MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Middlebury up 8 at the half.  The game has been even in most respects, except that Williams has been, once again in a big game this year, way, way, off from 3, while Midd has seemingly nailed all of its open looks, many of which came off of offensive rebounds (5-10).  Williams is only 3-16 from deep (ouch) and that is with a running 28 footer at the buzzer by Hayden Rooke-Ley to improve the percentage.  Many of those, albeit not all, were relatively easy looks, as well.  Unlike the past two years, when they need 'em, the threes just haven't been falling this season, especially the last few weeks.  Klemm, Epley, and Robertson a combined 1-10 from deep, Ephs will need that to improve and fast to have a chance at a comeback here.  Williams did play I'd say its best defensive half of the year, didn't have the lapses the Ephs have had in some other games.  Midd getting balanced production with all five starters playing well. 

Oh, and to add the absolutely unreal string of misfortune with injuries the Ephs have suffered over the past year, I heard (unconfirmed) that Wang had his appendix removed earlier in the week, and he has played limited minutes according (how he is playing at all, I have no idea).  Starting with Nate Robertson in last year's NESCAC championship weekend, Whittington in last year's final four, Wang with his back issues which started last season leading eventually to surgery, and virtually every starter or key reserve getting seriously banged up in the pre-season this year, with several missing time or limited for much of the season, I can't ever remember a one year period where less went right, health-wise.  Compare that to 2009-10, where I don't think a single started missed a game.  Hopefully next year, the injury luck will swing back in the Ephs' favor.  In the meantime, I hope they can mount an improbable comeback in the second half today ...

[nescac1]

Looking like the end of a star-crossed season for the Ephs.  Midd too tough inside, Sharry was outstanding and was the difference, Williams didn't have any one guy to step up to match the all-American.  Robertson (other than from 3, where he struggled to hit open looks like the rest of the Ephs) and Mayer both played well on both sides for Williams but the Midd interior defense was very strong all game, Roberts and Jensen gave a defensive spark off the bench, and Williams just could not even come close on the innumerable outside looks they had all game that were set up by the drive.  Tough year for the Ephs but kudos for the gutty efforts by a lot of banged up guys all season.  They always played hard just came up a bit short in the big games and couldn't hit outside shots when they needed. 

Much like Amherst after its down year two years ago, I have no doubt that, with 4/5 top scorers back, a lot of young players who I expect will make big strides in the off-season, a potential star center in Mayer if he continues to improve, and what can only be better fortune with health, the Ephs will return to their accustomed level under Coach Maker.  But for now, a long off-season to think about it for the Ephs, and Midd I think will go deep into the post-season once again.   

[nescac1]

Although not how they wanted things to end, congrats to the Williams seniors Wang, Emerson and Mickens for a tremendous four years, highlighted by two final fours, a win in Salem, a NESCAC title, and an elite 8 win vs. Amherst to keep the Ephs' perfect record vs. the Jeffs in NCAA play intact, certainly careers to be proud of.  Congrats in particular to James Wang, a two-time all-American with innumerable big games over his career, who battled hard all season despite being a shadow of his former self, physically. 

[Marty Peretz]

A few days back, I rather boldly predicted the following: "Midd -12 vs Williams." Most people seemed to think I was nuts and I almost second guessed myself and readjusted the line. Glad I didn't. The house always wins.

Modification: oooo and so so close on Amherst, who I set at -18, but who hit a late 3 to win by 20.

Early spreads for next weekend in Amherst: Amherst -12.5 vs Bates and Middlebury -7.5 vs. Wesleyan.
Tourney odds: Amherst even money. Middlebury 3 to 2 odds. Wesleyan 7 to 1 and Bates 25 to 1. Sharry and Toomey each 2 to 1 on MOP. Workman 5 to 1. Sha Brown 8 to 1.

[lumbercat]

A great win for Bates today. They are a hard working, grinding team. Not flashy but they get the job done.

John Squires was dominant today with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Based on this performance and his efforts throughout the year this kid has to be included among the top 10 players in the league. He merits at least a spot on the All NESCAC second team.

The Bobcats will be a big underdog against a great Amherst team but they will bring their best next week. 

[OchoLoko41]

A great win for Bates today. They are a hard working, grinding team. Not flashy but they get the job done.

