MBB: NESCAC

nescac1 · January 27, 2011, 04:40:32 PM

To be fair to Augustana, they have played a very tough schedule, with wins over traditional powers St. Norbert, Whitewater, Wash U, Anderson, Carthage, IWU (even if some of the wins they have are against big-name teams having down, or at least worse than anticipated, years). I will note, on the other hand, that in the only opponent in common with top NESCAC teams, they beat North Park (albeit at North Park) by only 13, whereas Williams stomped North Park on a neutral court by 31.

I do think if either W, A, or M goes 2-0 in the next two games against each other, they will deserve to leapfrog, in return, even an undefeated Augustana team, considering how dominant each has been throughout the rest of the season, compared to Augustana, which has had several narrow escapes. We'll see if that actually happens.

Mr. Ypsi · January 27, 2011, 04:46:14 PM

Note, however, that Augie's style is just not conducive to blowouts. They don't win big, but they always (so far) win!

magicman · January 27, 2011, 09:08:09 PM

#4 Middlebury goes to 16-0 with a 81-63 win over visiting Southern Vermont. Lots of players saw action as 10 guys broke into the scoring column. No Ryan Sharry. I'm sure Old Guy will be on with the wrap up. Hope Sharry will be available for Saturday's game against Williams. Any news on that, Old Guy?

Old Guy · January 28, 2011, 12:12:35 AM

Midd-SoVT was over early. They have had some injuries, came with only 7 players. One, Spratling, had 33 points. For Middlebury, Wolfin and Wholey shot the ball well, a good sign.

Sharry's out. He was poked in the eye at the Colby-Sawyer game early in the month, pretty serious retinal issues. He's been playing with annoying goggles. He had laser eye surgery yesterday. He's out this weekend. After that, who knows. Tough break for the Panthers, second year in a row.

magicman · January 28, 2011, 02:15:59 AM

Quote from: Old Guy on January 28, 2011, 12:12:35 AM
Midd-SoVT was over early. They have had some injuries, came with only 7 players. One, Spratling, had 33 points. For Middlebury, Wolfin and Wholey shot the ball well, a good sign.

Sharry's out. He was poked in the eye at the Colby-Sawyer game early in the month, pretty serious retinal issues. He's been playing with annoying goggles. He had laser eye surgery yesterday. He's out this weekend. After that, who knows. Tough break for the Panthers, second year in a row.

Thanks Old Guy, sorry to hear that. I knew he had the eye problem from your earlier posts but also that he'd been playing right along despite that. I'll be rooting for the Panthers this weekend (they are my team in the D3hoops survivor pool) but their job just got harder. Tough enough to go into Williamstown and come away with a win, but now you have to do it without your leading scorer. Good luck.

nescac1 · January 28, 2011, 08:37:34 AM

Tough break for Midd. That certainly tilts this game in favor of Williams, but Midd will still be very tough. These are the top two teams in the country in terms of opponent FG percentage defense, so I expect a low-scoring, physical, hotly contested game. I am sure the Ephs will look to push the pace if possible because an up-and-down game would suit their style better. Go Ephs!

Williams has a nice game preview here:

http://athletics.williams.edu/sports/mbkb/2010-11/releases/20110127camlx8

You can also watch some very sharp (nice job with filming!) close-up footage of the Ephs' win vs. Skidmore here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDKxY5A0MGg

One other note that will be of interest to Eph fans -- former coach / player Dave Paulsen '87 is having a really great year in his second third season at Bucknell: the team is currently 15-7 and 6-0 in league play. He has the Bisons on a clear upwards trend, from 7-23 his first year, to 14-17 last year, and now this year. And with only one senior starter, and his two top scorers as sophomores from his first recruiting class, they should continue to be a Patriot League contender.

Old Guy · January 28, 2011, 09:33:41 AM

Sharry is a loss, of course. He's a terrific player having an excellent season. He's remarkably efficient: 14 pts, averaging fewer than nine shots a game (the most shots he's taken in any one game was 13 against Baruch) - 25 minutes per game. He's a good rebounder, 10 p/g, especially on the offensive glass. He'll take and hit the three pointer if you don't come out to guard him at the top of the key when the offense is being run through him (8-22). Beautiful 12-15' jumper he likes to lay off the glass from the side (we old-timers like that). Not bad at all with his back to the hoop now too. Very versatile player, team man.

