MBB: NESCAC

[P'bearfan]

Actually P'bearfan, after leading by 17 with a little over 6 minutes to play, the Polar Bears suffered a mental meltdown to allow USM back in the game.  Poor shot selection, turnovers, stupid fouls, and some hot shooting by USM allowed them to tie the game late.  This is not the way to go into the break and was a disappointing ending.  Bowdoin got the win, but by the skin of their teeth.

Yikes!  Hope that doesn't happen again anytime soon.  Thanks for the update.

It as even worse than Polbear73 says!!! A USM player stood at the foul line with 3 seconds to go and Bowdoin holding a 2-point lead, only to miss the first of the 1-1 opportunity and allowing the PBs to escape an OT in a game that had been a laugher just a few minutes earlier . . So many atrocious plays to close the game out -- turning over the ball by running the baseline on a play where running the baseline was not permitted, etc . .

Jeesh.....clearly this year's squad is going to have to learn to finish games if they want to be competitive in conference play. 

Time to focus on finals and wrap up the academic semester strong.  Go home, get some rest and get back at it.  I have a feeling Coach Gilbride will have a few focus areas for the team when they return from break.

Btw, I may have been mistaken but it looked like former Bowdoin player Matt Palecki was on the bench in jacket and tie during the game.  He was working in the Portland area last I heard so it could have been him.  Good news if that's true; he'd be a great addition to the coaching staff even if it's part time.

[polbear73]

Actually P'bearfan, after leading by 17 with a little over 6 minutes to play, the Polar Bears suffered a mental meltdown to allow USM back in the game.  Poor shot selection, turnovers, stupid fouls, and some hot shooting by USM allowed them to tie the game late.  This is not the way to go into the break and was a disappointing ending.  Bowdoin got the win, but by the skin of their teeth.

Yikes!  Hope that doesn't happen again anytime soon.  Thanks for the update.

It as even worse than Polbear73 says!!! A USM player stood at the foul line with 3 seconds to go and Bowdoin holding a 2-point lead, only to miss the first of the 1-1 opportunity and allowing the PBs to escape an OT in a game that had been a laugher just a few minutes earlier . . So many atrocious plays to close the game out -- turning over the ball by running the baseline on a play where running the baseline was not permitted, etc . .

Jeesh.....clearly this year's squad is going to have to learn to finish games if they want to be competitive in conference play. 

Time to focus on finals and wrap up the academic semester strong.  Go home, get some rest and get back at it.  I have a feeling Coach Gilbride will have a few focus areas for the team when they return from break.

Btw, I may have been mistaken but it looked like former Bowdoin player Matt Palecki was on the bench in jacket and tie during the game.  He was working in the Portland area last I heard so it could have been him.  Good news if that's true; he'd be a great addition to the coaching staff even if it's part time.

I think he's a volunteer assistant.  Any time he's able to spend is valuable. 

[grabtherim]

Projecting post season awards, accolades before one league game has been played?  Really?  The season is barely at the 1/4 pole.  Please call me in May to let me know who will win the MLB MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year, and for that matter who will win the World Series.  I will run to Vegas and get bets in for all of us.     

[lumbercat]

Projecting post season awards, accolades before one league game has been played?  Really?  The season is barely at the 1/4 pole.  Please call me in May to let me know who will win the MLB MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year, and for that matter who will win the World Series.  I will run to Vegas and get bets in for all of us.     

Good post, Glad someone said it.

[nescac1]

Amherst-Springfield should be a very interesting game tonight.  Springfield will have the best two guys on the court, but Amherst might have the next 10 best ... Ross and Post are really tremendous though, and have shown (in last year's final four run as well as the second half vs. Williams over the weekend) that when they have it going they can really raise Springfield's level to compete with anyone.

On another note, I've been really impressed by how Kyle Scadlock has adapted his game to a different role this season.  Before he got hurt last year, he was the centerpiece of Williams' offense and the clear go-to guy.  He is still the same big-time talent, but he has adapted his approach to do what's best for the team to win.  Karp, Casey and Heskett are all high-volume shooters and scorers, and all benefit from a lot of shot attempts to get in - and stay in - rhythm throughout the game.  Kyle gets his points in other ways, often away from the main action on offense ... he's averaging 14.4 ppg on only 6.3 FGA (!) per game, which is a career low (half as many attempts as he took last season before getting hurt, in fact), and which is incredibly efficient.  While he will on occasion post up or take an open three, most of his points aren't coming (it seems) on plays run for him, but rather in transition, from off-the-ball cuts where is a very adept finisher, on broken plays, or in particular on second-chance points.  He is getting fouled a ton, both inside in scrums and in the open court, and he's done a solid job converting free throws.  You don't always see a veteran player and long-time team leader with star talent who seems very willing to defer to other guys getting a lot more of the offense run in their direction, but Kyle is giving exactly what the Ephs need on both sides of the ball.  Kudos to him.       

[Bucket]

Projecting post season awards, accolades before one league game has been played?  Really?  The season is barely at the 1/4 pole.  Please call me in May to let me know who will win the MLB MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year, and for that matter who will win the World Series.  I will run to Vegas and get bets in for all of us.     

