MBB: NESCAC

lefrakenstein · March 06, 2009, 09:50:27 PM

Well, I guess I'm a Middlebury fan for the rest of the season. Lets go Panthers!

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · March 06, 2009, 10:05:35 PM

Amherst's lost breaks a streak of 9 consecutive years with an NCAA tournament win. That streak is now tied with Maryville, TN whose streak of nine straight ended last year.

Potsdam State also did nine in a row in the 80's.

nescac1 · March 07, 2009, 08:23:14 AM

Things shaping up nicely for midd with amherst ric and elms all going down. Has any conference ever sent five different schools to final fours? Maybe wiac?

nescac hoops · March 07, 2009, 10:02:24 AM

Nescac1,

I personally was ever sold on Elms. I don't doubt that they were a talented team but anytime you play that weak of a schedule it's not only hard to gauge how good a team is, but it's also really hard to be prepared for the NCAAs. Their weak scheduling has a lot to do with their weak conference and hopefully their head coach can schedule some tougher non conference games next year -- didn't Amherst used to play them?

Pat Coleman · March 07, 2009, 04:41:28 PM

Quote from: nescac1 on March 07, 2009, 08:23:14 AM
Things shaping up nicely for midd with amherst ric and elms all going down. Has any conference ever sent five different schools to final fours? Maybe wiac?

The CCIW could: North Park, Carthage, Illinois Wesleyan, Augustana already and if Wheaton makes it this year, that would be five.

This is from memory. May already have a fifth but I don't think Millikin, Elmhurst or North Central have ever done it.

amh63 · March 07, 2009, 09:22:00 PM

watched the last few minutes of the Middlebury-Bridgewater St. game. Bridgewater turned it around in the last minute with two big threes and foul shots to win! Saw the early part of the game and it seemed that Middlebury was in control. Sstrange things have gone on tonight. Number of two point wins around the country.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · March 07, 2009, 09:51:04 PM

So the MASCAC put two teams in the Sweet 16 and UMass-D also makes it. Anyone else want to tell me it's not a down year for the NE region?

Old Guy · March 07, 2009, 10:21:57 PM

Bitter, disappointing loss. Midd up by five with 30 seconds to go. Great atmosphere, packed gym, noasiy crowd, tight game throughout, but Midd up most of the way. 62-62 with 7 minutes to go. Play those last 30 seconds again ten times and we win maybe all ten of them. Sports - they kill ya at times. We shot 11-26 from the line - that's the obvious difference, many misses down the stretch. True enough, two long, long bombs (swish) by BW State's senior Stace Garrick, and a steal and conversion on an inbounds pass - and a seeemingly sure win becomes a heartbtreaker of a loss. Lots of red eyes on teammembers and families in the Midd gym. There'll be more than one hour of sleep lost tonight in Middlebury - the kind of loss that leaves a hole in your gut for a while. We had one in the bag but it slipped away.

I'm usually the captain of silver linings, good at rationalizing defeat. Here, I'll try: Middlebury - NESCAC Champs!

Nah, not yet. Maybe in a day or two.

DijBurg · March 07, 2009, 10:30:20 PM

MASCAC > NESCAC

frank uible · March 07, 2009, 11:49:00 PM

Is the Golden Age of NESCAC basketball in the past?

nescac1 · March 08, 2009, 08:14:36 AM

Frank, no. Nescac will be back with a vengeance next year. From the start of the year it was a transitional year with four new coaches, the loss of an amazing senior class, a weaker than usual group of seniors in the conference, and lots of frosh playing key roles for virtually every team. Next year every team, other than midd, could be improved, and the bottom four teams all look substantially improved. Nescac is still the best conference east of Ohio. As for midd, brutal loss. Free throws were the concern of midd fans and apparantly rightly so. Tough way to lose bit still a great two year run nonetheless.

frank uible · March 08, 2009, 08:44:21 AM

nescac1: Have you plagiarized the end-of-the-season script of the Chicago Cubs?

nescac1 · March 08, 2009, 08:49:28 AM

Two differences frank. I and others said the same thing before this season. No false expectations. Also unlike the cubs nescac actually has a recent history of success. One off year immediately following a six year run featuring two national title and two runner up finishes for the league is hardly cause for concern.

frank uible · March 08, 2009, 09:28:59 AM

Every string has to start somewhere.

ephoops · March 08, 2009, 11:05:06 AM

I agree with NESCAC1. This was a down year for the conference for the reasons he stated in his post above.

I believe that the conference will be stronger next year as well.

Regarding Midd, very tough loss. I had mentioned in a post before the tourney started that FT shooting was this team's Achilles heel. Bottom line, you can't miss 15 FT's and shoot a brutal 42% from the FT line at home and expect to win in the NCAA tournament.

Is this the first time that the NESCAC failed to win at least one game in the tournament with multiple teams getting bids?

Also, Bucket and Old Guy -- Thanks for the memories. Personally, I hope you both remain regular posters on this board...really enjoyed your insights and enthusiasm for the Midd program.