MBB: NESCAC

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm sitting right at mid court, it seems like a lot of bad luck in ref positioning. They're calling the hand checks, but usually only the second one, so the push back gets called and not the first offense.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Stevenson is tired, but Midd us making too many mistakes to capitalize.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

And just when you think they can come back, two awful foul calls in a row. They don't win without Kizel on the floor.

[middhoops]

"A lot of head scratching moments for Middlebury" said Gordon Mann.
True dat.

[Bucket]

As ugly a night of hoops as Midd is possible of playing, in my opinion. You're not going to win against a good, athletic opponent on their home court when you shoot 8-24 from 3 and 13-22 from the stripe, while also giving up 19 offensive boards and committing 25 turnovers. The key stat—Stevenson took 18 more shots than Midd in an 11 pt. win. oof.

The most concerning aspects of the loss, to me, were how soft the interior D was and how much more aggressive Stevenson was on the boards. This is something that I'm sure the Midd coaching staff will be focusing on in the days ahead. (Jensen's return in December will also help immensely in these areas, as well.)

I'm much less worried about tonight's shooting woes. I don't see many more 0-for games in St. Amour's future, for instance. And Joey's stat line of 2-10 w/6 turnovers, was atypical to say the least. (As poorly as Midd played, if Joey knocks down that 3 with 2:00 left, the game is tied, and I think the Panthers miraculously go on to win. Instead, it doesn't fall, the Mustangs go the other way for an and-one, fouling Joey out and doubling the lead to 6. Game over.)

Announcers were right in that Midd's offense consisted almost entirely of lay-ups or 3s; no mid-range game to speak of, very little post offense. Daley struggled, big time, but that might not be such a bad thing. He exhibited what he could do against Alvernia. But he's going to have to work. Stevenson demonstrated how to take him out of the game. I'm hoping this game lights a fire under him

Here's hoping the Panthers come out against St. Mary's on Sunday determined to demonstrate to all that tonight was just a bad night.

[old_hooper]

One week into the season and Amherst and Bowdoin are the only teams without a loss.  Tufts falls to Emerson.

[Vandy74]

As ugly a night of hoops as Midd is possible of playing, in my opinion. You're not going to win against a good, athletic opponent on their home court when you shoot 8-24 from 3 and 13-22 from the stripe, while also giving up 19 offensive boards and committing 25 turnovers. The key stat—Stevenson took 18 more shots than Midd in an 11 pt. win. oof.

The most concerning aspects of the loss, to me, were how soft the interior D was and how much more aggressive Stevenson was on the boards. This is something that I'm sure the Midd coaching staff will be focusing on in the days ahead. (Jensen's return in December will also help immensely in these areas, as well.)

I'm much less worried about tonight's shooting woes. I don't see many more 0-for games in St. Amour's future, for instance. And Joey's stat line of 2-10 w/6 turnovers, was atypical to say the least. (As poorly as Midd played, if Joey knocks down that 3 with 2:00 left, the game is tied, and I think the Panthers miraculously go on to win. Instead, it doesn't fall, the Mustangs go the other way for an and-one, fouling Joey out and doubling the lead to 6. Game over.)

Announcers were right in that Midd's offense consisted almost entirely of lay-ups or 3s; no mid-range game to speak of, very little post offense. Daley struggled, big time, but that might not be such a bad thing. He exhibited what he could do against Alvernia. But he's going to have to work. Stevenson demonstrated how to take him out of the game. I'm hoping this game lights a fire under him

Here's hoping the Panthers come out against St. Mary's on Sunday determined to demonstrate to all that tonight was just a bad night.

Good analysis Bucket, although in spite of the way the Panthers managed to keep themselves in a game in which they played so poorly overall, I don't think it was meant to be their night.  Way too many mistakes by players who rarely make them in clutch situations.  The good news, as I see it, is that just about everything concerning Middlebury's lackluster performance tonight can be explained away as bus lag.  The bad news is that the St. Mary's team they will face on Sunday also lost a game tonight they probably thought they would win.  I doubt they too will be short two starter-capable players. 

I think Middlebury's success in the F & M tournament has made people forget that Coach Brown is still in the process of putting his rotation together and hasn't had everyone completely healthy yet.  When he figures it out there will be 5 very able players who are going to be doing a lot of sitting.  A performance like tonight's really should have been expected at least once in this tough early schedule all things considered.   Stevenson, as you stated, is a good team who walked to the gym tonight all the way from their dorm rooms.  They also watched the Middlebury-Alvernia game last weekend.  They were well rested and well prepared.