I've been missing your voice on here, my friend. Good to have you back.

[Colby Hoops]

Projecting post season awards, accolades before one league game has been played?  Really?  The season is barely at the 1/4 pole.  Please call me in May to let me know who will win the MLB MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year, and for that matter who will win the World Series.  I will run to Vegas and get bets in for all of us.     

Good post, Glad someone said it.

Don't be afraid to have a little fun guys! Just taking some guesses at who we think is going to have a good conference year based on the early season results, not handing out hardware.

[jumpshot]

Duncan Robinson scored 32 points last night for the Miami Heat gLeague Sky Force team with 10 of 17 from distance as shown in this game highlights video.

https://gleague.nba.com/games/20181210/ACCSXF/

Duncan is averaging 20 points shooting 49% from the floor and 47% from distance in 33 minutes.

The video provides evidence that he will earn a full-time spot on an NBA team, possibly as soon as after his one-year two-way contract ends, during which he spends a limited amount of days with the Heat.

[JEFFFAN]

Projecting post season awards, accolades before one league game has been played?  Really?  The season is barely at the 1/4 pole.  Please call me in May to let me know who will win the MLB MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year, and for that matter who will win the World Series.  I will run to Vegas and get bets in for all of us.     

Good post, Glad someone said it.

Can I add a whole bunch of +k's to these posts?   

[nescac1]

Wow, thanks for posting Jumpshot.  Those shots seemed to increase in degree of difficulty over the course of the game to the nearly-impossible level for the last few.  Shooting is more valuable than ever in today's NBA, and some of the shots he was making in second half of that game (the beautiful step-back 3 that Luka Doncic and Harden like to use, 3's from 26 feet plus, and completely contested 3's, including a contested turnaround 3), there is simply no defense for. 

[grabtherim]

Hey I'm all about fun, just ask my friend Bucket.  In the scheme of things, all of this is drivel, not to be taken too seriously.  That said, if anyone wants in on the action, based on their lack of moves at the Winter Meetings thus far, I have the 2017 World Champion Astros posted at 9/1 to get back to the World Series.   

Projecting post season awards, accolades before one league game has been played?  Really?  The season is barely at the 1/4 pole.  Please call me in May to let me know who will win the MLB MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year, and for that matter who will win the World Series.  I will run to Vegas and get bets in for all of us.     

Good post, Glad someone said it.

Don't be afraid to have a little fun guys! Just taking some guesses at who we think is going to have a good conference year based on the early season results, not handing out hardware.

[P'bearfan]

Duncan Robinson scored 32 points last night for the Miami Heat gLeague Sky Force team with 10 of 17 from distance as shown in this game highlights video.

https://gleague.nba.com/games/20181210/ACCSXF/

Duncan is averaging 20 points shooting 49% from the floor and 47% from distance in 33 minutes.

The video provides evidence that he will earn a full-time spot on an NBA team, possibly as soon as after his one-year two-way contract ends, during which he spends a limited amount of days with the Heat.

Wow!  Simply, wow. 

[amh63]

Amherst wins over Springfield by nine at Springfield.  Amherst was ahead by 18 at the half as they dominated the boards.  As in the Williams game, Springfield made a push in the 2nd half ....but could not get any closer than 6 and started to foul to get the ball.  Amherst was hitting the outside shots and playing good defense....using 11 players including 2 FYs.  Balanced scoring by Amherst.  Two players scored in double figures....Carle with 20 and Ross with 18...for Springfield.
Amherst first semester ends tonight as classes ends.  Reading period starts with exams to follow.
Springfield needs to win their conference games in order to get to the post- season....as the announcers pointed the "path".   Springfield has lost to 3 Nescac teams to date with Ross starting and playing major minutes.
Have a happy holiday season y'all! .

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Amherst wins over Springfield by nine at Springfield.  Amherst was ahead by 18 at the half as they dominated the boards.  As in the Williams game, Springfield May a push in the 2nd half ....but could not get any closer than 6 and started to foul to get the ball.  Amherst was hitting the outside shots and playing good defense....using 11 players including 2 FYs.  Balanced scoring by Amherst.  Two players scored in double figures....Carle with 20 and Ross with 18...for Springfield.
Amherst first semester ends tonight as classes ends.  Reading period starts with exams to follow.
Springfield needs to win their conference games in order to get to the post- season....as the announcers pointed the "path".   Springfield has lost to 3 Nescac teams to date with Ross starting and playing major minutes.
Have a happy holiday season y'all! .

That injury was really terrible for Springfield.  I think it took them a few games to figure out how to play without Ross, now it seems to be taking them some time to remember how to play with him.  The Trinity game was a mess.  I thought they did really well against Williams - and the second half yesterday, but that first half against Amherst was some of the worst basketball I've seen all year.  No margin for error for those guys at all this season.

[jayhawk]

Jake Ross is not back yet to being himself
Clearly Springfield played with some sloppiness
On the other hand in the first half Amherst probably played their best half of basketball this year
They were hitting their three point shots, were too tall and Grant Robinson continues to grow and shine. Adding the ability to take a jumpshot off the dribble really enhances his game and he has demonstrated reasonable accuracy on his 3 pt shot. He still remains a jet with the basketball