MBB: NESCAC

[jayhawk]

Amh63
No teaser just the facts that often players are accepted in April
No reason to contact me

[CatCountry2013]

Amherst got beat by a team that really shot well.
Amherst got into foul trouble with Connor Green and Reid Berman going to bench in first half
Reid was driving well to the basket until he got into foul trouble and got into foul trouble.
Hoped to see him penetrate like last night

Young Amherst team with only one junior starting and both Ben Pollack and Eric Conklin had injuries this year
Season a success going to second round of NCAA playoffs
Building for next year
Last game for incoming 6'10" freshman Joe Schneider from Wilbraham and Monson High School today
twitter note by his high school coach
WMA Basketball @WMA_Basketball  ·  2h 2 hours ago
Joe Schneider will make Amherst program even better. He leaves WMA Basketball on a high note. Excellent stdnt &his best basketball is ahead

PS recruiting season may not be over

Newly crowned 1000 pt scorer for Bates Mike Boornazian is an alumnus of Wilbraham & Monson. They always seem to have some good talent coming out of their school.

[pinseeking1]

Some interesting notes from Bates' big win against Stockton:

1. The Bobcats out rebounded Stockton 48-34. Its tough for anyone to overcome that kind of advantage on the glass, and

2. Bates shot 28.6% on threes, which is pretty close to their season average. (High percentage outside shooting has been a problem for them all season long.) Luckily for the Bobcats, Stockton only shot 13.8% on threes.

The combination of poor shooting and not enough rebounds put the Ospreys in a deep hole as they trailed for most of the game.

Also, I don't know if anyone else who watched the game noticed, but the Stockton players consistently "faked" shots, sending one or two Bates defenders into the air in search of blocked shots. This led to quite a few fouls or easy layups once the defenders were out of the way. However, in the OT period, the Bobcats seemed to play better defense by holding their ground and raising their (long) arms.  This was much more effective in forcing Stockton to take bad shots, which ultimately hurt them in OT.

[PolarCat]

Newly crowned 1000 pt scorer for Bates Mike Boornazian is an alumnus of Wilbraham & Monson. They always seem to have some good talent coming out of their school.

WMA is a gorgeous school, but it's literally in the middle of nowhere.  My kids' teams made the long bus rides to WMA to compete in their respective sports, and my sense was that there's not much to do in the area, so the kids probably spend long hours in the gym.  Add to that a great MBB coach and the fact WMA accepts a lot of PG students, and it's not surprising they get some really good players into the CAC.

No criticism of the school intended (the facilities really are gorgeous), and the bus rides weren't as long as Bowdoin to Hamilton, or Conn to Midd.  But before Al Gore invented the internet, I think it would have driven me crazy to attend WMA.

[TIAJeff]

what about before or after he DIDN'T invent the internet?   

also, Friendly's was starting in Wilbraham, hence the hedges on 90! 

[amh63]

What Al Gore did not invenT the Internet!? ....was in Cambridge when AG was at Harvard making other "connections" wrt his ego.
TIAJeff...I thought Friendly's started in Springfield...in the 60's....my first serious girlfriend at Mt. Holyoke worked in one then...must be reading your post wrong.  The town where WBA can be found is close enough.
Amherst's recruit has been at WMA for several years at least, I believe.

[Vandy74]

What Al Gore did not invenT the Internet!? ....was in Cambridge when AG was at Harvard making other "connections" wrt his ego.

He was at the Vanderbilt Divinity School while I was an undergrad.   It was a very spiritual time as I recall.

[Old Guy]

I acknowledge that your time at Vanderbilt was spiritual, Vandy, if the the root of spiritual is indeed "spirits," as you and spirits have a long and dear association.

Stayed home Saturday night and tried to watch all three NESCAC games. I caught more of the Bates-Stockton game than the other two. Good game. It was at Stockton - lots of people dressed as empty seats: that wouldn't have happened at Bates. Wouldn't have that been a trip! It's official - I'm addicted.

Bates was impressive, got a big lead in the first half, then endured an spirited comeback by the aggressive Ospreys, and won it in OT. Safford didn't score a lot of points but is mature and cocky and managed the game well; Boornazian has emerged as a confident and versatile #2; Salmon reminds me of the Jeffs' Williamson from a couple years ago, not in his game so much but in his willingness to play tough D and take the big shot - no fear; the key of course is the Delpeches, whose "upside" (as they say) seems unlimited. They now play at the same time and are truly twin towers. Pretty balanced unit. Philpott comes in and plays like he belongs.

