MBB: NESCAC

[amh63]

Amherst will play SJF on Sat.  The Cardinals were hitting 3's in the first half and took a 21 point lead at the half.  WP1 was within 5 at the 2minute mark and was as close as three with under a minute to goal....missed some inside shots and SJF wins on the foul line.  It seems the outside game was the key tonight for both Amherst and SJF.  I have the feeling that both teams will try to set up an inside game on Sat.
Watched the Trinity comeback...CAC goes 3-1 today as Trinity, Bates and Amherst wins.
On the WBB side, the conference also goes 3-1 today as Tufts, Bowdoin and Amherst all win handily.

[lumbercat]

A nice effort by Bates tonight against a grinding St Vincent's  team. The Zebras let them play and that's ok with Coach Furbush and the Bobcats who have the entire Bates campus involved in their tournament run.
They ran a live video feed in the Bates Bobcat Den on campus and the entire student body ennjoyed the Garnet win!
The Garnet clan will be rooting for the Bobcats against Stockton tomorrow- that's a tall order for Bates as the Stockton team is stacked.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

A nice effort by Bates tonight against a grinding St Vincent's  team. The Zebras let them play and that's ok with Coach Furbush and the Bobcats who have the entire Bates campus involved in their tournament run.
They ran a live video feed in the Bates Bobcat Den on campus and the entire student body ennjoyed the Garnet win!
The Garnet clan will be rooting for the Bobcats against Stockton tomorrow- that's a tall order for Bates as the Stockton team is stacked.

It'll be interesting what the coaches come up with.  Bates will certainly have the height advantage, but Stockton is much deeper and more physical.  Wish I could get back over to Stockton tomorrow, but I have other plans.  It was a fun night, even if both games were essentially blowouts.

[GoWesYoungMan]

Skidmore was the better team last night. The defensive performance that had carried Wes for the past three weeks didn't show up in Baltimore. The game could have gotten out of hand in the first half but Davis hit some big shots late to keep the cards in striking distance 44-32. Wes had a great start to the second half and pulled ahead 45-44 then pushed the lead to 53-50. This was the key point in the game when Skid hit three treys to go up 59-53. The cards pulled to 70-66 but Skid closed on an 11-0 run.
Just a great run this past month for Coach Reilly and this team. This experience should prove valuable next year both in the NESCAC and hopefully for a return trip to the Ncaas. No doubt Wes will need to improve in order to better this year's run. We will miss Tugman, Gallivan and Galvin who provided great leadership this year. Fortunately we return a core of productive players with 2-3 years of experience. They have improved almost every month and hopefully can elevate their game next year.

Congrats and further good luck to Trinity, Amherst and Bates. All are capable of advancing deep. Despite their inconsistency the Jeffs have a coach and several players who have been here before...experience we could've used last night

[pinseeking1]

A couple of interesting facts about Bates' next opponent: The entire Stockton roster is from New Jersey and their leading scorer is a 6'2" forward. Bates will have a big height advantage, and presumably should be able to control the boards. Without having seen Stockton, I wonder if they rely on speed and transition? Their average point total would indicate otherwise as their average of 67 per game actually lower than the Bobcats' average of almost 70.

Stockton finished the season ranked at no. 17 while Bates was in the "others receiving votes" category with one vote. Sounds like a great day for an upset...

[polbear73]

A couple of interesting facts about Bates' next opponent: The entire Stockton roster is from New Jersey and their leading scorer is a 6'2" forward. Bates will have a big height advantage, and presumably should be able to control the boards. Without having seen Stockton, I wonder if they rely on speed and transition? Their average point total would indicate otherwise as their average of 67 per game actually lower than the Bobcats' average of almost 70.

Stockton finished the season ranked at no. 17 while Bates was in the "others receiving votes" category with one vote. Sounds like a great day for an upset...

I know that personnel for Stockton may have changed and the past is not necessarily a great predictor of the present, but Bowdoin played Stockton last year in the first round under almost identical circumstances.  Stockton did use their speed and transition game to great advantage and, while Bowdoin didn't shoot particularly well, still hung on throughout in a one or two possession game until foul shooting time.  Bowdoin lost by 6 and Stockton went on to upset Cabrini before losing in the round of 16. 

Good luck to the Bobcats. 

[hoya73]

pinseeking--as a NESCAC fan here in NJ, my view of the entire NJAC is that it is full of fast, very hardworking undersized athletes from good hoop schools around here who, with a few more inches, might have gone D1.  They will be quick and go to the rim.  Might not shoot as well as the NESCAC boys, but they will keep coming at you.  Amherst played Stockton (I think) in '08 in the sweet sixteen.   We scored the first 14 points or so and had to hold on.  No quit.  My recollection is that they had a few 6'2" forwards as well.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

A couple of interesting facts about Bates' next opponent: The entire Stockton roster is from New Jersey and their leading scorer is a 6'2" forward. Bates will have a big height advantage, and presumably should be able to control the boards. Without having seen Stockton, I wonder if they rely on speed and transition? Their average point total would indicate otherwise as their average of 67 per game actually lower than the Bobcats' average of almost 70.

Stockton finished the season ranked at no. 17 while Bates was in the "others receiving votes" category with one vote. Sounds like a great day for an upset...

