MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

Ephs are in big trouble, down ten, totally fallen apart after it seemed like the offense was really working well.  Have gone ice cold from three as a team and missed some very makable interior shots as well.  Also playing much worse on defense than in the first half.  Barring a very rapid turnaround and some made threes, it's going to be a continuation of the ugly early January for NESCAC. 

[Vandy74]

very sloppy play from the Panthers (looking like a team coming off a 20 day layoff); double-digit turnovers for Midd in the first half.

And so it continued in the second half.  A very hard game to watch.  The Panthers were not only rusty from the 20 day layoff but also had a weather-hampered bus ride that resulted in an hour+ delay in the game starting time.  The team never found it's rhythm.  Forced shots, bad passes resulting in turnovers (and too often points) and except for back-to-back 3-pointers from Merryman early in the game nobody could find their shot.  No excuses, just the breaks of the game travel hassles included.  Sometimes you beat yourself as much as the other team beats you.  You chalk it up to experience and move on. 

That is very good news about Daley and Sinnickson being suited up.  Nine games into the season this is still a team that has always had at least one and usually two starter-capable players unavailable.  Daley and Sinnickson have both scored 20+ points in a game this season.  That's a lot of offensive potential to be without.  Yes this is a game Middlebury should have won and rankings are always nice in the game of braggers' rights but a full and healthy roster going into conference play is what matters most.

[middhoops]

Williams is battling back from what was a ten point deficit.  Down 60-56 with all kinds of time left.  No bench help whatsoever in this game.  Mayer appears to still be far from the dominant post player who plagued the rest of us the last two years.  To me he appears a step or so slower than the game around him.  Certainly not what we're used to and probably not for long.   Hopefully he gets fully healthy soon.
Great game to watch.

[grabtherim]

Tie game.  To put it mildly, the refs are not helping Williams so far in this game.  Three straight TO's on Duncan Robinson, two travels and one offensive foul after a pass, all of which I thought were highly questionable and the first of which was ridiculous.  Ephs struggle whenever the starters go out and I think Maker is going to have to play most of his starters most of the rest of this game to pull this one out.

You know what they say about excuses.  If Hampden Sydney wins, will they be crowned as the most improved team in the country?

[warriorcat]

I know that this is a NESCAC board but I think you have to give some credit to Salve.  They could have dropped their heads at the half and congratulated themselves for hanging with a team of Midd's pedigree for a half but they kept battling.  Yes, they could have put this game away with some good free throw shooting but they came back with each possession playing to win rather than avoiding losing.  As they have been all season thus far, they are too dependent on Hanlon.  He came through again tonight making good decisions and getting the ball at the end of the game. 

[middhoops]

Confusing end to the Williams game.  HS had a chance to tie or win but their shot appeared to go in after time expired.  Immediately thereafter a Hampden Sydney player threw a punch at an Eph beyond the end line.  Didn't see what precipitated it.

Tough win for the Ephs.  Five very tired young men.

[grabtherim]

Congrats to Williams. It's OK to stop whining about the refs now. 

[nescac1]

Great win for the Ephs.  And grabtherim, I can call it both ways -- the Ephs got lucky at the end as Williamson put up a pretty turnaround jumper that seemed to rattle around the entire basket before falling out, can't believe that shot missed.  Sometimes you get the bounces ... Ephs played MUCH better than they did vs. Washington & Lee.  HSC is a tough team and Williams looked down and out when they went down 10 and seemed totally out of synch.  But the three ball saved the Ephs as Wohl and Rooke-Ley combined for three huge triples.  And yeah, I don't apologize for saying those three straight TO calls on Robinson (not to mention the early non-calls that led to the Maker T) were very questionable. 

For Williams, Mayer (while still a step behind where he was last year, Middhoops is absolutely correct) was much, much better in the second half, finishing with 16 points and converting nicely off pretty feeds on the inside.  All five starters played very well but to me the game ball goes to Daniel Wohl, as he hung in after starting 0-5 from three to hit the two enormous threes down the stretch, and his six steals and one block were enormous on the defensive end (although on the downside he did go for an ill-advised steal attempt which left a three point shooter wide open for a potential game-winning three, which rimmed out)  Today's onions award goes to Duncan Robinson for fearlessly launching the three to provide the winning margin -- the minute it left his hand, you knew it was good.  And despite the FTA miss, I'll take the ball in his hands on the line in any future game, he doesn't and won't miss many.   

The Ephs' defense is night and day from what it was a month ago.  Williams was able to double-down in the post while recovering to contest threes. HSC got some points off of offensive rebounds and turnovers, but in the half-court set, Williams was very, very good at forcing HSC into difficult, contested shot-attempts.  Far fewer layups than I saw in the W&L game, even. 

