MBB: NESCAC

[JustAFan]

Old Guy, I couldn't agree more with the palming call on the Hamilton guard in the last minute of the game.  I always thought a visiting team started a game down 6 points in Maine given the refereeing in that state, and at least 8 points in Connecticut! 

I am an Ephs fans and thought both the Williams and Hamilton games at Bates this weekend were electric.  The Bates students and local fans were absolutely great, and the atmosphere was special.  And the broadcasters were first rate as well--they knew the game and they were into the games.  I will date myself with this comment, but the atmosphere in the Bates gym reminded me of games from many decades ago at Lasell gymnasium at Williams. Replace the students behind the basket with students standing on the track above the gym and give a wink to the fire code spectator limits and you had a scene fondly reminiscent of many Eph games from the pre-Chandler era.  I hope Bates never builds a new gym, and I can't wait to watch Bates host a playoff game in a couple of weeks.

Finally, I second WPI89's comment Dave/Pat.  There is no problem connecting to the d3 boards, but connecting to the d3hoop site and the other d3 sites has become extremely slow at best, and too often unsuccessful.  Something's amiss, but I'm way over my head in having a clue what that might be.

[Pat Coleman]

Alright -- I'll send it to our hosting company, but I know performance improvements were made Wednesday morning and others kicked in about a week and a half ago. Any specific pages slow, or just all of them for you?

[middhoops]

Agreed, the D3hoops site is very slow booting up.  I don't find it to be a serious problem, however.
Hey Pat, are we going to have a fund raiser soon?  Another great season.  You guys deserve some support.

[nescac1]

The talk of gyms is interesting ... how would folks rank the various NESCAC basketball arenas?  My two favorites are definitely the two Williams played in this weekend -- as others have noted, Bates is so intimate and old-school.  The downside is that they are probably too small to ever host an NCAA tourney game, and you just can't get enough of the student body in the gym for big games.  But it's worth it for a packed, intimate atmosphere.  My second favorite is Tufts -- the crowd is usually not very great, but the gym itself is incredible, so unique, with so much character, a really great place to watch a game. 

Obviously I'm a bit biased but I also love Chandler (the Williams gym) -- it doesn't have the character of the older gyms, alas, but is just a really well-lit, well-designed gym with great site lines, and the upper standing level around 3/4 of the court makes for a great environment in big games despite it being a large, open gym.  Also gets a bonus for having one of the largest, if not the largest, capacity among NESCAC gyms, and a great fan base (including a big local fan base) -- and when it is packed, like for Amherst games or NCAA or NESCAC tourney games, the environment is really electric, especially with the local kids sitting on the floor courtside. 

I've only been to games at Amherst, Trinity, Williams and Tufts, so my judgment of many of the other gyms is limited.  I really love the look of the Bowdoin gym in webcasts, that's definitely in my top four NESCAC gyms based on what I've seen, and the Middlebury gym is also solid, and looks like a large space that can accommodate a big crowd.  Amherst has the unusual ceiling which is a really cool architectural feature, but it suffers from a few flaws, namely, having to place a curtain at one end of the gym which makes for a weird perspective for shooters, and the fact that it has a smallish capacity which feels even more cramped due to the low ceilings.  But it does make for a very loud environment in big games.  Wesleyan, Trinity, Colby, Conn, Hamilton haven't made much of an impression either way, but I've never been in person other than Trinity, which I don't have a very specific memory of.  Curious how other fans would rank the various gyms, as well as favorite non-NESCAC D3 gyms.

The nicest contemporary D3 gym I've been to, by the way, is (by a very wide margin) Mary Washington's new gym.  That feels more like a D1 arena, really, really nice, and HUGE.  Amazing facility.  Springfield College has a really unusual, and really cool, basketball arena, another one of my favorites. 

