MBB: NESCAC

[JEFFFAN]

Thanks magicman, great recap, plus one.  Even in a D3 environment when his talent was dominant, Duncan had to be prodded to shoot the ball.  He is an inherently unselfish player, which is of course generally an asset.  I'm sure the coaching staff at Michigan will keep riding him to be aggressive offensively, because anytime he is open from 25 feet or closer, it's a good shot, something he will need to internalize and I'm sure will as he grows more comfortable in the spotlight. 

Jefffan, why wouldn't Amherst be ranked number one?  They were the best team in NESCAC last year (despite the loss in the NESCAC title game, I think that's fair to say) and bring everyone back, plus add more talent.  They were a frosh-and-sophomore dominated team last year, and are now a sophomore-and-junior dominated team, which is a scary thought for this year, and an even scarier thought for next year.  Colby, Wesleyan and Trinity have the three strongest senior classes, but Amherst has one of the strongest and deepest Junior classes I've ever seen in D3 ... that class alone (George, Nabatoff, Conklin, Dawson, Berman, Racy, plus two other guys we haven't even really seen yet) is by itself probably a top 25 team.  Especially since Berman, Racy, Conklin and Dawson all seemed to really emerge late in the season last year, and Nabatoff and George still have plenty of unrealized upside -- big guys usually don't truly arrive until their Junior years.

Just never real thrilled with a team that has so few seniors.   I know that the underclassmen have gotten a ton of experience, but two of the three seniors (Barry, Pollack) appear to be out with injuries as they are not on the roster.  I have not done the research but my guess is that when NESCAC schools really did damage in the NCAAs they had a higher percentage of seniors than underclassmen.  When Olsen and Tommey were there, for instance, they were part of excellent classes and were not just really good individuals.  That extra year of experience at that age is so important.   Hope that I am wrong!

[middhoops]

As I look at the Amherst roster, it's scary.
They can lose a starter at every position and still be highly competitive.
I see elite D3 players up and down the roster.  They even have size at every position.
If they defend the perimeter as well as they should be able to given the individual talent; I think it takes some upsets for them not to be a top 5 team and a heavy favorite to make it to Salem.
Dear LJ fans:  don't hate me.  I'm not trying to jinx you.  Your team is just that good.  Damn it.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

NEhoops....completely slipped my mind.  Caught up in Amherst's chase for back to back football titles and going undefeated.  Had hoped to make a trip up to Amherst to see the opening tournaments...women and men....and the new players, etc.  wife nixed that since our youngest son will be down with his wife to visit family.
Will check my schedule.....as if a retired old man has a schedule.  Will look you up if I come.  Again hotdogs on me and a drink too

Well done.  I'll be on a press pass this time - not sure if that comes with free hot dogs or not, but I should be easier to find.

[nescac1]

Holy cow.  Four minutes left in game and Duncan has 19 points on perfect shooting (five triples).  Too early to start talking NBA ?

[toad22]

Tonight it looked like the same old Duncan that we came to know and love (all too briefly).

[Mr. Ypsi]

Holy cow.  Four minutes left in game and Duncan has 19 points on perfect shooting (five triples).  Too early to start talking NBA ?

As a Michigan fan, I sure hope so!  He's still definitely got some developing to do before then, but (as I hoped and predicted) getting the UM strength coach on him for a year (and continuing), he should turn out to be not just a D1 player but a D1 star.  Congratulations to DR and his work ethic - keep it going!

[magicman]

Holy cow.  Four minutes left in game and Duncan has 19 points on perfect shooting (five triples).  Too early to start talking NBA ?

This was Duncan's breakout game and it's in the 2nd Division I game of his career. He came into the game at the 11:42 mark along with another sub as the 3rd and 4th players off the bench. He immediately got an offensive rebound but his pass out to one of his teammates sailed a little high and a backcourt violation was called. A little over 2 minutes later Duncan receives a pass on a fast break attempt, gets a step on the Elon defender and goes in for the 2 handed jam, his first points in a Division I contest. It gives the Wolverines a 16-15 lead. Seconds later he steals the ball and passes to a teammate who scores on a layup.

The next 3:15 is vintage DR as he drains his first Michigan 3 pointer to give Michigan a lead they would never relinquish. He follows that up with another trey on the Wolverines' next possession.His first 3 came from the left corner and his next 3 came from the right corner. After grabbing a defensive rebound and then an offensive rebound he is fouled and makes both free throws. He has taken Michigan from a 19-18 deficit to a 26- 21 lead, and has reached double figures with 10 points. It took him a grand total of 6 minutes and 5 seconds to do so in the 2nd game of his DI career. I said last night in a post about his 1st DI game, when he was scoreless and only took 1 shot,  "hard to score when you only take 1 shot and don't get to the line. There will be other nights...lots of them." Well, those other nights came in a hurry.

Elon managed to close the gap to a single point at 31-30 but here comes Duncan again as he drains another triple to boost the lead back to 4 points, with 3:21 left in the half. At the next time out with 1:39 left to play Duncan goes to the bench with a 13 point, 3 rebound, perfect 4x4 from the field, 3x3 from downtown and 2x2 from the line, for his first half totals.

