MBB: NESCAC

[walzy31]

How do I get in on that action?

Post up what action it is you want. If you want real money action you would need to find someone to take the other side.

[eph partisan]

(Hope the levity of my tone is clear... but better safe than sorry, so here's a disclaimer...)

My scouting report on Troy would simply say: "Just like Derek Zoolander, he only goes left."

Walzy, your scouting is usually exceptional, and I take your lines as gospel. But I have two challenges to your assessment of the situation.

1) Troy is an ambi-turner. I've even seen him make a lay-up with his right hand before. And when he dunks, he usually uses two hands. He's particularly good going right when he doesn't have the ball, when he's in the process of receiving the ball, or when he's going up for a put-back dunk or an alley-oop. The Zoolander comparison is straight up harsh!
2) Zoolander can only go right, and he actually learns to go left at the end of the movie; give that man some credit - he saw a hole in his game and he remedied the problem!

[Old Guy]

I've seen Whittington five times - he usually goes left, no question about it. Okay, stop him. He goes left, gets overplayed, and goes right over the defender, two points. (Incidently, Bowdoin's Hanley almost always goes left: stop him too, not easy.) Whittington (my observation) occasionally goes right with a dribble or two, but shoots the ball with his left hand.

Left, right - it's like Satchel Paige, who announced, "here comes a fast ball," and threw the fast ball right by you.

[Old Guy]

Middlebury Panthers versus Rochester Yellowjackets this Friday in Iceland. I have a dilemma. The Middlebury (H.S) Tigers won their second state tourney game tonight, and play again on Saturday in the D2 semi-finals. Young Guy (10th grade) has been moved up from the Jayvees to the varsity, though he doesn't get in the games, not ready for prime time. The Tigers start three 10th graders, his buddies and AAU teammates. I should stay home and watch the Tigers. Does it matter that he doesn't play? I love his team, and sit with the other parents, a nice club, a good time.

On the other hand, the Panthers are 26-1, unprecedented success, miracle season. I've got to run this out. Will we get here again? No guarantees. I've had five of these players in my classes, two student advisees. I played here (never even sniffed a winning season), followed basketball at Middlebury for decades, the coach before Jeff Brown was a close friend of mine from way back. This is the Middlebury Panthers, not the Ephs or the Jeffs, accustomed to success. The weather forecast for the Syracuse-Rochester snowbelt Friday/Saturday is not horrible.

What to do? Such is life. Either way, I can't win - or more to the point, I can't lose.

[JustAFan]

Get thee to Rochester and enjoy yourself!  Whatever choice you make part of you will wish you were in the other gym, but fight that guilt because while the dutiful father in you says you should be at the state tournament game your email screams that you want to be in Rochester.  And I don't blame you! As the father of a bunch of kids, all of whom played thru high school and some into college, I know your dilemma, but if you asked your son I bet he'd tell you to follow the Panthers.  Middlebury's ride thru the tournament into the final 4 this year may be old hat in a year or two, but the first time is always special, and you shouldn't miss it, especially given your connection to many of the players.  I bet you haven't missed any of your son's high school games this year, or in previous years, much less any of his AAU games. And if the 3 10th grade starters are as good as they sound, I bet your son's high school team has another tournament run or two in them in coming years, and when that happens your son will be on the court contributing, and you'll be there, so following Middlebury this weekend (and next in Salem, perhaps with your son?!) is something you should not miss.  Have your wife support your son's team, and between texts and calls you'll still feel like you were there for most of it.  Meanwhile, have a safe roadtrip to Rochester this weekend and lose your voice cheering on the Panthers!

[walzy31]

Have to go to Rochester for Friday's game at least and see how that one plays out. There is no decision to be made on Friday as your son doesn't have a game and the Panthers do. Then, dependent on the outcome of the Sweet 16 game, you can weigh your options for how to play Friday night and Saturday.

[ephoops]

Ditto

[fpc85]

Teaching stoichiometry to HS students overrides getting to the game on Friday. If Jeffs win I will be there Saturday!!

[nescac1]

A few articles of note about current and future NESCAC players, while waiting for the big games tomorrow:

Kizel:
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/117670338_Kizel_playing_key_role_for_Middlebury_basketball_team.html

Mussachia:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/gloucester/sports/x1512125385/Q-A-Manchester-Essexs-Mussachia-has-sights-set-on-Garden-parquet

Swords:

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/high-school/post/_/id/5328/swords-slices-eastie-in-d1-north-first-round

[senatorfrost]

  No contest for Old Guy-easy decision.

  Rochester is far and your son is playing in Middlebury. So if you go to Rochester your son very well may say to himself,
   'Gee all the parents of the kids who play are here. Maybe if I were better my dad would be here too'. Sounds like you've been going to his games so if that's the case you WILL be missed, even if he doesn't say anything. If you asked him if he'd mind you going to Rochester, he'd probably tell you to go but underneath, hidden from all would be the (inescapable) thought that if he were a better player, you would stay home.
   While you're doing the right thing, it's okay to make a speech to your wife about how wonderful it is to go to your son's games with her and how family comes before the D3 tourney etc., etc,.(if she's been going to games i.e.). That might score you a few points for some other time.

[Bengalsrule]

  No contest for Old Guy-easy decision.

  Rochester is far and your son is playing in Middlebury. So if you go to Rochester your son very well may say to himself,
   'Gee all the parents of the kids who play are here. Maybe if I were better my dad would be here too'. Sounds like you've been going to his games so if that's the case you WILL be missed, even if he doesn't say anything. If you asked him if he'd mind you going to Rochester, he'd probably tell you to go but underneath, hidden from all would be the (inescapable) thought that if he were a better player, you would stay home.
   While you're doing the right thing, it's okay to make a speech to your wife about how wonderful it is to go to your son's games with her and how family comes before the D3 tourney etc., etc,.(if she's been going to games i.e.). That might score you a few points for some other time.

Ditto. Easy decision. Heck maybe 1 day your son plays for Middlebury and then you won"t have this problem. Until then...family first (and always!!!)

[Ethelred the Unready]

 No contest for Old Guy-easy decision.

 Rochester is far and your son is playing in Middlebury. So if you go to Rochester your son very well may say to himself,
  'Gee all the parents of the kids who play are here. Maybe if I were better my dad would be here too'. Sounds like you've been going to his games so if that's the case you WILL be missed, even if he doesn't say anything. If you asked him if he'd mind you going to Rochester, he'd probably tell you to go but underneath, hidden from all would be the (inescapable) thought that if he were a better player, you would stay home.
  While you're doing the right thing, it's okay to make a speech to your wife about how wonderful it is to go to your son's games with her and how family comes before the D3 tourney etc., etc,.(if she's been going to games i.e.). That might score you a few points for some other time.

Plus, it's a long ride back to Middlebury after a loss.  Why risk it.  Just saying.... 

[walzy31]

Old Guy,

Don't go to either in protest of the scheduling conflict.

[toad22]

Maybe it's a generational thing, but I never cared if my parents came to my games or not. We played the games for ourselves and your teammates and then any girls in the stands!

[nescac1]

Old Guy, lay down under a giant, hanging blade.  Then see who is first willing to suggest you attend the competing event, your son, or Andrew Locke.