MBB: NESCAC

[OchoLoko41]

Saturday December 10th Spread

Amherst 61 @ Brandeis 76
Amherst -14.0 (Brandies Covers +29)
O/U: 155.5 (Under +18.5)

ac08 with a tough day betting.

Tough one for Amherst, but have to tip your cap to Brandeis' 3pt shooters who were hot all night (#1 and #10 didn't miss in the second half...5-5 I think). Some were deep and all were big shots. The silver lining for Amherst is that Middlebury Head Coach Jeff Brown was there and couldn't have gotten too good of a look at Amherst without Toomey and with some off shooting nights by others.

With this loss I think only Middlebury can be seen as a truely elite team in the NESCAC right now (as they should be with the #1 spot) this is not to say that amherst, williams, and others are not great teams, simply that they can be upset by less than stellar competition. 

On the Wesleyan front, anchored by a lock down defense (a phrase increasingly applicable to this Cardinals team) and stellar play by the Wesleyan big men on both ends, Wesleyan got the win over USMMA, a team that has haunted them in past seasons.  With this win the Cardinals were able to achieve a well rounded win to go into the finals break a resounding 9-1.

[nescac1]

OchoLoko, I'd say all three, if fully healthy, are elite teams nationally, especially in a year when no one is really looking dominant, and the most talented non-NESCAC teams (Augustana and Virginia Wesleyan) both ave losses as well.  Williams certainly would not be in any danger of losing to Salem State right now -- they are a totally different team than in that game, which, remember, occurred with 2/4 of the top guards out, the other two who had barely practiced, and also an injured starting center who barely was able to contribute.  And also, all three can be upset by less than stellar competition on an off night -- Midd barely held on to beat Skidmore, and was in serious danger of losing that game, and Skidmore is a pretty good team, but hardly a powerhouse.  Midd deserves to be number one, but Williams will, deservedly, return to the top five nationally after beating two solid teams this week, and Amherst shouldn't be penalized too badly for losing on the road to a pretty talented Brandeis team, playing without Amherst's MVP and a few other key injured players.  If Wang can return to his pre-injury form, I like Williams' chances (although having to play Midd and Amherst on the road will be rough).   Williams doesn't have anyone playing at an all-American level now, but does have tremendous balance.  You could argue for any one of five players (Wang, Mayer, Klemm, Robertson, Epley) as the MVP of the team to date.  If not, I think Midd is now the clear team to beat, because Amherst could have a tough time with a brutal stretch of 10 games (7 on the road including Williams and two Maine trips, and 3 very losable home games) to end its season.   

Looking at the state of the NESCAC after the first semester, not much has really changed in terms of how folks viewed the league in the pre-season.  Midd, Williams, and Amherst (probably in that order right now, but any games between them will be toss-ups) are still head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the league and prohibitive favorites to finish 1-2-3 in some order.  Bowdoin and Wesleyan  (and maybe Hamilton as well) are probably the teams that have the best chance of knocking off one of the big three in any given game, but they will need to play at their best to do so.  Trinity, Tufts, and Bates will fight it out for the final few NESCAC playoff spots, where they will be first round fodder, and Conn and Colby will be huge underdogs vs. any team other than each other. 

A few other first semester thoughts:

all-NESCAC first semester: Ryan Sharry, Will Hanley, Pat Sullivan, Aaron Toomey, Sha Brown
second team: Alex Orchowski, Will Workman, James Klemm, James Wang, Nate Robertson

MVP: Hanley (only because Sharry missed so much time) 

all-rookie first semester: Dean Brierly, Daniel Wohl, Bryan Hurley, Graham Safford, Varun Ram  (CJ Moss, Dylan Sinnickson, Carter Trent, Ben Ferris, and Joseph Lin all deserve watching as well and could all break into the top group -- lots of strong FY guards this year). 

