MBB: NESCAC

[P'bearfan]

Back in Sept / October a several folks disagreed with my pre-season analysis which included what I saw as serious challenges for Amherst and Williams in particular.  Also many thought my pre-season rankings were just way off base.

While I'm the first to admit that there is still a lot of basketball to be played and things will likely change, I wanted to share the following:

Current NESCAC standings

1)Bowdoin / Trinity
3) Tufts
4) Colby
5) Bates / Midd / Wes
8) Amherst / Williams
10) Hamilton
11) Conn

My pre-season rankings:

1) Midd
2) Bowdoin / Tufts / Colby
5) Williams / Amherst
7) Bates / Trinity / Wes
10) Conn
11) Hamilton

I certainly wasn't perfect but more directionally correct than not. 

Again lots of ball to be played and I think Bowdoin will have a tough time hanging on to the top spot but it's rare that the data line up with my predictions - so I thought I'd share it before it changes. 

[AmherstStudent05]

Absolutely brutal loss for my Jeffs today.  We just couldn't do a thing against the Trin D. We were 20-58 from the field, 3-19 from 3, and 11-21 from the line.  Believe it or not, those numbers seem somewhat rosy relative to what I saw.  The kids competed very hard and played some great D at times but just couldn't get anything to fall. And Trin doesn't give too much away either.

Reid Berman entered the starting lineup for the first time. He really is a slick ball handler. The outside shot continues to be a problem though.  Trin was daring him to shoot 3s all game.  David George continues to be a consistent force for us -- he had a double double.  Also, Conklin has looked very good these last few games. I thought today might have been his best outing as a Jeff.

Hard to disagree with nescac1. Seems unlikely that Pool C is a viable option for us, but there is still lots of basketball to play and the conference and region are definitely still in flux. We have a huge opportunity to get back on track next weekend.

[MENESCACFAN]

WOW

What a day!  Thoughts on games and report on Bates - Tufts.

BATES 64 TUFTS 51

Again....wow.  Totally unexpected in my eyes and what a fantastic performance by Bates.  Both of the Delpeche twins did not start for Bates but did enter the game 5 minutes in.  No visible injuries so you wonder if they missed a meeting or something?  First time to my knowledge since they are arrival one or the other hasn't started I think.

Tufts flew out of the gate and hit their first 4 three-pointers.  As mentioned above, it looked a long day ahead for Bates.  They fought back remarkably well with Junior Mike Boornazian their best player throughout (finished with 20 points).  Tufts sophomore Hunter Sabety certainly lived up to reputation and is a fantastic player.  With 4 minutes left and a 5 point gap it was still a game, but Bates but ally finished them off, and Billy Selmon produced a spectacular dunk I hope we get video of.  In my mind more impressive than the excellent Delpeche effort v Midd.

As far as Safford goes he looked healthy even if he did not have a brilliant game, still the talk of a hernia among the parents on the team though.

If there was a train of thought that Bates are a weaker team who fluked a win v Midd, that should be put to bed.  Definitely an improved team from last season.

WESLEYAN 80 CONN 62

Has anyone watched Conn yet?  And if so how bad are they?

WILLIAMS 64 HAMILTON 67

A) big upset
B) is free throw shooting going to become a season long issue for Williams?

TRINITY 70 AMHERST 54

I thought the home loss to Tufts was a blip, it wasn't!  Anyone else rubbing their eyes seeing Amherst and Williams battle for the #8 seed in the standings?!

BOWDOIN 68 COLBY 65

Great rivalry win of the UBears.  Question for the Bowdoin contingent.  What is the deal with John Swords?  Seemed a dominant force in the making not so long ago.

UMFK 71 MIDDLEBURY 62

Fort Kent are always better than they appear in athletics.  They have international pipelines and looser admission standards.  Thy lost by 2 to Bates a few years back, and their soccer team destroyed Middlebury in a scrimmage a couple of years back.  An upset for sure, but maybe not as bad as it appears.

[grabtherim]

If anyone had any doubts that the Big 3 era was over, today made it clear that it is.  The battle is now on to finish in the top 8 where any playoff win will not be a surprise.  I don't see any scenario where the league gets more than one bid this year.  Midd at Williams next week is one of many games down the stretch to get to the playoff and give your squad a "why not us?" punchers chance. 

[Bucket]

WOW

What a day!  Thoughts on games and report on Bates - Tufts.

BATES 64 TUFTS 51

Again....wow.  Totally unexpected in my eyes and what a fantastic performance by Bates.  Both of the Delpeche twins did not start for Bates but did enter the game 5 minutes in.  No visible injuries so you wonder if they missed a meeting or something?  First time to my knowledge since they are arrival one or the other hasn't started I think.

