MBB: NESCAC

Hugenerd · March 10, 2010, 10:42:34 PM

I didnt notice this until just now, so maybe others already know this, but Williams senior Blake Shultz and MIT freshman Will Tashman went to the same high school. I found that interesting:

http://www.menloschool.org/news/detail.aspx?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=2409&ModuleID=26

leelowlang · March 11, 2010, 08:59:04 AM

In addition to Golembioski and Brown, who I feel are tough matcups for anyone, the kid Fitzpatrick Thorne is a upper 5th percentile athlete and finisher and is another one for IT that can get you bucket in a blink of an eye. I just don't see them being able to to contain the weapons the Ephs have. They will have to pick their poison, the horses inside or the perimeter stallions. Williams has just too much of a variety of options to go to be slowed for 40 min. IT will make this a pretty darn competitive game though, I feel.

Bucket · March 11, 2010, 07:51:26 PM

Best of luck this weekend to my good friend Mike Maker and his squad of Ephs.

Wish the Panthers were making the return trip to Williamstown. With their absence, I throw my support behind Williams and hope they are able to carry the NESCAC banner proudly to Salem.

nescac1 · March 12, 2010, 06:23:29 AM

Thanks, as always, Bucket. It does sound like the future is bright for Midd, and this future Panther sounds like he could be the next Locke ...

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=94830&season=2010

Turning to tomorrow, SUNYIT sounds tougher than I originally thought. Check this article where coaches (all of them familiar with both teams) are raving about Diloo Brown in particular, and definitely think SUNYIT has a decent shot of pulling the upset:

http://www.thetranscript.com/sports/ci_14661666?source=rss

Another game preview here:

http://www.uticaod.com/sports/x427965464/SUNYIT-mens-basketball-hope-to-continue-tournaments-success

I would think Schultz would try to stop Brown at first, use his size and strength and anticipation to frustrate him, and hopefully get help from teammates when Brown is able to penetrate (the Ephs' help defense wasn't at its best against UMF, but they are usually an intelligent help team). Whittington may be especially key in this regard. If it is Wang (and maybe they'll switch off just to keep fresh), that would be a really great match up of two quick guards who can penetrate at will but also shoot. The SUNY big guy will present a bit of a match-up problem as well, since Big Joe and Whittington rarely have to step outside to guard guys on the perimeter. I imagine if he primarily floats around outside they might stick Dodson on him. I would definitely go right at Brown and Grombelewski were I the Ephs, hope to get a few quick fouls on one of them. On the other hand, the Ephs should likewise present a match-up problem inside. Especially when they play Joe and Troy together, SUNY would have to either double down or go zone, which should open up shots for Eph shooters.

eph partisan · March 12, 2010, 10:59:31 AM

http://williams.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/News/NCAASectionalpreview39

for those that want to familiarize themselves even more with the teams.

i think dodson will definitely primarily guard him - though I think whittington is capable of handling the guys on the perimeter.

SUNYIT scares me - the Ephs should take it, but it will be a good one.

nescac1, will you be at the games?

nescac1 · March 12, 2010, 12:25:46 PM

Alas, I live far from campus, eph partisan, so you'll have to lead the charge in Chandler! I have seen some great tourney games from back in my day, my favorite was a game in, I believe, the Elite 8 the first time the Ephs made the final four. Featured a ridiculous shooting display between a great player from Richard Stockton, Carl something, and the Ephs' Matt Hunt, a kind of who-can-top-this sort of back and forth. One of the best individual performances I've seen from an opponent in Chandler, he got a standing ovation from the Eph crowd towards the end of the game. Of course it will be hard to EVER top beating Amherst to make the Final Four back in '03 (wish I had been at that one!) ...

