MBB: NESCAC

[daoustian]

Regarding LeFrak (Amherst). It's a beautiful gym

Yes

Lots and lots of room behind the hoop at that end

Maybe

and it's very light

Nope, it's a cave

It strikes me that shooting into that background (when the curtain is open) is really disorienting, and a significant disadvantage to visiting team (which doesn't have the advantage of practicing there and becoming accustomed to it).

You are assuming that it is open when Amherst practices.  That's not true much of the time.

Am I guilty of cynicism to think it is gamesmanship?

It's only gamesmanship if the curtain was open and drawn when teams change baskets.  That'd really be something.  If people really think it is a disadvantage, all the more reason to keep it open from now on.  Of course, that might bother the five-year olds shooting hoops on the other side or the IM volleyball kids, but hey, if you think having the curtain open is annoying, wait until you see people moving on the other side of it while you're shooting.   

[amh63]

Some random comments before seeing my first live Amherst game this Friday in LeFrak.
First, thanks Magicman for posting the detail Hamilton results!  I watched some of the Hamilton-Colby game on-line...good broadcaster.  It seems that Hamilton's big scorer/rebounder has been kept in check the past three games....two loses and one win.  In the lost against Bowdoin, J. Swords, the Polar Bear FY center at 7' played a significant part in the win.  Seven boards and going 4-4 in baskets in 10 minutes.  This may be bad news for the rest of the conference if he starts getting more time on the floor.  However, in the two conference games, FY player Lin was not seen though he had at least 18 minutes in the loss to Union.  Any info on why?  Hope he is in the Friday game. I love to see if he can guard Aaron Toomey or Kalema.
In just the beginning of conference play, it seems that the teams to watch are Wes. and Tufts, with Bowdoin as a "darkhorse"....teams to challenge the top tier teams...especially at home.  Bates is an interesting team.  Lost badly to Bowdoin and gave Williams a challenge in the first half in an away game.  Maybe tougher at home in their gym,
Speaking of gyms......Old Guy, when Williams and Midd come into town for their weekend games at Amherst, the "open" part of the gym will have the curtain removed....to allow the addition of more seats.  Tough luck to follow Williams into town since the game with Williams always draws a big crowd that requires more seating capacity.  The same arrangement occurs whenever Amherst gets to host a conference tour'y or a NCAA game.  Just call it a sort of home court advantage...like the small heated gym up at Bates.
I recall, about 5-6 years ago when Amherst lost to Williams on Friday at home in a close one.(I have posted that many of the Amherst players were ill during the week and had little practice for that game.) On Sat., with me being obnoxious in the stands, Amherst beat Midd. in spite of some terrific senior guard play by Midd.  Because of the lost to Williams., the hosting of the conference tournament went to Midd. vice to Amherst.  Amherst played Midd. for the conf. Championship that year at Midd.  Your terrific guard beat Amherst almost by himself...especially late in the game.  Your crowd and your gym....were an advantage.

[magicman]

amh63, Plus k for the thank you. I promised Coach Stockwell I'd do my best to keep Hamilton represented on this board. He's a good coach and I'm sure after he's had time to do a little recruiting, (he was a summertime hire this year) Hamilton will be a competitive force in the NESCAC.

[walzy31]

Friday January 13th NESCAC Spreads

Middlebury @ Conn College
Middlebury -16.5
O/U: 124.5

Hamilton @ Amherst
Amherst -15.0
O/U: 151.0

Colby @ Bates
Bates -1.0
O/U: 139.5

Bowdoin @ Tufts
Pick'em
O/U: 163.5

Williams @ Wesleyan
Williams -6.0
O/U: 147.0

[7express]

Middlebury and over
Amherst and under
Bates and under
Tufts and under
Williams and over

[nescac1]

Tough loss for Trinity last night, losing to a very good WPI team when they fouled a guy (who nailed all three free throws) with two seconds left. 

I like Midd to cover as the best bet here.  I also think Bates should handle Colby at home without too much trouble. 

Midd and over
Amherst and under
Bates and under
Tufts and under
Williams (tough one though, depends which Eph team shows up) and over (I do like the over here, I think it will be a fast paced up and down game and I think the Ephs will regain their shooting stroke). 

[purple reign]

I love Tufts straight up.

[walzy31]

Updated Line

Tufts is now -3.0, but 7express, nescac1, and purple reign locked the Jumbos in with no spread.
Also, 7express and nescac1 are going +1 or -1 together since you both took the same 10 picks.
Good luck!

[purple reign]

And a tempting middle opportunity develops!!

[amh63]

Good reason I do not put down my choices.....don't really understand the finer points and terminology.  I will just follow whatever 7Express states.  Go with a winner.
I'm preparing for the game with Hamilton....hope the weather will not slow the trip from CT. to Amherst tonight.  Possible snow etc.  Got my lined cords and boots.  Guess I'm excited about the game.  It's always fun to be in LeFrak among fans....enjoying the game and shared comments...the experience among friends.

[Old Guy]

Middlebury is not looking past CC, despite Walzy's line. If the Camels can slow the game down and get a lead with that deliberate Princeton-offense, in their own gym, it could be an interesting tilt.

No doubt Wesleyan is looking forward to this weekend. Tufts removed some of the patina of invulnerability from the Ephs - and the Cardinals gave us fits in our gym last year when they were undermanned. I would guess that Joe Reilly has them high as a kite for these two dragon-slaying opportunities, at home. The Panthers will not be over-confident.

Middlebury is at full-strength. Nolan Thompson is back, though under-practiced. Just his presence is a lift. He's special. Jack Roberts played last weekend, though limited minutes. He and Ryan Sharry were on the floor together at times against Tufts - that's an imposing front-court (plus Peter Lynch is a rock and James Jenson a jet). Panther guard play (Wolfin and Kizell) was terrific against Bates and Tufts.

Bucket is headed to Middletown (weather permitting) with his hoop-crazy four year old. He'll give us the 1st-person perspective.

Miserable weather - thank god for basketball. 

[Bucket]

Bucket is headed to Middletown (weather permitting) with his hoop-crazy four year old. He'll give us the 1st-person perspective.

John (Johnny Hoops) would surely want the record corrected to acknowledge that he is 5, "almost 5 and a half!"

[Bucket]

Middlebury is at full-strength. Nolan Thompson is back, though under-practiced. Just his presence is a lift. He's special. Jack Roberts played last weekend, though limited minutes. He and Ryan Sharry were on the floor together at times against Tufts - that's an imposing front-court (plus Peter Lynch is a rock and James Jenson a jet). Panther guard play (Wolfin and Kizell) was terrific against Bates and Tufts.

And don't forget the Human Microwave, Dylan Sinnickson. The kid has to lead the league in points per minutes played.

[walzy31]

Amherst up 44-36 at the half. Interesting seeing a different substitution pattern from Hixon tonight as 11 guys played with the game as close as 2 points. I think it paid dividends at the end of the half as guys like Logan Buckner and Tom Killian were able to come in and bring intensity and energy that some of the starters didn't seem to bring. The 3 point play by Buckner and dunk by Killian fired up the rest of the team and bodes well for Amherst in the second half.

Toomey with 10 and 4--Workman 8 and 5.
Hamilton with 9 O-Boards in the first half has really kept them in this game. Lots of long rebounds and punch outs from missed deep jumpshots.

[magicman]

Amherst leads Hamilton 44-36 at the half. Lord Jeffs up 38-36 with 2 minutes to go, score the final 6 points of the period, the last two on a steal by Toomey that leads to a fast break dunk by Killian. Hamilton's hanging with Amherst despite the fact that their leading scorer Pat Sullivan hasn't played in the game.