Tufts flew out of the gate and hit their first 4 three-pointers.  As mentioned above, it looked a long day ahead for Bates.  They fought back remarkably well with Junior Mike Boornazian their best player throughout (finished with 20 points).  Tufts sophomore Hunter Sabety certainly lived up to reputation and is a fantastic player.  With 4 minutes left and a 5 point gap it was still a game, but Bates but ally finished them off, and Billy Selmon produced a spectacular dunk I hope we get video of.  In my mind more impressive than the excellent Delpeche effort v Midd.

As far as Safford goes he looked healthy even if he did not have a brilliant game, still the talk of a hernia among the parents on the team though.

If there was a train of thought that Bates are a weaker team who fluked a win v Midd, that should be put to bed.  Definitely an improved team from last season.

WESLEYAN 80 CONN 62

Has anyone watched Conn yet?  And if so how bad are they?

WILLIAMS 64 HAMILTON 67

A) big upset
B) is free throw shooting going to become a season long issue for Williams?

TRINITY 70 AMHERST 54

I thought the home loss to Tufts was a blip, it wasn't!  Anyone else rubbing their eyes seeing Amherst and Williams battle for the #8 seed in the standings?!

BOWDOIN 68 COLBY 65

Great rivalry win of the UBears.  Question for the Bowdoin contingent.  What is the deal with John Swords?  Seemed a dominant force in the making not so long ago.

UMFK 71 MIDDLEBURY 62

Fort Kent are always better than they appear in athletics.  They have international pipelines and looser admission standards.  Thy lost by 2 to Bates a few years back, and their soccer team destroyed Middlebury in a scrimmage a couple of years back.  An upset for sure, but maybe not as bad as it appears.

Conn seemed well-coached in the game against Midd last weekend, but was lacking talent. Still, the Camels played the Panthers to the end, battling back from a 15-pt deficit, with the Panthers needing a couple of Sinnickson free throws to ice the game with about 5 seconds remaining. This coming 48 hours after Midd blasted Wesleyan by 37.

I don't see the Camels stealing more than a game or two his year, but they're not horrible.

[MENESCACFAN]

Thanks Bucket

Good context, the scores don't always tell the full story.  Looking like a tough road for them.

[GoWesYoungMan]

A sequence to illustrate the hazards of comparative scoring:

Midd 69   Univ. of New England 67
Wes 88  Univ. of New England 49
Midd 97  Wes 60
Midd 63  Conn College 59
Wes 80 Conn College 62

In this unpredictable season so much depends on matchups, when and where teams play, and maybe just whether the team is clicking on a given day. No days off.
Wes shot pretty well (10/25 from 3) and especially rebounded well today. Pavlin was strong for Conn but overall they did not have their best game. They are frosh/soph dominated and are taking some lumps now but it should pay off. To their credit their losses before today were to Bowdoin, Colby and Midd. I will hold on predictions for anyone from this point. Just sit back and enjoy.

[hoop master]

Credit to Bates today. Jumbos came out of the gate strong, building a 10 pt early lead but could not hold. Combo of tough Bates defense and poor shot selection by Jumbos, allowed the lead to evaporate.  Tufts shooting per centage very poor as was offense output. Sabeity was a monster for touches he got, but outcome brings Jumbo fans concern that early season issues on shot selection and ball distribution are still potential problems that can hold Jumbos back from winning conf despite obvious talent.  Will be a wild ride down the stretch to determine who can be conf champ.  As earlier post-- not the typical big three dominance this yr. for a change.

[MENESCACFAN]

"I will hold on predictions for anyone from this point."  No thanks, they are part of the fun.  And unless money put down no less enjoyable if your prediction was wrong.  If the NESCAC compliance office is reading this, I do not gamble on the games ;-)

[maineman]

Shocking day developing... Tufts loses to Bates, Williams loses to Hamilton, Colby blows a big lead and loses to Bowdoin, and Amherst down in the 2nd half to Trinity, not to mention Middlebury losing to unknown Maine - Fort Kent.

I watched the Bates-Tufts game. It started out looking like a very long afternoon for the Bobcats as they fell behind early and were missing everything. They managed to make a late run in the first half to close a 14 point deficit to 2 points.

In the second half, the Bobcats continued their run and ran away with it. Two offensive rebound dunks by Marcus Delpeche and a huge slam by Billy Selmon left Tufts in a daze. In the second half, Tufts looked like they didn't know what hit them. Just a complete collapse.

Tufts had looked so good in the other games I watched this year that I couldn't believe this was the same team. Poor ball movement, poor shot selection, and turnovers put this game out of reach for them today. I had thought that Tufts was rising to the top of NESCAC, but now I just don't know. I think it's totally up for grabs.

Very exciting season this year...

Maine Fort Kent unknown for a reason--they're not an NCAA team, but belong to what is known as the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association. A big chunk of their schedule is against Canadian competition--their most proximate schools! Roster consists of a couple of Mainers, with the rest of the roster split between JUCO transfers and international players.