[amh63]

Interesting topic wrt to venues around the conference...in particular.  Size does matter when hosting CAC tourny and post season events.  I believe Bates gym which provides the atmosphere due to its size will not qualify for CAC hosting honors.  Though the Tufts gym after its recent update is unique, it's size limits its hosting qualifications.  I know Tufts did host the WBB conf tournament last season.
Does anyone know the min size limit to host a NCAA D3 site? Men's limit...versus women's?
Atmosphere at games are indeed generated by demonstrative fans...in particular students.  Like Bates, the Duke students have led the nation in fan participation antics in their "smallish" gym...for the ACC.  Hard to do in places like The Dean Dome or at Syracuse.
It is to be noted in defense of LeFrak...the curtain is removed and additional seats are added for tourny hosting.  Yet there is an intimacy in LeFrak when students/fans pack the gym...sitting on floors and standing about when a critical game with Williams is at hand. 
Am afraid that those days maybe limited now.  Did notice, the last Williams game, Fire Marshall rules were enforced...and storming the floor was not allowed..guards about.
JustaFan....question to you wrt to Lasell....was the gym truly regulation size with the poles about?

[grabtherim]

True coaching legend passed away.  Dean Smith was one of the greatest ever on the court.  More importantly, his players loved playing for him and when they became former players they loved him long after they left Chapel Hill.  No better compliment then that for a coach. 

[Bucket]

Interesting topic wrt to venues around the conference...in particular.  Size does matter when hosting CAC tourny and post season events.  I believe Bates gym which provides the atmosphere due to its size will not qualify for CAC hosting honors.  Though the Tufts gym after its recent update is unique, it's size limits its hosting qualifications.  I know Tufts did host the WBB conf tournament last season.
Does anyone know the min size limit to host a NCAA D3 site? Men's limit...versus women's?
Atmosphere at games are indeed generated by demonstrative fans...in particular students.  Like Bates, the Duke students have led the nation in fan participation antics in their "smallish" gym...for the ACC.  Hard to do in places like The Dean Dome or at Syracuse.
It is to be noted in defense of LeFrak...the curtain is removed and additional seats are added for tourny hosting.  Yet there is an intimacy in LeFrak when students/fans pack the gym...sitting on floors and standing about when a critical game with Williams is at hand. 
Am afraid that those days maybe limited now.  Did notice, the last Williams game, Fire Marshall rules were enforced...and storming the floor was not allowed..guards about.
JustaFan....question to you wrt to Lasell....was the gym truly regulation size with the poles about?

Bates can certainly host the NESCAC tournament semi-final weekend, if it came to that, but the size of the gym would rule them out for any NCAA tournament home game.

I agree with Nescac1: my two favorite gyms are @ Bates and Tufts. I prefer Pepin over Chandler (shocker!), and have a love/hate feeling about LaFrak, obviously colored by numerous Panther heartbreaks within its confines.

Wesleyan's arena is fine. And I find Trinity's to be unremarkable in every aspect.

Have not been to Bowdoin, Colby, Conn, or Hamilton.

[P'bearfan]

Alumni gym at Bates is like a D3 Cameron.  Everyone right on top of the players. Beautiful old school charm and a real home court advantage. 

Bowdoin's gym is nice.  Parent's generally sit on the lower level and students are up top.  Hopefully there will be a good turn out for the game today against Midd

While I haven't been there myself one player has told me that Wesleyan's gym is the nicest facility in the conference. I was surprised because the webcast angle doesn't indicate anything special.

[jumpshot]

I have watched multiple games in every current NESCAC gym and played at all those schools, except Hamilton and Conn as more recent NESCAC members. Never lost to amHerst in four years in two sports ---didn't play in LeFrak as amHerst had a "cage" in the field house, as did Wesleyan, or in Colby's "new" gym.

Without question the most electric and legendary venue was Lasell Gymnasium at Williams. Loud, packed, intimate, lots of humorous stories, and intimidating ----worth as least 10 points as many Ivy League opponents learned.

Bates a distant second today. Nothing else comes close ....

[CatCountry2013]

Hey all, Bates alum here.  Longtime reader, but finally decided to get an account.  Love the enthusiasm you all have.

I'm from a family of Williams alums so, beside Alumni Gym at Bates, I've been to Chandler many times, LeFrak for a handful of games, and I've also been to Bowdoin's gym.  Williams has a great venue and I've heard great things about old Lasell Gym. Comparing Chandler to Alumni Gym at Bates, though, is apples and oranges.  Williams is huge and state-of-the-art and Bates' gym is 89 years old. Both have their pros and cons.  But there's not much better than a Friday night NESCAC game in Alumni Gym, especially against Bowdoin or Colby.

