MBB: NESCAC

[grabtherim]

+1

Here's the link for those who want to watch: http://vimeo.com/87147196
[/quote]

Another really well done installment despite some incredibly heartbreaking moments.  The kids who are putting this series together should take it directly to Bristol for use as a resume.
For obvious reasons, I will use my selective memory and zero in on the Semi/Final weekend at Wiliamstown 2011 with the crazy comeback win over the LJs and cutting down the nets after beating the Ephs for the Championship.  Oh no! Some other thoughts are creeping back in, Barisse hitting a fantastic three to beat the Panthers at Lefrak in 2012 and WW's perfect play off the backboard at Pepin last year to win it for the LJs. 
As painful as those plays were, they are what make rivalries and sports great.

[amh63]

Bucket.....thanks for the link....enjoyed the production.  +k to you.  OG....like the look.  You had an Amherst buddy?  Really!  +k  to you.  Video allows me to show my wife my Panther "arch enemy".   Too many Marvel comics and Thor films lately.  Sorry for the label, OG.
AS05...still missed you...need to wear something flashy...Williams hat maybe.  That will catch some attention in the area you are sitting.   Did see another All American guard and POY in the stands sitting near the Middlebury fans....Caroline Stedman who help win a National WBB title.  Think she may still be working at ESPN.  Take the hint AS05..for your film career.
Nice job all around.  Bucket...please send my kudos to all.  And my hello to Mrs Kizel and praise for her son's play.  Did I hear someone say that he is studying a foreign language or kids around and says he is Chinese?  Interesting...sat next to Mrs Kisel at a Stevenson game..could not tell from her looks

[Bucket]

Bucket...please send my kudos to all.  And my hello to Mrs Kizel and praise for her son's play.  Did I hear someone say that he is studying a foreign language or kids around and says he is Chinese?  Interesting...sat next to Mrs Kisel at a Stevenson game..could not tell from her looks

Will do. And yes, Joey is studying Chinese.

[Old Guy]

Clearly you haven't watched the latest episode. That anecdote is captured on film for all to see. Bucket

Really? Same story? My family will not be surprised. My repertoire of anecdotes is fairly broad (one for every occasion) but highly susceptible to repetition, especially as the years advance ("Get off my lawn!"). I didn't know Panther Nation liked the story.

How'd I look? Pasty-faced Vermonter. I'm down a few pounds since then, on the West Africa diet, works every time. Cameroonians love their beer though, so I try to be culturally sensitive to that. The best-selling Cameroonian beer is simply called "33" - no one seems to know why. I drink it to celebrate Larry Bird. Every day at 5:00 I hoist my cold "33"and say: "here's to you, Larry."

It's very frustrating: I have the hardest time getting "The Road to Salem" videos. I've only been able to watch half of the Williams one (Part 5). I did catch the bedroom scene and agree it was unnecessary, but the rest of what I saw was great. In general I think these video presentations are astonishingly good. Undergraduates! I'll set the alarm for 3:00 am tonight and see if I can pull in the rest of Part 5 and Part 6.

The internet here pretty much precludes linking to video. No Youtube at all. It was better earlier in the year, for some reason. It's quirky. I used to be able to watch the videos of games for sure between midnight and 5:00 a.m when the internet traffic was light, but even that hasn't been the case recently. I was able to see half a dozen NESCAC games, including Bates-Midd (Safford!) and Hamilton-Midd (Hart!). I saw all of the Bowdoin-Babson game early in the season, and Bowdoin handled them pretty easily, but now are ranked below them (I thought Babson was lacking size and outside scoring: must be the small sample size, one game).

Sorry, Am-erst friends, for the redundant anecdote.

[nescac1]

As an Eph fan, I am slightly nervous that Tufts may have finally gotten it together last weekend.  I did not see them beating Bowdoin and Colby after how they looked against the Ephs two weeks ago.  In a win-or-go-home-game for the Jumbos, I am sure that Tufts will play with more defensive intensity than they did in the first game against the Ephs, and while Williams should still be favored, I have a feeling that it will be a much more competitive game this time, and Williams will have to play well to win -- definitely not a gimme.  Williams needs to get Mayer going early and, ideally, get Sabety in early foul trouble, because he is a physical presence Williams can't match on the other end.  The Ephs will also need to do a good job of finding Haladyna when they play zone.  He has not been the huge break-out player that many expected this season, although he has missed some time with injuries which may have contributed.  But right now he is clearly on fire and playing to his capabilities -- his last three games (including the game against the Ephs), he's been averaging 20 ppg and and hit 12 out of 19 threes. The Ephs can't let him get into an easy shooting groove early on or it could be a nervous afternoon in Billsville.  Tufts beating Bowdoin with Ferris on the bench was particularly impressive.   