I like Bates against the Bantams.

[TIAJeff]

Friendly's was in fact founded in Springfield.  I fooled everyone, myself included.  But, emotionally-speaking, it was founded in Wilbraham.

[NEhoops]

Old Guy,
Good take on your (second) favorite team. Boornazian's combination of size/range/athleticism for a perimeter player is hard to match up against, he's averaging 21ppg in his last three. Safford's leadership cannot be overstated, he seems to do whatever his teams needs for them to win. The Delpeche's are the difference makers on both ends of the court, seemingly playing better when the lights are brightest. I like the Bobcats on Friday as well, particularly because of the way the Delpeche's are rebounding the ball of late, that stat alone could be the difference. Trinity won by seven in Hartford in January, but it was a tie game with just under four minutes to go and this game is at a neutral site where Bates has already won this year. Safford and Boornazian only shot a combined 6-26 in the first match up, but part of the credit for that needs to go to the Bantams. Interesting to see how Ogundeko plays. He's scored ten total points in the past three games after averaging 10+ppg in league play. Trinity is doing what it needs to do to advance and it should be a great game.

Excited to hear some insight about this Friday from others.     

[CatCountry2013]

Old Guy,
Good take on your (second) favorite team. Boornazian's combination of size/range/athleticism for a perimeter player is hard to match up against, he's averaging 21ppg in his last three. Safford's leadership cannot be overstated, he seems to do whatever his teams needs for them to win. The Delpeche's are the difference makers on both ends of the court, seemingly playing better when the lights are brightest. I like the Bobcats on Friday as well, particularly because of the way the Delpeche's are rebounding the ball of late, that stat alone could be the difference. Trinity won by seven in Hartford in January, but it was a tie game with just under four minutes to go and this game is at a neutral site where Bates has already won this year. Safford and Boornazian only shot a combined 6-26 in the first match up, but part of the credit for that needs to go to the Bantams. Interesting to see how Ogundeko plays. He's scored ten total points in the past three games after averaging 10+ppg in league play. Trinity is doing what it needs to do to advance and it should be a great game.

Excited to hear some insight about this Friday from others.   

Keys to the game for Bates against Trinity should be to limit turnovers, finish their lay ups, keep playing tight D, and if Billy Selmon can actually start making some outside shots, I think Bates has a great chance to win.  Really, really wish I could make it up Boston for this one.

That being said, the Delpeche brothers are improving with every game. I think Strickland '18 has upside as a point guard- he definitely has some flash- and with Boornazian, the twins, and a solid core of big men returning next year, the Bates backcourt will be as stacked as it will have been in a long time.

[middhoops]

OG, you make your points well and never fail to entertain,.....however......I'll take the Bantams.  Their athleticism and depth is perfect for the big tourney.  Bates' twin towers aren't physically overmatched against many D3 teams, but Trinity has too many big guys who are too good.
The Bantams can beat themselves with poor shooting and flat play, but I don't see them letting up on intensity any time soon.
I don't mean to say that Bates is not an even bet to win the game.  This just seems to be Trinity's year.  Both teams represent the NESCAC well against the best teams in the country.

[pinseeking1]

We all remember how Wesleyan stormed through the end of the NESCAC season and the league playoffs as they hit their stride at the right time. That's how it feels right now with Bates... Trinity is strong, but they have shown that they are not unbeatable. Should be a great game. One of these days the Bobcats will be hot from the outside and watch out!

[jayhawk]

article about Bates basketball in D3 hoops - nice to see
http://www.d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/2015/bates-tournament-trip-worth-the-wait

[amh63]

Jayhawk....thanks for pointing out the article.  Boy oh boy....the pic of 1961 players brought back memories...and a smile.  When I go to live games at Amherst and even in Salem tHere are a number of former Amherst players in the stands from that time.  Saw one online at the game at SJF...wearing a letter jacket.  I sit among them and chat...not so much about old days but about the play on the floor and the astounding skill levels of today's players.  Believe you are aware of some.
My only remaining regret is that Bates and Trinity have to play each other...at this time.  Would have liked to have them meet in the Final 4....Nescac pride thing, I believe.