MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Not a great half for Williams.  Down ten points early, came back, at least to cut it to two.  Williams should be beating this team.  The Ephs have missed four point blank layups, including two, shockingly, my Mayer that rolled in and out.  They've also turned the ball over way too much, forcing some needless passes, and a being a bit too casual with the passes as well.  Once they got into the offense, there were plenty of open looks to be had, lots of open threes and back-door cuts, but they simply are playing a little too casually right now and not executing. If the Ephs play like they did vs. Amherst and Midd last weekend, they should beat this team, but if they keep playing like this, it's anyone's game. 

Wesley is very quick and athletic but not very disciplined on defense.  On offense, Wesley played well vs. the man but really struggled to beat the zone.  Wesley's star Paul Reynolds is as good as advertised, monster first half despite receiving a ton of attention from the Ephs with 9 points, 5 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, a block and 0 TO's.  Wow.  Ephs also gave up five offensive boards to Wesley's big guy.  Reynolds is going ot get his, but the Ephs have to keep Langan off the boards and just take care of the ball at LOT better in the second half, as the good looks will be there vs. this team. 

[nescac1]

Huge, huge sigh of relief as Williams wins by 1.  Before I get to the Ephs, MASSIVE shout out to Paul Reynolds who had one of the two best individual games by an Eph opponent in a post-season game in Chandler (the other I'd say was by Carl Cochrane, I think his name was).  Reynolds could simply not be stopped, including hitting two ridiculous NBA range threes, both with two guys all over him, in the last 20 seconds to make it VERY interesting.  ON the last shot, he wanted a four point play and I have no idea WHY the Ephs were guarding him so tight as it very well could have been called (the Ephs were up four, with a foul to give, and with one second on the clock ...).  His line: an insane 35-8-4, 14-18 from the field, 3-5 from three, 3 steals, 1 block, only 1 T.O.   Really fun player to watch, too, he has every move in the book and tremendous feel around the basket.  He has to be an all-American.  He got very little help from his teammates down the stretch, but wow, he almost won that game all by himself.

For the Ephs, after playing really quite poorly for much of the game, getting down eight in the second half, they turned it on in the last ten minutes and finally started to play more characteristic Eph basketball.  James Klemm was by far the player of the game, with 19 points including 5 enormous threes.  The Ephs had two spectacular plays, one in each half.  One was an inbounds from Robertson to Mayer for the huge alley-oop flush, I don't think I've seen Mayer dunk in a game all year, and he really elevated for the catch.  The other was another beautifully precise pass from Nate, a perfect back-door cut by Klemm, with the and-one, at a critical juncture in the game.  Taylor Epley was the rest of the Ephs' offense with 24 points, including 4 triples.  Michael Mayer was just a bit off all day, but he did hit two clutch free throws to seal the win.  Nate Robertson also did not have one of his better games (tried to do it a bit too much on his own a few times), but he did hit his only three point attempt at a critical juncture of the game, and also played very well down the stretch. 

Credit to Wesley who attacked the zone beautiful in the second half after being flummoxed in the first with lots of crisp interior passing for quick scores inside, in each case Reynolds was the playmaker or the finisher.  I started to get really scared when one of Wesley's guards, not known as a shooter, hit three consecutive DEEP threes to push the lead to 8, and when even James Klemm missed a free throw, it seemed like the game was getting away.  But the Ephs never lost their composure and made clutch play after clutch play down the stretch.  Great to come away with a win and reminiscent of the Husson game two years ago when a team used quickness to create turnovers and got a huge game from a superstar players.  Fortunately, the Ephs move on but will have to play smarter ball to keep advancing.  PHew, again. 

Man vs. zone: Ephs had no choice but to play zone down the stretch as Epley and Wohl both played the last five minutes with four fouls apiece.  But like in the last game vs. Midd, the zone was effective in the first half and then diagnosed in the second.  I think it's a look they should use quite a bit early to conserve fouls and also to flummox the opposing team a bit, but after awhile, tourney-level teams seem to get used to it and figure out how to exploit it as the game goes along. 

[magicman]

Looks like the SUNYAC will be taking on the NESCAC in 2 matchups next week. I know the Plattsburgh State game will be at Amherst. I'm wondering if the NCAA will give Cortland the home game against Middlebury to even things out. As Dave McHugh mentioned on another board, Cortland was #2 in the East regional rankings. Middlebury was #5 in the Northeast regional rankings. Lots of other factors in play, of course but it will be interesting to see how it comes down. Cortland won their conference regular season and tournament championship, Midd won neither. Cortland is undefeated at home this year and has won every game there by double digits except for one 6 point MOV. I think the Panthers will have their hands full with Cortland, especially if they have to play in the Red Dragons house.

amh63,

Did you get a chance to see the Plattsburgh-Husson game Saturday evening?   

