MBB: NESCAC

[middhoops]

Toomey made basketball look way too easy in the first half.
Trinity is playing tough but at some point Toomey, Killian, Kalema and co. will go on an extended run.
Damn it.

[maineman]

Anybody finding the Midd-Will game on video?  I'm not!

[middhoops]

Anybody finding the Midd-Will game on video?  I'm not!

http://nsnsports.net/nescac/?stm_type=alt&stm_id=9

[middhoops]

What a first half!  This is a horse race.

[lefrakenstein]

Amherst pulls away in the second half. The difference between the two halfs, in my opinion, was Amherst's effort of the boards. After being dominated on the glass in the first Amherst flipped the script in the second, earning a slew of second chances on the offensive end.

I would think Trinity would have to be pleased with this season. I agree with the other posters who have commented that they will be a contender next year. I real like George P. That kid is a fantastic rebounder. For the last two years he has been at the very top of the league in both rebounding rate and PER. The need to give him more burn.

[middhoops]

The Panthers played a near perfect 1st half against Williams, again.......

[lefrakenstein]

Middlebury shooting lights-out in the first half and leads by 11 at intermission. For the third time in three tries against Amherst/Williams they lead at the half. Can they finally pull one of these out? As an Amherst fan, I have no desire to see the version of Middlebury that I just watched play against us tomorrow.

[nescac1]

Well, Williams did not exactly put on a defensive clinic in that half, struggling in particular with transition defense, but it was more a case of great offense by Midd rather than poor defense by Williams -- not much you can do on defense when a team hits 10-14 from three, Midd was just in the absolute zone, beyond scorching collectively.  Sinnickson's threes are basically indefensible, but Williams needs to do a much better job of finding Kizel in the open floor.  If Middlebury keeps shooting like this they will win going away.  Williams is only in the game because the Ephs also shot the ball pretty well from deep, but Williams needs to be much more patient on offense and not just settle for the first shot they see.  I'm sure Midd remembers the last game well and will be fired up not to give up a big lead.  Williams has a lot of work to do just to get back into the game ...

[Vandy74]

There's just no stopping Kizle and SinNICKson.

[middhoops]

There's just no stopping Kizle and SinNICKson.

Yeah, anyone at the game, please drop a note to the NSN guy.  He's doing a great job except pronouncing names he didn't inquire about in the break between games. 
Kizzle and Sa-Nixon are lighting it up, like the esteemed Vandy pointed out.

[middhoops]

Tied at 70 with 3 mins. to go.

[nescac1]

Jensen hits just a ridiculously hard jumper with Robinson's hand in his face to tie the game.  Williams and Midd are simply incapable of playing a game that doesn't give fans of both teams heart palpitations! 

[nescac1]

Another classic Midd-Williams battle.  Congrats to Midd on fighting to the end despite an adversity-filled season.  Both teams gave their all in a very intense, very physical second half.  Williams REALLY picked up its defensive intensity (a defensive intensity they will need to display for 40 minutes if they hope to upset Amherst) in the second half, and Midd's red-hot shooting came down to earth a bit.  For the second straight game, it was all Michael Mayer on offense for Williams -- he has been putting on an absolute clinic in the post the last few weeks, but will need either or both Epley or Robinson to get it going in a big way tomorrow.

Once again, Jensen did a fabulous job on Duncan Robinson, holding him to 12 very hard-earned points.  For the Ephs, Hayden Rooke-Ley was fantastic.  He sure didn't look like a guy who recently missed nine straight games, with 14 points, 4 boards, and clutch free throw shooting off the bench, and he was really needed because Greenman had a tough shooting day for the first time in awhile.  The three Eph frosh starters learned a lesson in playoff hoops intensity today!  Wohl, Aronowitz, and Epley all played very tough defense for the Ephs, especially in the second half when they were all over Kizel and Sinnickson.

For Midd, Jake Brown looked great once again and did not play like a frosh.  Kizel, despite the loss, finished out his career in style with another huge game.  Tremendous player who had a huge impact on NESCAC from day one -- he is really irreplaceable (like Mayer and Toomey).  Sinnickson, Brown and Merryman are a very nice returning core for Midd, but they need to figure out who will provide the interior muscle with Roberts and Jensen, two very tough defenders, graduating. 

Looks like NESCAC will almost surely be a two-bid league, with WPI, Hope and Babson losing today, three more Pool C candidates who are ahead of Bowdoin.  If Springfield loses to MIT, or if RIC holds on against Eastern Conn, no chance at all then, for Bowdoin. 

[grabtherim]

Congrats to Coach Maker and his Ephs. It's deja vu all over again.  Hard to believe these teams olayed two almost identical games.  Midd simply could not get stops when they were needed most. Joey Kizel left it all on the floor for the Panthers.  Guts and talent are a hell of a combination for an athlete. Good luck to both teams tomorrow. Should be a good one.

[Vandy74]

Almost, not quite.  Kinda defines this Middlebury season.  A tip of the cap to the seniors on this team.  True warriors.  I'll have more to say when I've had some time to reflect.