MBB: NESCAC

[Colby Hoops]

Colby plays both Wesleyan and Conn at home on the last NESCAC regular season weekend.

Also, as far as RIC goes, they have a couple of very good players in Mason Choice (former Colby star Adam Choice's younger brother) and Mike Akinrola, who is one of the toughest post players in the country.  RIC is very good and has proved that in the tournament the past few years. 

[jumpshot]

Any Middlebury or Amherst fans concerned about the weakness of their respective out-of-conference schedules ---either in regard to preparation for NESCAC season and playoffs or strength of schedule for tournament seeding? Williams schedule is a bit more challenging. What do people think is best approach given NESCAC is really three seasons ---pre-Christmas, NESCAC, then post-season tournaments?

[walzy31]

Tuesday December 6th Spread

Amherst Vs. Emmanuel
Amherst -32.0
O/U: 146.0

Amherst 100 Vs. Emmanuel 74
Amherst -32.0 (Emmanuel Covers +6.0)
O/U: 146.0 (Over +28.0)

I'll take Emmanuel, the over and No on Colby going 0-10 in NESCAC play.
As others have said, Conn College should be the team that has the 0-10 prediction.  Colby will beat the Camels and possibly Wesleyan as well (do they play them up in Maine or down in Connecticut??).

Nice bet!

[walzy31]

Any Middlebury or Amherst fans concerned about the weakness of their respective out-of-conference schedules ---either in regard to preparation for NESCAC season and playoffs or strength of schedule for tournament seeding? Williams schedule is a bit more challenging. What do people think is best approach given NESCAC is really three seasons ---pre-Christmas, NESCAC, then post-season tournaments?

No. I have seen this movie before.

[walzy31]

Also, as far as RIC goes, they have a couple of very good players in Mason Choice (former Colby star Adam Choice's younger brother) and Mike Akinrola, who is one of the toughest post players in the country.  RIC is very good and has proved that in the tournament the past few years.

Mason Choice is a stud...tore it up last year in the NCAAs.

I am excited for this Saturday's double-header featuring #7 MIT / Tufts and #2 Amherst / Brandeis. Are any posters planning on going to either/both of those games?

[Old Guy]

Midd-Johnson&Wales. This was never a game (51-17 at the half). J&W played without Thomas (35 ppg in three games) who has a "hyper-extended knee" and another starter, also out with an injury.

Highlights were Whittington-esque put-back slam by frosh Dylan Sinnickson and a 25' three by soph Albert Nascimento. Sinnickson is a really athletic 6'5". He was eyeball to the rim on his dunk.

Sharry had 16 points in 17 minutes (6 for 7 from the floor), looked a little rusty in the first half, had a couple nice baseline drives and swished a three in the second. He's so versatile.

Any Middlebury or Amherst fans concerned about the weakness of their respective out-of-conference schedules ---either in regard to preparation for NESCAC season and playoffs or strength of schedule for tournament seeding? Williams schedule is a bit more challenging. Jumpshot

Jumpshot: Middlebury will play Skidmore Friday night. That will be the Panthers' fourth opponent in its first seven games who made the NCAA tournament last spring. Anyone else done that? Of those four schools, Gwynedd-Mercy, Ramapo, and Johnson & Wales are new to the schedule this year. That doesn't sound like timid scheduling to me (though those teams may have been better last year - we'll see). We do play in-state schools (so far, St. Joseph's College, Johnson State, Southern VT: three wins), but we should. We also play legitimate upstate NY schools: RPI, Skidmore, Plattsburgh. Williams lost to Salem State: Midd will likely get their shot at Salem State in the Salem State tourney after Break.

[magicman]

Sharry had 16 points in 17 minutes (6 for 7 from the floor), looked a little rusty in the first half, had a couple nice baseline drives and swished a three in the second. He's so versatile.

