MBB: NESCAC

walzy31 · February 13, 2012, 11:32:13 AM

But the home team did.

Nescac1,

I like your picks. We agree on 4 of the 5 first teamers. My changes:

-Add Orchowski and rethink Callaghan/Sullivan. Both Wes and Tufts deserve some representation. I know Callaghan was steady for Wesleyan and that Tufts has more of a balanced team than Wes, but Orchowski is the glue and does a little bit of everything for the Jumbos. Of those three guys, I don't know who gets 1st team, who gets 2nd team and who gets snubbed, but Orchowski had a hell of a season.
-Mayer out, Robertson in.

purple reign · February 13, 2012, 03:08:50 PM

Great job as always Walzy with the All Crazy Team. Looking ahead I have a question about hosting NCAA games. If both Amherst hoop squads win the NESCAC Tournament, can they both simultaneously host NCAA games?

walzy31 · February 13, 2012, 03:52:53 PM

I hope not, I would hate to see Sheldon or Reilly lose to GP "I am 88-2 in my last three years" Gromacki.
Sorry for not having a real answer. I don't know how they would do it, but both teams WILL be hosting the NESCAC tourney so it's not like it can't happen from a physical perspective. It comes down to the NCAA hosting rules.

Old Guy · February 13, 2012, 04:33:00 PM

Now this is a statement, not really extreme in any way, which astonishes me:

One of the best 22 hour stretches of basketball I've seen at Lefrak in 11 years.

Okay. On Friday night, Amherst beats arch-rival Williams (and "arch-rival" doesn't begin to describe the emotions attached to the relationship between the two schools) by two points on a shot in the final seconds of the game, at home before a full house. Place goes wild.

The next day, last game of the regular season with huge consequences for the post-season, the other undefeated team in the league, Middlebury, 21-1 overall and tied of the top spot with the Jeffs at 9-0, comes to LaFrak. Another epic game ensues, another big and noisy crowd, Amherst threatens a blowout in the first half, but Middlebury mounts an heroic comeback, the game is tied in regulation, the overtime is back and forth, and the delirious home folks are rewarded with another last minute two point victory on a last seconds shot. Phew.

Now, Walzy, you want to tell me what other "22 hour stretches" are in the discussion.

Bucket · February 13, 2012, 04:36:03 PM

Quote from: purple reign on February 13, 2012, 03:08:50 PM
Great job as always Walzy with the All Crazy Team. Looking ahead I have a question about hosting NCAA games. If both Amherst hoop squads win the NESCAC Tournament, can they both simultaneously host NCAA games?

Institutions with both men's and women's teams in the championships and with the opportunity to host four-team events
for both genders will follow these hosting guidelines:

1st/2nd Round Sectionals
Even Years Men host Women Host
Odd Years Women host Men host
[Note: The committees will not approve proposals to host four-team, three-game first- and second or sectional rounds for
both genders at the same site.]

nescac1 · February 13, 2012, 04:51:27 PM

Fair substitutions Walzy, I wouldn't have any issue should the teams shake down in that fashion. If Williams, Bates, Tufts, or Wesleyan make a surprising deep run in the tourney, that may alter the equation a bit too.

A bit of NESCAC tourney trivia: incredibly, Amherst's last national championship year was more recent than its last NESCAC Championship year. (And Williams has made a final four more recently than its last NESCAC Championship year). Shows just how competitive, and how unpredictable, this tournament can be when nationally dominant teams can have an early exit. While Midd and Amherst are the clear favorites, I could easily see Williams, Tufts, Bowdoin, or Wesleyan pulling three wins in a row out of their hats.

amh63 · February 13, 2012, 05:00:24 PM

Bucket....thanks for the info. I knew about the odd and even years rule but not clear on the specifics. That brings up the question of how many points are given to a team that is playing at home? What, if any do odd makers or spread calculators factor in...so to speak. I believe it is at least 2-4 points. Considering the games between Williams-Amherst-Midd........this year...it could be 0-2 points. It is interesting to note the latest sports news dealing with Harvard hasn't consider this topic. In one story, there is talk of Harvard going deep in the post season......then Harvard LOSES to Princeton in N.J.......where Harvard has not won a MBB game since the Dark Ages.
Old Guy....to answer your question of Walzy.....only in his dreams.

lefrakenstein · February 13, 2012, 08:09:55 PM

Today is the two-year anniversary of the last time an Amherst basketball team lost in LeFrak. That's an amazing accomplishment and I would assume a record unless maybe WashU made it longer.

walzy31 · February 13, 2012, 08:29:43 PM

Quote from: Old Guy on February 13, 2012, 04:33:00 PM
Now this is a statement, not really extreme in any way, which astonishes me:

One of the best 22 hour stretches of basketball I've seen at Lefrak in 11 years.

