MBB: NESCAC

[Bucket]

Heartbroken in Middlebury.....

Really feel for the team right now. As tough a way to lose as possible--withstood a big BWS run in the second half; hit some clutch, clutch shots (Edwards, Dudley, Smith, Davis, and, of course, Rudin, time and again); made some big stops; and then seemingly had the game iced with under a minute left, up 5 and at the line.

Every missed free throw was like a death by a thousand cuts--but it still looked like it wouldn't matter, right up until the end. It took a pair of huge, clutch 3s by their #35, sandwiched around an inbounds pass steal and lay-in. In the middle of all that was as clutch a bucket as Jamal Davis has scored in his career (and he's had several the past 2 weeks) to give the Panthers a 2-point lead with 20 seconds to play. And the came the dagger from #35.

Still Rudin had a great shot to win it--drove the length of the floor, pulled up just above the free-throw line and was just short. I'm sure he's replaying that moment again and again in his head, and I can only hope that with time, the pain lessons. He's been the heart and soul of the Panthers--just last night, he hit so many shots that had the crowd in a frenzy and his opponents just shaking their head in amazement.

I echo Old Guy, such a bitter, disappointing loss, but I hope it in no way tarnishes what Coach Brown and his team achieved this year; they were simply amazing. The seniors have infused the program with heart and character and confidence that doesn't just go away with one tournament loss or graduating class. Here's hoping the underclassman pick up the torch and carry it on.

[amh63]

Frank,
    I have to agree with the Williams supporters, though it is stressful, wrt the bright future for the conference.  After watching some of the regional games (did not make it to R. Stockton on Sat.) and the Amherst lost on the webcast, I notice a clear trend.  Smaller, quicker teams that can play defense and have an agressive offense are winning over teams that are taller, bigger and tend towards half-court games.  Case in point.  When Amherst beat Williams at Williams earlier in the season with both teams intact, the insertion of Wang almost changed the outcome of the game.  In the Amherst win over Williams in Middlebury,  even with Wheeler back in the line-up for Amherst,  I believe, Amherst had a harder time with Williams.  With Wang in the line-up and the assertion of younger athletic players by Williams, the quicker athletic Williams'  team playing a more up-tempo game was causing more problems for Amherst.  The injury to Williams' center may have been a gift in reflection.  The coach had to utilize younger players, etc.  Also the injury to Wheeler also helped Amherst for next year.  Hixon had to use his younger players.  When Amherst made its run in the regional game with G-Mercy, you may have seen much of next year's team.  The team seemed to click in the last five minutes.  Barrise was shooting well and slashing to the basket.  Bennet was in the game and he played well.  The players in the game played well together and more as a team.  Holmes has great potential.  To me, in the 4-5 times I have seen him play, he doesn't work well in the team offense.  He free lances too must, i.e. shooting 3-pt. shots at critical times in the game.  Next year Amherst will bring in a big man in the 6-8 range.  However, I feel that the game will shift towards quicker athletic players that will rebound and play defense.  Look at the conference player of the year who  is shorter then his listed 6 ft.  He rebounds like he is 6-6.  Meeham for Amherst had 11 rebounds in the game with G-Mercy.  William's best rebounder in the last half of the season is only 6-4 at best...the prototype player I think the conference teams will build around next near.

[frank uible]

In my unsophisticated view a number of the good Amherst or Williams teams of the last 7 years would have blown the doors off this year's NESCAC, including this year's versions of Amherst and Williams.

[eclinchy]

In my unsophisticated view a number of the good Amherst or Williams teams of the last 7 years would have blown the doors off this year's NESCAC, including this year's versions of Amherst and Williams.

I don't think anyone disagrees.

[jbergman]

In my unsophisticated view a number of the good Amherst or Williams teams of the last 7 years would have blown the doors off this year's NESCAC, including this year's versions of Amherst and Williams.

I don't think anyone disagrees.

Sure, there's been a fall-off in talent this year.  And I also think that we've been spoiled by the unusual level of success of those 2 schools in the recent NCAA tournaments.  The last 5 or 6 years was an incredible run, probably unmatched by any other conference in that time stretch.  Amh and Wms have been in a total of six NCAA final fours since 2003.  And those teams blew the doors off of everyone (almost)...on a national level.  But they also had a lot of good fortune with (a) lack of injuries, and (b) some fortuitous NCAA tournament results, which helped their marches to Salem.

