MBB: NESCAC

[amh63]

The skies are grey overhead at Amherst at 11:30 am...so travelers  should be ok for now.

Panthernation....good post of the game today...travel safe.
I'm hoping that Tufts' Anderson does not go for over 30 again and Ferris is held in check.  Amherst's seniors are expected to step up again and take another step forward to the title.   Go Jeffs!
Enjoy the games in LeFrak live you lucky ones.   Surprised that there are no senior discounts!

[middhoops]

Panternation, great assessment.

Mayer will get his points.  Lynch and Roberts have to save their fouls and stay in the game.
Merryman needs to find his range again.  Wolfin needs to pick up where he's been the last couple of games.
James Klemm is key.  If he finds his range again, big trouble for the Panthers.  Robertson is scary smart.  He has to be kept off the ball whenever possible.
Epley is the wild card.  Thompson has proven he can stop him one on one.  Coach Maker may have an answer for that in a couple of hours.
Bottom line.  Midd's bigs stay out of foul trouble.  Kizel abuses the Ehps.         Or......
Epley gets some help getting open, Robertson finds his way to the hoop and Klemm gets open looks.
Either way, this is NO ten point game and how tightly the game is called is going to make a difference.

Where ARE the Tufts fans?

[nescac1]

Very well-played first half Amherst-Tufts.  A bit more defense than the last time these teams met.  Two dunks for Killian early (one a monster alley-oop and-one) was one highlight for Amherst.  The other was Willy Workman, who consistently drove on the slower Tufts frontcourt players.  He was great, and I don't think anyone on Tufts can cover him.  Amherst can't be too upset being down only three, shooting 0-7 from three.  Long range shots just not falling for the Jeffs (although Tufts did force them into some tough contested threes).  Toomey and Kaasila combined for only 4 points, how often do you see that in a half?  Firepong and Cohen really harassing Toomey on D and making him work, and Kaasila is having trouble with Palleschi's bulk down low.  But that leaves opportunities for other guys on the floor.  Lots of shot attempts by Williamson.  The long range jumpers by him were a surprise and maybe ill-advised.  Closer to the basket, Tufts could not deal with his quickness and moves.  He had one turnaround drop-step move that was extremely pretty, made a very high degree of difficulty play look easy, converting the shot over Palleschi on the baseline. 

For Tufts, very nice balance.  Firepong has been great on both ends, hitting three big threes.  Ferris and Palleschi have both also looked very good, lucky for Amherst Palleschi missed a few close to the basket but he has very good footwork for such a large player, tough cover.   Anderson has been pretty quiet after his monster first game vs. Amherst, the Jeffs are clearly keying on him. Tufts needs to keep hitting some threes and hope Toomey does not find the range in the second half. 

[middhoops]

Amherst with a 10 pt. lead early in the 2nd half. Killian is looking waay more athletic than. oh.....never mind.  No need to temp Titan Q here.

[middhoops]

"tempt' no need to drag down the grammar or spelling here.

[nescac1]

Amherst clamped down on D in the second half and has pulled away.  Kalema, Williamson, and Kaasila leading the charge, all of whom were unstoppable in half two.  Scary for whoever plays the Jeffs tomorrow when Toomey has been pretty quiet, and Workman quiet in the second half, yet Amherst has still dominated thanks to strong play from the supporting cast.  When Williamson, Kalema, Killian are all playing that well, Amherst is very tough to beat.  For Tufts, Palleschi and Ferris were both excellent, but the rest of the team was unable to do anything in the second half.  Tufts has a lot to build on for next year, but still need a few pieces to develop.  Bright future ahead for the Jumbos though.  Amherst looks like a Final Four team right now, but anything can happen tomorrow.   

[middhoops]

Anyone notice that IWU lost again last night to Augustana?  Thus, the absence of Titan Q from our discussion. 
Amherst is looking more than a bit scary in this game.

[amh63]

Amherst wins in LeFrak....80-64 in a big second half over a physically played game by Tufts with the refs letting the players play.   Aaron Toomey was knocked down hard and left the game and seems to have a knee injury....actually run over by a racing Tufts' guard.  Kalema takes over and puts on a show.  Williamson knocked down hard going for a dunk....takes over on defense by blocking three inside shots by Tufts.
Tufts' Ferris and center "P"....can't spell his name....scores 18 and 19 points respectfully.  Amherst had 4 players in double figures led by "Big Pete" with 20 points and 8-9 rebounds.  Willy Workman had 7 rebounds and 5-6 assists and 13 points.   The senior captains took over in the second half.....Workman, Williamson and Kaasila....and the game became a blowout.    Condition of Aaron becomes the big question mark for Sunday's game.
Announcers commented that Workman was a little under for the game....his father was the info provider.

[nescac1]

Toomey did return to the game after the apparent knee injury, so looks like a bone bruise or something like that, nothing that will keep him out on a long-term basis, but could affect his condition for tomorrow.  He actually got hit hard a second time after the knee injury.  Reffing was questionable in the game to say the least.  Lots of guys getting clobbered on both sides, uncalled.  Got more and more physical as the game went along, with Tufts in particularly employing physical play that the refs did not put a stop to (no flagrant calls on Tufts, when there could have been several).  Refs missed at least one, possibly two, goaltends by Williamson ... to their credit, they are not used to seeing D-3 guys leap like that!  Did not affect the outcome of course since Amherst won handily, but a lot of bruised bodies after this one ...

[middhoops]

The student "homer" announcers sure make you miss the professionals on NSN.  Still, glad it's being broadcast at all.  Great back and forth game thus far.

[middhoops]

Jeff Brown figured out how to cut down on Mayer's offense.  Now, no more shots for Klemm or drives for Robertson.  What a game!

[nescac1]

Typical Williams-Midd game, going to OT.  Very, very even.  Williams has played (until that ugly last possession) really well on offense, moving the ball, getting great looks (including numerous buckets off back door cuts), and hitting them.  All five Williams starters (counting Wohl, who's been great) as a starter in double-figures.  On defense, Williams simply can not guard Lynch.  Kizell is a force as always, but Lynch is just killing Williams (as usual) vs. either man or zone.  Need to figure out some way to stop him in OT. 

[lildave678]

I don't follow the NESCAC (except when Middlebury blew out Albertus last season haha) but that play by Mayer was absurd. Glad I turned this game on!

Just to put the refs in perspective - Albertus got two weak technical calls in the final minutes of the game for talking to the refs. The kid from Middlebury was absolutely screaming at the ref and I'm sure a tech never crossed the refs mind. Gotta keep the context of the game in mind.

[Real Panther Bits]

Do you think Middlebury will still get a home game next weekend in the first round of the D3 tournament?

[middhoops]

If you worry about the refs, you'll miss the game.  Having done some officiating in my day, I can tell you that referees generally don't even know the score unless it goes into OT or is an embarrassing blowout.  They're just trying their best to do a very technical job. 
This game's outcome had nothing to do with officiating.  (I know one Midd parent who won't agree....)