MBB: NESCAC

[nescac1]

The MIT thing is really bizarre.  MIT has been on a severe downward trajectory since its elite eight run in 2018.  It just seems like MIT has had an increasingly tough time keeping its recruits in the program -- academics at MIT are just so brutal, which I assume is largely to blame.  It's not like MIT doesn't bring in strong recruiting classes.  But each year, several recruited players seem to quit hoops, decimating the roster depth.  Looking at the box scores for hoops, it seems like this year, things have reached a crisis level.  MIT started the year with, I'm guessing, six guys who were non-walk-ons, and playing all of the minutes accordingly.  Two of those guys seem to have been out with injuries for the Tufts game.  So, they played five guys the entire Tufts game, and one of them seems like a non-recruited player.  This is after beating UMD the previous game with five guys playing the entire way (but the fifth guy was at least a recruited player who didn't play vs. Tufts).  The results are ... predictable. 

Looking at NESCAC as a whole, the expected contending teams are mostly looking good.  Williams seems to be ahead of the pack, but let's see how quickly the many injured guys return and how the Ephs do as the competition gets much tougher before anointing them the clear favorite.  Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts and Colby are the other teams I figured would be in the mix, and each are undefeated.  Tufts' schedule looks tough just looking at the program names, but the programs it is beating seem to be mostly a bit down so hard to say.  Still, Tufts has a lot of depth and plenty of firepower. 

Middlebury has really been struggling offensively outside of the ever-dominant Sobel.  Midd is not going to win many games against good teams with its top four perimeter guys all shooting below 30 percent (!) from the field.  The good news for Midd is that Stevens and Osher, in particular, are too good as shooters to keep struggling like this, and it's a small sample size.  And they do have some quality frosh (who will only get better), which makes the team deeper than last season.  Some home cooking might help get the shooters going, but of course, Midd doesn't play a home game until December 7!  Still, at least for right now and until Midd snaps out of it and picks up its scoring around Sobel, Trinity has to be considered above them in the pecking order. 

Trinity was not talked about much pre-season but they've been killing teams, including solid Nichols and Eastern Conn squads.  Callahan-Gold is a star offensive player and he's gotten lots of help from Redd, Vetter, Dorion and Macarchuk.  Trinity always has tough, physical defense and has a slew of big wings coming in and out in a deep rotation.  Even without a real rim protector this year, Trinity seems to be tough on the glass and stingy on D.  The question for Trinity is usually, can they generate offense and hit shots, and so far this season they are hitting 3's at a 38 percent clip.  Again, early sample size, but if that continues, they are gonna be a tough team to beat.  Trinity is going to be favored through the rest of non-conference play (heavily favored in most games) so alas we won't get a chance to see them really tested in most of those games.  I expect they will likely have a gaudy record and be a top 25 team come January. 

The rest of the league -- eeessshhhh, so far.  Amherst is struggling more than expected v. a soft early schedule.  They have a big game vs. Babson today, a win in that one would go a long way towards establishing them as a team to watch.  Wesleyan already has three losses, two by blow-out, and was missing two of its top guys last night, not a great sign.  Right now, Nicky Johnson just has to do way too much on his own as the team has no inside presence and shoots poorly from outside, a rough combination.  Bates and Bowdoin have already picked up two losses.  Conn and Hamilton seem around the same as last year.

[JEFFFAN]

Amherst today versus Babson .... "Amherst shot only 26.9 percent (18 of 67) from the floor for the game, shooting better from beyond the three-point line (6 of 18, 33 percent). The Mammoths were out rebounded by a 51-43 margin."

Gonna be a very long season!

NESCAC1 - re MIT, I don't buy for a second that MIT's academic rigor is the reason for the program losing players.   MIT is no more rigorous than NESCAC and Ivy schools, yet they don't experience that level of player turnover.   Something else is going on.

[nescac1]

Fair enough re MIT.  Whatever it is, it ain't great ... going back through the last 4-5 years of incoming frosh, just a lot of guys didn't stick it out. 