In the other games, I mentioned that all of Colby's (highly entertaining) antics on the bench may come back to haunt them if they play Amherst again, and between the fact that (1) they beat Amherst, (2) it is a tournament game and Amherst will be totally focused on the task at hand, (3) Amherst is coming off its best half of hoops this season, and (4) the memory of Colby's sideline histrionics, I would not want to be in Colby's shoes tomorrow.  I think Amherst will blow them out of the gym early.  Next year, different story for Colby, but this year, a learning experience. 

The other two games should be more competitive.  Bowdoin-Trinity should be an ugly, low-scoring, slow-paced, grind-em-out affair, but playing at home and with its NCAA tourney hopes likely on the line, I like Bowdoin.  And speaking of motivation, Midd will have no shortage of motivation to beat Hamilton.  If all four home teams win, as I do think they will, it would set up a fun final four next weekend with rematches of two really, really close games from earlier in the season.   

On another note, nice article in today's paper on the Ephs' frosh class: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/sports/ci_25196600/freshmen-robinson-greenman-taking-charge-eph-mens-hoops

Williams has had many great trios enter together over the years.  I'd rank the best as (1) Coffin/Crotty/Abba, (2) Epley/Mayer/Rooke-Ley, (3) Geoghegan/Schultz/Rubin, (4) Nogelo/Farmer/McGuire (had Farmer not suffered a terrible knee injury, this group would have been at least a slot higher).  If Greenman, Aronowitz and Robinson stay healthy and dedicated to hoops and improve as you would expect, I'd be surprised if they finished any worse than second on that list, and they may even be able to challenge for number one. 

[grabtherim]

It appears that Walzy will not be coming out of his season long hibernation to give his uncanny betting lines for the NESCAC Tournament so I will take a shot.  This is just for fun, and I am holding out hope that Walzy will rise from his self-imposed exile to change every line I have come up with.  No over unders for me.  Just my gut feeling on each game.  Feel free to chime in with you analysis or changes. 
Middlebury -2.5 over Hamilton
Williams -8.5 over Tufts
Amherst -12.5 over Colby
Bowdoin -5.5 over Trinity

[middhoops]

It appears that Walzy will not be coming out of his season long hibernation to give his uncanny betting lines for the NESCAC Tournament so I will take a shot.  This is just for fun, and I am holding out hope that Walzy will rise from his self-imposed exile to change every line I have come up with.  No over unders for me.  Just my gut feeling on each game.  Feel free to chime in with you analysis or changes. 
Middlebury -2.5 over Hamilton
Williams -8.5 over Tufts
Amherst -12.5 over Colby
Bowdoin -5.5 over Trinity

Conservative on most, but right on.
Colby is going to pay, and pay dearly, for their previous game with the LJs.
Matt Hart may score 20 in Pepin but he'll age 5 years tomorrow with the D Jeff Brown throws at him.
Williams' offense is cranked up now.  Bad day to be a Jumbo.  Ephs win big.
Trinity is dangerous, but I think Bowdoin has too many unheralded weapons.

[nescac1]

One thing in favor of the home teams: in terms of game-planning, I believe those to be the four best coaches in NESCAC.  With a week to prepare for a single game, that is an advantage for all four.  I tend to agree with middhoops. 

[AmherstStudent05]

Old Guy, thanks so much for your generous comments.  You are too kind.  Maybe it was the Larry Bird beer talking!  I do need to careful though about being too "fair-minded."  After all, the only reason I joined this board was to be a blatantly obnoxious Amherst partisan while also taking as many shots at Williams as our good-humored moderator would allow.  Maybe once Joey graduates I can get back closer to first principles.

I have always been kind of amused by the "amHerst" gag.  I have some Williams friends (secret's out I guess) who like to type "amHerst" is emails to me or to exaggerate the pronunciation of the "H" when talking to me about my alma mater . .. . . . as if I care!  While I have naturally used the correct pronunciation for quite some time now, before I got to campus freshman year, I called it "amHerst" just like everybody else.  No big deal.  Bottom line is this, pronounce "Amherst" any way you like.  Just make sure it is spelled correctly on my diploma and on the national championships bannerS hanging in Salem. (There we go, Old Guy.  Am I doing a better job of living up to the stereotype now? Told you I was working on my range in preparation for the next Road to Salem episode.)