We're hardly destitute at 4 with Sharry out. Jamal Davis, a senior (6'6") is battle-tested, an excellent defender who can guard frontcourt and backcourt men, and can run the floor. Peter Lynch, a soph, is bulky and effective underneath, and frosh James Jenson has been getting serious minutes and is coming fast. He's fast and athletic, looks like a high jumper or hurdler.

So I think, if the lads bring their A game, the Ephs might still have a test on their hands.

On the other hand, Toad22's misgivings aside, Williams is as good a team as NESCAC gets (last year anyway, and this year's team seems a worthy successor). Of course, you put Whittington and Wang out there with three folding chairs and you have a pretty nice club. And the supporting cast would be a good team by itself, without W&W.

I will catch the webcast as domestic responsibilities will keep me in VT. I hope it's a good one.

Colby Hoops · January 28, 2011, 10:26:25 AM

While Midd losing Sharry isn't like Williams without Whittington, it still takes a bit of the luster off of Saturday's matchup.

Sharry's not a dominant player, but he is Midd's best player, and he's a big factor on the back line when him and Locke are in their together. Putting those two big guys on the floor together was going to cause some problems for Williams in a way that Lynch, Davis, etc won't. On the other hand, if Midd can pull this one out without Sharry it would be a huge win.

Major Hoople · January 28, 2011, 10:51:40 AM

The loss of a key player does not dim the luster of the game itself. The high stakes remain the same. The loss of a player due to injury is a part of the game. It means that the rest of the team, if, indeed, it is a quality team, has to step up.
Rest assured that Sharry's unfortunate absence will not cause this team to throw in the towel before the opening tip. The team is "up" for this one and, not to be politically incorrect, it's gonna be a war! Strap it on and enjoy.

Colby Hoops · January 28, 2011, 11:16:15 AM

Quote from: Major Hoople on January 28, 2011, 10:51:40 AM
The loss of a key player does not dim the luster of the game itself. .

Certainly not as fun to watch a team without their key player, especially when they were already going in as slight underdogs.

Bucket · January 28, 2011, 01:10:46 PM

With Old Guy staying behind in Vermont this weekend, I'm happy to be this message board's Midd representative at the game and will proudly carry the banner into Chandler--quite literally; my son will enthusiastically be waving his Middlebury pennant-on-a-stick given to him by Ryan Wholey's mother.

Looking forward to the game and to catching up with my good friend Mike Maker over dinner afterward. One of us will be disappointed, of course. Here's hoping it's him and not me!

amh63 · January 28, 2011, 02:24:23 PM

Sorry about the news wrt Sharry....who I believe with his skills set is the most important player on the team. I also agree with the poster that stated that injuries is part of the game and a TEAM must overcome them.
For those who are interested in the Colby/Amherst game....there will be live Video coverage available....free....D3Hoops listing shows only live stats available. To get the video link, go to the Amherst website and the athletic section.

walzy31 · January 28, 2011, 03:23:54 PM

Quote from: Major Hoople on January 28, 2011, 10:51:40 AM
Strap it on and enjoy.

? ? ?

Old Guy · January 28, 2011, 06:22:05 PM

"Strap it on and enjoy.
? ? ?"

Walzy:

It's a football term - has to do with putting on your helmet which has a chin strap(hence, "strap it on") and going out there on the gridiron and manfully expessing yourself.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10897137.html

I spent a little time in the military and I think I remember hearing the term there too: again put on your steel pot (helmet), buckle the strap, and go out there and get in the way of some bullets.

So, Walzy, do you have a different explanation?

Old Guy · January 28, 2011, 06:46:12 PM

"While Midd losing Sharry isn't like Williams without Whittington"

I might disagree. When you argue who is the best player in the league, some say Whittington, some say Wang. One or the other. Sharry is next maybe, certainly in the top five or six (Brown, Russell, Hanley). When Whittington was out, Willliams still had Wang. Who's the second-best player at Middlebury? Locke? Wholey? Wolfin? Thompson? Is there an all-NESCAC Player there? I hope so. We'll see.

Don't get me wrong, I do hope that Midd without Sharry beats the Ephs, or at least extends them, but I wouldn't remotely suggest that Williams without their big guy, Whittington, is more compromised than Midd without Sharry.