who I believe is Adam Choice's brother.

No NCAA spreads from Walzy?

Anything can happen, of course, but Midd-Williams is looking more and more likely. Brandeis' starting center is apparently out for the duration, so they are also a bit undersized to compete with Midd -- tallest starter is 6'5, and that is Hollins. Plus, Brandeis is now playing basically six guys, with a seventh guy getting spot minutes. They are still very talented, but I like Midd's match-up vs. both them and RIC. As for Williams, they caught a break with Plattsburgh going down. The Ephs can't get overconfident, but at the same time, they will be heavily favored tonight and, should they win, vs. whomever they play in the Sweet 16. In all events, I'd be stunned if a New England team didn't emerge from that quarter of the bracket.

New England teams doing very well in the tourney, overall, and the top of the region should be even stronger next year. MIT served notice that they will be a force next year, even though they lost in a tough OT game. They bring all but one guy back, had three key players injured for this game (two of them were out all year, one was their top wing player all year) so they were VERY undermanned, and are supposedly bringing in another great recruiting class.

Midd's frosh continue to look great. On the broadcast last night, they stated that Thompson wasn't even recruited and asked the coach for a try-out; what a gift for the coach. Hard to believe as he is really, really good, especially on defense. Edwards will be a huge loss on defense but I expect Midd will be better offensively as Edwards, Wolfin, Sharry, Davis and Locke all continue to polish their offensive games. All five can score in spurts, but are (other than maybe Sharry) a bit inconsistent and will benefit from their experience this year.

Albertus Magnus from, of all places, GNAC stuns a top seed. They are another very young team who seems to really be playing well, and could be really tough next year. Frosh Jefferson Lora received a lot of hype and lived up to it during the season, and they have 2-3 other very strong underclassmen players as well. Clark also pulls a stunner despite a mediocre season in NEWMAC.

And of course, everyone expects Amherst to be a team to be reckoned with again after a rare down year ... and Wesleyan is going to be a force soon, whether it's next year or the following year. Williams is the only top team that looks worse on paper, but Wang/Robertson/Dodson/Whittington is still a stellar returning nucleus, they just need a few of the rising juniors and sophs who didn't get a chance this year to step up to help out.

Bucket · March 06, 2010, 12:07:23 PM

Mason Choice is from Newport, so odds are he is related to Adam.

True, RIC doesn't start anyone over 6-4, but they brought a 6-6, 240 kid off the bench against Rutgers-Newark and he logged some serious minutes. He still gives up 4 inches to Locke, but he's physical, a banger, and has the potential to get Locke in foul trouble.

Their 6-4 starter, Darius Debnam, also plays bigger than he is. Very physical, strong post moves. The Gordon post players were more finesse guys; I don't see that with the RIC frontline.

And Old Guy mentioned quick guards. Their playmaker is a 5-9 waterbug...all over the court, very fast, nice handle, plays under control. And their off-guard, Jake Grimes, is dangerous. A University of Rhode Island transfer, he can score.

Looks to be a great game.

booyakasha · March 06, 2010, 12:57:51 PM

Mason is Adam's younger brother, and a similarly fashioned player. Midd should have no problem; I expect an easy double digit win.

Old Guy · March 06, 2010, 07:49:06 PM

Midd down 15 at the half, 37-22. A nightmare. Panthers scored 5 pts in first ten minutes. RIC playing lights out. 7-11 from three - bigs hitting bombs, guards playing great. Locke gets fouled every time he touches the ball low. Midd missing shots, turning the ball over.

scout · March 06, 2010, 08:31:46 PM

Quote from: Old Guy on March 06, 2010, 07:49:06 PM
Midd down 15 at the half, 37-22. A nightmare. Panthers scored 5 pts in first ten minutes. RIC playing lights out. 7-11 from three - bigs hitting bombs, guards playing great. Locke gets fouled every time he touches the ball low. Midd missing shots, turning the ball over.

Guess it's catching up to them, after shooting 50% from behind the arc last night.

nescac1 · March 06, 2010, 08:47:44 PM

Wow, Midd goes down, 2-22 from the arc for the Panthers. I guess I jinxed 'em, sorry guys. RIC hit 3's, Midd did not, and that appears to be the difference.

Congrats to the Ephs on making (and surely hosting) the Sweet 16. Great fan turnout and energy in Chandler, great to see. Williams doesn't play its best, but pulls away late to beat a scrappy UMF team by 19. Ephs shot the lights out in the second half from both three and the free throw line, but Williams can't be elated with its defensive and rebounding effort. UMF had a ton of easy second chance points, and Eric Taylor, their unorthodox undersized center, gave the Ephs fits all night (he can definitely play). Big game from Alex Rubin who was on fire from deep and was MVP of the day. Huge first half from Schultz and Wang took over in the second half (20 second half points), as they both had their typically strong games. Whittington had his usual assortment of exciting plays on both ends, including an alley oop flush off an inbounds in which he caught the balls at least a foot above the rim. Williams is fortunate that it was shooting so well because otherwise this could have been a lot closer. (UMF also shot the ball very well from 3 and hit a string of tough 3's to stay in it in the second half when the Ephs threatened to turn the game into a blow out). Ephs will need to pick up the defensive intensity and get tougher on the defensive glass to keep advancing. Still, with Plattsburgh and Midd already out, the bracket is shaping up nicely for the Ephs.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · March 06, 2010, 08:50:50 PM

Williams was the only host in their bracket to make it out of the first weekend.

Old Guy · March 06, 2010, 10:01:48 PM

Middlebury came out on fire in the second half and got the deficit to six and had the ball - the joint was jumpin' but RIC refused to fold. The second half was fun for a time as Midd got it under ten, but RIC played great, with poise down the stretch. They hit their shots - nearly 50% from the field, 15-19 from the line. They have a lot of weapons. They're not big but they're very quick. We had touble passing the ball in to our big guys. Their pressure in the backcourt was effective. They got contributions from many different players - five guys in double figures.

Sharry was very involved in the second half, carried us, 25 points, 14 rebounds. Tough game for the Panthers: we got whupped. 2-22 from three is not going to win a lot of games.

Still I can sincerely offer all the platitudes amid the immediate disappointment - great season, great kids. Thanks for the memories. I never thought I'd see this atmosphere for basketball at Middlebuy - full gym, lots of noise. And it's not like the larder is bare next year.

Beautiful day today, sun, temps in the 50s. My son and I went to the turf field at the college and I hit him some fungoes. Can't believe I'm saying this, but here goes: Go Ephs!