MBB: NESCAC

[MiddWatcher]

Down by 4 with 4:49 left they were done- never seen a Middlebury team look like that with the game on the line at home...never.
The Gym was dead, the announcers were dead, the bench was dead. Go back and watch the end of the game, they were beaten.
Maybe Colby just kicked their butt early on but I haven't seen that in a Middlebury team at home in recent memory.....maybe just one of those nights.

Don't get crazy over it- it's one game.  The Panthers will win the Nescac and it will start tomorrow.

OK - will jump in quickly. The hoop by Farrell to put Middlebury up 71-69 with about 5:50 to go had the gym rocking. As did the efforts of the local kid ( DeLorenzo ) who hit some big hoops and played very hard. It was the loudest that Pepin Gym has been all year - by far ..... I have no idea what Lumbercat is talking about. Maybe the crowd mike was turned down. No clue, Lumbercat. Please don't tell us that the team was dead - they were not. They simply got outplayed down the stretch.  Big minutes for many - remember last year they were outscored 198 - 144 in the final 8 minutes of 7 losses combined.  That trend continued tonight.  In the waning minutes, Colby had jumped the 2 point deficit into an 8 point lead in no time flat. The big hoop was the 25 foot dagger by Dorion.  Probably the crowd was a bit in shock. It is also an older person crowd now in Pepin ..... not many students on campus, and, yes there was an ice hockey game with Plattsburgh State going on.  So, nice opinion, but I agree with Bucket and strongly disagree with your characterization of Middlebury tonight. They played hard and played well. They were not dead; and definitely did NOT overlook Colby. I know. I listen to many of the players in my 'Watcher role. That's it.

[lumbercat]

Sorry guys that wasn't a Middlebury effort in the late stages at home.
If you say the Panthers didn't take them lightly you're mistaken- the Panthers have drummed these guys for years at home. Despite all the pre game stuff it's easy to overlook this one even if Colby is 12-0. You've never had a problem with them and you're just not going to approach it like it was one of the Elites.
The Panthers were stunned at the end and mailed it in a little early- it's one game, you guys will win the Nescac.

[grabtherim]

Overlooked?  Not a chance.  They come into your gym undefeated and ranked.  Teams win and lose for a lot of reasons, but at this level, knowing their players and record, with this much on the line, being overlooked is not one of them.  Actually that is as much an insult to the winning team as it is to the losers, minimizing them, and the game they played.  Even more so, saying the kids from Middlebury were "stunned at the end" and  "mailed it in a little early" is not even close to accurate. It is absurd. 

[Colby Hoops]

Lumbercat — think you're mistaken on this one. From watching online it seemed like a full house to me. And I'm  very sure that the Midd players and coaches didn't overlook the #12 team in the country. As I mentioned, I don't think that was the best game Midd is capable of playing, but it wasn't from a lack of effort or focus.

[nescac1]

I think it's very hard in all events to get a sense of crowd enthusiasm from streaming video.  You only see one side of the court, first of all, and often the crowd noise is difficult to hear, depending on how the audio is set up.  There is no way Midd wasn't up for that game.  Colby is simply good, with a lot of veterans (and one atypical frosh) who understand their roles and style / personnel that is difficult to defend.   If Tucker can return at some point, they will be even more dangerous. 

[Old Guy]

I think it's very hard in all events to get a sense of crowd enthusiasm from streaming video.  You only see one side of the court, first of all, and often the crowd noise is difficult to hear, depending on how the audio is set up.  There is no way Midd wasn't up for that game.  Colby is simply good, with a lot of veterans (and one atypical frosh) who understand their roles and style / personnel that is difficult to defend.   If Tucker can return at some point, they will be even more dangerous.

Numbers: attendance at Trinity for their game with Wes — 400; at Tufts (vs Hamilton) 208; at Bates (Amherst) 377; no attendance number at Williams (Bowdoin); attendance at Midd 550. The stand opposite the camera were 75% full, all the students and regulars are on the other side. I live in Middlebury but am in Brunswick attending to urgent personal matters: I watched the Midd game online so can't really gauge the crowd enthusiasm. I have been to every other home game and the size and enthusiasm of the crowds has been great — ask anyone. I was turning to other games during breaks in the action. Nearly 400 at Bates is about a full house and folks there were having a good time — Bates was ahead at the half and was in the game for 3/4. Granted I could see only half the court, but there appeared to be not many folks at Williams.

I didn't think Midd played great, but that had much to do with Colby's defense — we didn't miss a lot of easy shots. On the other hand, Colby had a number of lay-ups on backdoor cuts, as Midd players were so attentive to Colby's three-point abilities and range. Delorenzo's 11 points (in 13 minutes) came at crucial times when Colby was flying and the game might have gotten out of hand. The Panthers were resilient and I thought we might have reeled them when we went up 71-69 with about 6 minutes left, but the Mules were better down the stretch. No way Midd took them lightly! Colby deserved the win. It will be interesting to see how the Mules fare in Williamstown today.

Midd must take care of business today against the Polar Bears. I will not be sitting in a chair squirming watching Midd-Bowdoin on my computer at my sister's: I'm headed to Lewiston 20 miles away to watch the Bobcats knock off the Continentals in Alumni Gym (where I grew up). Young Girl II, a senior at Bates, will join me (yes, I will have the Midd-Bowdoin game on on my phone — brave new world!). 

