MBB: NESCAC

[amh63]

Jayhawk ....if you are driving down for the games from Western Mass.....a long drive.....I would suggest going West and come down on the western side of Va. On the interstate...avoiding the mess around Washington D.C.  I have to take  Rt. 66 west to get the interstate south to Salem.  Hope you make the trip and to see you there.

[Pat Coleman]

On the Amherst website there is a preview of the Final 4 for fans.  Seems there will be a running blog item set up by the SID....started last year for BB teams and carried on for the baseball team in its NCAA run.
Anyway, slightly different from past years...TICKET arrangements to the games.  I usually make a call to the ticket office in Salem and or go to ticketmaster or something.  The story on the Amherst website states that to get tickets...for Amherst fans?...is to call the center after 2:30PM on Thursday.  Interesting.  Maybe it will allow the LJ fans to sit together.  In years past, I have had trouble getting proper seats....even been put into another school fan group...requiring me to go back and changing my seat.  Was going to walk up this year for tickets to avoid problems.

The Salem folks always offer a block of tickets to participating schools to sell on their campus to ensure that teams' fans can sit together. I suppose it's possible that Amherst has declined that before?

[madzillagd]

Both have played 30 games and here's where they stand on the defensive side of the ball...

George:  174 rebs, 66 PF,  11 stls, 79 blks

Robinson: 200 rebs, 70 PF, 35 stls, 36 blks

I would completely agree with anybody that says George is a better shot blocker.  I do not agree at all that George necessarily a better defender.  Robinson has 26 more rebounds and 24 more steals - that's 50 more times that the ball is in your possession.  George has 43 more blocks but that doesn't mean Amherst got the ball 43 more times as a result.  I totally believe that a shot blocker makes your entire defense better and helps out their teammates way more than an all around good defender so George has the edge there.  But I do think Robinson is much more than an offensive player but he doesn't get a lot of credit for it; he was 8th in the league in blocked shots and 11th in the league in steals. 

[nescac1]

One other thing about Robinson's defense -- he gets a LOT of deflections (seems like several per game), especially when the team plays zone.  Now, that doesn't always create turnovers, but it does disrupt an offense's rhythm.  I can't count the number of time he has JUST missed getting a steal after a deflection with the ball instead going out of bounds ... if he can become even half a second faster with his defensive anticipation / reaction time, he can become a real defensive menace.  He also needs to get stronger to avoid getting pushed around by more powerful power forwards, which would be a real problem vs. a team like, say, IWU, but that should be easy to do over time. 

When folks look at "upside" I think they see certain things that George has that Robinson never will -- he is two inches taller and is significantly stronger and more athletic, and has good footwork for a young big guy.  If he can polish / refine his offensive game quite a bit and develop a few go-to moves in the low post, the sky is the limit -- he could be a taller version of Troy Whittington, which is a scary thought.  Then again, George is never going to be able to handle the ball, pass, or drive like Robinson, and it's highly unlikely that he suddenly develops 26-foot range on his shot, or shoots over 85 percent from the line ... I'd say the maximum upside potential for George is around 18 ppg, 12 rpg, and 5 bpg, but it's going to take a few years to get there.  Meanwhile, I expect that Robinson will be producing at that level (fewer blocks and boards, but more points, assists and steals) as a sophomore. 

[AncientSonOfHixon]

AncientSon,  it's only one old fool's opinion, but from what I've seen of his athleticism, David George is still relatively timid offensively even though he has the skills to be terrifying.  Given his size and great physical gifts, he could be a contributor at a higher level and that is very rare among D3 bigs.  When his offensive confidence catches up with his D, look out!
Your team is graduating significant talent and we all expect Hixon to 'reload'.  David George is the best young building block I can think of to do that around because he prevents scoring.  To be certain, Duncan Robinson is a superior basketball player but his skills are primarily offensive and given how good he already is, his upside is mostly just giving him the ball more often. 
Sorry if it seemed like I was trying to raise the imaginary bar.

Looking forward to an epic game on Friday.

Midd, don't get me wrong, LOVE how you think. Feel free to keep raising that bar! (And: from your typewriter to God's ear, please.)

And couldn't agree more re "epic". . . .

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

On the Amherst website there is a preview of the Final 4 for fans.  Seems there will be a running blog item set up by the SID....started last year for BB teams and carried on for the baseball team in its NCAA run.
Anyway, slightly different from past years...TICKET arrangements to the games.  I usually make a call to the ticket office in Salem and or go to ticketmaster or something.  The story on the Amherst website states that to get tickets...for Amherst fans?...is to call the center after 2:30PM on Thursday.  Interesting.  Maybe it will allow the LJ fans to sit together.  In years past, I have had trouble getting proper seats....even been put into another school fan group...requiring me to go back and changing my seat.  Was going to walk up this year for tickets to avoid problems.

The Salem folks always offer a block of tickets to participating schools to sell on their campus to ensure that teams' fans can sit together. I suppose it's possible that Amherst has declined that before?

Yeah, Salem likes to block the tickets out so that they have crowds on different sides if they can to provide the atmosphere on both sides of the arena. In the past, have you indicated you were an Amherst fan and would like to sit with the Amherst faithful?

[AncientSonOfHixon]

Both have played 30 games and here's where they stand on the defensive side of the ball...

George:  174 rebs, 66 PF,  11 stls, 79 blks

Robinson: 200 rebs, 70 PF, 35 stls, 36 blks

Well, this is slightly misleading, only because George played 23.7 min/gm while D-Rob played 34.5 min/gm--so you'd need to multiply George's #s by 1.5 to get a productivity comparison.

