MBB: NESCAC

[walzy31]

Really!.....saw Willy's numbers and his effort in the game and felt his impact was critical.  Is that offiical or your opinion Walzy?

Opinion...it would be hard to pick between Barrise, Toomey and Workman for the weekend if someone had to.

[LarryBasketball33]

The recap on the Amherst sports homepage is good. Midd is a game group. The Panthers have five losses in two years - all the losses are by one possession (total of five points in three losses this year). Would love to draw the Jeffs on a neutral court.

Scored tied today at 68, Amherst ball, 30 ticks left. Toomey lets the clock run down, deep in the right quadrant. He starts his drive to the left with about five seconds on the clock, is bottled up at the foul line (good D), finds Barrise on the arc, left, with a sliver of daylight, who nails the three (catches a little iron) with a hand in his face. Great shot. 71-68.

3.2 seconds left, after a timeout. The Jeffs intentionally foul Kizell after the Panthers inbound the ball, the best foul shooter in the league at 92%. 1.9 seconds left. Jeffs put in Holmes and Kaasila to box out on the blocks, Sharry next to Holmes. Kizell hits the first, and then throws up the perfect miss, high arc, back rim, start the clock, high bounce, scramble for the ball. Thompson ends up with it 8-10 feet from the hoop, left, throws up a prayer, not close, gets fouled in the process.

Ref acknowledges the foul but says it was after the time had run out. No complaints. Probably right. There's not a ref in the world that would have called a foul in that situation, me included.

Jake Wolfin and Joey Kizel were terrific. 39 points and four turnovers in 35 and 37 minutes respectively. They brought us back.

The Jeffs did a good job on Ryan Sharry - he only took six shots (3-6). He picked up foul #2 at the 12 minute mark of the first half, re-entered at 8 minutes and picked up #3 on a change shortly thereafter. Walzy asked me at the half why Sharry came back in: "we're down 14. We need him." He played the second half trying not to foul when Kaasila/Holmes/Waller/ went to the hoop. He's a great help defender, leads the league in blocks, but he had to be careful.

You could say that Amherst "outplay(ed) the Panthers through a good portion of the game," but it's a game of runs and you best never count the Panthers out - they played damn well in the last ten minutes, tie game after 39 1/2 minutes of play, all even. Large boisterous Amherst crowd - we put a scare into them at the very least. Nice representation of Midd fans too.

Tough loss for the Panthers, second week in a row. Exciting game.

Wow, what a game, actually what games between these  excellent but very different teams today and two weeks ago.  How about one more a few weeks from now in Salem?  Of course the odds are against that, but I know Midd players and fans would welcme one more crack at the Lord Jeffs.   The boys from Amherst are big, strong and most importantly deep at every position. They never missed a beat when their best shooter had to leave before he broke a sweat. Toomey looks like he can get to the hole whenever he puts his mind to it, or at least until Kizel saw the rare chance to pick his pocket. Workman had a Worthy like 1st step today, and their bigs played the best I have seen them to date.  Barisse has the best stroke in the NESCAC case closed.  Middlebury along with an All American has real heart. Just when you count them out they will themselves into a game. Today it was on tne back of Kizel and Wolfin as Amherst never let Sharry breathe once he saw the ball or denied him from getting it. Kizel finds openings where they dont exist. He is one of those players who defenders think they can stop, and 40 minutes later he has burned you time and time again.  Wolfin seems to be at his best when his team needs him the most. The kid is a gamer, never afraid to take the big shot or make the hard pass even if the previous one has not worked out. Great atmosphere today. One team happy, one crestfallen, the way it has to be when these two squads butt heads this season. As a Midd fan I would rather have had the win, but everyone in that gym saw some real hard fought emotional competition. I hope they get to do it again.  Congrats to the Lord Jeffs and their fans.  

[formerbant10]

Thompson ends up with it 8-10 feet from the hoop, left, throws up a prayer, not close, gets fouled in the process.

Ref acknowledges the foul but says it was after the time had run out. No complaints. Probably right. There's not a ref in the world that would have called a foul in that situation, me included.

Closest guy to Thompson was Jensen...I don't think teammates can foul each other, but there were some wild calls all weekend.

Only guy who had a better weekend than these teams was Walzy

[grabtherim]

Thompson ends up with it 8-10 feet from the hoop, left, throws up a prayer, not close, gets fouled in the process.

Ref acknowledges the foul but says it was after the time had run out. No complaints. Probably right. There's not a ref in the world that would have called a foul in that situation, me included.

Closest guy to Thompson was Jensen...I don't think teammates can foul each other, but there were some wild calls all weekend.

Only guy who had a better weekend than these teams was Walzy

I beg to differ, Old Man had it right, there was a foul, but it was well after one second had run, and Old Man is again correct in that getting that call made even in the time frame is virtually impossible.  Don't get me wrong, not hanging on that sequence.  Barisse made the big shot.  Amherst wins.  Hats off to them.  Being Midd partisan, but also a NESCAC fan, I am holding out hope that Wesleyan gets the call this afternoon.  The only issue with them was many of their students who attended the game on Saturday.  Their language could make onions cry.  It was brutal, personal and vicious.  Hopefully, their AD and SID hears about this for future reference.  Shameful.   

[formerbant10]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfEMUIEFbmU

Free throw in question starts at 2:51

Regardless of what the officials said, Midd hit Midd

[LarryBasketball33]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfEMUIEFbmU

Free throw in question starts at 2:51

Regardless of what the officials said, Midd hit Midd

Correct, no foul.  The Amherst kids played a fantastic game and earned the win.  Great job by Amherst PR.  Sort of like an AAU highlight reel.  They did nothing wrong, their opponents get no props or mention in anyway.  Did Midd come from 15 down with 9 to play to tie it at the 30 second mark?  I think so, but why let the game get in the way of patting yourself on the back after it.