On the downside, zero bench points.  It's becoming a big issue.  Impressive to win a road game vs. a top-tier team without much bench help, but it it is going to burn the Ephs eventually.  Kilcullen was playing very well as a starter and I'd like to see him more involved when he is in the game off the bench -- he hasn't been looking for his outside shot much, and it is a weapon.  Still, with Midd and Amherst losing, great to see the Ephs pull out a very, very tough game with a tremendous comeback. 

[nescac1]

I didn't see either the punch, or the ball go in.  My webcast was very choppy at the end, and I thought the shot rimmed out -- and according to the boxscore, it was a miss.  He clearly got the shot off before the buzzer, so if it went in, I can't understand why it didn't count. 

I was surprised Williams did not foul there -- I think they were under the limit, so I would have fouled as soon as the ball went into the post and forced them to reset with a second left. 

[middhoops]

I didn't see either the punch, or the ball go in.  My webcast was very choppy at the end, and I thought the shot rimmed out -- and according to the boxscore, it was a miss.  He clearly got the shot off before the buzzer, so if it went in, I can't understand why it didn't count. 

I was surprised Williams did not foul there -- I think they were under the limit, so I would have fouled as soon as the ball went into the post and forced them to reset with a second left.

Obviously I saw it wrong.  I did say it was confusing......for an old guy anyway.  My mistake.

[amh63]

Watched both Nescac games.  The Middlebury game with the audio not lined up with the video.  One comment on the game in RI....The Panthers need to get some consistent offense soon, especially on the inside.
On the game in VA at the all male college still.....was actually rooting for the hosts to get the tie or the win.....after being down 12 in the first half and going up by 10 at the 6 min. mark or so.  For me, it was a game of two halves..looking primarily at Williams.  First half, led by the fine shooting of Eply and Robinson from outside, Williams goes ahead easily.  Mayer?....total of 3 points and one rebound and slow up the court and porous on defense.  Second half, as HS roars ahead by beating Williams up the court and starting to hit threes and layups...some layups by a guard that weaves his way through Williams players.  Mayer?  Surprising to me he starts the comeback for Williams as his low post shots starts to drop.....though missing on foul shots.  Mayer starts to rebound and gets his energy....plays agressive.  Robertson cools off but does make the 3-point shot that gives Williams the lead for good. 
My video was good but audio was off....went to the audio radio for awhile and to the live stats.....therefore some choppy viewing.
My summary of Williams foray into Virginia.....It was not the planned "Gen. Sherman's victory march", but it was a successful campaign.....three wins....two wins by 2 points that could have been losses.
The "CAC" games await.  Williams has a short bench and a talented starting five.  One of the starters...Mayer needs to step up, IMO...or there could be bumpy roads ahead.  At this point, Duncan Robinson is more valuable to Williams' offense than Mayer.  Robinson, imho, is more vital to Williams defense than Mayer...rebounds, blocks, help defense.

[Bucket]

Watched both Nescac games.  The Middlebury game with the audio not lined up with the video.  One comment on the game in RI....The Panthers need to get some consistent offense soon, especially on the inside.

Getting Daley and Sinnickson back could do just that. As others have mentioned, each player has had a 20-point game this season—with Sinnickson coming back after missing 7 games and Daley the past three.

[Brian Hamilton]

Nescac1,
I was at the HSC-Williams game.  Williams had 6 team fouls which is why they did not foul on the last shot.  Williams' coach walked to the scorers table on the last timeout to check and saw him ask if the next foul was 1-and-1.  I did not see what precipitated the after game action.  This was very atypical for this particular player who is mild-mannered.  I was very impressed by Williams.  They made 12-25 threes which is the biggest reason for the victory.  They are a very sound, fundamental team that executes.  Safe travels to everyone in the Northeast with the snowstorm.

[nescac1]

Thanks for sharing that Brian.  I guess I counted the fouls wrong. Curious to hear what sparked the punch but in all events glad it did not escalate.  Very impressed by Williamson of HSC, he had a strong game including a monster alleyoop slam. Just had bad luck on the last shot.  Even though the result was the same in each game I'd say that Williams played better vs HSC than vs W&L.  Ephs have had a lot of great battles with ODAC teams in recent years: RMC, W&L, HSC, VWU twice.  Always hard fought games that typically go down to the wire. 

[madzillagd]

Curious to hear what sparked the punch but in all events glad it did not escalate. 

I'm guessing somebody didn't appreciate Rooke-Ley's commentary work on the game.