MBB: NESCAC

[Colby Hoops]

Really nice win for Colby last night in Brunswick. Jumped out to a quick 14-4 lead and were in control the rest of the way. Great game from Sam Jefferson with 27 points and freshman Noah Tyson continued a strong start to the season with 15 and 11. Jefferson has been a bit overlooked, he's not flashy but he can shoot it and just finds ways to score, by far Colby's most steady player.

Interestingly, Colby has started playing 6'7" Sean Gilmore more now that they are playing teams with size. He's responded well, with 10, 5 and 6 last night. He has a bit of a herky jerky game that doesn't always look pretty and leads to a few too many turnovers, but he's been effective to this point. At a minimum, he gives the Mules a viable big for league play.

Bowdoin had a pretty rough day for everyone beside Simonds and Ferraro. It's been a bit of a rough start for the Polar Bears, but I think they'll pick it up a bit still.

On another note -- that Williams-Fitchburg State score is crazy. Fitchburg State isn't good and, deservedly, lost their best player for that cheap shot against Nichols, but a 68 point victory is unexpected. Shows how deep the Williams bench is as the second half was mostly reserves for both teams and Williams won that 52-15.

[polbear73]

Really nice win for Colby last night in Brunswick. Jumped out to a quick 14-4 lead and were in control the rest of the way. Great game from Sam Jefferson with 27 points and freshman Noah Tyson continued a strong start to the season with 15 and 11. Jefferson has been a bit overlooked, he's not flashy but he can shoot it and just finds ways to score, by far Colby's most steady player.

Interestingly, Colby has started playing 6'7" Sean Gilmore more now that they are playing teams with size. He's responded well, with 10, 5 and 6 last night. He has a bit of a herky jerky game that doesn't always look pretty and leads to a few too many turnovers, but he's been effective to this point. At a minimum, he gives the Mules a viable big for league play.

Bowdoin had a pretty rough day for everyone beside Simonds and Ferraro. It's been a bit of a rough start for the Polar Bears, but I think they'll pick it up a bit still.

On another note -- that Williams-Fitchburg State score is crazy. Fitchburg State isn't good and, deservedly, lost their best player for that cheap shot against Nichols, but a 68 point victory is unexpected. Shows how deep the Williams bench is as the second half was mostly reserves for both teams and Williams won that 52-15.

Another rough game and attribute a lot of that to Colby playing well.  Not a deep team, Bowdoin misses Sam Grad for the second straight game.  Does anyone know why he's out and what the prognosis is?

[nescac1]

Surprised by Bowdoin's struggles.  Colby on the other hand has been very impressive.  Looking at the Mules' next twelve games, they may be able to amass a pretty gaudy W-L record heading into an absolutely brutal end of the season (Amherst/Hamilton/Williams/Midd/Wesleyan, three of them on the road, is a simply nasty five-game stretch). 

The Ephs' Bobby Casey right now is in a ridiculous zone, when he launches even from 26 feet, you feel like it's going in.  Yes, the competition has been poor, but he's been taking and making shots (a lot of deep contested jumpers) that are going to be there for him consistently.  I don't think 52 percent on eight three point attempts per game is likely sustainable, but even if that goes down into the mid-40s, it would still be incredibly efficient.  In addition to his ridiculous shooting, Casey has really worked to become more of a playmaker, more than doubling his assist average (he's currently third in NESCAC in that category), and he is the third-leading rebounder on the squad despite being by several inches the smallest guy in the rotation.  His stamina is very impressive as well, as he does the bulk of the ball-handling and rarely leaves the floor when the game is close.  Such an impressive start to the season for him -- I don't think it's possible for him to play any better than he has.  With Kyle Scadlock now playing the two, where he creates major mismatches, and with Mickey Babek playing very well as a third guard off the bench, the backcourt play is worlds betters than last season's very banged up group for the Ephs.   If Spencer Spivy can eventually break into the backcourt rotation to add another elite shooter, all the better. 

Williams' senior class, with three truly elite players plus solid role players, will be impossible to replace.  But one benefit of the early blowouts is that young guys are getting a chance to gain valuable court experience.  The most impressive underclassman so far is Marc Taylor, who has shot the ball really well and who can do a lot of different things on the court.  He is developing into the prototypical stretch 4/5, a guy who can defend the paint and board on one end and make outside shots on the other.  I expect he will play a lot this year as a role guy and become a key player for the Ephs as an upperclassman, especially if he can add some muscle to help bang down low.  In my view three other underclassmen - Dan Kacmarek, Spivy, and Jovan Jones - would be rotation guys just about anywhere else, and all will be important players next season, but Williams is just too deep with veteran talent for any of them to see much time it seems. 

Kacmarek, Taylor, Babek and Casey are the four guys who seem most visibly improved as players since last season.  Kacmarek is a good athlete who looks bigger and stronger and seems to have gained a lot of confidence in his scoring ability, and who could be a strong back-up next season if he continues to develop his inside game. 

