MBB: NESCAC

[AmherstStudent05]

I had a very long post but I seem to have lost it somehow.  Anyway, obviously a thrilling game tonight.  I think this game could even top the 3ot thriller in Pepin of a few years ago (although there was much more on the line in that game).  Two very talented teams trading body blows back and forth for 50 minutes.  I don't believe either team led by more than 8, and the game was a one or two possession affair most of the night.  Interestingly, this is the first time since 2011 that the home team has held serve in this budding rivalry.

So much to say I am not sure where to begin.  First, if you had told me at halftime that Joey Flannery would have 21 points on 4-6 three point shooting and that Johnny McCarthy, DG and Rio would combine for 0 points, I would have thought for sure we were getting blown out.  Instead, we entered halftime only down 3.  I really thought that withstanding that early onslaught was crucial for us -- Babson had to cool off a bit (as they surely did).

We scored the first 8 points of the second half and we had ourselves a ball game, trading the lead back and forth.  With about 10 seconds to play and trailing by 1, we fouled Joey Flannery.  While technically stepping to the line for a one-and-one, I think most of us simply took it for granted that we would be getting the ball back down by 3.  That turned out to be the result, but not the way one could have expected.  The usually automatic Flannery missed the front end of the one-and-one, grabbed his own rebound, and promptly put the ball in the basket (I think a better play would have been to dribble around a bit to drain the clock since he is such a proficient free throw shooter, but I suppose that that may not have been possible and in any event instinct probably took over at that point).

So we are down three with about 8 seconds remaining.  This is where I think Babson made a strange strategic choice.  They promptly fouled us in our own backcourt (I am pretty sure it was in fact Flannery who committed the foul).  This is the classic decision of do you foul when you are up by three late in the game (not to rehash this age-old debate, but I am a very strong proponent of this tactic -- particularly when Willy Workman is in Israel).  However, we were not yet in the bonus so we just inbounded the ball from half court.  Strangely, at this point the Beavers played off of us and didn't foul.  JMac then got a relatively clean look at a three at the buzzer which he calmly drained.

The first overtime was very frustrating.  Babson only made one field goal for the entire period yet they held a consistent 3-6 point lead for most of the first OT.  We just kept sending them to the free throw line (I have no complaints about any of the calls except one on Racy a ways away from the basket -- I cant say this call was wrong, I just didn't see it one way or the other).

Finally, we were able to claw our way back and found ourselves down 2 with 30 seconds to go.  Here is yet another classic strategic dilemma.  Do you take the tying shot right away, or do you hold for the last shot in order to prevent the other team from having another crack at possession?  Well, I didn't have much time to ponder this one, as Jayde immediately found an opening and drove the lane for the tying lay-up (it was that kind of night for him).

This did give Babson plenty of time to hold for the final shot, and Bradley Jacks got a nice look from the free throw line which he didn't miss by much.

We also found ourselves behind early in the second ot.  But once again Johnny Mac hit a monster three, this one to tie the game up with just under a minute to play.  Jayde then blocked Flannery on the other end and held for the last shot. He finally drove the lane and converted his lay in.  Ball game.

Babson is of course a fantastic team.  And Flannery is simply an outstanding player (no news there, we have seen this first hand for years).  While he only hit one three pointer after a torrid first half, that shot was a thing of beauty.  Middle of double overtime and very well covered he launches a fadeaway three that was pure all the way.  It put the Beavers up four and looked for all the world like it could have been the dagger.

For Amherst, I think at various times during this roller coaster game I wanted to hit or hug every Jeff who stepped on the court tonight (maybe that says more about me than anything else).  It was that kind of night.  Jayde Dawson was superb.  He had 32 points, half of which came in that critical first half where he was pretty much carrying us for long stretches.  He has an amazing ability to get to the hole and contort his body to get a clean look at the hoop (in many way he reminds me on an old favorite of mine, Conor Meehan).  At the same time, Jayde also had trouble shooting from distance (1-7) and had a couple of reckless plays thrown in there.  Overall though, he was outstanding and he had two huge buckets for us in overtime.

After a slow start, JMac finished with 19, including, of course, those two monster threes.

Rio was obviously limited by the ankle injury he sustained on Tuesday.  He had no points in only 12 minutes of action.  I assume his limited availability is what accounted for the fact that Jayde and Reid saw the court together for long stretches of play.  Not sure I have seen that at all these past three years, but it actually works kind of well as Dawson can naturally take on the SG role.

Strangely, we won despite DG and Conklin combining for just 7 points.  It seemed like we made an effort to work the post game early in the game, but when it was clear that that wasn't going to be our meal ticket tonight, we let it go.  Credit the Babson bigs for shutting us down.  I can't imagine that 7 post points is a recipe for success, but it worked out tonight.

Also, Nabatoff finished with a double-double (10 & 10) before fouling out.