[SpringSt7]

Larry Anderson choosing not to further pursue the Amherst position seems like a true lose-lose.

[middhoops]

Anyone have info on official game stats?
Midd played a sloppy/poor shooting game at NVU-Johnson yesterday.  According to the official stats, Sobel had 6 boards and 0 blocks.  Except if you watched the game you know that is clearly wrong.  I didn't keep track but I'd guess he had 15 boards and at least 5 blocks.  (typical Sobel game)
Is there any possible redress for stat mistakes?

[nescac1]

Could be worse middhoops - there are no stats at all for the MCLA-Williams game!

[Old Guy]

Anyone have info on official game stats?
Midd played a sloppy/poor shooting game at NVU-Johnson yesterday.  According to the official stats, Sobel had 6 boards and 0 blocks.  Except if you watched the game you know that is clearly wrong.  I didn't keep track but I'd guess he had 15 boards and at least 5 blocks.  (typical Sobel game)
Is there any possible redress for stat mistakes?

Middhoops, I only saw the second half (no sound, no announcers) and have to agree with you. I saw at least three blocks by Sobel and thought he got every rebound (more or less). Middlebury kept their own book, but the home team has the "official" book, right? I don't know what the redress would be. It's too bad because individual stats do have meaning, especially regarding NESCAC leaders. I would be interested to know what Midd's book itself had.

Midd's shooting woes are worrisome. I know, we're only three games in, but 3-24 from three will not win many games (Osher 3-10; Stevens 0-8). Midd was down 8 at the half, 33-25, and won by 8, 65-57, but played the starters big minutes (Sobel 37, Stevens 36, Sobel 35), didn't mail it in. Sobel was very good again, assuming the scorebook person got his 23 points right.

Endicott will be a test. They're 2-1, their only loss to Tufts by 11, though it was a back and forth game (10 ties, 5 lead changes). The following weekend Midd plays in Rochester against two UAA teams, CWRU (4-0) and the hosts (5 wins and a one point loss). CWRU last year was led into the NCAA tourney by their point guard Griffin Kornaker who some will remember played three years at Middlebury (and graduated) and spent his Covid eligibility year at CWRU taking grad courses. I am contemplating heading to Rochester, but will probably come to my senses — it's nearly 300 miles and 5-6 hours drive time away (and it snows all the time there). So I'm so thankful for the live streaming

Happy Thanksgiving all.

[deiscanton]

Anyone have info on official game stats?
Midd played a sloppy/poor shooting game at NVU-Johnson yesterday.  According to the official stats, Sobel had 6 boards and 0 blocks.  Except if you watched the game you know that is clearly wrong.  I didn't keep track but I'd guess he had 15 boards and at least 5 blocks.  (typical Sobel game)
Is there any possible redress for stat mistakes?

Middhoops, I only saw the second half (no sound, no announcers) and have to agree with you. I saw at least three blocks by Sobel and thought he got every rebound (more or less). Middlebury kept their own book, but the home team has the "official" book, right? I don't know what the redress would be. It's too bad because individual stats do have meaning, especially regarding NESCAC leaders. I would be interested to know what Midd's book itself had.

Midd's shooting woes are worrisome. I know, we're only three games in, but 3-24 from three will not win many games (Osher 3-10; Stevens 0-8). Midd was down 8 at the half, 33-25, and won by 8, 65-57, but played the starters big minutes (Sobel 37, Stevens 36, Sobel 35), didn't mail it in. Sobel was very good again, assuming the scorebook person got his 23 points right.

Endicott will be a test. They're 2-1, their only loss to Tufts by 11, though it was a back and forth game (10 ties, 5 lead changes). The following weekend Midd plays in Rochester against two UAA teams, CWRU (4-0) and the hosts (5 wins and a one point loss). CWRU last year was led into the NCAA tourney by their point guard Griffin Kornaker who some will remember played three years at Middlebury (and graduated) and spent his Covid eligibility year at CWRU taking grad courses. I am contemplating heading to Rochester, but will probably come to my senses — it's nearly 300 miles and 5-6 hours drive time away (and it snows all the time there). So I'm so thankful for the live streaming

Happy Thanksgiving all.