John Squires was dominant today with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Based on this performance and his efforts throughout the year this kid has to be included among the top 10 players in the league. He merits at least a spot on the All NESCAC second team.

The Bobcats will be a big underdog against a great Amherst team but they will bring their best next week.

Caught the Wesleyan vs Bowdoin game in Middletown this afternoon.  While the Cardinals at the #3 seed certainly did not surprise many by winning the game, what was surprising was how in command the Red Birds were throughout the contest.  With very few exceptions, Wesleyan played 40 minutes of mistake free basketball and got dominant efforts from both Brown and Callaghan.  Great to see guys that excited about the game of basketball, as well they should be.

One of the key moments for the game was Staiger getting got hit with two quick fouls to start the game.  Without him in the game the polar bears had to lean on a very raw Swords, allowing the more physical Wes squad almost free reign in the paint. 

I dont envy whoever needs to make the final decisions for all conference this year, particularly at the 4 spot with Sharry, Hanley, Callaghan, and Squires.  While certainly all have had standout moments this season the level that Callaghan is playing at especially during the last 6 games, aka when it counts the most, has been absolutely stellar.

On the lighter side of things, Im sure many of the followers of this board will be at Amherst this upcoming weekend to watch the games.  I implore you to occasionally watch the antics of the Wesleyan bench.  While St Jeans fire has been well documented by Walzy and others, his partners in crime (primarily Tim Gallvin, Avery Robinson, and Big Ziggy) are the finest collection of lunatics this side of the Mississippi.  Always positive, always passionate.

[Old Guy]

Midd 73- Williams 61: Mostly I feel . . . relief. I worried about this one, big time.

I can't improve on nescac1's analysis. I have so much respect for James Wang. He is such a good player. At his best, he was a dervish who could beat anyone off the dribble and finish with a hoop - or kill you with a long three. In some respects, this may be his best year - others will know better - but to play with these physical limitations and play as well as he did merits tremendous admiration. When the discussion centers on great NESCAC point guards he's right at the top.

Sharry had a good game (22-7; 7-14 from the floor), stepping up like you hope your best player will. The Ephs took a page from the Jeff's handbook and attacked him at the rim, so he hit some nice mid-range jumpers - such a good touch. 6'8" soph Jack Roberts was important - five blocks. He was big defensively, allowing Sharry not to assume too much of a burden at the defensive end. Middlebury had 12 blocks in the game (Sharry - 4).

Williams never went away - 6-8 points most of the second half. I didn't breath easy (I took two two-minute time outs, walked around) until there was 1:23 left. You never know with the three point shot. We're terrific from the line this year - Kizel, Wolfin, and Sharry were nearly perfect when the Ephs had to foul. The Panthers were 27-31 for the game.

Jake Wolfin had a nice bounceback game (16 points, 3 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals) after being physically compromised last week against Amherst. What a luxury it is to have a three guard rotation of Wolfin, Kizel, and Thompson. What a joy it is to watch Thompson play man-to-man defense against guards of the quality of Robertson and Wang. Robertson is a very good player.

Congratulations to the Bates Bobcats. I root for them but thought they had a tough February and Tufts would exploit the home court advantage.

I had Bowdoin against Wesleyan, thinking the Polar Bears had played well late in the season and had two superior seniors, highly motivated at the end of the line. Hanley is so tough underneath, and if you collapse on him, he can kick it out to O'Connell on the arc for a three. Also didn't know if Wes had an answer for their size underneath. Wes will head to Amherst with some confidence and momentum.

See you at Amherst next weekend. How I wish these games were at Midd. Amherst is the Yankees - we're the upstarts. Sell-out today at Midd, the bandwagon is picking up fans at every stop. We are so appreciative because this level of success (the past 4-5 years) is so unexpected and unprecedented. I bought extra tickets for today's game, because I knew I would get the call that I never expected to get in my wildest fantasies when I was a player - "Can you get me tickets to the Middlebury game?" Yes, as a matter of fact, I can.

[walzy31]

See you at Amherst next weekend. How I wish these games were at Midd. Amherst is the Yankees - we're the upstarts.

Let's keep it Amherst=Duke, Williams=UNC, and Midd=Clemson. No one besides Hamm likes the Yankees.

See you at Amherst!