Here are some videos exemplifying the atmospheres at Williams and Bates:

Amherst @ Williams - http://vimeo.com/116439477

Bates fans - http://youtu.be/H5NiHLtX4n0

Go 'CAC!

[P'bearfan]

Halftime in Brunswick and Bowdoin leads Midd:45-35

I missed the first few minutes of the game but Bowdoin jumped out to a 12-3 lead in the first 4 minutes.  Midd closed within 2 or 4 points midway through the half before Bowdoin stretched their lead as the half wound down.

This has been a surprisingly physical game especially down low. John Swords has been much more assertive on the offensive end.  In two sequences he got the ball in the low post and backed down Daley.  The first time Swords was called for an offensive foul which I didn't agree with at all.  Daley's feet were moving and Swords just backed him down.  Should have been a block if anything.  On the second play Swords moved to the rim very aggressively and probably should have been called for a push off but nothing was called.

Both St Amour and Hausman are hitting their share and jaw dropping shots.  Fun to watch.

Neil Fuller is back in the rotation for Bowdoin which is great to see.  He played limited minutes but was moving very well especially considering that he had surgery in December.

GoUBears!

[Bucket]

Bowdoin by 10 over Midd at the half; second consecutive game Panthers have allowed 45-plus points in an opening half. Discouraging, to say the least.

Hurley, Hausman, and Swords all in double figures for the Polar Bears. Hurley a blistering 4-6 from three. Bowdoin shooting 51 percent from the field in the first half.

St. Amour keeping Midd close w/ 10 first half points. If Panthers are to rally, Midd will need to be more aggressive on the offensive end and not rely so much on the three-point shot, which has been a struggle (4-15). Tarantino and Daley have been effective slashing to the hoop when given the opportunity. Would like to see Sinnickson being similarly agressive. If successful, inside out game could generate bette looks from deep.

[Bucket]

Halftime in Brunswick and Bowdoin leads Midd:45-35

I missed the first few minutes of the game but Bowdoin jumped out to a 12-3 lead in the first 4 minutes.  Midd closed within 2 or 4 points midway through the half before Bowdoin stretched their lead as the half wound down.

This has been a surprisingly physical game especially down low. John Swords has been much more assertive on the offensive end.  In two sequences he got the ball in the low post and backed down Daley.  The first time Swords was called for an offensive foul which I didn't agree with at all.  Daley's feet were moving and Swords just backed him down.  Should have been a block if anything.  On the second play Swords moved to the rim very aggressively and probably should have been called for a push off but nothing was called.

Both St Amour and Hausman are hitting their share and jaw dropping shots.  Fun to watch.

Neil Fuller is back in the rotation for Bowdoin which is great to see.  He played limited minutes but was moving very well especially considering that he had surgery in December.

GoUBears!

Re Daley-Swords. Watching the webcast, it's impossible to tell whether the call and then no-call are correct. However, regarding moving feet--there was a change in the interpretation of the block-charge this year. No longer does a player have to be "planted." His feet can be moving, as long as he's not laterally sliding into the offensive player. So if Swords was backing him down, and Daley was moving up into the space, and Swords dislodged him, then that's a correct offensive foul.

I have no idea if this was the case or not, but wanted to offer this observation changed interpretation of block charge call.

[pinseeking1]

Here are my categorizations :

No Advantage for home team: Conn, Trinity, Hamilton, Colby (gyms too big, crowds seem smaller than they really are)

Some Advantage: Wesleyan, Bowdoin, Tufts (nice gyms, crowds not huge part of games)

Big Advantage: Bates, Amherst, Midd, Williams (great atmosphere, crowd influences games a lot)


It's too Bad Bates can't host NCAA games, but at least it's good to hear that they can host a NESCAC Semi-Final weekend, which would be a great experience...

[nescac1]

Interesting perspective on the gyms ... I definitely need to get to games at Midd and Bates one of these days.

After a decade of posting on d3hoops, at long last, I'm famous :

https://twitter.com/TuftsAthletics/status/564415706629148673