Rochester is infamous for its paywall for the live streaming and on-demand access, but having JC DeLass on the internet coverage for the basketball games is worth the fee.  For basketball season, I usually pay the $10.95 a month subscription to get the coverage-- it also includes on-demand access in case you miss any of the games or would like to see them again.  I usually do not pay it during soccer season.

Actually, Middlebury will be playing Carnegie Mellon (which is also 4-0 this season) and the host team of the site, the Univ. of Rochester.   Carnegie Mellon went 11-13, 4-10 in the UAA last season.  CWRU is not part of the NESCAC/UAA Men's Basketball Challenge-- the CWRU Spartans have a home game vs Adrian at Horsburgh Gym in Cleveland on Dec. 3.

Carnegie Mellon is currently led by Jr. guard Jack Stone at 18 ppg, Jr. forward R.J. Holmes at 13.3 ppg, Sr. forward Kevin Sax at 12.5 ppg (Kevin Sax is a current co-UAA Men's Basketball player of the week, sharing the honor with grad student Ryan Algier of Rochester), and senior guard Josh Berry at 9 ppg.

Through their first 4 games, the Tartans are shooting splits of 44.9% from the field, 31.8% from 3 pt range, and 84.8% from the free throw line, and scoring 84.8 ppg, while holding opponents to 39.4% shooting from the field, 33.8% from 3 pt range, and 53.1% shooting from the FT line, only giving up 74.5 ppg.  Opponents are getting more FG and 3 pt FG attempts vs Carnegie Mellon than the Tartans are shooting.

Carnegie Mellon is averaging 20.2 ppg scored from the charity stripe, while opponents are only scoring 6.5 ppg from the FT line vs the Tartans this season so far.

Carnegie Mellon has a home game in Pittsburgh vs Penn State-Behrend on Wednesday, Nov. 30, before the challenge.

The weekend of Dec. 3 and 4 is the weekend of the NESCAC/UAA Men's Basketball Challenge.

It will be played at 2 sites-- the University of Rochester, in Rochester, NY, and Colby College, in Waterville, Maine.

In Rochester, NY-- NESCAC teams Middlebury and Bowdoin will play UAA teams Carnegie Mellon and Rochester.

In Waterville, ME-- NESCAC teams Colby and Bates will play UAA teams Brandeis and Emory.

There are 8 games total in the Challenge, with the first conference to win 5 games winning the Challenge. 

[SpringSt7]

Ephs take a 25-24 lead over St. Lawrence on a first half buzzer beater by Nate Karren (10 pts) who appears to be the only one who showed up to play on offense. Not the first time Williams has been flummoxed by a 2-3 zone but it is frustrating to watch so many empty possessions in which the ball doesn't find its way inside the 3 point line for the entire possession. The problem is also that Karren is both their best finisher and their best passer, and they can only put him in one place at a time.

[quicksilver]

Behind a strong second half and great shooting by James McGowan (28 pts), Bowdoin downed Babson 82-74.

[SpringSt7]

Ephs hang on to win a real stinker, 50-47. They opened it up to 7 a few times but couldn't ever fully pull away in large part due to their inconsistent offense against the 2-3 zone.

It was a new coming out party of sorts for Nate Karren who had 23 and 9 on 11-15 shooting. He accounted for more than half of the team's made field goals—they had 20 in total. The stats almost downplay his impact as it seemed like they truly couldn't score if he didn't touch the ball. Karren had been quiet to open the year but it was a quick reminder who their best offensive player is and the emotional leader of the team as well.

All in all a good road test against a good St. Lawrence team and hopefully a one off offensive showing caused by the different defensive look. RPI next in what will again be their biggest test of the year.