For Amherst, I think this game showcased our greatest strength: depth and resiliency.  Even with a hobbled Rio and two starters fouling out, we were still able to put enough talent on the court to get the job done against an extremely tough Babson squad.

This win will obviously be a nice resume item in March should it get to that, but there is A LOT of basketball to come.  No one has accomplished anything yet, and everyone still has all to play for.  Still, this was a fun evening of basketball.  Here is hoping that Coach Hixon and Company can produce a few more nights like this before the season is over!

[amh63]

Old Guy....you called?
It has been a very interesting night on line in my house.  Watched the game get tied...watched the game in OT where both team score 10 points....watched the game go into 2OT and then my big screen Freeze on me when Babson going to the line, ahead with around 41 seconds to go! 
Staying calm, I finally get to the live stats and the play by play to find out what happened in the last 41 seconds.
It was a game of ebb and flow...of questionable calls...of unusual Amherst lineups and defensive matchups.  It was a game of expected heros and unexpected heros.  Who expected Babson's center to make a 3-point shot to get to OT.  How about Dawson on Flannery and Berman blocking Flannery outside in the 2nd OT.  Every missed foul shot was like a dagger.  All in all, HC Hixon made some moves that paid off....like Dawson on Flannery...like Berman and Dawson on the floor together!  IN THE END..., it was a most entertaining game and one can say that Amherst's deeper bench won out...check the stats.  Will expand on my above statements in later posts and another day.
Will point out an unusual stat...had to go into Babson's archives for it.
Last season...Babson in the early part of their season lost to three straight Nescac teams in overtime games.  First game was to Bowdoin in OT.  2nd game was to Tufts in OT.  Third game was to Amherst at Babson in 2OT.  In that game Conner Green had 39 points.  Four of the Babson starters in that game started in tonight's game.  Flannery had 28 pts in that game...Nielsen had 29 points.  All American Flannery almost had a "Conner Green" like win tonight with a 41 point in 50 minutes on the floor. 
I too will add my "well played" praise to Middhoops call of the game

[magicman]

Great game! I'll let other Purple and White partisans hold forth and provide the extended analysis. Two terrific teams going at it. Amherst justifies its ranking after opening with a series of games against The Little Sisters of the Poor.

I'm happy that we no longer have Amherst students doing the game - instead we now we have Dudley Moore (Alistair Cooke?) providing the pay-by play. Nonetheless, a vast improvement.

A bit more than 24 hours ago we were rehashing the 104-101 (3OT) Amherst win over Middlebury in Pepin 4 seasons back Old Guy.  Now this.  You were absolutely correct, btw.  Scary how I can no longer trust what I know I remember.  (Personal aside)  Great game.  Better still that I remembered to take my BP meds today.

I may be wrong because I'm older than Vandy and my memory can have lapses at times as well, but when Joey Flannery missed the free throw on the front end of a 1&1, with 7 seconds left in regulation, then got his own rebound, and put it back in to extend the Babson lead to 81-78 I had a flashback to that Middlebury game where Willie Workman did the same thing on the back end of a 1&1 and tied the game to send it to that 3rd overtime. I thought for sure that Flannery had just made Babson a winner. Fortunately for the Purple and White, Johnny McCarthy had a little of his own magic with the 3 pointer to send it to overtime. His other 3 pointer to tie the score at 97 and put Amherst in position to win the game was pretty magical as well.

I have Amherst as my team, in the Undefeated Pool, and by winning tonight the Pool has been reduced to 3 players. I'm feeling a little better about my chances of winning, now that Babson is in the rearview mirror.

Congratulations to the Amherst players on a well played and exciting game.

And congrats to middhoops, who had his crystal ball out tonight and was in fine form. Of course he did have a Prestidigitator of the 9th order to mentor him, through the years, on the specifics of playing Amherst in LeFrak.          

[AmherstStudent05]

Geez- epic game tonight between 2 of the very best teams in D3.
In the bygone days of the Celtics glory Johnny Most would say "where are all the Lakers Fans?" So I'll coin that phrase again and ask "where are all the Jefffs......whoops......Purple fans".....
A great win for the Lord Jeffs......

Fear not. they'll show up.

Indeed, Old Guy, you know us too well.

Not to rehash the old student announcer argument, but while I do think that Hugh Campbell does a fantastic job (in both football and basketball), I do lament that these opportunities are not given to students.  Again, I thought this was one of the great selling points of a liberal arts college: the chance to seize opportunities that don't exist with our larger cousins.  At the very least, could we have a student team up with Hugh and learn the ropes?  But, if no students want the job, then I am very happy with Hugh (although there is NO WAY Flannery intentionally missed the front end of that one-and-one at the end of regulation).