[Old Guy]

Where are the other Midd posters. Back from the bars, I hope, and safe in bed. This game was nerve-wracking. I took a four-minute break in the second half, went over by the hockey rink and read the student newspaper. Lynch hit two foul shots with 1.7 seconds left. Sedele Jones launches a 60' shot at the buzzer, goes in. That kind of game.

Midd played good D in the first half, but not very good O. Missed all kinds of open shots, still up 12 at the half. Nolan Thompson played only 5 minutes, sat 15 with two fouls. James Jensen came in and played Jones well. A.J. Stephens really hurt us. He was huge, is huge (very "stocky"). We couldn't stop him. Jones got his, Paralambros too (a Workman body-alike).

Midd was 3-18 from the arc. Thompson hit 2 big ones late in the game. Lynch had 17, Kizel and Thompson 13. Lucky to get this one.,                       

[nescac1]

Unusually quiet aftermath for the Midd faithful.  Sounds like an off night for the Midd shooters but they hung on to advance.  Midd may have a tougher time in the next game than if they play Rochester.  Rochester has really not been playing well of late ... barely beat a pretty mediocre Fitchburg State team at home in Round One, and lost 3/4 (including two blowouts) to end the season.  Plus, a team which is basically a one-man team is perfectly designed for Midd's defense.  I LOVE Midd vs. Rochester if that is the Sweet 16 match-up.  I think that the next game is actually a much tougher game for the Panthers. 

Meant to mention yesterday, it's not surprising that the Peter May NYTimes D-3 article focused on quotes from Hixon, Crotty, and Maker, considering that May is an Eph alum .  Part of a huge group of Eph sports journalists (most famous of which is Tim Layden, who taught a class at Williams this year). 

Still breathing a sigh of relief at that victory.  I'm sure Williams won't face another player like Reynolds, who has a unique skill set for D-3, but Williams really, really struggles to contain that category of player ... a burly interior scorer who uses size and touch to muscle down and work below the elbow.  See Lynch, Peter for prior examples.  A zone is not going to stop a guy like that since there is space to operate in that area, and the Ephs' don't really have a good defensive match-up one-one -- Epley works hard and is tough, but is only 6'4, and no one else on Williams is physical enough.  That type of player is just always going to be very effective vs. Williams. 

On the plus side, in some ways, until late in the game, everything that could go wrong, did for the Ephs.  They had a bunch of careless avoidable turnovers.  Mayer (despite two massive dunks, an alley-oop and a follow dunk, who knew?) was just a tiny bit off and had a bunch of shots barely rim out from in close.  Several other guys  missed lay-ups early in the game as well.  Wohl was a bit off from outside.  Wesley, a poor shooting team, was hitting loads of deep threes, from guys who are low percentage shooters.  Reynolds simply could not miss from anywhere.  And Williams still pulled it out thanks to the ability to generate really good looks via excellent off-the-ball movement in the second half ... tons of wide-open threes for Epley and Klemm coming off screens, and when those guys were covered, Wohl, Klemm, Weinheimer (who was once again very strong off the bench), Hoffmann, Mayer, all cutting to the basket for lay-ups.  In terms of one-on-one play, the most effective weapon was Taylor Epley on the post.  His post game has really become a go-to weapon in recent weeks.  But the Ephs are at their best went they generate offense from movement.  James Klemm has been a difference-maker of late: 16-28 from three since coming back from injury, over the course of four elimination games.  Huge.   

Curious to hear if anyone has seen Catholic.  Obviously a very good team, ranked in the top ten, only two losses, beat two teams who are in the second round (St. Mary's and Randolph Macon), each by double-digits.  On paper they look similar to Williams with two star scorers (one of whom is a center), and five solid starters, but perhaps little depth.  Seem to be a very disciplined team as they are in the top five in opponent scoring average and fewest turnovers.  Should be a great contest!

Individual achievement watch for Williams: Taylor Epley now has 978 career points.

[Bucket]

With Middlebury hosting the NCAA skiing championship next weekend, it's my understanding that the College couldn't put in for hosting in the 2nd round. I'm not positive about that, but that is what I've heard.