It's nice to win in these early season tournaments but as Coach Brown said after tonight's matchup, the importance of these games is that they be learning experiences especially for the younger players.  I expect a few things were learned tonight.  Jensen is soon to return.  (He was sorely missed tonight.)  I haven't heard anything regarding Sinnickson's condition, but all in all Panther fans have no reason to worry.  IMHO.

[middhoops]

Vandy, always the cool cucumber; your father's political skills trickled down to you.  Nice spin.
So far this year, Middlebury has shown indifference to playing tough defense and appears averse to blocking out smaller players.  Giving up 19 offensive boards, countless layups and committing 25 turnovers isn't necessarily reason to panic.  However, it seems like an upward trend that Coach Jeff Brown needs to bend down.  By tomorrow afternoon, too,  if they hope to avoid a loss to a very good St. Mary's team.
By far the best thing I saw in the game was Jake Brown's all round game.  He is a pass first point guard who makes everyone move on offense to get open.  Joey Kizel is going to get more and easier points off the ball than handling it against double teams all night.  Jake's intense overplay man up defense is refreshing on a team that has yet to display a serious commitment to stopping every player every time down the floor.
Two nights of good sleep should help.  Defense and rebounding will be the difference on Sunday.  One way or the other.

[amh63]

The Amherst tournament started last night and both teams that won scored in the 90's.  Amherst played almost every one and it proved interesting to see the FYs play together and play defense.  The game was blown up by Connor Green who scored 31 points in about 27 minutes...going 7-10 from outside.  Amherst wanted to work the ball inside at times and saw Green and George dunk the ball.  No starter played much over 20 minutes.  Two starters were impacted a little by the new rules....as refs are still trying to figure out how to call games...especially in battles inside and on defense.  Aaron walked off the court after his 2nd foul shaking his head.  Pollock talked to the refs during breaks..halftime, etc. to try to figure out what the refs would allow him.  Once, he was backing down his man inside and was called for a foul!  This maybe a long early season as refs working the games in New England figure it out.
Aaron Toomey played 20 minutes and scored 9 points, had 6 assists and 5 rebounds...plus 5 steals!  Berman time with both Kalema and Toomey playing the point and off guard.  Seems comfortable passing the ball and going inside. 
FY George had almost a double double in only 11 minutes of play...9 rebounds.  Was 10-11 from the foul line so it seems he is getting fouled going inside for points and boards.
Nice surprise for the crowd was Curtis, a soph big man who was hurt last year.  He looked bigger than his listed 6'7"...at least an inch taller.  All five of the "bigs" run the floor well and with Killian and Green also going for rebounds, I am less concern about that part of the game. 
Another game tonight.  Another game to see how Coach Hixon mix and match his players that all run the floor well, and can shoot the ball.  Man to man defense is where the PT  is won, imo.

[P'bearfan]

One week into the season and Amherst and Bowdoin are the only teams without a loss.  Tufts falls to Emerson.

Well hopefully that will continue today for Bowdoin.  They're playing a St Joe's team that looked pretty tough in defeating Bates earlier this week.  Bowdoin will only have 9 guys available to play so try they'll need to stay out of foul trouble.

[middhoops]

Keeping out of foul trouble early this season is a crap shoot for all teams.  Officiating is inconsistent and confusing.  Teams aren't adjusting easily to the new rules.  Refs aren't uniformly enforcing them.  Maybe by January they'll all be on the same page.
I watched a lower level D1 game last week where 63 fouls were called.  It was an awful game to sit through.  By the end few people cared who won.  They were just happy it was over.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Keeping out of foul trouble early this season is a crap shoot for all teams.  Officiating is inconsistent and confusing.  Teams aren't adjusting easily to the new rules.  Refs aren't uniformly enforcing them.  Maybe by January they'll all be on the same page.
I watched a lower level D1 game last week where 63 fouls were called.  It was an awful game to sit through.  By the end few people cared who won.  They were just happy it was over.