Also, I may have some Middlebury news for you that I have been meaning to share but haven't gotten around to.  A few weeks ago I heard that Jack Farrell, a promising guard from Verona, NJ is likely headed up to Vermont.  If true I hope as an Amherst fan that this isn't a second coming of the great Joey Kizel!

[JEFFFAN]

Only watched the overtimes - two excellent teams out there and I don't say that lightly. Both should be there st the end of the season.

So Flannery with 43 and Dawson with 32!  Anyone report why George only got 21.minutes?  Saw that Sellew had 12, which seems like a lot. And Riopel clearly hampered by the injury in terms of limiting his time.

[AmherstStudent05]

Only watched the overtimes - two excellent teams out there and I don't say that lightly. Both should be there st the end of the season.

So Flannery with 43 and Dawson with 32!  Anyone report why George only got 21.minutes?  Saw that Sellew had 12, which seems like a lot. And Riopel clearly hampered by the injury in terms of limiting his time.

George was in foul trouble (he ultimately fouled out).  I think my post above was unkind to George by the way.  He certainly had a tough night on the offensive end, but I failed to note how much of an impact he had on the defensive end.  He was a real force there (in his limited minutes) and I should have mentioned that. 

[lumbercat]

Old Guy right again.....I jumped the gun on the Jeffs.....Time out for Johnny Most and time in for Jim Pansullo!
Babson hasn't been this good since the days they were coached by ex Celtic Togo Palazzi.
They gave the mighty Jeffs a battle tonight.

[pinseeking1]

That Amherst-Babson game was unbelievable and fun to watch. There were two or three times in regulation and the OTs where it looked like Amherst was done, but each time they managed to get a clutch basket to extend their life. It took them two overtimes to finally put themselves in a position to take the last shot for the win and they executed it to perfection. Those strategic mistakes (like not fouling at the end of regulation) cost Babson big time.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Incredible game.  All the doubts I had about Amherst were certainly put to rest with that one.  Those guys stepped up huge.  I'm not sure Amherst could've played any better than they did in that game.  I've been an Amherst hold out, to some degree, waiting for them to meet a challenge like this, but they'll certainly move up by ballot with this win.

[nescac1]

I don't understand Johnny McCarthy -- he is about as average as it gets when it comes to three-point shooting (35.1 percent for his career).  I wish there was a stat though for three point attempts that could either tie a game or put Amherst ahead in the last minute of games.  Maybe I'm just remembering his prominent made shots more clearly, but I swear he must be at like 80 percent for his career.  I can't think of any other player (certainly not in my time watching NESCAC) who is so clutch relative to his general shooting performance.  Normally, you'd feel pretty good about a 35 percent three point shooter putting it up in a high-pressure situation, but when McCarthy launches, I always feel like it's going in. 

[WPI89]

Seems almost inevitable that these 2 will meet again this year.  Hopefully in Salem?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Seems almost inevitable that these 2 will meet again this year.  Hopefully in Salem?

If the committee was able to pull it off. It can be done as we know... but way too much could still happen to alter the circumstances.

[nescac1]

I think there is a pretty good chance that Babson and Amherst end up as the top seeds is two different brackets -- looking at their schecules, I'd put the over-under on combined losses for the two of them prior to the NCAA tourney at four. 

[PolarBear16]

I missed most of the first half so take my words with that big grain of salt.

Amherst is so weird. Sometimes when I watch Johnny McCarthy or Jayde Dawson get rolling downhill and then explode to the rim for an easy layup, I don't know how a D3 team could beat them. Then they go stretches on offense where their lack of a go-to guy but simultaneous insistence on playing mostly 1-on-1 offense makes the offense look timid.


Re Flannery: Bates waxed Bowdoin on Wednesday with Jack Simonds being held to just 12 points. The primary defender Bates put on Simonds for most of the game was one of the Delpeche brothers (I apologize for not remembering which one was on him predominantly). The size of the defender clearly bothered him, as Simonds relies on his size to shoot over his defender on the perimeter a lot. Flannery is somewhat similar to Simonds, albeit much better. He 's a knock down shooter and scorer but not a superior athlete. I would be intrigued to see Amherst go a little crazy on defense and try having Nabatoff or another one of their bigs try to match up with Flannery. Make him put the ball on the floor and make him facilitate for others. I thought Dawson did a good job overall on Flannery in the 2nd half and overtime, but the guy still scored 40 plus.

Note, did anyone watch Bates play Babson and see how they defended Flannery? Obviously it was a blowout for Babson, but Flannery had just 11 points on 4-12 shooting.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Might be hard to read into Flannery's numbers the last few weeks... he sat out last Friday with an apparent foot ailment/injury... I wouldn't be surprised if it was bothering him prior. What is more surprising is in the last two games - 90 minutes of basketball - he has played in 89 minutes since sitting out. Good athletic trainer they have! Though, having the next three weeks off probably a factor as well.