Defensive player: 1. Nolan Thompson, 2. Will Workman

most surprising stat: first year Joseph Lin, all of 5'11, 135, second on the team with 6 blocks. 

most overhyped newcomer: Julian Harris, Wesleyan

[Old Guy]

Do they play Midd? Jumboland

We don't play MIT. We did, as recently as 2007, but not for many years before that. I was told a couple years ago that there's not a lot of incentive for the Boston-Hartford/Springfield schools to travel this far (north) for a non-league game when there are so many teams to schedule in their backyard.

Years back, we played them regularly. When I played at Midd they were pretty good. They had a terrific big guy named Alex Wilson, who easily averaged a double-double (18.5/11.8), scored over 1200 points in three years (I looked it up). We held the ball against them one year, lost 33-19.

[Bucket]

The Middlebury Panthers have done the impossible. They have made a sports fan out of my wife:

http://downsouthstreet.wordpress.com/2011/12/10/go-blue/

[eph partisan]

I am (surprise) prone to agree with nescac1. Maker has said all season that the Ephs will get to where they need to once they get to practice enough. Right now, they STILL aren't there. Rehab and rest for Wang, fitness workouts for Robertson and Rooke-Ley, and the Ephs will be formidable.

I think Robertson is actually the Ephs' MVP for the season right now. Maker says it all the time, and I agree with him – they are a COMPLETELY different team with him on the floor, more than with any other player.

I do have to disagree with you, nescac1, on one point:

second team: Alex Orchowski, Will Workman, James Klemm, James Wang, Nate Robertson

I think we need to put Epley in over Wang, here. As you've been saying, he's been getting it done for Williams all year. James has the worst shooting percentage he's had in his career, overall (44 percent) or from outside the arc (40 percent). He's drawing the other team's best defenders, true – but Epley has had a better year so far, particularly when we take defense into account. Epley is scoring the same amount with significantly better efficiency, guarding guys that have 4-6 inches on him VERY well, while Wang is getting beaten on that end of the floor way too often right now.

To the team of Amherst posters: Somewhat to my chagrin, I think the loss, and playing without Toomey, will actually be good for you – just like playing without Robertson was good for the Ephs.

[ac08]

To the team of Amherst posters: Somewhat to my chagrin, I think the loss, and playing without Toomey, will actually be good for you – just like playing without Robertson was good for the Ephs.

I'm not sure the loss, in itself, is "good for [them]" (I imagine successfully overcoming adversity is better); but I think you're right about them having a unique opportunity for growth.

[walzy31]

Conn and Colby will be huge underdogs vs. any team other than each other. 

all-NESCAC first semester: Ryan Sharry, Will Hanley, Pat Sullivan, Aaron Toomey, Sha Brown
second team: Alex Orchowski, Will Workman, James Klemm, James Wang, Nate Robertson

MVP: Hanley (only because Sharry missed so much time) 

all-rookie first semester: Dean Brierly, Daniel Wohl, Bryan Hurley, Graham Safford, Varun Ram  (CJ Moss, Dylan Sinnickson, Carter Trent, Ben Ferris, and Joseph Lin all deserve watching as well and could all break into the top group -- lots of strong FY guards this year). 

Defensive player: 1. Nolan Thompson, 2. Will Workman

most surprising stat: first year Joseph Lin, all of 5'11, 135, second on the team with 6 blocks. 

most overhyped newcomer: Julian Harris, Wesleyan

Great post! I scarily agree with all the 1st Semester All Conference awards and would add Coach Brown as COS and lean towards a Midd Frosh for ROS.

I wish we did Most Over Hyped Newcomer every year. That made me laugh.

[Hugenerd]

Some highlights from the MIT-Tufts game. The production appears to have gotten a bit artsy, but it shows highlights from both teams, including an alley-oop and tip dunk by a Tufts player.

http://mitbasketball.blogspot.com/2011/12/7-mit-wins-thriller-at-tufts.html

[Old Guy]

In the category of helpful early-season losses:

In the fall of 2009, Midd's Tim Edwards was out until the New Year. Two first-years, Jake Wolfin and Nolan Thompson, got all his minutes. This fall, Sharry missed the first five games. Peter Lynch got many of his minutes, was MVP of the Ramapo Tourney. The crucial variable is how good the players who are replacing the ace are and will become, with additional playing time.