I will, however, be in Salem if the Ephs can pull out two big wins this weekend! Go Ephs!

amh63 · March 12, 2010, 02:49:17 PM

See that NCAA will be providing webcast of the Williams hosted games as well as the Amherst women's games. Free coverage...is a nice touch. Amherst College is providing free tickets for the Amherst community....alums, students, staff, etc.. nice touch.... to the to the women BB games. Will Williams support their alums, etc. in a similar fashion?

toad22 · March 12, 2010, 03:32:58 PM

Free tickets? Not a chance --- Williams has cut all paper clips and dixie cups from the budget (hopefully not toilet paper!). At the moment it is complete austerity in Billtown.

magicman · March 12, 2010, 06:01:46 PM

Quote from: toad22 on March 12, 2010, 03:32:58 PM
Free tickets? Not a chance --- Williams has cut all paper clips and dixie cups from the budget (hopefully not toilet paper!). At the moment it is complete austerity in Billtown.

I don't think the college has anything to do with the tickets. These are NCAA games and the tickets are controlled by the NCAA. At least that's the way it was 2 years ago when Plattsburgh hosted the Sectional round.

magicman · March 12, 2010, 06:16:28 PM

The article from the North Adams Transcript had 1 slight error in that SUNYIT did not have a win over common opponent Cortland State. While the Ephs beat Cortland 72-68, SUNYIT lost by 17 to Cortland, 78-61. I think that Williams will win this game tonight by at least 12 points and it could be a as much as 20. The Wildcats have no bench and will only play 6 players unless foul trouble is a big problem, forcing them to bring in a sub who wouldn't ordinarily see action. The only way this game stays close is if Williams has a bad night from the field and shoots way below their season's average.

amh63 · March 12, 2010, 07:02:02 PM

The NCAA may still control the ticket allotment and the prices. Amherst is paying for the tickets for their "community" of students, faculty, staff and alums, etc. If you are under two, you can get in for free. Don't know who is checking the age of young kids...? The college is in the midst of a campaign!

magicman · March 12, 2010, 09:22:47 PM

Looks like my pre-game prediction of Williams winning this game by double figures is going to happen as the Ephs roll out to a 72-48 lead with 12 minutes to play.

nescac1 · March 12, 2010, 09:57:20 PM

Go Ephs! SUNYIT totally outmatched, obviously. Diloo Brown was as good as the hype, heck of a player, but he was doing it alone. SUNYIT played very little perimeter defense which against Williams is not going to get it done .... Ephs lit it up, 17-26 from three, most of them wide open. Rubin 7-10 from 3, he, Wang and Schultz had 21 apiece. Whittington had 13, 8 of which came on vicious dunks. Nice game for Nate Robertson, who ran the point efficiently once Wang got into foul trouble to the tune of 4 points and 8 assists.

Brandeis should, of course, provide a much tougher opponent. The Ephs need to push the pace as Brandeis has to be a bit tired .... three of their guys played 38-40 minutes tonight. Also, go at Hollins early to try to get him into foul trouble.

The crowd was absolutely fantastic at Chandler. They've gotta bring it for one more night ...

ephoops · March 12, 2010, 11:31:03 PM

Great effort by the Ephs this evening.

They are probably the best shooting team I've seen in D-III...

Tomorrow night's game vs Brandeis should be fun to watch...

nescac hoops · March 13, 2010, 06:47:24 AM

Quote from: amh63 on March 12, 2010, 02:49:17 PM
See that NCAA will be providing webcast of the Williams hosted games as well as the Amherst women's games. Free coverage...is a nice touch. Amherst College is providing free tickets for the Amherst community....alums, students, staff, etc.. nice touch.... to the to the women BB games. Will Williams support their alums, etc. in a similar fashion?

I'm pretty sure this gesture is also to assure that the Amherst women's team has a good turnout for their games. I don't think they would be doing this if the men were playing. Don't they still charge a dollar to non-students to get into the Williams-Amherst game in LeFrak? Great game for both Eph teams last night with the women coming up just short of beating #1 Amherst down at LeFrak and the men putting on a dominant show. I expect and hope their game with Brandeis today to be closer. I think the Ephs need to win a tough, gritty to do well down in Salem. Other than Middlebury and a couple tough games with Amherst and Wesleyan they haven't really been tested in a while.