MBB: NESCAC

[pinseeking1]

Here's an update on the Bates game from Sunday: Once again, the Bobcats ran into a hot-shooting buzz saw. This time, it was the University of New England who was red hot from deep.  Two numbers tell the story: UNE shot 64% from the field (vs. 40% for Bates) and 3-point shooting of 71% (vs. 28% for Bates). Last week, it was Univ of Southern Maine that did the same thing.

Not sure if the hot shooting opponents are somehow tied to something that the Bobcats are doing (or not doing) on defense, but it's hard for anyone to shoot those percentages even if you're not being guarded at all. The big Delpeche brothers will need some outside support.

So far, the "easy" Maine schools on the schedule aren't looking so easy...

[P'bearfan]

So far, the "easy" Maine schools on the schedule aren't looking so easy...

Agreed, at this point I'm beginning to worry about Maine Maritime....

I think Bowdoin has a big challenge on it's hands with USM tomorrow night at 5:30.  It's a road game and USM has been scoring 88 ppg on 49.6% shooting from the floor and 46% shooting from long range.  Their only losses are to UNE and St Joe's (Me).  The Huskies aren't that big (only 1 player over 6'-5" logs significant minutes).  But they do have 4 players averaging more than 12 ppg.  All four shoot better than 46% from behind the arc including Zach Leal who is shooting 66% on 50 attempts!.  That's simply ridiculous.

Bowdoin will need to get off to a fast start because trying to play catch up with this team will be very difficult.

GoUBears!!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Maine Maritime is worth watching. They have a very good coach, their mentality is to become competitive, they aren't shying away from competition, and their have an AD who is very supportive and a strong proponent of Division III. I suspect Maine Maritime will be NCAA tournament bound in the near future.

[P'bearfan]

Maine Maritime is worth watching. They have a very good coach, their mentality is to become competitive, they aren't shying away from competition, and their have an AD who is very supportive and a strong proponent of Division III. I suspect Maine Maritime will be NCAA tournament bound in the near future.

That makes sense.  Two years ago MM was a very weak team and Bowdoin cruised to an easy victory.  Last year they were markedly better and a much tougher out. Sounds like we should expect the same this year.

[WPI89]

Any thoughts on the Jumbos coming down to Worcester tonight?  I see they have scored in the 80's in their 3 wins.  The 80's would get them a win tonight - and it might not be close.

All of Tufts games have been close though - I see no reason this one won't be as well. WPI's concern will be the Jumbo's jumbos.  If Pallaeschi is a presence in the paint, that could be trouble.

One of these games WPI will actually hit some outside shots - why not tonight?

Good luck.

[amh63]

WPI89...I have seen Tufts at home battle MIT and lost.  I have seen them win a close game.  They are rounding out to be a good team.  Their strength is their inside game.  Their big man to date needs to be rotated out...needs his rest...hey, he recovered from a "heart condition".  I feel that your engineers can figure it out defensively.  MIT did it as they led the whole game.

[booyakasha]

WPI/Tufts seems like a great game on paper. I'll give the slight edge to the engineers at home and with a couple extra weeks of practice under their belt.

[P'bearfan]

At the half Bowdoin leads USM 46-24.

8 Polar Bears have scored and Bowdoin is shooting very well:54% from the floor and 53.8% from downtown.  Meanwhile USM went stone cold midway through the first - there was a 6:00 period where they didn't score a point.  USM only shooting 23.5% from behind the arc.  Not sure that will continue in the second half.

GoUBears!

[P'bearfan]

Big win for the Polar Bears as they defeat USM 81-55 ...and it wasn't even that close as Bowdoin lead by as much as 32 before both teams went to their benches.

Bowdoin shot 48.5% from the floor and 37% from long range.  Lucas Hausman lead all scorers with 20 points.  Matt Palecki had 13 and Jake Donnelley added 10. Tim Ahn came off the bench in the first half to spark the offense with 7 straight points.  Liam Farley provided a similar spark in the second half and also finished with 7. Neil Fuller and Palecki lead Bowdoin on the boards with 10 and 8 caroms respectively.   Donnelley had 8 assists and was followed by Fuller and Blake Gordon who each had 3. 

Hopefully Bowdoin can keep up this excellent play when they take on Colby this Saturday.

[Mr. Ypsi]

nescac1, a running joke on the CCIW board is that IWU is 'hoarding' guards (we DO have quite a few very good ones).  With Williams currently short (due to injuries) in that area, and IWU having 2 of our best bigs currently in street clothes, perhaps someone can figure out a way to 'trade' a couple of guys for a month or two!

[P'bearfan]

A couple of other observations from the Bowdoin USM game:

-Bowdoin adjusted well to USM's defense.  In the first half Bowdoin scored from the outside shooting better than 50% from behind the arc.  In the second half, USM moved to a man to man defense and Bowdoin worked the ball inside and started scoring from the low post.  Nicely done!

-The P'bears also moved the ball very well went USM went to a zone.  Lot's of extra passes to find the open man; great to see the team work for the open looks.

-One small thing Bowdoin has done consistently well - getting the ball out to the wing and pushing it up the floor off a defensive rebound.  Even the FYs are looking for the outlet pass and pushing the pace.  It has lead to some nice transition buckets.

[Bucket]

Midd falls at RPI, 68-66.

Panthers have a chance to tie or win at the buzzer, but fail to get a shot off in time. Off a missed free throw, Jake Brown drove the length of the court and had a lane to the hoop with the clock ticking down. It looked like he had a good look at the basket, albeit a contested one, tho he chooses to rifle a pass cross court to St. Amour wide open on the left wing. Problem is, there's not enough time. The buzzer sounds as St. Amour gathers the pass and before he can attempt what would have been the winning three.

Hate to fault Brown for anything; he was terrific tonight: 20 pts (9-16), 5 assists, 4 steals.

Matt Daley with another double-double: 15 points, 13 boards. St. Amour w/ 13, though he struggled to get anything to fall until late.

Zach Baines emerging as the sixth man, or a starter off the bench, getting close to starter minutes (23). He was on the floor at the end of the game. Eight points (an efficient 4-6) and a couple of blocks.

RPI was led by frosh Tom Horvat's 29. The kid is a player. He had 4 steals and 5 boards to go with his near-30 points. In fact, RPI's three most productive players were freshman. Young Mr. Gilbride appears to have things on the upswing at Rensselaer.

[jumpshot]

Duncan Robinson scores 17 points in 23 minutes going 6 for 8 including 5 threes as Michigan beats NC State by 7 in Carolina. Looks to be having lots of fun. Wolverines hampered by injuries. Fabulous outcome thus far for Duncan.

[polbear73]

P'bearfan's analysis of the game is excellent and thorough, as always.  The 6 minute scoreless stretch was in fact a 27-0 Bowdoin run that obviously broke the game wide open.  This is a very fun team to watch as they move well, with and without the ball with much more emphasis on the transistion game.  The two latest wins over Babson and USM came as a result of some torrid shooting at a pace that is hard to believe that is sustainable.  Hopefully, the Bears are learning how to win when shots aren't falling. 

[P'bearfan]

P'bearfan's analysis of the game is excellent and thorough, as always.

Many thanks!