MBB: NESCAC

[4 the love of the game]

excited to see how the league breaks down. I think at this point, the 1-3 seeds are locked up. 4-8 is anyones guess.
1. amherst- despite a unexplainable loss to colby, they are still the team to beat after beating bowdoin and handling williams twice.
2. williams- only one game this weekend but certainly something to be happy about. their win over bowdoin will prove to be colossal.
3. bowdoin- interesting match up against midd this week. they havent been able to crack the 'big three' yet but this could be their chance
4/5/6. midd/colby/ trinity- all have shown flashes of play that would prove they deserve a first round home game, but also all have been just as far from the ball the other way. midd has pulled out some squeakers, but has showed it is dangerous to live on the edge. colby lost three in a row including against conn and hamilton, two lesser teams. and trinity is on a current 3 game slide (their wins vs tufts and bates are not looking as strong as they once did).
7. hamilton- after their weekend win, they deserve credit and could be a tough 1st round out.
8. wesleyan- somehow 3-3 but have four tough games left (5 if include east conn). would be surprised if they win another game and make the league tournament.
9. tufts- not sure the problem here, lots of talent but should not be losing to wesleyan. seems like every year the pieces are there but they cant put it together. coaching?
10. conn- the fact they could still make the league tournament and no one would be surprised shows the parody of the league
11. bates- no other options. one conference win and some loses that have everyone scratching their heads

[amh63]

Middhoops...enjoyed your post.  You too have a way with words. 

Did anyone else notice the D3hoops scoreboard and box last night?  Had Hamilton winning by 4 points!  Did I miss something?

Saw a little of the Superbowl last night.....wife wanted to see some of the ads....not really a sports follower..
Confirmed the belief by many, including me, that Great defense wins you a Title. 

[Pat Coleman]

I don't see anything in our log that says that, for what it's worth. Looks pretty clean:

2/2/2014 7:23 PM EST   [details] xxxxxxx@hamilton.edu   Adding http://www.d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2013-14/contrib/2014020204srq5 (RC)
2/2/2014 6:07 PM EST   [details] xxxxxxx@hamilton.edu   Statistics updated to match an uploaded packed file [view]
2/2/2014 5:38 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:38 PM EST   [details] xxxxxxx@hamilton.edu   Status code changed to final, Status changed to Final
2/2/2014 5:38 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:37 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:37 PM EST   [details] xxxxxxx@hamilton.edu   Score set to Middlebury 74, Hamilton 76, Status changed to 2nd - 00:05
2/2/2014 5:37 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:37 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:37 PM EST   [details] xxxxxxx@hamilton.edu   Score set to Middlebury 74, Hamilton 74
2/2/2014 5:37 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:36 PM EST   [details] xxxxxxx@hamilton.edu   Score set to Middlebury 73, Hamilton 74
2/2/2014 5:36 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:35 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:35 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:35 PM EST   [details] xxxxxxx@hamilton.edu   Status changed to 2nd - 00:29
2/2/2014 5:35 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:34 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:34 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:34 PM EST   [details] xxxxxxx@hamilton.edu   Score set to Middlebury 72, Hamilton 74
2/2/2014 5:34 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:34 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:34 PM EST   [details] xxxxxxx@hamilton.edu   Score set to Middlebury 72, Hamilton 73
2/2/2014 5:34 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:34 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:33 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:33 PM EST   [details] xxxxxxx@hamilton.edu   Status changed to 2nd - 00:39
2/2/2014 5:33 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:33 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:33 PM EST   [details] xxxxxxx@hamilton.edu   Score set to Middlebury 72, Hamilton 72, Status changed to 2nd - 00:49
2/2/2014 5:33 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:31 PM EST   [details]   Statistics updated by StatJack or an FTP upload [view]
2/2/2014 5:31 PM EST   [details] xxxxxxx@hamilton.edu   Score set to Middlebury 72, Hamilton 70, Status changed to 2nd - 01:07
etc.

[middhoops]

Pat, was that just really cryptic or did it simply sail way over my head?

[new yorker1]

Amh63,

Are you sure you didn't glance at the Hamilton Women vs Middlebury score? That was a 4 point difference.

[7express]

So, we have a NESCAC vs. Little East battle for tomorrow: Plymouth @ Bowdoin, Dartmouth @ Tufts, Eastern @ Wesleyan, Middlebury @ Keene, and Colby @ USM.  Obviously it won't be the same as with Walzy doing it (because really who could replace him??) but anyone want to get in on the spread action??

[amh63]

Pat C......Thanks for checking.

Middhoops....Thought initially it was  in "machine language"...or some of those new software language format   That is probably why I never took up this new social media trend and insist that my "younger generation" kids  never text me.  Cannot keep up with the text terms or their latest meaning.

New Yorker 1...you may be correct....but I remember a 70's score and Kizel is on the MBB team....oh well not worth the troublle.  Welcome aboard this board "Governor!"....especially if you are a Hamilton supporter.  Do need different eyes on games and fresh perspectives/analyses. Though I have been in the Hamilton BB facilities, the video feed is a little dark for me.  Your "dancing girls" are unique to the conference, I believe.  Just as Cornell has the only marching band in the Ivies.  Nice touches from the Empire State schools.

