MBB: NESCAC

[madzillagd]

Is 4 teams a lot for a 1 team conference?

[AmherstStudent05]

I found it to be an odd choice sitting Green down the stretch given the fact that Racy wasn't doing much.  Even if Green isn't hitting shots he's still more of a decoy that the defense has to pay attention to than Racy is.  He only had 8 pts but he also grabbed 8 rebounds on the day. All that being said, when he did finally come back in both back door cuts for dunks happened off of his side of the ball, not sure what the defensive rotation was supposed to be and who was to blame but I'm guessing he had something to do with those easy looks.

Green also struggled a bit guarding Mackey.  More to the point, while Green has many talents, being a "decoy" surely isn't among them.  When Green is in the game, he will look to score any way possible.  He has been that way from Day 1 (more so than any freshman I have ever seen in the NESCAC).  That is a big part of his charm (and can also be frustrating at times as well, to be sure).  It is why he is a lock to go down as one of the most prolific scorers in our school's storied history.  Connor had been on an insane run heading into this past weekend.  Unfortunately, for whatever reason, this past weekend didn't agree with him.  Even so, I think the only way to get him to stop shooting was to get him off the court.  I credit Hix for recognizing that and taking the (very) difficult decision that needed to be made given the facts at hand.

Anyway, thrilled that Amherst's season will continue this week! Now I need to find out more about this Sage outfit.  Not going to lie, I am not sure I have ever heard of them before, but they certainly won a lot of games this year.

Congrats as well to Wes, Trin and Bates.  I hope we represent the NESCAC well (with Amherst leading the way, of course)!

Sorry for the Bowdoin supporters.  I guess a fifth team from the NESCAC was just a bridge too far for the Committee. 

[CatCountry2013]

Is 4 teams a lot for a 1 team conference?

The 'CAC got four teams last year as well.  But yes, it's a lot.

[polbear73]

Never really expected to Polar Bears to make it-no signature out of conference win and too many losses.  Will be rooting for the 4 NESCAC teams and know that they will be representing the conference very well.  Good luck to the four teams!

[Bucket]

Is 4 teams a lot for a 1 team conference?

The 'CAC got four teams last year as well.  But yes, it's a lot.

I thought Williams, Amherst, and Bowdoin were the only NESCAC teams in the tournament last year.

[madzillagd]

Am05 - I totally agree in terms of how Green plays the game. But down the stretch it was a whole lot of Dawson going 1 vs 2 or 3 in the lane with nobody providing him much help on offense.  I think the ball still could have remained in Dawson's hands to break down the defense but having Green on the floor might have opened up the driving lane a bit more.  Defense wouldn't be able to sag quite as much if there was the potential to kick it out to Green for 3. 

[polbear73]

Is 4 teams a lot for a 1 team conference?

The 'CAC got four teams last year as well.  But yes, it's a lot.

I thought Williams, Amherst, and Bowdoin were the only NESCAC teams in the tournament last year.

I thought so too.  Middlebury had a strong claim, but was left out. 

[madzillagd]

It was 3 last year.

[gordonmann]

Yes, four is a lot, even for the conference that has received more at-large bids than any other in the last 10 years.

http://www.d3hoops.com/guidebook/2014-15/NCAA_tournament_bids_since_2005.pdf

[P'bearfan]

It was 3 last year.

Yes and the conference was arguably stronger top to bottom last year than this year.

[P'bearfan]

Never really expected to Polar Bears to make it-no signature out of conference win and too many losses.  Will be rooting for the 4 NESCAC teams and know that they will be representing the conference very well.  Good luck to the four teams!

Have to agree....Bowdoin was always a very long shot to make the tournament.  We really needed to either win the conf tournament or have the games fall a certain way (e.g. Trinity beat Amherst in the final? - maybe that would not have been enough).

Sad to see the season officially end for the P'bears but very proud of what they were able to accomplish given the injuries they endured.  Congrats to all the players and staff but especially to the seniors!

Good luck to the NESCAC teams in the tournament.

[Bucket]

Yes, four is a lot, even for the conference that has received more at-large bids than any other in the last 10 years.

http://www.d3hoops.com/guidebook/2014-15/NCAA_tournament_bids_since_2005.pdf

For perspective, this is the first time the NESCAC has placed four teams in the tournament since 2008.

[polbear73]

Never really expected to Polar Bears to make it-no signature out of conference win and too many losses.  Will be rooting for the 4 NESCAC teams and know that they will be representing the conference very well.  Good luck to the four teams!

Have to agree....Bowdoin was always a very long shot to make the tournament.  We really needed to either win the conf tournament or have the games fall a certain way (e.g. Trinity beat Amherst in the final? - maybe that would not have been enough).

Sad to see the season officially end for the P'bears but very proud of what they were able to accomplish given the injuries the endured.  Congrats to all the players and staff but especially to the seniors!

Good luck to the NESCAC teams in the tournament.

I agree as I'm very proud of the persistence and character with which this team played.  Brian Hurley, John Swords, and Keegan Pieri will all be miss; not only for their play, but their leadership.  A solid year for the Polar Bears.

[booyakasha]

It would have been really interesting if Bowdoin beat Amherst, the lost to Wesleyan.

Five might have been a legit possibility in that scenario.

[madzillagd]

With Williams, Tufts & Bowdoin making it on the women's side, you've got 7 schools participating in the tournaments this year.