[middhoops]

Tough game for Midd fans to watch.
Defense in the first half was nothing less than spectacular.  With Thompson on the bench, James Jensen did a brilliant job on Jones.
A.J. Stevens was a rock.  The Panthers played a double stack on him when he isolated on the block, and he still scored consistently over the best shot blocker in the NESCAC.  Papalambros did a superb job keeping Kizel on the far perimeter.  The entire Curry team hit big shots whenever it looked like Middlebury could create breathing room in the 2nd half.
Vandy was right.  Curry came to play. 
It's hard to imagine that Middlebury could shoot so badly two games in a row.  If they do, Cortland will be their last game of the season.

*One note: there was no larger factor in the 12 point half time lead than Jack Roberts.  He blocked, changed or prevented perhaps as many as a dozen Curry shots. 

[Bucket]

We didn't make an announcement because it was a tournament game, but Joey Kizel passed the 1,000-point mark for the Panthers last night, the third Panther to do so this season. With another year to play, it will be interesting to see how high up the ladder Joey climbs.

[amh63]

Based on the games last night on both sides...women and men...all "CAC" teams advanced.  Still by the scores on the mens games...in the post season, there are no easy outs/blow outs.  It seems that Middlebury only plays best when it becomes close   If so, the post season will be good for the Panthers...not so good for Old Guy's nerves...still pulling for another matchup in Salem.

Magicman......yes indeed.  It was a confusing night of switching games.  Before I go further.....the video was prime and the announcers were as good as you suggested. 
To start, I watched the Amherst WBB game first....it started at 6 PM...around dinner time.  My understanding wife decided to set the table for half time.  The game became worrisome when two key Amherst players got into foul trouble in the first half.  Around 7 PM, I turned to the Plattsburgh game and caught the flavor of site and the flow of the game.  Seemed that Plattsburgh was quicker than Husson.  Needed to clear the table, a chore for me,,,,,but saw that the Williams and Middlebury games were tight.  With permission to go watch games instead of doing the dishes...I returned to the Amherst game and watched a blowout for awhile...listening to the Amherst announcers hyping a little cheerleader for UNE with blue hair.  Really...caught on video and put on some social media.
Anyway, back to the game in upper NY.....saw Husson start to come back but lost interest.  Went to catch some action on both the Panther and Ephs games.  See that announcers for the Williams game were all men...why does one have to fill out personal info to see the game!?.. game was going back and forth....were there two Jones for Curry playing on the floor?  Switched to the game in VT and caught the end of that game.
Busy night for me and still in good graces with my wife.  Much too good for the likes of me.

Magicman...did you spot any Amherst scouts?  Two of the assistants are tall BB players...one 6'11" with light hair....the two other assistants are older and shorter.  Wonder if any of the Amherst players went up...are allowed to go up.  Probably not, school work to do on a Sat.

Saw MIT lost to a small state school in St. Mary....place where the first Catholic English settlers arrived in the new world.  Both St. Mary and MIT have top sailing teams.  Springfield also lost...another NE school.  It only gets tougher for everyone in the 2nd round.

Heard Walzy's name mentioned and spread....Was that you Bucket?

[Vandy74]

Where are the other Midd posters. Back from the bars, I hope, and safe in bed. This game was nerve-wracking. I took a four-minute break in the second half, went over by the hockey rink and read the student newspaper. Lynch hit two foul shots with 1.7 seconds left. Sedele Jones launches a 60' shot at the buzzer, goes in. That kind of game.

Midd played good D in the first half, but not very good O. Missed all kinds of open shots, still up 12 at the half. Nolan Thompson played only 5 minutes, sat 15 with two fouls. James Jensen came in and played Jones well. A.J. Stephens really hurt us. He was huge, is huge (very "stocky"). We couldn't stop him. Jones got his, Paralambros too (a Workman body-alike).

Midd was 3-18 from the arc. Thompson hit 2 big ones late in the game. Lynch had 17, Kizel and Thompson 13. Lucky to get this one.,                       
[/quote

