MBB: NESCAC

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Are you moving them into your top ten, then, Ryan ?  I know Tufts was down some key guys but Hamilton is going to be a bottom three team in Nescac this year so missing guys or not it's not a spectacular loss.

I won't know for sure until I go through all the teams tomorrow, but I wouldn't be opposed to voting for them. I really didn't like the way they came out. Maybe it was just the nerves of the first conference game, but Rogers looked pretty tentative early. He got almost all his numbers in the first ten minutes of the second half, which is not what you like to see.  I would love to catch them against a good team, at full strength.

The idea of basing a team on what they would be full-strength—making what/if projections on a potential full strength team—is folly in this year with massive Covid disruptions. The teams are what they are on any given night. And at some point, one needs to rely on the old Parcell's saw: "You are what your record says you are."

Tufts is 4-8.

I'm more inclined to do the "what if" this year, because COVID, for most people isn't like an injury.  It's a defined period of time and unlikely to drastically impact form.  I'm much more leery of teams dealing with injury, which is why I'm more cautious with Amherst.

I do take the point, though, and certainly you can only give a team so much rope. I don't tend to tighten up until the third conference weekend, which is getting pushed back for a lot of teams this year.

[Bucket]

On to Bowdoin for the afternoon game and see what the Polar Bears have after getting blistered by the Ephs. This was one of my favorite hoop weekends year after every other year. Sad not to be there with Maine pals.

This could be a trap game for Midd if they come in overconfident.  I hope they don't because when assume you'll win, bad things happen.

If Middlebury loses today, it won't be because they are overconfident. What a dumb, clueless thing to say about this group of guys (and coaching staff).

[SpringSt7]

Ryan will you agree to stop voting for Tufts if they are 4-10 or will it depend on how close the losses are?

[Old Guy]

Are you moving them into your top ten, then, Ryan ?  I know Tufts was down some key guys but Hamilton is going to be a bottom three team in Nescac this year so missing guys or not it's not a spectacular loss.

I won't know for sure until I go through all the teams tomorrow, but I wouldn't be opposed to voting for them. I really didn't like the way they came out. Maybe it was just the nerves of the first conference game, but Rogers looked pretty tentative early. He got almost all his numbers in the first ten minutes of the second half, which is not what you like to see.  I would love to catch them against a good team, at full strength.

The idea of basing a team on what they would be full-strength—making what/if projections on a potential full strength team—is folly in this year with massive Covid disruptions. The teams are what they are on any given night. And at some point, one needs to rely on the old Parcell's saw: "You are what your record says you are."

Tufts is 4-8.

Teams that have rough going & misfortune early have a second chance for further post season play by winning the league tournament. Tufts will be a hard draw for somebody.

[Old Guy]

On to Bowdoin for the afternoon game and see what the Polar Bears have after getting blistered by the Ephs. This was one of my favorite hoop weekends year after every other year. Sad not to be there with Maine pals.

This could be a trap game for Midd if they come in overconfident.  I hope they don't because when assume you'll win, bad things happen.

If Middlebury loses today, it won't be because they are overconfident. What a dumb, clueless thing to say about this group of guys (and coaching staff).

Sheesh Bucket, that's a little harsh. I don't think Midd will be overconfident either, but it is an afternoon game after a night game on the road (it's called "the dreaded Maine trip," for a reason). Three fifths of the starting line-up for Midd are frosh — an offday, foul trouble: hardly impossible. The Midd team continues to surpass all of our early expectations. For Panther diehards, it's a pandemic delight even if we can't get into the gym to watch.

[jumpshot]

Ephs down by 3 to Colby at the half due to 9 turnovers, and effective spacing and cohesiveness by the Mules resulting in getting their getting good shots.

[nescac1]

Williams with one of those ugly, turnover-prone halves they can have sometimes (two games in a row in the first half!).  Nine turnovers for the Ephs were really costly, some of them just inexplicable.  The Eph stars are struggling big time in this one, Cole Prowitt Smith and Nate Karren are a combined 1-9 with only two points, and both have missed a number of shots close to the rim they normally convert.  Credit to Colby, playing very intense and aggressive defense, playing very physical ball.  The refs are definitely letting them play in this one (on both ends) and it's certainly frustrated the Ephs inside.  Williams has been too content to stand around the perimeter and watch one guy dribble, and guys need to exploit Colby's overplays on D by cutting to the basket off the ball.  Great outside shooting especially from Declan Porter keeping Williams in this one.  Ephs getting zero in the paint despite a size advantage.

Will King is back for Colby and has played very well, creating a lot off the dribble.  Hanna and Tyson also with nice halves for the Mules, although Tyson did pick up three fouls.  Colby, unlike Williams, has moved very well off the ball and gotten open with great cuts.  They could be up by more but for missing some open looks.  The Ephs are gonna need much more typical level of play from the two stars to come back in this one. 

[SpringSt7]

Ryan you can't vote for Tufts if they are going to keep wearing these jerseys

[SpringSt7]

Williams puts another strong second half to good use to pull away from Colby and complete their first Maine sweep in I don't know how long---close to 10 years. The Ephs were -1 in the first half on the weekend and +46 in the second half.