This year's version of NESCAC obviously wasn't up to the standard of those prior teams, but they also weren't that bad. I've seen a lot of D3 games this year, and, for example, Wms, Bow and Colby were 3 well-coached teams that could beat anyone in the region on a given night.  The NCAA-bound NESCAC teams didn't fare well at all in the tournament, but good fortune just wasn't with them - Midd had an uncharacteristic collapse in the last 3 minutes in their game and missing all of those FTs also was an aberration.  If Midd just shot their season average for FTs (62%), they would've won...and Amh's Baskouskas injured his right wrist prior to their game vs G-Mercy.  He had to wear a wrist/hand wrap on his shooting hand.  I think that his healthy shooting wrist would've been worth at least the six point differential in that game.  Unfortunately, these things can happen.  And yes, you need to be lucky as well as good to go deep into the tournament.

[jumpshot]

Both the Middlebury and Amherst losses are stunning. In the case of Middlebury the reasons are evident: poor foul shooting in a tournament game, a careless in-bounding pass, two "stone cold" three-point shots under pressure by Bridgewater State, and a bit of loss of intensity and focus at the end. Amherst's loss, in my opinion, reflects something of a pattern over the years: weak schedules, players with exceptional skills and size who can appear to be like "bullies" ---bold against little guys but not always great against teams that are not intimidated. The most successful Amherst teams I've watched over the years always seemed to draw their most strength from an outstanding competitor on the court --Daoust, Bedford, Olsen, Jamal Wilson, etc. This time Meehan's 18 points and 11 rebounds was not enough to lift the energy and performance of the team.

[jbergman]

Amherst's loss, in my opinion, reflects something of a pattern over the years: weak schedules, players with exceptional skills and size who can appear to be like "bullies" ---bold against little guys but not always great against teams that are not intimidated.

You obviously have a problem with the "pattern" that has gotten Amherst to the Final Four in four of the past five years...and the last three years in a row.

But I just can't think of a recent program with more success - can you?  So maybe that "pattern" has done OK.

[jumpshot]

My reference is to over a much longer period of time. Everyone knows the "pattern" for Amherst's "success" in recent years stems from its General Manager ....

[jbergman]

jumpshot....I just looked up something & found another validation that Amherst's "pattern" over the years has been pretty good...7 consecutive seasons (stopped this year) getting to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.  Amazing.  Any other school in the region with that kind of performance?

[Bucket]

and a bit of loss of intensity and focus at the end.

Wait a second...anyone who was in Pepin on Saturday night can tell you that this assertion is ludicrous. Sure, troubles at the line can be attributed to a lack of focus, but if you had seen those kids on Saturday, you'd never say that they weren't focused. And to assert that there was a loss of intensity at the end, you weren't looking into the same eyes that I was.

[Old Guy]

From Jeff Brown in today's Burlington paper:

"I could not be more proud of this bunch of young men. They are so classy, so unselfish, so hard-working. It has been a tremendous season for us and hopefully in a little bit of time the players will be less emotional about the ending of their season. It was really truly a great run."

Amen to that.

This talk about the league being down this year is getting me down. Who cares? I'm from Middlebury, so I don't think it's down – I think it's up (I sound like George Carlin!). Middlebury relative to Elms? I don't stay up late worrying about that one. Middlebury compared to Williams – now that's pretty interesting to me. When I read about players like Choice or Pierce, I can't wait to see them in our gym. I'd like to see Bartoletta and DeLuca too, but that's not going to happen, so life goes on.

The post-season does not obsess me. The NESCAC tournament is everything to me, all the post-season I want, in any sport. If Middlebury is hosting in the NCAAs, I always go to the game, and root root root for the home team, but otherwise I don't pay much attention. I've got papers to grade, snow to shovel, kids to badger about their homework. The athletes don't feel the same way, and shouldn't, and I respect their competitiveness. What's it to me if MASCAC is a better league than NESCAC based on the post-season? I don't feel reduced if it's so.

That Williams and Amherst have come back a bit this year from their impossibly high standard doesn't strike me as a bad thing. That Wesleyan under Joe Reilly may make the Little Three really three is good, no? Likewise, isn't it great when Bates-Bowdoin-Colby all have good clubs? The State Series is a trip – go to a Bates-Colby or Bowdoin game sometime at Bates – it's an essential and timeless hoop experience. Isn't it a better league when it doesn't have two tiers – Williams, Amherst, Trinity and everyone else?