[JEFFFAN]

DU. was the Animal House in my years as it was always on one probation  or other .
 

I expect the Animal House reputation continued for a few more years.  My late brother Brian '78 was a DU and kept a live chicken as a pet his senior year.

DU also the fraternity home of the player who Dave Hixon told me years ago, without hesitation, was the best Division 3 basketball player he had ever seen - Jim Rehnquist.  Yes, son of the late chief justice.  6'4", great jumper, with the three point line he would been averaging 35 points per game in the NESCAC.

[Colby Hoops]

Surprised by Bowdoin's struggles.  Colby on the other hand has been very impressive.  Looking at the Mules' next twelve games, they may be able to amass a pretty gaudy W-L record heading into an absolutely brutal end of the season (Amherst/Hamilton/Williams/Midd/Wesleyan, three of them on the road, is a simply nasty five-game stretch). 

I think there will still be a lot of inconsistency for Colby. They are still a very young team and pretty much every player outside of Jefferson is a bit streaky. I think there's a chance we'll see some surprising losses -- but, hopefully I'm wrong!

[jayhawk]

It has been mentioned before but Jimmy Rehnquist possessed several remarkable attributes
He was about 6:3" with fantastic jumping ability and ability to hang in the air coupled with being extremely strong and rugged
I have not seen anybody since in NESCAC with his mixture of strength and jumping ability and of course he had a cannon of a shot that could hit from far out
Unfortunately there was no three point line when Jimmy played.

Waiting for league games to start
encouraged by a number of teams including the depth, height, passing and shooting of Amherst

[amh63]

JEFFFAN....Nice bit of info....will put it in my personnel box.   The player Rehnquist, played at a public HS in the McClean  area of N. Virginia.  One of his sisters lives there presently and the other in Middlebury Vt., I believe.  The player's daughter played BB for Williams.  I will mention a newspaper story....posted it a long time ago....about a HS game in N. Virginia when Jim was doing his thing on the floor.  Seems as the game was progressing a person in the stands was complaining loudly at the refs on some calls.  One of the refs....as reported in the paper....turned to look at the loudmouth in the stands.  The ref stated that he was quite surprised and sort of shook up to see that the person was the Chief Justice.
There has been a strong connection between Supreme Court Justices and Amherst over many years. The late Scallia...sp? had a daughter or two attend Amherst.  One or both of Rehnquist's sisters attended Amherst.  A classmate of mine from D.C. had a father that became a Supreme Court Justice...Justice .Goldberg.  Another classmate from Md....now a semi-retired Federal Judge in Md. was a good friend of the late Chief Justice...they would travel jointly to S. America for judicial matters.  My classmate's oldest son who taught at St. Mary's College in Md. and is now a Prez of a Midwest college was a great swimmer for Bowdoin.  I am reminded by classmate Messitte and another classmate often how their sons at Bowdoin help beat Amherst in swim meets.

[nescac1]

The top three NESCAC all-time legends who I wish I had seen play are Rehnquist, Harry Sheehy, and Matt Hancock.  All are reputed to be very much the real deal.   

But Jayhawk, did Rehnquist REALLY have a mixture of strength and jumping abiliity superior to Troy Whittington?  Because that would be ... something.  Or are you just talking about perimeter players? 

[creakyknees]

Jim Rehnquist was indeed a phenomenal player who was so strong and athletic he seemed far taller than his 6'3" or 6'4" frame.  He still holds the Amherst record for most points scored in a game (50 against MIT) during his junior year - a year in which he averaged a school record  27.8 points/game.  Impressive numbers when considering they were accomplished in an era without a shot clock or a 3 point line and every team was keyed on him.  Unfortunately, he played hurt most of his senior year and his numbers were not as productive as his 75/76 season.  I saw him play a number of times, but missed playing with him by a few years.  To bring it full circle, the Quist was indeed a DU member and legend has it that he was the first to hang-glide off of Amherst's Memorial Hill (not sure about the hang-gilding, but maybe someone in the know can confirm).   

[AmherstRules]

Yes, another post.  Stayed up to watch so mid west teams play...the no.4 vs the no. 5 presently  ranked teams.  Good crowd and tight game...went into OT.  The game seemed slower in pace, IMO, to Nescac games.  Maybe the teams' play was in part due to each other's high rankings.  See that another top 25 team team lost handily to an unranked team.  It's still early in the season. 
Need to watch those mid west powers more BUT the Nescac teams' higher pace style should be effective against present ranked out of region teams.

amh63

I watched that one too.   Augustana beat UW-Stevens Point 86-84 OT.  I don't think Augie led before the overtime period.  Nolan Ebel put his team up by two with less than two seconds remaining and stole the inbound pass to ice it.  Great game.  I've been watching quite of bit of CCIW ball over the last few seasons.  Wheaton's Aston Francis puts on a quite a show although Chicago humbled the Thunder tonight. I agree completely with Nescac1 assessment of WIAC/CCIW play.  They don't beat themselves.