Interesting stat: Joey Kizell, who is playing very well, has nine turnovers in seven games, averaging 28 minutes per game (31 assists). 

[ECSUalum]

Some highlights from the MIT-Tufts game. The production appears to have gotten a bit artsy, but it shows highlights from both teams, including an alley-oop and tip dunk by a Tufts player.

http://mitbasketball.blogspot.com/2011/12/7-mit-wins-thriller-at-tufts.html

Best part was Coach Anderson's remarks at the end!!!  Great video

[amh63]

Latest poll ratings....for those who care.  In the NE area, Amherst drops to 6th and Williams rises to 7th, a few points behind.  MIT makes the jump to 4th with the best record of 11-0.  RIC with its lost to ECSU drops to 20th.  Don't expect much changes in the northeast until after the holidays.  Amherst's games in Dec. are Anna Maria at home on Tuesday (webcast available) and Marymount in Arlington Va. on Dec. 30th.  Hope the team will be renewed and healthy by the Dec. 30th game.  Only a major storm will prevent me from attending that game. 
Until then, Happy Holidays to all!

[Hugenerd]

Latest poll ratings....for those who care.  In the NE area, Amherst drops to 6th and Williams rises to 7th, a few points behind.  MIT makes the jump to 4th with the best record of 11-0.  RIC with its lost to ECSU drops to 20th.  Don't expect much changes in the northeast until after the holidays.  Amherst's games in Dec. are Anna Maria at home on Tuesday (webcast available) and Marymount in Arlington Va. on Dec. 30th.  Hope the team will be renewed and healthy by the Dec. 30th game.  Only a major storm will prevent me from attending that game. 
Until then, Happy Holidays to all!

One correction, WPI drops to #20 with loss to RIC. RIC remains unranked with loss to ECSU.

[amh63]

Thanks Dr. Hughnerd!  Only one mistake!  The pills are working.  Maybe I need new glasses?

[ECSUalum]

So we dont have to leave the D3 Boards:

D3hoops.com men's Top 25, Week 3
Through games of Sunday, Dec. 11:

# School (1st votes)     Rec Pts Prev.
1 Middlebury (24)          7-0 624 1
2 Virginia Wesleyan (1)   6-1 560 3
3 Augustana                 7-1 556 4
4 MIT                             11-0 511 7
5 Emory                        8-0 490 9
6 Amherst                       8-1 480 2
7 Williams                       8-1 477 8
8 Whitworth                  6-1 417 6
9 Marietta                    6-1 396 10
10 Franklin and Marsh.    9-0 392 11
11 Cabrini                     7-0 360 12
12 Mary Hardin-Baylor     6-0 305 13
13 UW-Whitewater         8-0 279 19
14 St. Thomas               7-1 235 16
15 Puget Sound              8-0 227 20
16 Birmingham-So.          7-0 214 18
17 Wabash                    8-0 212 25
18 Hope                        8-1 189 23
19 Wooster                    5-2 188 5
20 WPI                          8-1 124 15
21 Buffalo State              6-1 85 14
22 Claremont-M-S           9-0 84 --
23 Rochester                  8-2 82 24
24 Oswego State            8-1 75 --
25 UW-SP                     6-2 63 21

Dropped out: No. 17 Wheaton (Ill.), No. 22 William Paterson.

Others receiving votes: Edgewood 60, Washington U. 60, Wittenberg 60, Rhode Island College 53, Wheaton (Ill.) 52, William Paterson 35, Ohio Wesleyan 27, Western Connecticut 27, Grinnell 22, Bethany 21, St. Mary's (Md.) 18, Hardin-Simmons 16, Transylvania 14, Texas-Dallas 9, UW-River Falls 8, Rose-Hulman 7, Hobart 5, New Jersey City 4, Hartwick 1, Salem State 1.

[Colby Hoops]

I'm surprised RIC isn't ranked despite the loss.  They beat WPI last week who was ranked #15 at that time and is now #20.  I guess the lost to Eastern Conn weighed more heavily than the win.