Bates will be taller.  Stockton is bigger.  Bates will be more disciplined, Stockton improvises better.  I think Stockton is deeper and much more physical.  They really beat the crap out of Endicott last night - just maybe not trying to hurt them, but sure as heck making sure they don't want to take the ball to the hoop a second time.  There were two fouls I was really worried if the guys were going to get up afterwards.

It's an interesting contrast to be sure.  I think Stockton will win, but Bates is certainly capable - maybe a 55-45 in favor of the home team.

[NothingButNESCAC]

I know that personnel for Stockton may have changed and the past is not necessarily a great predictor of the present, but Bowdoin played Stockton last year in the first round under almost identical circumstances.  Stockton did use their speed and transition game to great advantage and, while Bowdoin didn't shoot particularly well, still hung on throughout in a one or two possession game until foul shooting time.  Bowdoin lost by 6 and Stockton went on to upset Cabrini before losing in the round of 16. 

Good luck to the Bobcats.

Guessing it will be a similar style of pressure defense but only two guys who played last year for Stockton see time this season. One of those is Josh Blamon who scored 20 against Bowdoin and is the leading scorer for Stockton this season.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I know that personnel for Stockton may have changed and the past is not necessarily a great predictor of the present, but Bowdoin played Stockton last year in the first round under almost identical circumstances.  Stockton did use their speed and transition game to great advantage and, while Bowdoin didn't shoot particularly well, still hung on throughout in a one or two possession game until foul shooting time.  Bowdoin lost by 6 and Stockton went on to upset Cabrini before losing in the round of 16. 

Good luck to the Bobcats.

Guessing it will be a similar style of pressure defense but only two guys who played last year for Stockton see time this season. One of those is Josh Blamon who scored 20 against Bowdoin and is the leading scorer for Stockton this season.

He's also the kind of guy who makes more of an impact outside the stat sheet.

[P'bearfan]

Quote from: pinseeking1 on Today at 08:59:29 am
A couple of interesting facts about Bates' next opponent: The entire Stockton roster is from New Jersey and their leading scorer is a 6'2" forward. Bates will have a big height advantage, and presumably should be able to control the boards. Without having seen Stockton, I wonder if they rely on speed and transition? Their average point total would indicate otherwise as their average of 67 per game actually lower than the Bobcats' average of almost 70.

Stockton finished the season ranked at no. 17 while Bates was in the "others receiving votes" category with one vote. Sounds like a great day for an upset...
I know that personnel for Stockton may have changed and the past is not necessarily a great predictor of the present, but Bowdoin played Stockton last year in the first round under almost identical circumstances.  Stockton did use their speed and transition game to great advantage and, while Bowdoin didn't shoot particularly well, still hung on throughout in a one or two possession game until foul shooting time.  Bowdoin lost by 6 and Stockton went on to upset Cabrini before losing in the round of 16. 

Yes Stockton was a surprising team.  Last year I really thought our size advantage would let us have our way.  Stockton was very tough, completely unfazed by the size differential and they hit several unbelievably long 3 point shots.

Good luck to all the NESCAC teams.

[Pat Coleman]

Can't find the brackets? Linked at the top of all three scoreboard tabs, directly on the front page. Plus there's a related link in the daily roundup story and of course, an entire page of NCAA Tournament news, listed under the News banner.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Quote from: pinseeking1 on Today at 08:59:29 am
A couple of interesting facts about Bates' next opponent: The entire Stockton roster is from New Jersey and their leading scorer is a 6'2" forward. Bates will have a big height advantage, and presumably should be able to control the boards. Without having seen Stockton, I wonder if they rely on speed and transition? Their average point total would indicate otherwise as their average of 67 per game actually lower than the Bobcats' average of almost 70.

Stockton finished the season ranked at no. 17 while Bates was in the "others receiving votes" category with one vote. Sounds like a great day for an upset...
I know that personnel for Stockton may have changed and the past is not necessarily a great predictor of the present, but Bowdoin played Stockton last year in the first round under almost identical circumstances.  Stockton did use their speed and transition game to great advantage and, while Bowdoin didn't shoot particularly well, still hung on throughout in a one or two possession game until foul shooting time.  Bowdoin lost by 6 and Stockton went on to upset Cabrini before losing in the round of 16. 

Yes Stockton was a surprising team.  Last year I really thought our size advantage would let us have our way.  Stockton was very tough, completely unfazed by the size differential and they hit several unbelievably long 3 point shots.

Good luck to all the NESCAC teams.

They're really rolling, too.  I talked to one of the coaches after the game, he said they finally clicked for the first time all year about a week ago.  They're on their fifth starting PG of the season (a mid-season soph transfer from Gwynedd-Mercy).  They looked very, very good.  Bates is going to have to protect the ball and hit shots at least as well as they did last night.

[NothingButNESCAC]

Well posters, NESCAC squads did better than we did with our predictions last night (2-2), but I'd say that's a good thing. Let us know what you think about our calls for tonight's games.

http://nothingbutnescac.com/2015/03/07/ncaa-second-round-preview-amherst-college-vs-no-20-st-john-fisher-college/

http://nothingbutnescac.com/2015/03/07/ncaa-second-round-preview-bates-college-at-stockton-university/

http://nothingbutnescac.com/2015/03/07/ncaa-second-round-preview-salisbury-vs-trinity/

[middhoops]

Bates, and Marcus Delpeche especially, were tough down the stretch in a dramatic win over Richard Stockton.  Quality win for the Bobcats.