To clarify... there are no new rules... they are emphasizing the rules already in place. I am completely for getting aggressive on hand checks and adjusting when a defender is in place or not in place for a charge or a block. Refs all call the games a bit different all the time and it is key for players and coaches to adjust accordingly. Same with the strike zone in baseball, pass interference or holding in football, etc.

Last night's Middlebury game feature three refs who also call D1 games (actually, most of the officials yesterday have D1 experience)... and to be honest, no one was really talking about officiating yesterday. They were talking about the great games, the great plays, the teams, etc.

[Bucket]

Keeping out of foul trouble early this season is a crap shoot for all teams.  Officiating is inconsistent and confusing.  Teams aren't adjusting easily to the new rules.  Refs aren't uniformly enforcing them.  Maybe by January they'll all be on the same page.
I watched a lower level D1 game last week where 63 fouls were called.  It was an awful game to sit through.  By the end few people cared who won.  They were just happy it was over.

Last night's Middlebury game feature three refs who also call D1 games (actually, most of the officials yesterday have D1 experience)... and to be honest, no one was really talking about officiating yesterday. They were talking about the great games, the great plays, the teams, etc.

I wasn't in the gym, so I can't speak to what was being said there; I can only speak to what was being said on the broadcasts. And during the Midd-Stevenson game, Dave, you and Gordan aptly described blown calls, time and again, by officials. Now, you guys never spoke of a poorly officiated game, that is true. But you did point out what were questionable—or totally confounding—calls when they happened. Kudos to you both for doing so. But it seems to me to be a case of (selective?) amnesia to turn around and say no one was talking about this, when we heard you loud and clear!

You deserve great credit for organizing a wonderful invitational—great games, great plays, the teams—and you needn't worry that your efforts will be sullied by areas of the event, totally outside of your control, that prove to be unsatisfactory. 

[lefrakenstein]

Southern Vermont's margin of victory over Green Mountain (43) actually exceeded Midd's margin (41). Seems pretty clear that they're much improved this year.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Keeping out of foul trouble early this season is a crap shoot for all teams.  Officiating is inconsistent and confusing.  Teams aren't adjusting easily to the new rules.  Refs aren't uniformly enforcing them.  Maybe by January they'll all be on the same page.
I watched a lower level D1 game last week where 63 fouls were called.  It was an awful game to sit through.  By the end few people cared who won.  They were just happy it was over.

Last night's Middlebury game feature three refs who also call D1 games (actually, most of the officials yesterday have D1 experience)... and to be honest, no one was really talking about officiating yesterday. They were talking about the great games, the great plays, the teams, etc.

I wasn't in the gym, so I can't speak to what was being said there; I can only speak to what was being said on the broadcasts. And during the Midd-Stevenson game, Dave, you and Gordan aptly described blown calls, time and again, by officials. Now, you guys never spoke of a poorly officiated game, that is true. But you did point out what were questionable—or totally confounding—calls when they happened. Kudos to you both for doing so. But it seems to me to be a case of (selective?) amnesia to turn around and say no one was talking about this, when we heard you loud and clear!

You deserve great credit for organizing a wonderful invitational—great games, great plays, the teams—and you needn't worry that your efforts will be sullied by areas of the event, totally outside of your control, that prove to be unsatisfactory.

The last two fouls on Middlebury were bad calls.  It's unfortunate they were right at the end of the game.  I wondered in pace of play was giving the refs trouble.  Time and again I saw missed calls that refs just weren't in position to make.  Kizel got called on one offensively where he pushed off his defender in the back court.  It was a foul, but he was only pushing because the defender had body bumped him and he was trying to regain balance.  The ref hadn't gotten turned around and running the other way in time to see the first foul, so he called what he saw.  It stinks, but it's no one's fault.  Stevenson clogged the lane on defense and there were always a lot of bodies between the refs and the action.  They did as well as they could, I think (outside those final two calls).

The biggest problem I saw from Middlebury was they lack a calming presence.  The "leaders" on the team all seemed to get frustrated quickly and remain so for some time, led by Kizel.  They were shaking their heads and harping at the refs almost from the opening tip.  Despite all the poor play, they were still in the game with three minutes to go.  I think they could have won if there was someone on the floor calming guys down and keeping their heads together.  Obviously, that guy should be Kizel, but he also seems least likely to do it.  If they find that guy, they could be very, very tough to beat.  Stevenson was very good, but Middlebury lost because of the mental game.