MBB: NESCAC

CWM_42 · February 21, 2009, 10:14:24 AM

These are very good observations by Denton and Chalk (Dickie V would be proud). I attended the two previous Bowdoin-Colby meetings this year. At Brunswick in November it was a great back and forth game, but the differences for the Polar Bears were frosh Will Hanley bringing some scoring off the bench and some second half put backs by Reid-Sturgis. A few weeks ago in Waterville, both teams played physical, stifling defense. In the second half there was a complete dry spell in terms of scoring for both teams, before Colby simply found their shooting touch first.

Both teams have continued to get better throughout the season and appear to be peaking at the right time. This is going to be a great game.

FormerPolarBear · February 21, 2009, 12:48:10 PM

I am excited for the Colby/Bowdoin match-up today. Is it being simulcast? This game should go down to the wire and I agree with most of the observations made by Chalk and Denton. If Jackson and Phillips have good games today I think Bowdoin wins by 5 or 6. If only one of these guys plays well Bowdoin could be in trouble. I think Hauser will be able to contain the Colby guards. He is a better defender than people give him credit for. I really hope Bowdoin can win this game because the three seniors (Jackson, Lane, and Sturgis) have been great players/people for the Bowdoin program and I would like to see them extend their career a little bit longer. Good luck Bowdoin.

Denton you can email me t KWB123@live.com if you want

walzy31 · February 21, 2009, 02:34:27 PM

Amherst 33 Trinity 30 at the half

hoya73 · February 21, 2009, 03:41:07 PM

Jeffs win by 14. Nce quality video although you always wonder about home announcers who aren't sure why Wheeler didn't play last week. Great second half by Bausky as the Jeffs took advantages of the looks they got in the second half. But they will need to play better in your face and help defense if they want to keep playing much longer.

Don't know what's going on in Midd land but I hope we don't have to lose CCsalive. He's been making it fun.

Should be great semi's next weekend.

hoya73 · February 21, 2009, 03:45:21 PM

I should also add that Marcus "YB" Bradley really carried the load in the first half with some Meehan foul trouble.

nescac1 · February 21, 2009, 03:49:30 PM

Ephs up by three at the half. Bench providing much of the energy: Rubin has 7 points on only three shots, Whittington had his usual exciting dunk / block plus a few nice passes, Wang gave his usual spark. Schultz is the only starter doing much as Snyder has been off. Wilson keeping Bates in it, he had a monster half. For the Ephs to hang on they have to do a better job getting in front of Bates' shooter (Bates had a lot of barely contested drives), lock down on Wilson, and hope Snyder heats up.

Just looked at the conn box score. Looks like we are sadly losing CCsalive (although maybe he can start talking some smack supporting whoever is the four seed next week), as Rudin almost single handledly outscored Conn in the first half. Ouch.

CCsalive · February 21, 2009, 03:51:22 PM

Haverford 18
Swat 11
What a barn burner! Even Tufts could beat these teams. I made this trek because of the quality of friends and post game activities. No offense Bucket!
Old Guy- Borrow an F'ing blackberry and get me an update!

Go Camels!

The Franchise · February 21, 2009, 03:58:10 PM

Midd 46- Conn 23 at the half.

Rudin has 21 in the first half, and the Panthers have really been pushing the ball up the court. Midd added the audio feed late, so you can listen live here.

http://www.middlebury.edu/athletics/sports/mens/basketball/2008-2009/news/news_633703865598599893.htm

FormerPolarBear · February 21, 2009, 04:40:38 PM

Congrats to Bowdoin for knocking off Colby by double digits. It seemed as though Bowdoin had 7-10 point lead the entire second half. Can someone please provide some insight about this game?

speedy · February 21, 2009, 04:41:03 PM

Final:

Bowdoin 66 Colby 54

Bowdoin took a lead at the half and never looked back . .

