MBB: NESCAC

[OchoLoko41]

Saturday February 18th NESCAC Quarterfinals Spreads

#8 Hamilton @ #1 Amherst
Amherst -13.0 (unless big bro Lin plays in which case it is Hamilton -12.0)
O/U: 137.5

#7 Williams @ #2 Middlebury
Middlebury -4.0
O/U: 129.5

#6 Bowdoin @ #3 Wesleyan
Wesleyan -5.5
O/U: 137.0

#5 Bates @ #4 Tufts
Tufts -4.0
O/U: 129.0

The best part of the playoffs, especially this year is the fact that every team is truly starting at 0-0.  I dont think anything other that Hamilton over Amherst can be considered an absolute shocker. Bravo to all the squads for producing a league not completely dominated by Amherst, Mid, and Williams (and yes I do realize that 2 of those teams have top spots)

The second best part of playoffs is that I start at 0-0 and get a chance to redeem myself for my mediocre at best picks over the season. and with no further adieu...

Amherst and Under
Williams and Over
Wesleyan and Over
Tufts Under 

[walzy31]

Nice piece written by the D3Hoops guys on last weekend's activities in Amherst:
http://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-nation/2011-12/lefrak-is-jumping

[old_hooper]

Can't help but think about Williams and the 2007 CAC tournament.  The year the Jeffs won the National Championship and only two losses...one of those to a Williams team that found a way to get into the tournament and win the CAC Championship.  What a memorable performance by Shalvoy that day at Le Frak.  Its all or nothing in Middlebury on Saturday for the Ephs.  It will take a similar type performance from the Ephs to pull this one out.  Wang will be something to watch on Saturday and you know he will be playing at a different level knowing this could be his last game.  Williams bigs will have to really step it up!

[TheHerst2and4]

Can't help but think about Williams and the 2007 CAC tournament. 

I can....

[lefrakenstein]

First Team:

Sharry, Hanley, Sullivan, Toomey, Kizell

Second Team:

Mayer, Callaghan, Workman, Sha Brown (just missed first team but Kizell and Toomey were both awesome this year, although in a three-guard line-up I'd bump Sullivan and put him in), Matt Vadas

Also considered: Squires, Brust (Bates), Anderson, Orchowski (Tufts), O'Connell (Bowdoin).

POY: Sharry (although if this was an MVP award I'd say Toomey given how much he means to Amherst, no team would suffer more from the loss of any one player)
DPOY: N. Thompson (Workman, Orchowski, and Robertson also deserve consideration)
ROY: Ben Ferris (easy pick)

COY: Hixon, although Sheldon at Tufts deserves some consideration too, given the rapid improvement from a program that seemed all-but-dead two years ago.

All solid choices. It's hard to argue against Hixon, but I think Reilly and his staff deserve some recognition for the job they've done at Wesleyan. Remember they didn't make the playoffs last year and now they're the #3 seed. They played Middlebury and Amherst tough this year, even beating Amherst in their last contest. Reilly has made the Cardinals a "real" contender this year

I really hope Hixon wins this year. Of the 11 years with all conference info available on the nescac site, Amherst finished at least tied for top record in the league 6 times. Hixon, however, won only two coach of the year awards. In contrast, Jeff Brown is 2/2 and Paulson won the award three times despite finishing atop the standings only twice.

Plus, this was just a massively difficult year to finish with an undefeated record in the league. I definitely think Hixon deserves it.

[Colby Hoops]

I think that also has to do with the mindset of the voters.  In the NBA, coach of the year almost always goes to a coach on a team that nobody expected to be good.  It's tough for Hixon to win coach of the year, because Amherst is always expected to finish at or near the top of the league.  I'm not saying that's the right way to do it, but I think that is often the case.

[BullShark09]

Haven't posted in a long time, but still love reading the NESCAC musings that people throw up here.

Wesleyan's resurgence has brought me out of posting retirement to pass this along: http://www.wesleyan.edu/athletics/news/2012/02/mbbatbowd021012.html.  Great coach and a great group of guys. It's about time for the Cardinals.

I'm excited to be at Silloway tomorrow to see what the playoff atmosphere is going to be like.

[OchoLoko41]

Haven't posted in a long time, but still love reading the NESCAC musings that people throw up here.

Wesleyan's resurgence has brought me out of posting retirement to pass this along: http://www.wesleyan.edu/athletics/news/2012/02/mbbatbowd021012.html.  Great coach and a great group of guys. It's about time for the Cardinals.

I'm excited to be at Silloway tomorrow to see what the playoff atmosphere is going to be like.

Great piece... heres hoping for Mendell to get those 40 more minutes added to his already distinguished career

[Bucket]

Midd-Williams tomorrow is now officially a sell out. Pepin will be quite a scene!

[maineman]

How soon after the quarterfinal results will the final 4 tickets go on sale?

[toad22]

Walzy,
I just got back into town and read that I made the All-Crazy Team! Thank you, it is a life-long dream come true!

[walzy31]

Walzy,
I just got back into town and read that I made the All-Crazy Team! Thank you, it is a life-long dream come true!

Haha you earned it. That was a legendary post. Should be a battle tomorrow up in VT.

MagicMan,
Doubtful Lefrak sells out. Maaaaaybe if Williamsis playing Amherst, but we have hosted a bunch and I don't ever remember the staff turning away paying guests. Getting a seat is another story. Get there early!

[magicman]

Walzy,
I just got back into town and read that I made the All-Crazy Team! Thank you, it is a life-long dream come true!

Haha you earned it. That was a legendary post. Should be a battle tomorrow up in VT.

MagicMan,
Doubtful Lefrak sells out. Maaaaaybe if Williamsis playing Amherst, but we have hosted a bunch and I don't ever remember the staff turning away paying guests. Getting a seat is another story. Get there early!

walzy,
I was mystified by your post and went back a few pages to see what I said that you were responding to. I finally realized you were answering maineman's question about the final 4 tickets going on sale. For a while there, though, I thought I was the all crazy one.

[Card + Bear Fan]

Being a Bear and  Wes fan - is an exciting and challenging time for me.   Been a Bear fan much longer but this year is a special year for the Cards.   In Brunswick I wore both colors - but today in M-Town.....  Just one.    Any guesses.....    Enjoy the preview of today's game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6DSIlRT6xg&feature=g-upl&context=G271f3ecAUAAAAAAAAAA

[Old Guy]

Any guesses....

Bears, I hope. Loyalty is good. Shifting alliances, not so. This is New England, after all. It'll take some courage in Wes's gym.

I never do this but I'll give it a try:

Middlebury 74-Williams 70
Bowdoin 80-Wes 72
Amherst 90-Hamilton 67
Tufts 61-Bates 51 (alas)