Middhoops, generally agree with most everything you said.  However, I LOVE the Panthers giving up only 2.5 points at home to Hamilton with their season, and the seniors' careers, on the line.  We all know what Hamilton is capable of, but I just have a very difficult time seeing Midd lose this game.  Not when this is the Pepin sendoff for Joey Kizel & Co.  Not when they let that heartbreaker slip away from them in Clinton (or, more accurately, not after Hart ripped that first game right from their grasp).

nescac1, interesting points as usual.  I was able to catch some of the earlier Tufts game at Williams.  Based on that, it is very hard for me to see Tufts pulling off the upset.  Williams absolutely smoked the Jumbos. And that was without Epley.  Mayer completely took Sabety off his game.  Of course, Williams should take the Jumbo threat seriously and I am sure they will (where's the harm in that, I have always wondered).  Tufts certainly has the individual pieces to do a lot of damage.  They just havent been able to come close to pulling it all together this season due to injuries and other reasons.  To me, Ferris may still yet be the X factor here.  He showed so much promise last season.  He had a very poor game earlier against Williams.  I think that for Tufts to pull off the upset, he needs to play, and play well.

The Williams freshmen have certainly been as good as advertised, and then some.  I can't help but think though how much good classes are helped by the classes directly above them.  Coffin, Crotty and Abba obviously had Folan and DeMuth.  This year's Amherst seniors had Workman, Kaasila, and Williamson.  The ridiculously deep Amherst Class of 2008 (Olson, Walters, Hopkins, Jones, Goldsmith, Coulibaly) had Wheeler, T-Mac, O'Shea, and Salerno ahead of them.  With all due respect, and with appreciation for the fact that things can still change, AT THE MOMENT it sure looks like Williams will not be getting a whole lot of assistance from the Class of 2016.  That may not hurt them next year, with Wohl, HRL, and Kilcullen returning, but I do think it could really limit the potential of the uber-talented Class of 2017.  As I have said, this is why I would expect Maker to do everything in his power to bring in a deep class this year.  A few more pieces and they could really have a dangerous core that could compete for bannerS of their own in Salem.

Sorry for the tangent.  Too early to think about the distant future.  Must concentrate on tomorrow.  I can't wait for the games!

[magicman]

Here's my take on the on the first round games:

Amherst -15 over  Colby  over/under 155     Final score   Amherst 85-70

Middlebury -8 over Hamilton   over/under 148  Final score  Middlebury 78-70

Williams -12 over Tufts     over/under  160     Final score  Williams  86-74

Bowdoin -8 over Trinity    over/under 124    Final score Bowdoin 66-58   

[amh63]

FYI...there are nice previews by the Amherst SIDs of the Amherst games in LeFrak on Sat.  Go to the Amherst athletic website.  Hoping for big student turnout, I believe.  However the Men's swimming team is up in Bowdoin for conference championships and even both hockey teams are away....one at Middlebury...men's game, I believe.

Oh yes, the NESCAC website has not shown any video links to the Amherst games as of an hour ago.  Notified the Amherst SID of the matter.  What bothers me on this matter is that the conference office is just down the street; the head is an Amherst graduate; and the Bates' baseball games are listed.  Has the baseball season started?   One of the announcers did mention that workouts were starting....but away games for Bates?  Forgot....snow on the ground in Maine.
Last comment:  What!  the H is not emphasized in AmHerst?  Explains why my classmates stared at me at times over the last 50 years.  Just kidding about the H...not about the stares.  Actually the Amherst Alumni Mag had a nice article about the subject several years ago.  The editor, an UMass graduate pointed out that is regional unique to a large extent....seeing that there are a number of Amherst around the East coast...one in Virginia near Sweet Briar College and one outside of Buffalo NY to name a few.  Even in the local area of Hampshire county there are variation of the town name spoken.  New residents and students at the neighboring schools will often pick up the differences and accept the way that Amherst students pronounce the name.  There is a test in your senior year...no sheepskin unless you can speak correctly!    AmS05....is that test/tradition still carried out?

[AmherstStudent05]

No, I am afraid not, amh63.  They have instituted a new test.  If your check clears, you get your diploma.

[lemonjello]

Amh63, I believe the Amherst tradition of giving canes to the new graduates stems is a reminder of the bygone days when students who pronounced the silent H in Amherst would receive a public caning.  Unfortunately, in this era of lawsuits and political correctness, that sort of behavior is frowned upon 

[Panthernation]

First Team, Second Team, CoY, DPoY, RoY, PoY: http://sites.middlebury.edu/panthernation/2014/02/20/nescac-awards/

[nescac1]

Nice job Panthernation.  Hard to argue with any of your awards.  The only surprise, to me, and it's doubly a surprise because of the team he plays for, is the omission of Sinnickson.  I'd probably include him over Madlinger, although it's a close call.  Otherwise, the only reason any of those awards should turn out differently is either a ridiculous break-out performance in the NESCAC tourney, or a general reluctance by coaches to award hardware to first-year players.