This Middlebury season was not a dream come true for me because I never dreamt it. I have been going to games at Middlebury for a long time and enjoying myself. But this season was unimaginable. Yesterday's game was sold-out and I got calls from folks who wanted me to help with tickets. Unimaginable. I wander the gym at the end of close games, can't sit still. Saturday, I watched the excruciating last minute from the stands on the other side from the Middlebury section: 700-800 fans strong, all standing, screaming, having the time of their lives. Unimaginable, at Middlebury. . .

But richly satisfying for me and other old guy Middlebury hoopers. 

[magicman]

From Jeff Brown in today's Burlington paper:

"I could not be more proud of this bunch of young men. They are so classy, so unselfish, so hard-working. It has been a tremendous season for us and hopefully in a little bit of time the players will be less emotional about the ending of their season. It was really truly a great run."

Amen to that.

This talk about the league being down this year is getting me down. Who cares? I'm from Middlebury, so I don't think it's down – I think it's up (I sound like George Carlin!). Middlebury relative to Elms? I don't stay up late worrying about that one. Middlebury compared to Williams – now that's pretty interesting to me. When I read about players like Choice or Pierce, I can't wait to see them in our gym. I'd like to see Bartoletta and DeLuca too, but that's not going to happen, so life goes on.

The post-season does not obsess me. The NESCAC tournament is everything to me, all the post-season I want, in any sport. If Middlebury is hosting in the NCAAs, I always go to the game, and root root root for the home team, but otherwise I don't pay much attention. I've got papers to grade, snow to shovel, kids to badger about their homework. The athletes don't feel the same way, and shouldn't, and I respect their competitiveness. What's it to me if MASCAC is a better league than NESCAC based on the post-season? I don't feel reduced if it's so.

That Williams and Amherst have come back a bit this year from their impossibly high standard doesn't strike me as a bad thing. That Wesleyan under Joe Reilly may make the Little Three really three is good, no? Likewise, isn't it great when Bates-Bowdoin-Colby all have good clubs? The State Series is a trip – go to a Bates-Colby or Bowdoin game sometime at Bates – it's an essential and timeless hoop experience. Isn't it a better league when it doesn't have two tiers – Williams, Amherst, Trinity and everyone else?

This Middlebury season was not a dream come true for me because I never dreamt it. I have been going to games at Middlebury for a long time and enjoying myself. But this season was unimaginable. Yesterday's game was sold-out and I got calls from folks who wanted me to help with tickets. Unimaginable. I wander the gym at the end of close games, can't sit still. Saturday, I watched the excruciating last minute from the stands on the other side from the Middlebury section: 700-800 fans strong, all standing, screaming, having the time of their lives. Unimaginable, at Middlebury. . .

But richly satisfying for me and other old guy Middlebury hoopers. 

Old Guy,
Well said. Like you I'm an old guy that loves to see a good game and I had that experience last year in Plattsburgh when we hosted the sectionals. Got to see 4 good D3 teams from different parts of the Northeast and win or lose it's an opportunity that only comes along once in a while. Sorry your Panthers didn't win Saturday night, I was rooting hard for them.  I was following the game online and when those foul shots didn't go in near the end of the game I was afraid it would be costly. Plattsburgh St. and Middlebury have had 2 great games against each other the past 2 seasons. We had the big comebackon your court last year to steal one, and you returned the favor by edging us this year in Plattsburgh. I'm looking forward to next year's game in Middlebury when it's our turn to win. I'll look you up if I make the trip . Congratulations on winning the Nescac regular season and tournament title. 

[frank uible]

So - what is the brief, summary answer to the question, "is the Golden Age of NESCAC basketball in the past"? Yes? No? Maybe? I hope? I hope not? I have no opinion? I have an opinion, but it will take at least 2000 words to express it? What is a NESCAC? I know what NESCAC is, but that which they are playing ain't basketball? Who cares? The dog ate my homework? Go defecate in your headgear? When does baseball season start? Do you think the rain will hurt the rhubarb? Where's the beef? Buy low, sell high? Several of the foregoing? No comment? Silence?

[Bucket]

But richly satisfying for me and other old guy Middlebury hoopers. 

And just as satisfying for the much younger Midd hoopers, as well. 

[Old Guy]

a nice (brief) radio summary of the Midd-Bridgewater game:

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/84314/