But, man, I'm not in here trying to argue anything against Robinson. (I'm already on record as maybe his biggest tire-pumper outside Eph Nation--so much so that my compadre Amh63 once accused me of being a Williams fan in disguise.) (And by the way, Amh63, that's not just plunging the knife, that's twisting it!)

I agree w/your overall take, though, madz.

When folks look at "upside" I think they see certain things that George has that Robinson never will -- he is two inches taller and is significantly stronger and more athletic, and has good footwork for a young big guy.  If he can polish / refine his offensive game quite a bit and develop a few go-to moves in the low post, the sky is the limit -- he could be a taller version of Troy Whittington, which is a scary thought.

Not scary, nes1, not scary at all!

Then again, George is never going to be able to handle the ball, pass, or drive like Robinson, and it's highly unlikely that he suddenly develops 26-foot range on his shot, or shoots over 85 percent from the line ... I'd say the maximum upside potential for George is around 18 ppg, 12 rpg, and 5 bpg, but it's going to take a few years to get there.  Meanwhile, I expect that Robinson will be producing at that level (fewer blocks and boards, but more points, assists and steals) as a sophomore. 

NOW we're talking scary.  Dammit. . . .

[amh63]

Dave...yep!....thanks for the concern.  Have eventually found my way to the proper area.  Aware that the 4 teams are put into 4 sections generally.   Since this is going to be a somewhat purple crowd with a touch of Gold/yellow and a block of Green ....do not want to be put into the Williams section
Last year at the sectional...a unique Salem arrangement....walked in with the lobby filled with Williams fans...just after their lost in the first game.  Not a happy crowd for an Amherst fan to be in the midst of...just kidding...nice folks 

[nescac1]

I've never had a problem of sitting with the fans I want to sit with, regardless of what tickets are actually assigned. The arena usually has ample seating and given that no local teams are involved, I would think that there will be plenty of seats in all four sections available.  In short, I wouldn't sweat it. 

[GingerBaker]

In shorts I wouldn't sweat it, but in pants I would.

[madzillagd]

I hope this is not a bittersweet weekend for Williams fans in several respects, one of which involves Coach Maker, whose third trip to the Final Four in his short tenure in Williamstown is sure to put him on the short list of a several D1 jobs that usually open up after the season concludes.  I have no idea what his long term coaching aspirations are, but he's certainly earned the right to be considered for positions further up the coaching ladder.  Williams fans will have to bank on the reluctance of many DI schools to take what is perceived to be a chance when hiring a DIII coach, no matter how successful.  And there remains a lot to be said for being a big fish in a DIII pond and the security (a relative term at all coaching levels) that goes with that as long as he can get enough kids thru admissions each year to field a competitive team.  Let's hope the allure of the Purple Mountains continues to bewitch him for a few more years!

That allure of the Purple Mountains may have just taken a hit...
http://www.hoopdirt.com/blog/4ae9bab6/breaking-boston-college-fires-donahue/

[JustAFan]

I dont' see BC having the guts to dip into the D3 ranks to replace Coach Donahue. That's too much of a gamble, especially since BC is coming off an unsuccessful experience recruiting Coach Donahue out of the Ivy ranks. Academic fit will play less of a role this time around than finding a coach with proven D1 recruiting experience. The Eagles are going to want a name coach, or failing that a young up and comer. Not that Coach Maker couldn't do the job in Chestnut Hill if given the chance! I've also seen his name come up frequently on the Holy Cross board if/when they make a coaching change (which isn't going to happen this year given their second half surge).  But there undoubtedly will be more jobs like this coming up over the next 3 weeks, some of which may be a very good fit for Coach Maker if he has D1 aspirations. I hope he does not, at least for a bit longer.   

[madzillagd]

I dont' see BC having the guts to dip into the D3 ranks to replace Coach Donahue. That's too much of a gamble, especially since BC is coming off an unsuccessful experience recruiting Coach Donahue out of the Ivy ranks. Academic fit will play less of a role this time around than finding a coach with proven D1 recruiting experience. The Eagles are going to want a name coach, or failing that a young up and comer. Not that Coach Maker couldn't do the job in Chestnut Hill if given the chance! I've also seen his name come up frequently on the Holy Cross board if/when they make a coaching change (which isn't going to happen this year given their second half surge).  But there undoubtedly will be more jobs like this coming up over the next 3 weeks, some of which may be a very good fit for Coach Maker if he has D1 aspirations. I hope he does not, at least for a bit longer.

The thing is, that is exactly who Coach Maker is which is why I think he is the exception to the rule.  I'm not saying he'd land this job, but I don't think anyone will consider him a D3 coach when they hire him (if he chooses to leave at some point).  He was a D1 assistant (and main recruiter for much of that) for 17 years before taking the Williams job.  He has more D1 experience than the vast majority of assistant to HC hires that get picked up in D1.  Obviously there is a hierarchy of D1 schools and you have to work your way up the ladder, but I don't think he's going to have to start at the bottom rung if he ever makes the jump. 

[JustAFan]

I agree with you, which is why I think he'll be a great choice for a mid-major if/when he wants a new challenge.  I don't see him being a fit for BC because the demise of the BC program has been due to its inability to land top 100 players, and they are going to be looking for someone with this specific skill.  Donahue was a great X's and O's coach but he and his assistants lost out on all of the top 100 players in the New England prep ranks during his tenure, among others, and BC won't be able to compete once again in the ACC until they start landing 1-2 of these kids each year, so that is going to be job skill #1 in terms of what they look for in a new coach.  Easier said than done, of course.

[ephoops]

Tommy Amaker is a leading candidate for the BC job. 

Hiring Maker would be perceived as too big of a risk for the new AD at BC. Although I believe Mike would do a great job there if given the opportunity. 

If Amaker does not want to leave Harvard, I wonder of the search committee will contact Dave Paulsen at Bucknell??