Okay. On Friday night, Amherst beats arch-rival Williams (and "arch-rival" doesn't begin to describe the emotions attached to the relationship between the two schools) by two points on a shot in the final seconds of the game, at home before a full house. Place goes wild.

The next day, last game of the regular season with huge consequences for the post-season, the other undefeated team in the league, Middlebury, 21-1 overall and tied of the top spot with the Jeffs at 9-0, comes to LaFrak. Another epic game ensues, another big and noisy crowd, Amherst threatens a blowout in the first half, but Middlebury mounts an heroic comeback, the game is tied in regulation, the overtime is back and forth, and the delirious home folks are rewarded with another last minute two point victory on a last seconds shot. Phew.

Now, Walzy, you want to tell me what other "22 hour stretches" are in the discussion.

Fair question Old Guy. In my time as an Amherst fan (started 02/03 season), I've been a part of the following weekends in cozy Lefrak (in chronological order):
1) 2005 NESCAC Championship Weekend beating Trinity and then Bates
2) 2006 NESCAC Championship Weekend beating Bates and then Tufts in OT
3) 2006 Sectionals beating Tufts with The Shot and OT and then St. John Fisher to go to the Final Four
4) 2007 Sectionals beating Stevens and then RIC to go to the Final Four
X) 2007 Amherst Intramural Championship - Just Kidding
5) 2012 Regular Season Final Weekend beating Williams on last second shot and 9-0 Middlebury in OT

There have been good back-to-back times in that gym for me!...but this weekend was pretty sweet.

walzy31 · February 13, 2012, 08:32:10 PM

Quote from: lefrakenstein on February 13, 2012, 08:09:55 PM
Today is the two-year anniversary of the last time an Amherst basketball team lost in LeFrak. That's an amazing accomplishment and I would assume a record unless maybe WashU made it longer.

Toomey is 26-0 in Lefrak

nescac1 · February 13, 2012, 08:45:30 PM

Lefrakenstein, you've got two years to go. Williams won 64 straight in Chandler from 01 through 05, which is the D3 record. Some truly great wins in that stretch including two straight final fours and the Tucker Kain game.

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · February 13, 2012, 09:16:51 PM

Quote from: nescac1 on February 13, 2012, 08:45:30 PM
Lefrakenstein, you've got two years to go. Williams won 64 straight in Chandler from 01 through 05, which is the D3 record. Some truly great wins in that stretch including two straight final fours and the Tucker Kain game.

We're pretty sure that Amherst has the active record. It was Stevens Point, but they lost at hom earlier this year.

Old Guy · February 13, 2012, 09:41:12 PM

Middlebury hasn't lost at home this year - or last (21-0).

Last home loss was RIC in the NCAAs in 3/10.

Midd's sophs (Kizell, etc), then, like Toomey, have not experienced a home loss either (four losses overall, including a final four loss).

I certainly hope I'm still making this claim a week from now. Think Williams will be motivated for a big effort?

lefrakenstein · February 13, 2012, 09:49:11 PM

Quote from: nescac1 on February 13, 2012, 08:45:30 PM
Lefrakenstein, you've got two years to go. Williams won 64 straight in Chandler from 01 through 05, which is the D3 record. Some truly great wins in that stretch including two straight final fours and the Tucker Kain game.

No losses by the women in that period? I was including both teams, which is what makes the feat so rare.

It's crazy to imagine that the Williams men went 4 years w/o losing at Chandler. Checking the Williams archives though, the women did not hold up their end.

Sorry to discuss women's basketball on the men's forum, I just thought it was worth mentioning, especially in light of the fact that both teams can't host sectionals, which is what got me wondering.

amh63 · February 13, 2012, 10:02:10 PM

Wow.....I am confused....as usual....but see that others are having troubles spelling player's names correctly.
I spelled the fine guard from Midd.....Kizel with two ll's....then saw Amherst SID spell it with one l and went back and made a correction to my post. Now Old Guy who is wise in Midd. lore, etc,....spells the guard's name with two ll's. Oh well, the Midd posters spell Amherst's center Kaasila with one "a". To all mothers/fathers of conf. players, I apologize to you all here now.....when I do not spell your son's name in future posts.
Strange as this may seem, I remember many of those weekend games in your "dreams" Walzy. What has me confused is the time period....11 years! Did you go to games when you were in high school?