Glad to hear that Sharry's back. Thought I heard he wasn't going to play until after Christmas, so having him back now is a bonus. I plan on visiting Middlebury on Jan, 24th when My Cardinals invade Pepin Gym. I saw Sharry play for the second time two years ago when I went over for Plattsburgh's visit, and came away quite impressed. I stated at the time that I thought he had All American written all over him. After he threw another double-double at us last year in Plattsburgh I was convinced of it. Hopefully he will be back to his usual self shortly and his All American status will be confirmed at year's end. Hope to run into you when I come over in January.   

[amh63]

Walzy reported the Amherst vs. Emmanuel score.  The undersized Emmanuel team made some tough outside shots and rebounded well during the first half.  They tried to press late in the second half and it led to a number of easy baskets.  15 players played for Amherst.  The crowd was excited when the score reached 100....partly because it was reached by a 3 from FY player, Mussachia.  The bench players played well.  Workman stayed on the floor for over 30 minutes and had a double double again , along with 4 assists and 4 blocks and a steal.  Holmes also had a double-double.  The Kassila/Holmes center had 26 points and 13 boards and some assist, etc.  Toomey in 28 minutes led the scoring with 20 points and 8 assists.  It is interesting that there were times when Kalema and Toomey were on the floor together....two point guards that can drive and shoot the 3's.  Didn't work as well as the Meehan/Toomey combo.  Barrise had an off night from outside but Toomey made up by hitting most of his baskets from outside.
It seems that Barrise is playing more small forward and Workman has moved to the 2 position.....even bringing up the ball in the press.  Workman really has a motor and made some exciting baskets.  Williamson entered early and made two dunks that excited the crowd.
The two new players added to the roster have football talent.  The guard Garay, from Long Island indeed played football in high school as a RB but not at Amherst.  The 6'6" forward, Lippe, is from northern California and was on the Amherst football team as a QB.

[OchoLoko41]

The Jumbos will be fine this year. Youthful, enthusiastic, and wanting to get back into the conversation  as relevant to NESCAC hoops. Building off last year's turnaround and tournament appearance for the first time in a few years, the boys want to get into the top third rather than the middle third of the league. If spots 1-3 have already been conceded by some, these guys would like a chance to  mix it up. Early season success is helping build confidence for veterans and  the newbies  who look good so far.  The loss to Regis is a teachable moment...there are no nights off. The outside shooting will come around and the perimeter defense is getting better. Other than Quezada, not much quickness on D up top the last couple of years, but things could be different with the younger guards and wings. Bigs are a solid group, if a little undersized, who all bang and rebound. Scoring is pretty well balanced and  several guys  have stepped up at different points during the games to carry the offense. This group likes and trusts each other. Could be an interesting season at Cousens...now if we could just get the kids to come out and support their team

Not to wound Jumboland's pride, but are these the same promising freshmen that combined to go 2-19 in the loss against Plymouth St last night?

On the Wesleyan front, the Cardinals survived a pretty serious rally by Manhattanville in the final minutes to earn the 72-69 victory. Would have liked to see better output from the Wesleyan bigs, but from what I understand, Jack Bramswig was a pretty serious on both sides of the ball. 

In the "you heard it hear first" category,  Beresford is continuing to light it up, going 7 for 9 from the field last night while connecting on both his threes.

[Colby Hoops]

Colby loses to Thomas last night.  Wish I could have been at that game, because Thomas' coach TJ Maines is a former Colby player and the runner-up for the Colby job behind Strahorn. Maines is known to be a bit fiery and I'm sure there was some extra motivation in that game.

Tough loss for the Mules, as Franklin Salvador put up 33 pts on 9-14 from three for Thomas.  While losing Russell and Van Loenen certainly left a large scoring void, it's also easy to forget that Van Loenen was Colby's best defensive player too. Foreman continues to play well, putting in 17 pts on 7-13 shooting, while freshman Connor O'Neill added 19 pts (granted it was on 19 shots).   Kyle Donovan and Eric Beaulieu played solidly combing for 22 pts and 21 rebounds.  Tough loss, but should be an interesting weekend as Colby plays their non-conference games against Bowdoin and Bates this weekend, and will be nice to see if the Mules can hang with NESCAC opponents.