A 3-1 start is great but this weekend was yet another reminder of how young this team's core is---Nate Karren had a lackluster weekend and Cole Prowitt-Smith looked like his freshman self again---so clearly the most talented player on the floor in spurts, like today when he scored 11 points in about 90 seconds, followed by spurts in which his decision making left you scratching your head. Declan Porter, who is now making as good a case as any to be the Ephs' #3 guy, scored 5 points on Friday and 18 points today on 10 shots. Such is life as a freshman.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this team is really good and really young. Ultimately their defense is what is going to have to win them their biggest games because the offensive personnel cannot be relied on like upperclassmen. The good news is that their defense is stellar enough to keep them in any game against any team in the region, and maybe even the country.

[nescac1]

Tufts beats Amherst so I trust we will be seeing them in the top 10 next week ....

Bowdoin is not good but still, impressive for Midd to pull away with Sobel barely playing due to foul trouble.

If Williams can just figure out what switch they click at halftime and play that way the entire game, they will be unbeatable.  As is, their defense and outside shooting can keep them in games when nothing else seems to be working, at least keeping them in striking distance when the offense is not clicking.  Wesleyan, Hamilton, Bowdoin and Colby, in all those games they were totally unrecognizable from one half to the next.  Only four turnovers in the second half for Williams as the Ephs were much more patient, working the ball down low again and again to exploit their size advantage.  Then Colby finally went zone and Cole went off from deep.  Cole's most impressive play though was a ridiculous offensive rebound in traffic of his own 24 foot three point attempt.  Just, insane athleticism to make a play like that. 

Porter and Roughley were really impressive this weekend.  Each of them is looking better and better.  In the two games combined:

Porter: 8-12, 5-7, 2-2
Roughley: 10-12,  3-3, 1-2

Those two guys are both shooting with very impressive efficiency over the course of the season.  They both have a knack for getting tough shots to drop.  And they can both get a lot better, of course.  They are gonna torch a lot of NESCAC squads over the next four years. 

[toad22]

I am very happy for the two wins in Maine. In the second half, the Ephs looked great in both games. I hope we're not learning that they don't need to show up for the first 20 minutes! Roughly and Porter are going to be a handful for the league in the next 3.5 years. Roughly likes to play bully ball, with the occasional outside shot. Porter likes the long ball, with the occasional power drive. 

[maineman]

On to Bowdoin for the afternoon game and see what the Polar Bears have after getting blistered by the Ephs. This was one of my favorite hoop weekends year after every other year. Sad not to be there with Maine pals.

This could be a trap game for Midd if they come in overconfident.  I hope they don't because when assume you'll win, bad things happen.

If Middlebury loses today, it won't be because they are overconfident. What a dumb, clueless thing to say about this group of guys (and coaching staff).

Bucket, did you get out on the wrong side of the bed today?  I didn't know I was dumb and clueless until you informed me.  My wife thinks otherwise.

[Bucket]

On to Bowdoin for the afternoon game and see what the Polar Bears have after getting blistered by the Ephs. This was one of my favorite hoop weekends year after every other year. Sad not to be there with Maine pals.

This could be a trap game for Midd if they come in overconfident.  I hope they don't because when assume you'll win, bad things happen.

If Middlebury loses today, it won't be because they are overconfident. What a dumb, clueless thing to say about this group of guys (and coaching staff).

Sheesh Bucket, that's a little harsh. I don't think Midd will be overconfident either, but it is an afternoon game after a night game on the road (it's called "the dreaded Maine trip," for a reason). Three fifths of the starting line-up for Midd are frosh — an offday, foul trouble: hardly impossible. The Midd team continues to surpass all of our early expectations. For Panther diehards, it's a pandemic delight even if we can't get into the gym to watch.

I think you just agreed with me.

Plenty of ways and reasons for Midd to have lost to Bowdoin today—I'm glad they didn't!—but being overconfident would never in a millions years be one of those reasons. Which is why I called the comment clueless and dumb and still stand by that!

[Bucket]

If Williams can just figure out what switch they click at halftime and play that way the entire game, they will be unbeatable.  As is, their defense and outside shooting can keep them in games when nothing else seems to be working, at least keeping them in striking distance when the offense is not clicking.  Wesleyan, Hamilton, Bowdoin and Colby, in all those games they were totally unrecognizable from one half to the next.  Only four turnovers in the second half for Williams as the Ephs were much more patient, working the ball down low again and again to exploit their size advantage.  Then Colby finally went zone and Cole went off from deep.  Cole's most impressive play though was a ridiculous offensive rebound in traffic of his own 24 foot three point attempt.  Just, insane athleticism to make a play like that. 

Reminds me of the Midd Final Four team, to be honest. One of the best second-half teams I have ever witnessed . . .

[Painter66]

Today's Midd win not their best game, but they persevered in a tough spot without much from Sobel due to fouls. I did not think the officials did a great job, as players on both sides were very unhappy. But the team fought on, as they have done all year. Osher was in the "zone" today, but Stevens was again special. His ability to come though with daggers from deep just kills momentum for the other teams. He has done it several times already and did it again today. At 6'5", he can shoot, handle the ball, and rebound. He has a chance to be one of the best "we" have ever had. I do not know what the ceiling is for this team with no seniors, but it is a fun ride so far.