[Bucket]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfEMUIEFbmU

Free throw in question starts at 2:51

Regardless of what the officials said, Midd hit Midd

You're right. Video clearly shows that it is Jensen who hit Thompson. Interestingly enough,  it also clearly shows that the ball leaves Thompson's hand before the buzzer sounds and the backboard lights up. So, right result--no whistle--but for the wrong reasons.

[frank uible]

We who revel in the Academy Awards have no room to complain about a little Amherst self-congratulation.

[daoustian]

Tough break for Wesleyan, esp. when 3 other Wesleyans make the big dance.  On the plus side, maybe we'll get to see the Amherst-MIT game in the regional final that a few of us have wanted for a while.  Bring on the winner of the Shrinking Violets vs. the Depressed Cats.

[ECSUalum]

Tough break for Wesleyan, esp. when 3 other Wesleyans make the big dance.  On the plus side, maybe we'll get to see the Amherst-MIT game in the regional final that a few of us have wanted for a while.  Bring on the winner of the Shrinking Violets vs. the Depressed Cats.

Wesleyan got freaking ROBBED!!!!

[grabtherim]

Thompson ends up with it 8-10 feet from the hoop, left, throws up a prayer, not close, gets fouled in the process.

Ref acknowledges the foul but says it was after the time had run out. No complaints. Probably right. There's not a ref in the world that would have called a foul in that situation, me included.

Closest guy to Thompson was Jensen...I don't think teammates can foul each other, but there were some wild calls all weekend.

Only guy who had a better weekend than these teams was Walzy

I beg to differ, Old Man had it right, there was a foul, but it was well after one second had run, and Old Man is again correct in that getting that call made even in the time frame is virtually impossible.  Don't get me wrong, not hanging on that sequence.  Barisse made the big shot.  Amherst wins.  Hats off to them.  Being Midd partisan, but also a NESCAC fan, I am holding out hope that Wesleyan gets the call this afternoon.  The only issue with them was many of their students who attended the game on Saturday.  Their language could make onions cry.  It was brutal, personal and vicious.  Hopefully, their AD and SID hears about this for future reference.  Shameful.

The video does not lie.  No foul. 

[Old Guy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfEMUIEFbmU

Free throw in question starts at 2:51

Regardless of what the officials said, Midd hit Midd Former Bant

Again, no complaints. It's academic. I'm satisfied. But take a look at the video (where did you get 2.51, Former Bant  - clock says 1.0). Without question, Jenson bumps Thompson going by. But I also get Kaasila on the shooting arm/hand. Anyone else? And it looks like the contact (if there was contact) was before the red light went on. The ref on the left had a pretty good angle to make the call.

It would have been fun if that call had been made, and the refs went to look at the monitor to see if time had elapsed (would they do that?) and sent Thompson to the line ("clear the lanes, boys") with no time left and a chance to tie and send the game into OT. Think the Amherst fans would have been into that: Thompson on the line by himself? The ending was wild enough as it was.

[Bucket]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfEMUIEFbmU

Free throw in question starts at 2:51

Regardless of what the officials said, Midd hit Midd Former Bant

But take a look at the video (where did you get 2.51, Former Bant  - clock says 1.0).

He means 2:51 in elapsed time on the YouTube video.

I might have to start calling you Old Man, a la "grabtherim."

[nescac1]

Tough break for the Cards, would have been nice to see them in the NCAA, but they probably needed to show a BIT more in the conference tourney, and were hurt by a few games they really should have won against inferior teams.  They lose only one guy and will be inspired to make a deeper run next season, kind of then or never for the Cards given the group of seniors (the best group of rising seniors in NESCAC, easily) who will graduate after next season. 

Next year in NESCAC is going to be a war, with Sharry gone and Amherst losing three key seniors, Midd and Amherst will have a tougher time dominating (Amherst in particular will have a far less favorable schedule in terms of conference games vs. key contenders, with road games vs. Wesleyan, Williams and Midd), especially with Wesleyan and Tufts continuing their rise and a sure-to-be--highly-motivated Williams team returning, I expect, to more typical recent form with any sort of luck with injuries at all.  Given how hampered Wang (and to a lesser extent Emerson) was by injuries all year, the Ephs will miss their graduating seniors far less than they would have had they been close to 100 percent. 

As for the NCAA bracket, even though Amherst has a bye, Midd's path to Salem looks substantially easier to me.  Amherst will likely have to get past an experienced F&M team in a match-up of two all-American PG's before facing, potentially, a very balanced and tourney-tested MIT team with an inside presence that will cause problems.  Amherst is probably still the most talented team in the bracket, but MIT is number three in the country.  William Patterson is a tough potential Sweet 16 game for Midd but I'd say that F&M sounds a bit tougher, and Cabrini, despite its gaudy record, beat no one of note and if Midd can get by WP, I think they will make it all the way to Salem again.  Cabrini's starting five goes 5-10, 5-10, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4, the Midd big guys should absolutely kill them if that is the Elite 8 match-up.  Just a really, really favorable path for Midd despite the loss on Saturday.   

On another note, looks like Amherst added another impressive New England recruit, 6'5 Connor Green from Exeter.  Based on this description of a recent game, sounds like he is quite an athlete and someone who could be in the mix to replace some of Waller and Barrise's minutes at the swing positions:

http://www.nhnotebook.com/2012/02/joseph-and-green-both-impress-in-prep.html

[Old Guy]

He means 2:51 in elapsed time on the YouTube video.

Ah. I wish I had figured that out. Would have spared me watching 2.51 of Amherst highlights. I claim to be old, not smart.