MBB: NESCAC

polbear73 · February 21, 2015, 02:23:39 PM

Hayden Rooke Ley on fire in first 11 minutes with 15 points. Williams up, 23-18.

P'bearfan · February 21, 2015, 02:33:58 PM

So far in Brunswick it's the Rooke-Ley vs Swords show

lemonjello · February 21, 2015, 02:41:23 PM

53-37 Amherst over Tufts at the half. Amherst is a scorching 8-10 from 3 and shooting 58% overall, led by 14 points from Connor Green and 10 from David George. Tufts is only 1-8 from deep and shooting 43% overall. This is a bit of a reversal from the last time these teams matched up. Tom Palleschi and Ben Ferris are carrying the scoring load (13 and 11) for the Jumbos, but they need some help from their teammates.

Still no camera (though they said they will work on it at halftime), but audio is available at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-9Zx8PonwOo.

jumbo_hoops · February 21, 2015, 02:42:01 PM

Things aren't looking too hot for the Jumbos today. Nice to see Sabety with a bit of playing time and a nice dunk. Glad he is recovering well.

nescac1 · February 21, 2015, 02:46:00 PM

Great first half in Bowdoin. Needless to say, Williams is VERY glad they have Hayden Rooke-Ley in this one: 21 points on 6-7 from three, wow, what a half. I'm sure Bowdoin will adjust in the second half, so he will have to look for teammates if he is swarmed at the three point line. Williams also got two VERY badly needed threes from Greenman, and solid play from Kilcullen. Refs letting some physical play go, but then calling hand-checks extremely tight on both teams.

The big story for Bowdoin is John Swords -- Williams simply has no answer for him. A few times early in the game they helped off him -- that can simply never happen, but after that, it was just all him, lots of overpowering post moves and great passing from the post as well. Swords picked up three well-deserved fouls in that half, which obviously is a big concern for Bowdoin (I actually thought the second two foul calls were a bit on the weak side, but the refs missed a few early, including a pretty big hack on Wohl and a blatant moving screen that led to a three point make, so it evened out).

Dan Aronowitz has done a very good job forcing Hausman into really tough shots, but he has nailed some difficult threes. Still, nothing more could really be done to slow him down, he is just a really good player. Rough first half shooting for Dan Wohl, who hopefully will pick it up a bit in the second. His D and board work have been solid as always, however.

madzillagd · February 21, 2015, 02:51:21 PM

The refs have not been up to the challenge for sure. 5 touch fouls on Williams the first part of the game, followed by 4 or 5 touch fouls on Bowdoin near the end of the half. Not exactly the type of consistency you are looking for. The hook call on Swords was bad, not that it wasn't a hook but rather it wasn't even close to as bad as a couple others. Kilcullen complained to the ref the possession before about it and next time down got the call. Shouldn't be letting the players dictate calls like that.

P'bearfan · February 21, 2015, 02:54:10 PM

The Bowdoin-Williams game is a real contrast in styles. 27 of Williams 44 points have come from behind the arc and they're shooting a scorching 52.9% from downtown. Bowdoin has been very effective in scoring from inside with John Swords leading the way with 16 point on 8 of 8 shooting.

Bowdoin will need to find a way to slow down Rooke-Ley who has 21 points including 6-7 from behind the arc. A box in one? If the P'bears stay in the same defense and the Ephs keep shooting this well it's going to be a long second half.

Swords picked up his 3rd foul late in the second half and that could make a big difference.

nescac1 · February 21, 2015, 03:00:43 PM

Just like that, Williams' three best three point shooters miss five straight basically wide-open threes to start the half, and Hausman goes off, and Bowdoin re-takes the lead ... live by the three, die by the three ...