Point plays perimeter defense pretty well, and plays their offensive sets to 5 seconds or less most times.  But they will put up that 3 late in a set and Dodge was smoking.  Just didn't put Augie away, they should have. 

[Vandy74]

JEFFFAN....Nice bit of info....will put it in my personnel box.   The player Rehnquist, played at a public HS in the McClean  area of N. Virginia.  One of his sisters lives there presently and the other in Middlebury Vt., I believe.  The player's daughter played BB for Williams.  I will mention a newspaper story....posted it a long time ago....about a HS game in N. Virginia when Jim was doing his thing on the floor.  Seems as the game was progressing a person in the stands was complaining loudly at the refs on some calls.  One of the refs....as reported in the paper....turned to look at the loudmouth in the stands.  The ref stated that he was quite surprised and sort of shook up to see that the person was the Chief Justice.
There has been a strong connection between Supreme Court Justices and Amherst over many years. The late Scallia...sp? had a daughter or two attend Amherst.  One or both of Rehnquist's sisters attended Amherst.  A classmate of mine from D.C. had a father that became a Supreme Court Justice...Justice .Goldberg.  Another classmate from Md....now a semi-retired Federal Judge in Md. was a good friend of the late Chief Justice...they would travel jointly to S. America for judicial matters.  My classmate's oldest son who taught at St. Mary's College in Md. and is now a Prez of a Midwest college was a great swimmer for Bowdoin.  I am reminded by classmate Messitte and another classmate often how their sons at Bowdoin help beat Amherst in swim meets.

amh63

One of Jim Rehnquist's sisters has an additional NESCAC  connection, being the wife of the Middlebury College vice president of academic development.  The couple lives in Weybridge, Vt., the next town over from Middlebury.  They live just down the road from another brother of mine. 

I believe this is the article you mention.

https://people.com/archive/the-puns-are-unavoidable-dads-on-the-bench-but-amherst-star-jim-rehnquist-rarely-is-vol-5-no-8/

[jayhawk]

I am not saying he jumped higher than Troy Whittington but rather he had the jumping ability and strength packaged with the ability to be a great shooter.
He could hit from significantly outside of the 3 point line , It was Jimmy's overall package.  aAs an inside player he had more moves than Troy
Troy was a dynamite player on the inside but I do not think he had the repertoire of moves that Rehnquist had

Still would love have to had Troy on anyone's team

[amh63]

Vandy74.....my reference was a local paper...probably the Wash Post.
See your College is in the SEC football playoffs.....like Northwestern is in the Big Ten one.  Will be pulling for your school to pull another "upset"...go Commodores! . 

[Old Guy]

JEFFFAN....Nice bit of info....will put it in my personnel box.   The player Rehnquist, played at a public HS in the McClean  area of N. Virginia.  One of his sisters lives there presently and the other in Middlebury Vt., I believe.  The player's daughter played BB for Williams.  I will mention a newspaper story....posted it a long time ago....about a HS game in N. Virginia when Jim was doing his thing on the floor.  Seems as the game was progressing a person in the stands was complaining loudly at the refs on some calls.  One of the refs....as reported in the paper....turned to look at the loudmouth in the stands.  The ref stated that he was quite surprised and sort of shook up to see that the person was the Chief Justice.
There has been a strong connection between Supreme Court Justices and Amherst over many years. The late Scallia...sp? had a daughter or two attend Amherst.  One or both of Rehnquist's sisters attended Amherst.  A classmate of mine from D.C. had a father that became a Supreme Court Justice...Justice .Goldberg.  Another classmate from Md....now a semi-retired Federal Judge in Md. was a good friend of the late Chief Justice...they would travel jointly to S. America for judicial matters.  My classmate's oldest son who taught at St. Mary's College in Md. and is now a Prez of a Midwest college was a great swimmer for Bowdoin.  I am reminded by classmate Messitte and another classmate often how their sons at Bowdoin help beat Amherst in swim meets.

amh63

One of Jim Rehnquist's sisters has an additional NESCAC  connection, being the wife of the Middlebury College vice president of academic development.  The couple lives in Weybridge, Vt., the next town over from Middlebury.  They live just down the road from another brother of mine. 

I believe this is the article you mention.

https://people.com/archive/the-puns-are-unavoidable-dads-on-the-bench-but-amherst-star-jim-rehnquist-rarely-is-vol-5-no-8/

The article on Jim Rehnquist: good get, Vandy. Thanks. I met him a couple of times when he was at Midd to watch his daughter play for the Ephs. I have a close friend who coached against him (Rehnquist coached hs ball for a few years before going on to more remunerative opportunities) and had nothing but good things to say about him in that role. Extraordinary person. Lawyer in Boston.

[MiddWatcher]

James Rehnquist. Great memories, folks. Was all set to play his Amherst squad - and to guard him - in January , 1975.  Bussed all the way to Amherst on a snowy/rainy night ....  arrived at the " cage " to find a large leak turning the playing surface into a wet, slippery floor.  Game called. One of the few " Indoor rain cancellations " in history !  Anyone remember that one ??