MBB: NESCAC

7express · February 12, 2013, 09:41:29 PM

Final NESCAC tourney spot comes down to Colby & Trinity. Colby up 5 at Conn College with 1:21 left. They win they get the 8 seed, Colby loses Hamilton gets it.

7express · February 12, 2013, 09:43:21 PM

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 12, 2013, 09:32:46 PM
Basketball can be a cruel game!

Aaron Toomey had a miserable night (5-24, including 2-11 from downtown), but made the game-winning triple with 2 seconds to go. He goes home deliriously happy.
Joey Kizel had a wonderful night (30 points on 8-17 overall and 5-10 from deep), but missed the tying triple at the buzzer. He goes home totally distraught.

Erin McNamera of the USM women was like 2-17 from the floor Sunday, but she hit the winner at the buzzer in overtime to clinch the Little East Conference. You just have to keep shooting, if your a good shooter they'll fall.

nescac1 · February 12, 2013, 10:08:38 PM

Right now, after a lot of watching Midd, Williams, and Amherst, my POY vote would go Workman (because he does it all on both ends even if Toomey is more valuable offensively), Toomey, Mayer, Kizell, in that order. No one else is even close. Thompson, Ferris, Vadas, Sha Brown, Epley are all at worst second team all-NESCAC guys, but I think the first four have separated themselves from the pack. Really tremendous group of juniors in NESCAC this year. That play by Workman to tie the game was truly remarkable. It wasn't a flukey bounce or anything, he just made a perfect play in terms of how he aimed the free throw, how he positioned himself, snagging the ball, and then scoring a very difficult bucket.

madzillagd · February 12, 2013, 10:10:45 PM

What time is the replay on ESPN Classic? I'm ashamed to admit I missed the triple OT. I was getting pressure from the family to head out to dinner. When Toomey missed the first free throw at the end of the 2nd OT, I assumed it was over and we headed out the door. Was shocked when my dad texted me to see if I was watching a couple minutes later. I have a feeling we'll see those two match up again.

Nice win for the Ephs with two starters out. McCreary really lit the spark in the first half and got the team going. Loved the patience on offense the second half. Hopefully Klemm will be back for Saturday.

walzy31 · February 12, 2013, 10:40:02 PM

Quote from: nescac1 on February 12, 2013, 10:08:38 PM
Right now, after a lot of watching Midd, Williams, and Amherst, my POY vote would go Workman (because he does it all on both ends even if Toomey is more valuable offensively), Toomey, Mayer, Kizell, in that order. No one else is even close. Thompson, Ferris, Vadas, Sha Brown, Epley are all at worst second team all-NESCAC guys, but I think the first four have separated themselves from the pack. Really tremendous group of juniors in NESCAC this year. That play by Workman to tie the game was truly remarkable. It wasn't a flukey bounce or anything, he just made a perfect play in terms of how he aimed the free throw, how he positioned himself, snagging the ball, and then scoring a very difficult bucket.

Coach Brown might make that vote, but I am confident it will be Toomey with POY (ask Colby, Tufts, Hamilton, etc).

That was one of the best plays in Amherst College history by Workman tonight.

middhoops · February 12, 2013, 10:46:52 PM

A masterpiece. The more talented team eventually won the game but I'll never forget the determination of Joey Kizel for five periods of thrilling basketball. Congrats to Amherst. Great team.

Old Guy · February 12, 2013, 10:54:18 PM

Cosmic injustice

lefrakenstein · February 12, 2013, 11:03:25 PM

Holy smokes, I cannot believe I had late class tonight. Will Midd have this on a video archive?

Pat Coleman · February 12, 2013, 11:04:58 PM

The video provider said it would be up by midafternoon tomorrow.

Real Panther Bits · February 12, 2013, 11:09:11 PM

In 5 career matchups, Kizel has the clear statistical edge over Toomey.

Kizel-- 16.8 ppg, 50% FG
Toomey--12 ppg, 25.3% FG

Depspite tonight's game, Toomey is an absolute force on offense. However, Kizel was the best player on the court. He always plays huge in big games.

Old Guy · February 12, 2013, 11:10:28 PM

Impossible to dissect this game - too many twists and turns. Full gym. A classic. I've been watching games in this gym for a long, long time and have never seen a better one, despite the unfortunate outcome Don't we deserve one of these?