nescac1 · February 21, 2009, 04:56:27 PM

Nice win for the Ephs. Schultz was great all game and the bench trio of Rubin, Whittington, and Wang (who play really well together) was the key. Rubin scored a very efficient 20 on only 7 fg attempts, Whittington altered a lot more than the three shots he blocked and had some nice passes, and Wang blew by guys at will. Ephs were as unselfish and balanced as I've seen all year -- they missed a few bunnies but took almost no bad shots, very patient on offense. The defense was not great -- they kind of fell asleep out there during Bates' late run, giving up some open 3's -- and will have to be a LOT better to beat a now-healthy Amherst squad. But if they play as unselfishly on offense as they did today, they should have a good chance. Next week should be fun -- first neutral court game vs. Amherst since the 2004 final four. Hopefully lots of Eph students will make the trip north.

walzy31 · February 21, 2009, 05:07:18 PM

Quote from: walzy31 on February 20, 2009, 01:25:59 PM
New lines reflecting recent betting activity:

Middlebury -14.5
Vs. Conn College
O/U: 123.5
Prop- Over/Under points scored by Middlebury's Ben Rudin: 22.5

Amherst - 9.5
Vs. Trinity
O/U: 129.0
Prop- Over/Under number of combined offensive fouls committed by Amherst & Trinity: 4.0

Williams -11.5
Vs. Bates
O/U: 140.5

Colby -5.5
Bowdoin
O/U: 129
Prop- Will there be a technical foul called in this game? Yes -115; No -105

ACTUAL Results
Middlebury 78 (Cover +1.5)
Conn 62

Amherst 80 (Cover +4.5)
Trinity 66

Colby 54
Bowdoin 66 (Cover +17.5)

Williams 87
Bates 78 (Cover +2.5)

nescac1 · February 21, 2009, 05:15:36 PM

I have to say, pretty good job on the spreads -- the Bowdoin score is a surprise to everyone (not necessarily the win, but the margin) but the rest were all pretty on target.

Williams has had a disturbing trend of alternating wins and losses the last six games or so ... hopefully Saturday they can break that streak. With 20 wins and the big win over Midd does Amherst still need to beat Williams to make it as an at large? Either way, that is going to be one intense game -- the teams looked pretty even during the regular season, Williams has a bitter taste from Amherst's recent domination, but Amherst has a bitter taste from the 2007 Nescac tourney (probably not THAT bitter considering they won a title, but still ...), both teams will be playing as if it is an elimination game, neutral court, and the rivalry speaks for itself. Amherst will have Wheeler obviously, Williams might have Joe G. but even without him Wang/Whittington/Rubin have stepped it up late in the season. Should be fun.

Old Guy · February 21, 2009, 06:05:08 PM

Middlebury held serve. Big crowd. Middlebury got out of the blocks fast, took a big lead, played great (Rudin was unconscious), up 23 at the half.

CC never left town, won the second half by seven. This was a 12 point game with 5 minutes to go, and Panther fans were itchy. Rudin went 6-7 from the line, and Midd held on. There was a stretch of about 10 possessions halfway through the second half where Midd didn't even get a shot off - lucky we had such a big cushion.

Porter was terrific (23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals), going right at the hoop. Edwards smothered Bernier (0-3 from 3). For Middlebury, Rudin gilded his POY resume with 29 pts (5 assists), and Locke had perhaps his best game (4-5, 6-7 - 14 points, 7 boards, 4 blocks). Locke had a stretch where he made three consecutive Panther scores, all dunks. Haven't seen that ever in the Pantherdome.

Unprecedented weekend coming up at Middlebury - this hockey/ski paradise. Hope to see lots of Ephs, Jeffs, Polar Bears making the trek.

Denton · February 21, 2009, 06:21:39 PM

Hey fpBear, missed you at Colby.

Mules jumped out to 13.6 lead with Choice very hot. Then a couple 3s by O'Connell set the Bear on the path to win. There was no looking back from mid 1st half. The Bowdoin bench really broke it open. Hanley and Sellew were big but Reid-Sturgis threw off Choice the rest of the game.

The last two games in Waterville, Bowdoin went into the half with a lead as well then Colby had big 2nd half runs. But not tonight, the lead only got stretched.

MBB: NESCAC

speedy