[toad22]

Middlebury played very well today and deserved to win. Sharry is a beast. They play so well as a team. Williams played well enough to win, if they had shot the three ball at all well. Midd's strategy seemed to be to prevent penetration and allow a lot of threes. The strategy worked, as Williams went 4-29 from three. You can't win shooting it that badly. I really like the Middlebury team and I wish them well. I can confirm that James Wang indeed had an emergency appendectomy last Sunday. He didn't practice all week, but he was able to play some. Amazing.

[7express]

On the lighter side of things, Im sure many of the followers of this board will be at Amherst this upcoming weekend to watch the games.  I implore you to occasionally watch the antics of the Wesleyan bench.  While St Jeans fire has been well documented by Walzy and others, his partners in crime (primarily Tim Gallvin, Avery Robinson, and Big Ziggy) are the finest collection of lunatics this side of the Mississippi.  Always positive, always passionate.

I won't be there Saturday because hopefully I have at least 1 of the West Conn teams in the LEC championship that day (men are seeded #2, women 4th), but I'm gonna try to get up there for the championship game Sunday though.

[LarryBasketball33]

Middlebury played very well today and deserved to win. Sharry is a beast. They play so well as a team. Williams played well enough to win, if they had shot the three ball at all well. Midd's strategy seemed to be to prevent penetration and allow a lot of threes. The strategy worked, as Williams went 4-29 from three. You can't win shooting it that badly. I really like the Middlebury team and I wish them well. I can confirm that James Wang indeed had an emergency appendectomy last Sunday. He didn't practice all week, but he was able to play some. Amazing.

Nice team win for Middlebury.  Sharry was, well Sharry. The scary thing is his best basketball may still be in front of him.  Great to see Pepin packed to the rafters when only a few years ago it felt like it was family and close friends only.  Hats off to James Wang for a gutty effort yesterday and a hell of a career. Clearly he did not have the jump in his step yesterday that Midd fans have both feared and admired for years.  Despite that, he gave everything he had, never letting up.  I noticed more than a few Midd fans standing and clapping when Maker pulled him, and saw some real heartfelt words being exchanged between him and Wolfin in the postgame handshake.   

[Maine-Man]

Congratulations to Amherst, Middlebury, Wesleyan and Bates on their wins yesterday!  It sounds as if the Williams/Middlebury game was as good as advertised.  I watched the Wesleyan/Bowdoin game and it was a blow out.  Wesleyan played an all-around solid game, while Bowdoin looked lost on the court, and was in disarray.  Good luck to everyone this week.

[grabtherim]

Yeah - gave me a slight scare... was pretty sure we had him on already and was worried I had miscommunication with my producer... feeling much better now!

Dave - Just listened to your opening for Hoopsville from last night.  Curious why you said "we have to feel for the Ephs."  I would venture to guess that fans of their rivals do not feel for them at all as I'm guessing you would not "feel" for one of your rivals.  Finally, saying they have to "win out to make the tournament" is going to be a real issue as they have no games left.  You can put a fork in the Ephs, they are done.  OK, now that my rival stuff has been stated, I will finish by saying that they are a hell of a good team, well coached, but I am NOT sorry that their season is over nor do I feel for them at all.

[Bucket]

Yeah - gave me a slight scare... was pretty sure we had him on already and was worried I had miscommunication with my producer... feeling much better now!

Dave - Just listened to your opening for Hoopsville from last night.  Curious why you said "we have to feel for the Ephs."  I would venture to guess that fans of their rivals do not feel for them at all as I'm guessing you would not "feel" for one of your rivals.

I certainly feel for them, and I'm as big a Midd partisan as they come. That doesn't mean I wanted them to win on Saturday, but considering all that Williams went through this year, particularly James Wang (back surgeries, appendectomy four days before the quarterfinals yet he still played), it's human nature to feel for the Ephs, even if they are a rival. And the standing ovation that the Midd parents gave to Wang when he left the game at the end would speak to this, as well. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I would agree... considering what they have gone through as a team with injuries and set-backs... and so many close losses (Middlebury, Amherst, Wesleyan, etc.)... one feels for them personally. As a rival I am sure you are glad they don't have as many wins or didn't beat your team... but as a fan of the game and a team that went to the Final Four last year and certainly seemed poised to make another run when the season began... it is too bad their season has gone to badly because of things simply out of their control.

And hats off to the Middlebury crowd for recognizing Want and his accomplishments... classy act.