[nescac1]

[Wrote this as SpringSt7 was posting so clearly we are on the same page .... ].  Ugly, ugly 50-47 win for the Ephs, but on the road vs. a solid team when the shots weren't falling, the Ephs will take it!.  On a day when no one else seemed to have it, the Ephs needed an all-American performance from Nate Karren and they got it -- 23 points and 9 boards on 11-15 from the field, and solid interior D as well.  He hit a lot of very tricky / tough angle shots in the post. 

For Williams, Brandon Roughley made his very welcome return to the lineup, but he showed his rust, fouling out and looking a bit out of sync.  He was, of course, not alone, as really the entire team struggled with the aggressive 2-3 zone, seemingly flummoxed about how to attack it effectively other than getting the ball to Nate.  St. Lawrence played great, aggressive defense but the Ephs also killed themselves with needless turnovers and too much hesitancy to just take shots. 

The Eph half-court defense was fantastic, as nearly all the St. Lawrence points seemed to come off transition buckets or second-chance points.  The Ephs were fortunate that St. Lawrence was very poor from the foul line.  Trent Adamson, their physical big man, had an excellent game, but the St. Lawrence perimeter offense, like the Ephs' today, was ugly. 

[toad22]

When you play a zone all the time, you can get good at it. St. Lawrence played the zone very well. Williams was sloppy against it and that produced a very close game. At the end of the year this will be just another win for the Ephs, but this game could have been lost so easily. When you play a zone like St. Lawrence's, lots of habits you have acquired playing man work against you. The Ephs were averaging 7 turnovers before this game, they committed 16 in this game. I applaud the Saints on their play today. They don't have half the talent Williams has, but by staying true to their principles, they nearly came away with a win. The best three players for Williams in this game were all Nate Karen!

[nescac1]

Mostly good day for NESCAC with Williams, Bowdoin, Hamilton, Colby, Conn, Midd and Bates all pulling out wins.  Sobel went 4-5 from 3?  GULP.  He's been an absolute monster this year, putting up national POY stats, and seems to have added range, which is scary, keeping Midd undefeated despite Stevens' slow start.  Also, only eight fouls through four games, eliminating his only weakness from last year ...

Midd, Trinity, Tufts, Colby, Williams give NESCAC five early-season undefeated teams.  HUGE night ahead for NESCAC on Tuesday with Tufts hosting St. Joseph's and Williams hosting RPI.  St. Joe's is going to be a top five team and RPI likely a top 15 team in this week's poll, I expect, so those are two of the biggest non-league games remaining.  Tufts may squeeze into the top 25 as well this week (and with a win over St. Joe's would certainly skyrocket high into the poll), and Williams will certainly stay somewhere in the top eight. 

Meanwhile, Amherst is the lone exception, losing in a close game to Yeshiva.  I certainly did not have Amherst and Wesleyan, even despite big losses from last year's teams, a combined 3-7 so far this year.  Amherst continues to have a huge size advantage over its opponents and even shot the ball very well vs. Yeshiva, but was done in by 26 (gulp) turnovers including several very costly turnovers down the stretch. 

Yeshiva's online broadcast is the best I've seen in D3.  Awesome video quality, great replays, and stellar announcers.  Top, top flight. 

[stlawus]

Coming over from SLU land to commend the Ephs on their W against my alma mater today.  I didn't have much expectations but thought SLU had the potential to hang around since this is one of their better teams in recent years.   Obviously would have liked the win, but as far as seeing a team in person at Burkman Williams is up there among the best I've ever seen.  So rare do you see a team as strong and physical among the entire rotation like the Ephs.   SLU does have a decent amount of size in 4 positions which I thought presented some challenges defensively, but I don't know if anyone would have been able to stop Karren in the post on their best day. Best footwork by a D3 center I've certainly ever seen, and aside from a few shots off the glass I don't know if his made shots ever touched the rim.   

Williams had a good crowd who were all nice and the coaching staff and bench were all good sports, which is somewhat of a rare occurrence given the antics of Liberty League opponents.  Hope the Ephs have a great year, they certainly have created a fan in me today and I will be following them the rest of the season.