The Wolverines with a 10 point 43-33 lead at the break quickly score the first 10 points of the period to open up a 20 point advantage. Duncan re-enters the game at the 13:50 mark and wastes little time hitting his 4th 3 pointer of the game 32 seconds after taking the floor. 2:20 goes by and DR takes his final shot of the game and hits his 5th triple to give him a total of 19 points in 18 minutes of work. He plays for another couple of uneventful minutes and is taken out with 6:49 left in the game. He goes back in for the final 19 seconds and completes, hopefully, the first of many big nights, in a Michigan uniform.

Duncan ended up as the 2nd leading scorer for Big Blue only being outscored by starter, Derrick Walton Jr., who had 24 points in 30 minutes of court time. Derrick had a pretty good night going 8x10 fg, 6x7 3's, and 2x2 ft, with 6 boards and 7 assists.

Duncan totaled 19 points in 18 minutes with a stat line of 6x6 fg, 5x5 3's. 2x2 ft, with 3 rebounds and a steal.

It was interesting to see ESPN's Sports Center tonight and when they ran the Michigan game highlights, it wasn't Walton Jr. they were talking about...it was Duncan Robinson.

The ESPN in game announcers were quite impressed with Duncan as well. One of them said "How did he end up at a Division III school." The other one said "I'm just gonna say that he made it because he making everything he's shot tonight"... referring to how he's going to call DR's shot attempts from that point on. Then the first one says, "Boy, Duncan Robinson, if he doesn't have a green light by now there's no such thing as a green light."

I remember a while ago before the season began someone, probably nescac1, posted a link to an article about Duncan and his teammates and one of the Michigan players stated how they weren't surprised when Duncan made shot after shot from long range. They were shocked when he missed one. That was practice...we talking 'bout practice ....tonight was the real deal and DR didn't miss one.

I love it when a D3 guy makes some noise. Also nice that it's right here in the USA, where we can watch him perform and it's big time college basketball, which I'm guessing is better than nearly all (or all?) of the overseas leagues in any division. 

[amh63]

Magicman....thanks again for the detailed info wrt DR.  plus K
I was watching the GWU vs UVA game in Foggy Bottom DC....area near the State Dept, etc.
Yes, I wanted to watch Matt Hart play against the 6 th ranked U. Of Virginia...a favorite of Bucket, I believe, and me too.
Mr Hart played on the " second" team and got more fouls than points, it seemed.  It was not a game for Hart to show his talent...Virginia was touted as a physical team and were much bigger than GWU.
Oh yes, GWU WON!  The Colonials led for most of the game!
There is another connection to posters here.  The head coach of GWU was the former coach of UVM.  He was the former coach of Catholic U...an alum too...the school of D3hoops founder..Pat C.
Also, there is a transfer from Darmouth on the team...and GWU is the school that Red A. attended...yes the Boston Celtics coach was a D.C. native.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

amh63 - you forgot a detail about Lonergan - he won a national title at Catholic.

[amh63]

Thanks Dave Mc.....forgot.
Do know the coach spent a year as an assistant at the UMD in College Park and do remember reading that his wife was helping out in some capacity in the basketball programs at CU of America.

[amh63]

Middhoops...my knowledgeable friend....I know you are not into those cult "sciences" ...however, I know that you remember how Midd crushed Amherst  last season in Vermont.  You are just setting the LJs up.  If I can...always a qualifier here for the weather..I will be up in LeFrak when Midd comes to town.  Need to give the " evil eye" to the Panthers and buy you guys beer at the High Horse...or is it the White Horse...and even a burger if there are still coins in my pocket. Expect Midd to return to the CAC tourney...hopefully at Amherst. If that happens, I will be up again...barring a major snowstorm .
Did I post about my problems getting home two seasons ago?..flights delayed/ cancelled twice and finally taking the train home after being rescued by a CT friend.  ice storms.

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks Dave Mc.....forgot.
Do know the coach spent a year as an assistant at the UMD in College Park and do remember reading that his wife was helping out in some capacity in the basketball programs at CU of America.

She was the WBB head coach there, and is a heckuva coach. Wonder if she might go back into it after Mike hangs it up.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Thanks Dave Mc.....forgot.
Do know the coach spent a year as an assistant at the UMD in College Park and do remember reading that his wife was helping out in some capacity in the basketball programs at CU of America.

She was the WBB head coach there, and is a heckuva coach. Wonder if she might go back into it after Mike hangs it up.

Yeah, Mike will tell you she is probably better than he is. She turned that program around and was heading in a great direction before Mike got the Vermont job. Nice to see the women's program back on that level, but it took a little while.

Yes... Mike left Catholic and spent a year at Maryland... then got the Vermont job... obviously was successful there (after taking over some BIG shoes).. and then went to George Washington a few years ago.

[met_fan]

Also, there is a transfer from Darmouth on the team...and GWU is the school that Red A. attended...yes the Boston Celtics coach was a D.C. native.

Wasn't Auerbach from Brooklyn?

[amh63]

Amherst's athletic website is starting to fill up with winter sports info.  Amherst's preview of the men's team is up!  No surprises really.  Does note the two seniors lost to injuries.  Will provide senior leadership from the sidelines....extra eyes.  Pollack is again named Captain, along with Green and George.
No updated pics yet on all the winter teams.  Busy weekend for the SIDS as Amherst host a NCAA men's soccer sectional and Hockey teams are playing, etc.