MBB: NESCAC

[AmherstStudent05]

Midd has a mid-week scrimmage versus Lyndon State tonight, another Vermont team with one winning season in the past 10 years, having lost their last four games whose two tallest players are 6' 5". Take it easy, Panthers ....

Is this the same Lyndon State team that beat Wesleyan at Wesleyan this year?

Don't worry, Bucket.  Jumpshot is probably just preoccupied by Amherst's mid-week scrimmage against Williams tomorrow.

Apparently there will be an announcement at noon today regarding the Amherst mascot.  Looks as though AmherstStudent will probably have to change his license plate.

[nescac1]

I'm pretty sure that's what they thought it would be in Salem in 2014, AmherstStudent, too ... Don't get too cocky lest you inspire more tweets from rival players!  But I forgive you given you are no doubt in mourning for the death of Lord Jeff .  (Clearly the right decision, imho).  Maybe Amherst can ditch purple while they are it and leave that to its rightful owner.  The Crimson Meese has a nice ring to it. 

On the scheduling front since Amherst, Williams and Midd have combined for four scrimmages vs Johnson State this year none of us can exactly claim the moral high ground.  Can we please stop scheduling them folks??

Still waiting for the Ephs to put two consistent halves together. They can look like world-beaters and totally discombobulated in the space of a single game.  The loss of Greenman has really been felt in tight games vs aggressive, veteran backcourts, missing that steady hand who has been through the fires.  Especially glaring late in the Catholic, Trinity, and Midd games, where late game TOs were killers in three winnable games (especially Trinity which is one the Ephs really should have won). On the plus side next year the Ephs will have four such guards on the roster. 

[with age came?]

Hey Midd Hoops - no harm intended... I love young improving teams...they always put the "fear" in people by the end of the season if they are well coached..

[with age came?]

Have a wedding to attend this weekend or I'd be real tempted to go watch the Hamilton - Midd game to see if I did accidentally "set off" a jinx??

[WPI89]

NESCAC1 - I love the Crimson Meese.  +1

As an outsider - why the rancor about the "unofficial mascot" name?  Isn't the school itself and the whole town named after the same guy - or am I messing up history here?

[nescac1]

It's a fair point WPI but I think the school is technically named for the town, not the guy.  Plus the mascot is far less subtle an affiliation --it's actually Lord Jeff himself, as opposed to a name that has effectively been appropriated by town and school.  Plus let's face it they will never change the name of the school (although should they consider doing so, as an Eph fan I'll happily offer some suggestions ....)

[JEFFFAN]

Sniff, sniff ... the Lord Jeff is gone.

https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/facts/trustees/statements/node/627738?shib_redir=1347367523

Sure hope that it doesn't affect recruiting.

[toad22]

Traditionally, Williams has given Amherst the nickname "the Defectors". That actually might make a good mascot as well!

[nescac1]

Jefffan, in all seriousness I don't see how it could hurt in any way.  I mean it's not like Ephs or Lord Jeffs were impressing recruits with their gravitas and ferocity. 

Question: what are the sports teams called in the interim?  The Amherst Blanks?  Kind of post-modern, I like it. 

On another note kudos to whomever pointed out on the (always excellent) Midd-Williams webcast the resemblance of Dan Aronowitz to Jimmy Chitwood.  How did I ever miss that before?  When Toomey/Ollie was still around, Nescac had two fifths of a Hoosiers line-up! 

[madzillagd]

Nescac1:   

[AmherstStudent05]

Jefffan, in all seriousness I don't see how it could hurt in any way.  I mean it's not like Ephs or Lord Jeffs were impressing recruits with their gravitas and ferocity. 

Question: what are the sports teams called in the interim?  The Amherst Blanks?  Kind of post-modern, I like it. 

On another note kudos to whomever pointed out on the (always excellent) Midd-Williams webcast the resemblance of Dan Aronowitz to Jimmy Chitwood.  How did I ever miss that before?  When Toomey/Ollie was still around, Nescac had two fifths of a Hoosiers line-up!

This entire academic year our SID as been referring to Amherst as the "Purple & White."  Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but what can you do. 

[madzillagd]

Long Duncan interview...

http://btn.com/video/608618051982/

[amh63]

So much questions wrt Lord Jeffs the unofficial mascot adopted about a century ago.  First for those who persist on the matter which I consider as an internal Amherst community one....suggest you read the link provided by Jefffan. 
AmherstStudent05 ....my read on the matter/ subject....fill free to keep your plates as it is your "right".  The only name change will be to the LJ Inn which the college owns.  The College song that has the name can be sung by anyone.  There will be a commitee to answer both the question if there should ever be an official mascot and what would be an appropriate one to adopt...no time frame.  The moose is not a likely one to be consider....I will take a  wager on that.
The e-mail to the Amherst community was a thoughtful one and IMO carefully written...by the board chairman.  The mascot issue has and will impact Amherst  financially as the school approaches its 2nd century and approaching Capital Campaign... For money.  Wesleyan and Williams are presently in the midst of such Campaigns.

Now back to BB.  Been watching a number of Top Div 1 games...primarily ACC games.  See an evolving trend to having long ball shooters in offensive schemes.  Last night's game between Miami and Duke at the U is an example.  Duke now has a short bench and used a Zone against Miami.  However, once again, the winning team did it with defense and a terrific PG.  i strongly believe the PG that can RUN the team's offense effectively is the key to Amherst's success down the road. 

Oh yes, Lord Jeff fans, please don't stir up the Ephs on this board.  One game at a time.  Amherst will be up for the game on Wednesday.  IMO, Trinity is the key game this week.

[jumpshot]

The chair's honor's thesis adds little value. All good communicators know three things: tell your bad news first, tell it yourself, and tell it all. Plus, if all else fails, make it short and to the point a la Ben Bradlee. Academics debate ---there are "chewers and doers" in this world. In short, a lesson is how not to govern and lead. Investors in the moose/blanks/defectors are not amused.

One time everyone for old times sake, "Lord Jeffery amHerst was a soldier of the King, and he came from across the sea ...."

[gordonmann]

I second the nomination of Crimson Moose as Amherst's new nickname. It's very NESCACy!