P'bearfan · February 21, 2015, 03:09:38 PM

One of the things that I hope people start to see is what a great passer Swords has become. Really under appreciated part of his game.

nescac1 · February 21, 2015, 03:17:35 PM

Swords' passing is definitely stellar. Hausman has been unstoppable in this half. At some point, Williams may need to put Wohl on him, now that Aronowitz has four fouls. Ephs getting the shots they want in this half -- but they've missed a load of open threes, a layup, and a missed dunk. Williams REALLY needs Wohl to step up in a big way, he has been very quiet this half.

nescac1 · February 21, 2015, 03:24:08 PM

11-0 run by Bowdoin to seize control of the game. Bowdoin playing very, very good on offense, Williams just can't buy a shot right now.

jumbo_hoops · February 21, 2015, 03:35:04 PM

Too bad Tufts did not display video today. Anyways, would've liked to see more motivation from the Jumbos during this game, as they were great contenders coming into play-offs. Not sure what was up today. Congrats to Amherst on their win

P'bearfan · February 21, 2015, 03:50:55 PM

Bowdoin defeats Williams 87-74.

A really teriffic game by both teams. In the 2nd half Bowdoin's defense tightened up and Williams' shooting cooled off. Also Lucas Huasman simply exploded. Bowdoin also did a great job of taking care of the ball with only 5 turnovers in the entire game.

Swords was 10-10 from the floor and added 13 rebounds.

Congrats to Bowdoin and now onto the semi-finals.

GoUBears!

nescac1 · February 21, 2015, 03:52:11 PM

Bowdoin is closing out the game at the line. Great second half by Bowdoin, amped up the defense and were all over Hayden Rooke-Ley, as expected -- unfortunately, no one else on Williams could hit a shot -- a lot of missed threes that were very makeable, and some missed interior shots really hurt. Williams just couldn't quiet Bowdoin during that big run, the key play was the dunk attempt by Aronowitz that somehow rimmed out, and then he picked up his fourth foul on the other end out of frustration.

Lucas Hausman was beyond incredible in that half ... both guys guarding him fouled out (Rooke-Ley and Aronowitz), which hurt the Ephs on offense since those are two of the top three Williams scorers. And Hausman absolutely poured it on from everywhere on the court, free throws, threes, that unblockable spinning fall-away, leaking out on the break. He continues to dominate the league and certainly has earned my vote for NESCAC POY. He is as good an offensive guard as you will see in D3 -- has become just about unguardable one-on-one due to his huge array of moves. Swords and Hausman pretty much owned the Ephs by themselves today.

Congrats to the three graduating Eph seniors, Dan Wohl, Hayden Rooke-Ley, and Ryan Kilcullen. Wohl will finish his career with well over 1000 points, along with countless hustle plays, rebounds, and tremendous defense for four years ... although tonight was a rough night for him, he is a winner and will go down as one of the most well-rounded Eph players ever, a guy who could play four positions on both ends and worked his but off every possession on both ends. Kilcullen really turned it on the second half of his senior year and had a great season. Hayden fell, I think, agonizingly short of 1000 career points despite suffering major injuries every season he played -- tough, tough guy with a huge will to win. All three had great careers as major contributors on Eph teams that made an Elite 8 and a national title game in back-to-back years.

This year, the team might not have had the typical Eph results, but it was a team which lost by far its best player to transfer, had to break in a new coach, and also graduated two all-Americans. The team worked hard but just didn't have enough firepower across the board to win consistently. Next year looks to be a transition year for the Ephs -- losing three stellar seniors, with only two returning starters, neither of whom is an all-league type player. In terms of returning talent, Williams is right there with Hamilton at the bottom of NESCAC, right behind Conn who had some really good frosh this year and will improve. Fortunately, help is on the way with what could end up being a truly great recruiting class depending on how things continue to develop, but freshman are freshman, and it's going to be tough to overcome the guys they are losing to graduation in the near term. The Ephs will need some of the young guys who showed flashes of good play this season to make major strides in the offseason for Williams to have any chance of a winning record next season.

P'bearfan · February 21, 2015, 03:59:04 PM

QuoteWilliams just couldn't quiet Bowdoin during that big run, the key play was the dunk attempt by Aronowitz that somehow rimmed out, and then he picked up his fourth foul on the other end out of frustration.

Yes that play was pivotal. There was another important play just before it where Rooke-Ley drove the baseline but Fuller slid over and shut him down forcing a turnover. Subtle but important play as it prevented Williams from building any momentum.