[amh63]

Been a busy week....watching conference games has been a somewhat chore these days with split site men's and women's games.  Oldest son and wife left Friday for North Carolina...they have returned from overseas to visit family and friends.  The "close" games with Bates at home and away were a bit of a surprise....conference games are all becoming battles.  Talent level of teams is leveling out....the 3-point shots...both are reducing any "home court" advantage. 
Today's Amherst games will again have me switching my attention. 
Old Guy...so there is a Young Girl II!

[Bucket]

Down by 4 with 4:49 left they were done- never seen a Middlebury team look like that with the game on the line at home...never.
The Gym was dead, the announcers were dead, the bench was dead. Go back and watch the end of the game, they were beaten.
Maybe Colby just kicked their butt early on but I haven't seen that in a Middlebury team at home in recent memory.....maybe just one of those nights.

Don't get crazy over it- it's one game.  The Panthers will win the Nescac and it will start tomorrow.

I'm not going crazy over the result, not at all. It was a hard-fought game, and has been accurately documented, Colby was the better team.

I'm upset by your characterization, followed by your inane supposition that the Panthers had overlooked an undefeated Colby team.

I don't need to go back and watch the end of the game. I was there, in the gym, sitting courtside, as close to the action as any player or coach. The gym wasn't dead; far from it. It was loud in Pepin. And while attendance didn't each capacity—it was -3 outside and there was a hockey game going on against rival Plattsburgh across the hall—those in the gym (still more than half full) were loud.

And I guarantee the players hadn't given up w/ 4:00 minutes to play in a tight game; I was feet away from them.

Your characterization is insulting to every Middlebury player and coach. And the fact that it is based on 4 minutes of screen time—compared to someone who was in the arena, from tip to final buzzer—is all one needs to know.

[lumbercat]

Calm down Bucket, nothing personal here.
My comments are based on what I saw with the game hanging in the balance- they were a beaten team. Uncharacteristically checked out a little early.
Colby is obviously a fine team and I believe a better one than Middlebury expected.

[Canvas Hightops]

I'm a big fan of yours Lumbercat.
This time however, Bucket is 100% correct.
What you saw was, respectfully, a mirage.

[lumbercat]

Thanks-
Again just didn't look like a Panther team at home trailing by 4. - maybe they just had no answer for the Mules.
Certainly respect your point of view.

[jumpshot]

Forgotten Fundamentals:
In the few seasons in recent years when Willams has not improved over the course of the season, common persistent shortcomings are turnovers, fewer assists, below average foul shooting, individual and collective defense, and rebounding. In short, lack of "detail skills" and doing the hard work of basketball.

Today's first half stats reflect these items with the exception of foul shooting ....every team needs playground players as well as NESCAC elegance ....

[nescac1]

Colby handles Williams and has clearly established themselves as the class of NESCAC.  This was probably (along with Tufts) the worst match-up for Colby, just because of their well-chronicled lack of interior defense.  Karp was indeed unstoppable, 26-8-2, 12-15 from the field, several thunderous dunks, Colby really had no chance against him.  But Sam Jefferson was equally unstoppable for Colby, with 33 points on only 16 shot attempts, his ridiculous level of efficiency this year continues.  And Colby's supporting cast was just much better tonight. 

I don't think a single player on Williams had an above-average game, other than Karp.  In particular, the shooters just had a brutal night from outside, credit to Colby which doesn't give up a lot of open 3's, but also, the Ephs just missed a lot of shots that they need to make.  The Ephs' best three shooters (Stoddard, Spivy, and CPS) all could not get into any kind of rhythm, shooting 1-12 and really most of 'em weren't even close.   Jovan Jones did put up 12-5 and made some nice plays on defense, but also turned it over 7 times, way too high especially for non-point guard. 

Will King is really impressive for Colby, and clearly won the battle of the two top rookie of the year candidates, putting up an 11-4-8 vs. CPS's 8-3-2 on a tough shooting night.  Dorion and Hannah both also had nice games for Colby.  The Mules, other than the big hole on the interior on defense, are a very impressive team.  Just so tough to guard with five guys who can shoot, handle, pass, move off the ball, and really play well together, and a legit superstar in Sam Jefferson.  They will give up a few easy buckets but then come back and hit a few 25 foot 3's so you still come out on the losing end of those exchanges.  Best team in NESCAC right now, no question, and a legit top-ten national team.  Pretty to watch. 

Congrats by the way to Matt Karpowicz for scoring his 1000th career point tonight.  He has been so good, playing at an all-American level.  But he needs more consistent help from his supporting cast.  Guys are just going to keep doubling and tripling him and making Williams beat teams from the outside.  So far, the Ephs can't do it often enough to make teams rethinking their defenses. 

[JEFFFAN]

If Sellew is out for an extended period, Amherst is cooked!

[toad22]

Colby was really efficient today against the Ephs. Though Williams kept the game competitive, they needed to shoot the 3 a lot better to win. Colby switched all five, and pushed us out a bit beyond where we were comfortable. Sam Jefferson shot the ball amazingly well, which really made the difference. Karpowitz was a beast, but it wasn't enough (as Mike Maker used to say: "Three is worth more than two"). I like Colby a lot. They and St. Joseph's are easily the two best teams we have faced. I haven't seen Tufts or Midd yet, but this might be Colby's year.