Old Guy,

It was 3 a.m.  You should have gone to bed.  Slept on it.  Middlebury wasn't lucky.  If you have to rely on luck you lose those types of games.  Middlebury realized what it couldn't do, shoot form the outside, and did it the way it had to be done.  They took the game inside.  And more importantly, they took care of business in every other way.  Most importantly they made their free throws, the team's Achilles heel from the very beginning of the this era of winning basketball that Coach Brown has brought to Panther Nation.  Nobody missed more than one.  Kizel and Lynch were both 7-8.  Thompson and Jensen were 3-4.  Wolfin made his first shot of the game and made only one more.  So he made his contribution leading the team in rebounds (9) and assists (6) instead.  A four year starter who always comes to play.  Lynch uncharacteristically missed 3 chippies during the ragged mid-game stretch, but he put in 5 others especially when it mattered most.  Kizel didn't make a 3 the whole game.  Only attempted 2.  He settled for three two pointers to add to his 7 free throws.  Roberts chipped in 2-3 to go along with his 5 blocked shots and numerous altered ones.  Jensen, a multi-talented player who usually flies under the radar made three buckets, all at crucial times, as well as being almost half the reason Maravich,,, I mean Jones was held to FIFTEEN points.  That last one was a great shot but it was meaningless and nobody was within twenty feet of him.  And Mr Thompson, who hadn't put in a 3 the whole game, unflappably popped in 2 when it had to be done that way.  Middlebury never panicked.  They never lost their composure.  They never lost the lead.  They simply took it all in stride and like a well coached team of veteran players they won the game.  If you consider all of that to be luck Old Guy, your mother is a leprechaun. 

Middlebury wins.  Williams wins.  Two hard earned victories.  A good night for The NESCAC.   And Old Guy, based on my survey of knowledgeable people in the stands last night, you are remembered fondly from your playing days as truly a teammate's teammate.  There were even rumors of a mythic dunk shot but to-date the statistical data is too weak to confirm the claim's validity.  I'll try to get to the bottom of it but I may have to dig deep to do so.

[nescac1]

Some videos of Catholic for the Eph fans:

http://www.cuacardinals.com/video/index

Looks like they space the floor very well, and run a lot of action off of picks at the shoulders.  One of their two stars, Shawn Holmes, has a game similar to Sha Brown ... small, but very quick and crafty, and adept at finishing over bigger guys, plus can shoot 3's.  Nate Robertson (presumably) will have his hands full there on defense. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I have seen CUA quite a bit this season since they were in the Hoopsville Classic and in the same conference as my alma mater. They are a pretty good team. They have size and skill inside with Kearny; their #4 and #3 can shoot it from wherever on the floor (one is in the top ten in shooting percentage from outside the arc); their guards are smart and play off of each other very well. What is scary about CUA is they are getting deeper and deeper off of their bench. Early in the season they were going maybe seven players. Now they are comfortable with ten or more with decent size but especially hard-nosed defenders and smart ball handlers - the team is one of the best at the fewest turnovers per game in the country.

Here is something else I have found interesting this year... they don't run a basic look. They have tons of plays and options on both offense and defense. Just when I think I know what they will be running, they through a new look at it. They will change things up because they have to or because they want to... which I think makes it hard for teams to plan for them because no game tape is going to reveal all of the Cardinals facets and ideas.

Now, the Cardinals do have to worry about foul trouble to their guys inside (as Saturday night's game showed). And it isn't like this team can't have a bad night. Their two losses were pretty solid to a very tough Scranton team (Middlebury fans will remember that squad) and to DeSales who was a quality team this year that just fizzled a bit in the second half of the season. The thing I wonder the most is if anything fazes the Cardinals. They have seen every defense possible and every type of team possible - except Grinnel. They have played and won games against teams that shoot it well outside or have size inside.

So... Williams vs. CUA could be a really good game. The worry I have for the Cardinals is if they can play under the brighter spotlight (first time they have been in the tournament since 2007) and with the pressure of win or go home. However, they were ready to start the season with two very impressive wins at the Hoopsville Classic (which will welcome Middlebury next season). Who hosts will have a major factor - and the case could be made for either team: CUA finished #2 in the Mid-Atlantic Region based only on their SOS; Williams was #3 with a solid SOS - it could go either way.

[nescac1]

Thanks for the comprehensive scouting report, Dave.  Sounds like this will be a very even match-up, two well-organized teams with veteran leaders, good shooters, and five versatile quality starters each.  Too bad they can't meet in the Sweet 16 instead, but this is hardly the only brutal second round match-up this year: North Central-Whitewater, IWU-Wash U., Calvin-Stevens Point all look like great games featuring two teams which could easily make and perform well in the Final Four, as well.   While a close call, I think Williams deserves to host simply because of the Ephs' quality wins over tourney teams: Midd x2, Springfield, Curry, and of the Ephs four losses, three came to one of the top two teams nationally, and one came to another solid tourney squad.  Catholic has as many quality wins as the Ephs (St. Mary's, RMU, Transylvania), but all three losses came vs. non-NCAA teams.  Still, I have a suspicion that Catholic will earn hosting rights, in which case I'll see folks at the game!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Though CUA did lost to regionally ranked teams.

[WPI89]

Dave - do you know what time the gym sites will be announced?