MBB: NESCAC

[Mr. Ypsi]

Perhaps I'm too staid, but I wonder why the NCAA doesn't step in and challenge the sportsmanship issue regarding Grinnell men's basketball and these silly circus games.  The absence of an action is tacit approval.  No?

I hope you are only referring to the games where the coach hires a team to come (who would finish in the lower half of the Middlebury intramural league) for the explicit purpose of setting a phony record for one designated player (who takes 3 times his usual % of shots in this game only), which is a total bastardization of The System.  I have no particular problem with The System when done the usual way (variations like this are not uncommon - recall Dean Smith's Four Corners [though that IMO led directly to the shot clock] or the Princeton offense), but it's total bastardization for personal and institutional 'glory' offends me.  (They obviously subscribe to the any publicity is good publicity, since the overwhelming majority of reactions have been negative.)

BTW, even this pales compared with what John Heisman perpetrated in 1916 (and which apparently got his name on the horribly inappropriately named Heisman Trophy).  Smarting over an earlier baseball defeat by Cumberland College (Heisman was also the baseball coach), he forced them to comply with a signed contract, even though they had disbanded the football program.  They hastily assembled a hodge-podge of 'football players' with no real coach; Heisman had Georgia Tech beat them 222-0.

[middhoops]

"I hope you are only referring to the games where the coach hires a team to come (who would finish in the lower half of the Middlebury intramural league) for the explicit purpose of setting a phony record for one designated player (who takes 3 times his usual % of shots in this game only), which is a total bastardization of The System."

Yes.  That.

[nescac1]

Williams wins over St. Joseph's Vermont, but I'm guessing they aren't too delighted with only a 16-point victory in that one after a very solid game vs. Salem.  Epley had a big game with 20 points, 5 assists, 3 boards, 6-12 from three.  Wohl with 15-10-3 but an off day shooting (0-6 from three).  Duncan Robinson continues his efficient play with 11 points including a pair of treys on only five shot attempts.  Very, very quiet game for Mayer, only six shot attempts, finished with 11-8.  It seems like the Ephs haven't been getting the ball to Mayer as much as would be expected, but it's early and perhaps Coach Maker wants to establish other guys in the offense.  Another steady game at the point for Rooke-Ley and once again Kilcullen was the primary bench contributor, but the Ephs are still looking for more bench contributions from other guys.   It's been a somewhat bumpier than anticipated start to the season for the Ephs, and it will be interesting to see how they fare in their first NESCAC action on Saturday vs. a rebuilding Wesleyan squad. 

[Panthernation]

It's been a somewhat bumpier than anticipated start to the season for the Ephs, and it will be interesting to see how they fare in their first NESCAC action on Saturday vs. a rebuilding Wesleyan squad.

This is a Little Three game and not a NESCAC game, right?

[amh63]

PN....on the Amherst schedule the difference between such games are noted.  Assume Williams makes similiar notations.

[middhoops]

Do the Little Three ever play their NESCAC games in November or December?

[middhoops]

By the way, is anyone noticing what Tufts fy Hunter Sabety is doing?  Coming off the bench in only 14 minutes a game, he leads the Jumbos with 15.3 ppg and 6 rpg.  Sabety is 19-21 from the floor.  Most players don't do that in warm ups.

[nescac1]

I believe the second game is always (or at least typically) the NESCAC game, so the game this week will be a non-conference game, technically. 

[P'bearfan]

I believe the second game is always (or at least typically) the NESCAC game, so the game this week will be a non-conference game, technically. 

Very similar situation for Bowdoin, Bates and Colby.  They play each other in December in non-conference games then again in January as part of the conference schedule.

[P'bearfan]

By the way, is anyone noticing what Tufts fy Hunter Sabety is doing?  Coming off the bench in only 14 minutes a game, he leads the Jumbos with 15.3 ppg and 6 rpg.  Sabety is 19-21 from the floor.  Most players don't do that in warm ups.

Those are just ridiculous numbers.  What position is he playing when he comes in?  I'm assuming he's a 4 but could see him playing 5 given Tufts loss of Palleschi.

[amh63]

Nothing standard this year wrt to the Amherst schedule.  The conference game with Williams at LeFrak is the first game on Jan. 11 @. 4 pm.  Just initiated my travel plans up for the game.  This year, Hamilton is the travel partner and that game is on Friday @8pm.

[amh63]

P'bear...your post had me check on Tufts' last two box scores.  Your FY does come off the bench even when he is the biggest player on the team it seems.  Expect he plays the 5 since he does get blocks...and his stellar shooting of 13-13 seems to be inside shots.  Two points to note...in the last two games there is another FY player that is shorter that starts in the front court.  In the last game, he played less than 20 minutes and fouled out. 
It is early in the season and the HBC is still trying to find his rotation of players...I suspect.

[middhoops]

P'bear, I assume he's a pure 5 in this league.  At 6-8 and 240, Sabety plays above the rim.  I was thinking he's going to be a beast, but apparently he already may be.
Drew Madsen, the other big freshman starts, but he's taken very few shots through 3 games.
What's up with Ben Ferris?  He doesn't show up in the stats so far.

[P'bearfan]

What's up with Ben Ferris?  He doesn't show up in the stats so far.

I remember reading in an earlier post that he is injured (stress fracture in his pelvis???).  Hope he is able to return to action soon.

[Jumbo Fan]

If all goes well, Ben Ferris will be allowed to start practicing again in mid-December, and back in games in January. And in his humble opinion, he thinks the new foul rules are ruining the game! (the Jumbos have racked up a ton of fouls thus far)