By the way, there's an obvious reason Toomey was "ice cold." Thompson played him most of the game. You think that had anything to do with it. You think? Thompson picked up Workman with 5:25 left in regulation as that was where he was needed, and Jake Wolfin did a nice job on Toomey, who as opponents go, is easy not to like (same for Workman). Great players though. Wolfin fouled out, Thompson stayed on Workman, Toomey hit the winning shot over Nasciamento.

The match-ups that we feared came to pass. We couldn't guard Kaasila (who plays hard, doesn't yap the whole game). We had Lynch on Williamson in the first half and he burned us with 15' jumpers. Workman had a great first half, outside and inside.

Proud of the boys (once again).

Marty Peretz · February 12, 2013, 11:10:52 PM

Best NESCAC game I've ever seen and best basketball game at any level I've seen since Cuse UConn 6OT thriller in Big East tourney a few years back. Simply unreal. Hopefully Workman's shot gets on Sports Center. Deserves it. Toomey just couldn't buy a bucket tonight and I was a bit surprised that he kept looking to score in the OT's, even as Workman and Kasilla were dominating. It's a great sign for the Jeffs that Toomey can struggle like that and that they still have the firepower to win a game like that on the road. I think the difference for Amherst this year, though, is the improvement of Kasilla. In years past, he looked passive and timid for long stretches. Of late, he's looked like one of the better big men I've seen in D3 this year. Amherst will be a tough out in the big dance this year, particularly because they'll very likely get to host all the way through.

Question (and apologies if you've discussed this ad nauseum already, as I'm not a regular on these boards): How do folks think the committee will split up WPI, Amherst, Williams and Midd in the brackets? And where would Rochester fall into this mix? I'd assume there'd be two pods featuring the five (3 in one and 2 in the other) but does anyone have any informed conjecture on how they'd do this?

Looking forward to heading up for the NESCAC tourney in a couple weeks.

lefrakenstein · February 12, 2013, 11:18:25 PM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on February 12, 2013, 11:04:58 PM
The video provider said it would be up by midafternoon tomorrow.

Thanks Pat. Man, for all the classes I've skipped in my life... I can't believe I chose to go to this one. Huge mistake.

With all due respect to Kizel, it seems like Thompson might have been the best player on the court tonight. Both shutting down Toomey and leading Midd on a big run in the second half when it looked like the Jeff's might win going away. Very impressive

Bucket · February 12, 2013, 11:25:07 PM

I'll try to have a more coherent write-up tomorrow after my head clears, but in the interim:

What a terrific basketball game. Epic. And one of those "you had to be in the gym" to really feel how dramatic, how tense, how draining such a game was.

For Amherst, Workman and Kaasila were great, superb. Williamson, for stretches, the definitive x factor. Like Epley before him, Aaron Toomey was rendered utterly ineffective by Nolan Thompson (for much of the game, and later Jake Wolfin). That is, until he hits the game-winner.

What can I say about Midd? I hope this "lacking senior leadership" nonsense has been put to rest. Talk about a resilient team, resilient players. Thomspon, Wolfin, Kizel...all huge, all clutch. Again and again and again. Merryman, Jensen big, big plays. Lynch so effective on the blocks. Nascimento comes in ice cold in the 3rd OT and has a huge offensive board that led to Midd tying the game, again, before Toomey's game-winner.

Epic.

7express · February 12, 2013, 11:36:56 PM

I'd hate to break away from this Amherst/Mid talk because it was a great played game from both teams, but we've got playoff basketball now! After Colby finishied thheir 73-65 win @ Conn College, that leaves the NESCAC tournament as follows:

#8 Colby @ #1 Amherst
#5 Bowdoin @ #4 Tufts
#7 Bates @ #2 Williams
#6 Wesleyan @ #3 Middlebury

All games Saturday, February 16. Amherst, Williams & Tufts are all hosting women;s games as well so those 3 start at 3:00 PM and Mid/Wesleyan tips off at 2:00 PM. As usual highest seed remaining after the quarters hosts the semi's and finals Saturday-Sunday February 23-24. Information can be found here: http://www.nescac.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/championship/seeding