Strange game. Midd played hard, but had a couple of poor stretches, which was the difference.

Since UMaine Ft Kent is an NAIA or USCAA whatever they call it, will this game count in NCAA power calculations?  I don't believe it will.

[iwumichigander]

Shocking day developing... Tufts loses to Bates, Williams loses to Hamilton, Colby blows a big lead and loses to Bowdoin, and Amherst down in the 2nd half to Trinity, not to mention Middlebury losing to unknown Maine - Fort Kent.

I watched the Bates-Tufts game. It started out looking like a very long afternoon for the Bobcats as they fell behind early and were missing everything. They managed to make a late run in the first half to close a 14 point deficit to 2 points.

In the second half, the Bobcats continued their run and ran away with it. Two offensive rebound dunks by Marcus Delpeche and a huge slam by Billy Selmon left Tufts in a daze. In the second half, Tufts looked like they didn't know what hit them. Just a complete collapse.

Tufts had looked so good in the other games I watched this year that I couldn't believe this was the same team. Poor ball movement, poor shot selection, and turnovers put this game out of reach for them today. I had thought that Tufts was rising to the top of NESCAC, but now I just don't know. I think it's totally up for grabs.

Very exciting season this year...

Maine Fort Kent unknown for a reason--they're not an NCAA team, but belong to what is known as the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association. A big chunk of their schedule is against Canadian competition--their most proximate schools! Roster consists of a couple of Mainers, with the rest of the roster split between JUCO transfers and international players.

Strange game. Midd played hard, but had a couple of poor stretches, which was the difference.

Since UMaine Ft Kent is an NAIA or USCAA whatever they call it, will this game count in NCAA power calculations?  I don't believe it will.

No - just versus DIII and In Region as far as the calculations go.  BUT, the loss will show in the overall record which might require an explanation or footnote. 

[Old Guy]

Midd game was disappointing, on top of the CT College game, but UME Fort Kent was a lot better than anyone thought - if we thought about them at all. They had two very good players, McCloskey (20 points) and Glenn (19), would be good NESCAC players. Interesting line-up, international. The Bengals (UMFK) really took care of the ball (4 TOs); the Panthers tied it up in the second half but Fort Kent played well down the stretch. Sinnickson - 20 points, 12 bounds - played well. Jake Brown - 10 assists.

Do you know where Fort Kent is? My goodness. Here's a note I got from Bruce Bosley, the on-line NSN voice for Midd video:
UMFK is the most northern college basketball program in the 48 contiguous states. The Bengals trip to Middlebury from Fort Kent is 445 miles, and Mapquest's best route is west to Quebec City, over to Montreal and south from there. UMFK then goes 385 miles for its game Sunday at Maine-Machias, and 225 miles to go home after. Just 1055 miles for two games in New England.  Today's broadcast also may be the first time I'll say 'Madawaska'.

They're a throwback: a coach in his mid-20s, no assistants; bus driver doubles as trainer (or vice versa); ten players, from all over the world (Greece, China, Croatia, Canada, Montenegro, Spain - a number of JC transfers). Not a single common opponent. I was bummed at the end of the game today, now I am full of admiration for the UMFK Bengals, my second favorite team - road warriors.

The Midd game was at 1:00 so I went home and watched the 3:00 games. Wild. Mostly watched the Maine games, Bates dismantling Tufts (big win - statement game), Bowdoin coming back against Colby - Hurley played a strong game, 23 points, went 5-6 from the line, preserving the win. Hausman had 24, was terrific. Hudnet may be the best of the NESCAC big guys (19 points, 13 rebounds). Bowdoin is 4-1 in the league.

Midd, Wms, Amherst all had disappointing days. Brave new world. Bates was the big winner. I remember seeing Boornazian as a frosh, thinking he would be a star in the league, big guy, with an outside shot, maybe he's ready to really emerge - outstanding today (20 points, 4 steals, 7 rebounds, 3 threes).

Midd-Ephs next Friday. Road trip for OG and YG and Midd pals.

[Pat Coleman]

Same UMFK team lost to Pine Manor earlier this week. Pine Manor hadn't played a men's basketball game before this November.

[polbear73]

Same UMFK team lost to Pine Manor earlier this week. Pine Manor hadn't played a men's basketball game before this November.

And yet they will play at NJIT, the team that upset Michigan in Ann Arbor.

[pinseeking1]

Thanks for the research on UMFK, Old Guy. Very interesting and thought provoking. I wonder if those international players were expecting something different or if this was the version of "America" that they wanted to experience? In any case, I hope they're enjoying it. They had a good win against a strong team, even without the crazy travel circumstances. I think I'm a Bengals fan now, too...