[Pat Coleman]

Pat, was that just really cryptic or did it simply sail way over my head?

It's a log of the updates that were made to that game. Yeah, could be cryptic, sorry.

[amh63]

7Express...sorry about not responding your post/ offer.   Go ahead if you wish so, but suggest you define "action" vice on your LEC board.  My take is that there will be few takers for various reasons......everyone maybe "gun shy" after a weekend of games of very close games.......few of the posters follow the LEC teams closely that are involved......many of the CAC schools involved do not have posters presently.  Having said that, I would like to see your spreads.  Have seen your astute coverages and results on the other board.  You were about right on in the Amherst vs. RIC  recent game.

[madzillagd]

Finally got a chance to see the Friday night game.  Not sure if it was because I knew the final outcome but the first half wasn't as bad as I expected for the Ephs.  They actually worked the ball inside to Mayer more than they have been and he just missed some close ones; a blown layup by McCreary, a few 3s that rattled out for Epley and Greenman.  Overall the shot selection wasn't bad they just went cold for a few minutes.  On the flip side, Midd was making contested shots and when they missed they were able to get the rebound and get another look.  Five offensive boards for Midd in the first half and those accounted for a big portion of the difference in score.  The rebounding I think is the biggest issue with the Ephs zone.  Second half of course was a totally different game as Midd started missing those contested looks and the Ephs started rebounding the misses.  For me the difference in the game was Wohl's ability to keep Kizel on the perimeter.  Kizel wasn't able to get to the paint and get fouled like he does so often when he isn't getting open looks. 

[nescac1]

Nice breakdown, 4 The Love of the Game.  A few surprising stories in NESCAC play this year. 

(1) I am really surprised that Bates has had such a rough go of it, especially with Matarazzo returning.  The difference has really been Graham Safford, who was absolutely dominating before the conference season got going (leading me to, clearly prematurely, annoint him as a likely first team all-NESCAC player) but he has really struggled in NESCAC play, shooting only 29 percent from the field and 20 percent from 3, after lighting it up earlier in the season.  As others have speculated, perhaps he is better in a ball-dominating role than playing off the ball, although I haven't seen enough of Bates to have any opinion on that.

(2) Wesleyan is living proof of the Ewing theory.  The Cards lost their three top players to graduation, including Sha Brown, who was certainly an enormously talented player.  Yet, they fell far short of expectations last year.  On paper, they looked to be easily the worst team in NESCAC this season, but they have not played like it, with three straight wins following the very narrow loss to Midd.  They have been helped by a solid recruiting class, including new starting backcourt Harry Rafferty and Joe Edmonds and emerging big man Joseph Kuo, as well as the development of a strong sophomore class -- Rashid Epps, Jack Mackey (shooting 60 percent from three in conference play!) and BJ Davis, who averaged 19 ppg over the past three NESCAC wins.  Wesleyan's top seven players are all sophomores or freshmen, so the future looks bright for the Cards.

(3) Tufts has indeed been strangely underachieving considering the Jumbos' talent level.  Looking at conference stats, Hunter Sabety has been a monster, and would be the leading contender for NESCAC ROY in almost any year in which Duncan Robinson had not joined the league.  But the very experienced senior backcourt has not played up to its level from last season, averaging only a combined 12.5 points on 32 percent combined shooting.  Haladyna hasn't made the big leap forward that many projected for him as a sophomore, and Ben Ferris is clearly not the same guy he was before his injury -- when healthy, he is one of the toughest guys to guard in NESCAC.  Tufts, a team with a lot of very talented shooters, has REALLY struggled to shoot the three ball in conference play. 

(4) As with Taylor Epley for Williams against Midd, Connor Green awoke from an uncharacteristic shooting slump just in time to, just barely, push Amherst over the top vs. Bowdoin.  I think Bowdoin has proven now that it can play with any team in New England.  When Epley, Green, Toomey, Robinson, Andrew Madlinger and Matt Hart get hot, they are all really, really fun to watch. 

(5) We haven't seen many first round upsets in NESCAC tourney play in recent years, if memory serves, but when teams as talented as Tufts, Midd, Colby, Trinity could all potentially be on the road in first round match-ups, it should make for a very interesting tournament. 

[new yorker1]

Amh63 I am indeed a Hamilton supporter, likely the only one here from all the posts I have read. Given how short a time Hamilton has been in the NESCAC I am not surprised.  Thanks for the welcome, I have been reading the board most of the last two season just have been lurking.

I had a conversation with a Middlebury fan hours prior to the game as we watched Matt Hart alone in the gym working on his game and draining jumper after jumper. I saw the same fan after the game and he certainly had a look of understanding.

[Bucket]

I gotta say, it was not easy recording tonight's Road to Salem narration. Talk about re-opening fresh wounds...

New episode out Thursday.

[AmherstStudent05]

I gotta say, it was not easy recording tonight's Road to Salem narration. Talk about re-opening fresh wounds...

New episode out Thursday.

Pat, have you had a chance to watch any of this Road to Salem series? I am not usually in the habit of praising Middlebury, but it is truly fantastic -- particularly the last episode.  Well worth your time, I promise.

[Pat Coleman]

I watched the most recent edition, yes. They are indeed well done!