[nescac1]

Middlebury's frosh class looks stacked, I'd say it will go down as one of the better NESCAC classes in some time, based on early returns.  Sinneckson, Brierly, and Merryman give them three uber-athletic 6'5ish guys who can play multiple positions and can score, all three have posted impressive numbers to date.  Sinneckson and Brierly are already entrenched in the rotation as frosh, which is particularly impressive on a Final Four caliber team, and Merryman put up similar numbers to Daniel Wohl as high school teammates, and Wohl is a potential NESCAC ROY candidate.  Add in a few centers who may develop over time, and Midd's front court should remain loaded, even after Sharry graduates. 

Huge game for Williams tonight vs. a very talented Keene State team.  Other than a close road loss to Springfield in which they seemed to be way off from three, Keene has been blowing all other opponents out with ease.  Very deep and very talented, with three scholarship level transfers on the roster, plus one of the top pure scorers in D-3 in Derek D'Amours, they probably will fight RIC for Little East honors this year.   A big key for the Ephs will be rebounding, Keene has been winning the battle on the boards by 13 per game this year, and they are very big and athletic (their centers and pf's go 6'10 6'8 6'6 6'6).  Ephs will need to work hard to keep them off the offensive glass, as that has been an issue so far this season for Williams, and the Eph guards will really need to outplay their counterparts.  I expect that it will be a competitive game, likely a high-scoring affair, tonight in Chandler ... the first of two big in-region games for the Ephs this week, with Springfield, who gave Amherst its only remotely difficult game so far, on deck. 

[amh63]

   Walzy....Your cited games indeed have my interest......However, I must join you in spirit and on-line....if the video gods permit. Saving my limited funds to attend games at Amherst in the future and hopefully to attend post-season tournament games.
nescac1....would watch the Williams vs. Keene game tonight expect for the $15 charge....I know, it is an old story.   Your post wrt Midd.'s freshmen is great.  The player from Delbarton  in N.J. was expected to be a good one.  Amherst's Delbarton's Alum., Tom Killian, did not play last night.  Hope it isn't anything other than to allow other bench players on the floor and to work with the starters.
Will be watching the Hamilton vs. Rochester game on-line.  If you want to watch Amherst live, Amherst plays Marymount in Arlington on Dec. 30.  Don't ask why that game was scheduled.....there are two players from No. Va. on the roster, but that can not be the whole reason.

[daoustian]

Anyone else think the front page poll is a bit flawed?

How long will Middlebury be No. 1?
1. Into the NCAA Tournament (45) 20%
2. Into the NESCAC Tournament (20) 9%
3. Until the Jan. 28 Williams game (94) 42%
4. Until the Dec. 30 Salem State game (62) 28%

Maybe there are only 4 options on the poll...but really -- the Salem State game?  The way the options are structured seems to imply that Middlebury will roll over Amherst on Feb. 11.  Pretty far into the future, but the poll creator thinks either they lose at Williams, or they go into the NESCAC Tourney undefeated, overlooking a certain game that would currently feature # 1 vs. # 2 if everything holds between now and then (instead of a two-loss team that already lost to Tufts).

[nescac1]

Thanks for the heads-up re: the Arlington, VA game amh63, I may indeed drop by and check that one out.  Killian hasn't played for awhile, has he?  I imagine he must be hurt.  This week's game at Brandeis, one would think, has the potential to be a tough game for the Jeffs, but Brandeis has really underperformed this year to date, with five losses already, many to not-terribly-tough opponents.  So I predict that the Jeffs will continue to roll until at least January 17 -- that is when the schedule gets extremely difficult, with five NESCAC road games (including a non-conference tilt vs. Williams and the never-fun Maine trip) in eleven days, followed by always-strong RIC, followed by another NESCAC road weekend featuring another trip up to Maine, then hosting Midd and Williams to end the regular season.   Amherst has a pretty soft first half of the season, but I doubt anyone in the country has a more difficult final four weeks.  It will be interesting to see if Workman, Toomey, Waller and Barrise, who will all undoubtedly be playing heavy minutes throughout that stretch, can hold up ...

[walzy31]

Thursday December 8th Spread

Amherst @ Babson
Amherst -16.5
O/U: 160.5