MBB: NESCAC

[grabtherim]

Just a great weekend at Middlebury. I'm blissed out and I have a life: I read books, talk politics, go to plays, hang out with my grandchildren (who seem to like me).

Most important, two NESCAC wins. The Colby game yesterday was terrific. Young Girl II called it "fiercely contested," and that's apt. Colby is a good team playing a stretch of formidable NESCAC opponents. Midd got off to a fast 10-2 start, led by as many as 12 in the first half, up 8 at the break (36-28), and went ahead 13 at one point in the second half, . . . but it was 66-61 with 1:47 left. Midd closed it out 6-2. Colby played with urgency throughout. Tough game. Good win! Big animated crowd. Box score cited attendance at 767. I'm not sure who comes up with that precise number — do they count noses? Pepin was 3/4 full. Very exciting game. Great to have the boys at home.

Stevens did a very good job on Poulton, holding him to 12 points (4-12 FG/3-7 from three). Will King played hard and well. He's a handful. Midd was great defensively, man-to-man, the whole way. Brennan had a Brennan double-double (11 pts 10 boards). Nash Goldman came off the bench and hit two big threes when Colby went to a 3-2 zone. Evan Flax really ups the tempo when he comes in, pushes it relentlessly, and doesn't mind shooting the ball.

Midd, as has become customary, led in rebounds, 37-25, and made 19-20 free throws (Sobel went 5-6, had the only miss). That helps. Stevens was 4-4 and Osher 5-5: they're ice. Neither team shot well from three, but there weren't many open shots. Sobel had seven blocks! and prevented anyone getting to the hoop. He only took 9 shots (5-9) for 15 points with 8 rebounds.

The alumni game Saturday morning was a delight. Not a lot of hoopla. Over 20 returnees: the old guys (2008-2014) played the younger guys (2018-2021). No refs (call your own), no unies: really high level pickup. I feared that the older guys (who included Ryan Sharry, Tim Edwards, Nolan Thompson, Peter Lynch, and other stalwarts in their mid-30s) were overmatched against these kids (Matt St. Amour, Matt Folger, Jack Farrell, Jack Daly, Max Bosco, Griffin Kornaker et al), but they prevailed 80-53. Tim Edwards, Midd '10, was easily the premier etoile, much to delight of the assembled current Midd players, hitting 8-10 three point shots. each one farther out. En fuego. Edwards, some may recall, was a defensive player, winning the DPOY a couple times. He played in Germany for a time after he graduated; he's clearly still playing somewhere now in his mid-30s (I didn't get a chance to speak to him at length). The young guys were hampered by a full 13 player roster. Hard to parcel out the minutes.

I regretted missing the Saturday night dinner, but I had an even higher priority: a birthday party (mine!) with family (three of my adult kids and grandchildren). Pretty damn good weekend.

Just read this and I'm glad to hear the group of great guys from the 2008-14 era took care of business without one kid, a point guard special to me who is currently living down under in Sydney.  That guy who wore #5 over his four seasons at Midd let me know how sorry he was he could not be there but assured me he will be at an upcoming alum game soon.  When he shows up, you and I can pace on the far side of Pepin again just like when I was too nervous to stay on our side during the 2nd half of games  as we did for many nail biters back then. I've been following this year's squad.  So proud and happy to see what's happening... 

[Middfan]

By the way grabtherim, your "someone special" was such a special player and teammate, who passed the ball like he had eyes in the back of his head.  Amazing distributer.

[names jaismith]

Having watched the Amherst Williams game in person last night, I cannot fathom how Amherst can be 6-10.  I know rivalry games bring out the best in many teams, but how in the world did Amherst ever lose to the likes of Colby Sawyer and Springfield? 

[stlawus]

I think a lot has to do with their current starting center not chucking threes at the most inopportune moments. From the games I saw Randall cost them a lot of points with his one and one shot attempts. 

[JEFFFAN]

I am the foremost Amherst cynic, of course, but I appreciate the thoughtful piece from NESCAC1. 

My foremost concern over the theory that Amherst is uber-talented and under-performing, or that it is a roster ready to explode as they get older, is the weakness at the guard position.   In Amherst basketball history, which I understand does not represent all NESCAC programs, success has been determined by the strength of good to great guards.   Toomey and Olsen, not in that order, of course come to mind although comparing any guards to those two is unfair.  These guards do not shoot particularly well, they turn the ball over with far too much frequency, and their general ability to control the floor is mediocre at best.   They do appear to play decent defense, which this year is how Amherst stays in games.  There is nothing about this group of guards that makes me think they are good enough to grow into a NESCAC leading back court in the future.  Maybe the recruits can fill those holes but in D3 basketball mediocre guards mean a mediocre program.

[lumbercat]

Having watched the Amherst Williams game in person last night, I cannot fathom how Amherst can be 6-10.  I know rivalry games bring out the best in many teams, but how in the world did Amherst ever lose to the likes of Colby Sawyer and Springfield?

Coaching?

[middhoops]

Well, against Springfield, 24 turnovers compensated for good shooting (46/50/74). 
They're taking better care of the ball lately.

[AmherstRules]

Having watched the Amherst Williams game in person last night, I cannot fathom how Amherst can be 6-10.  I know rivalry games bring out the best in many teams, but how in the world did Amherst ever lose to the likes of Colby Sawyer and Springfield?

Amen brother. The W would have been sweet vs. Williams.

My employer is moving me to Minneapolis ( it's a great promotion) so I need to find a new D3 league to follow live. I'm thinking about living east of St Paul so I can travel to some of the WIAC games in Western WI and also the Twin Cities area conferences. Maybe Westbury or Stillwater or Hudson WI.
Since my spouse is a marine biologist, we think living near the Mississippi River is a great spot for her, too.

[Pat Coleman]

Having watched the Amherst Williams game in person last night, I cannot fathom how Amherst can be 6-10.  I know rivalry games bring out the best in many teams, but how in the world did Amherst ever lose to the likes of Colby Sawyer and Springfield?

Amen brother. The W would have been sweet vs. Williams.

My employer is moving me to Minneapolis ( it's a great promotion) so I need to find a new D3 league to follow live. I'm thinking about living east of St Paul so I can travel to some of the WIAC games in Western WI and also the Twin Cities area conferences. Maybe Westbury or Stillwater or Hudson WI.
Since my spouse is a marine biologist, we think living near the Mississippi River is a great spot for her, too.

Welcome to the Twin Cities! I agree, living east of the Cities would probably be ideal for getting to the Twin Cities schools plus River Falls, Stout and Eau Claire. It leaves you further from St. John's but that might be an OK trade-off.

[AmherstRules]

Having watched the Amherst Williams game in person last night, I cannot fathom how Amherst can be 6-10.  I know rivalry games bring out the best in many teams, but how in the world did Amherst ever lose to the likes of Colby Sawyer and Springfield?

Amen brother. The W would have been sweet vs. Williams.

My employer is moving me to Minneapolis ( it's a great promotion) so I need to find a new D3 league to follow live. I'm thinking about living east of St Paul so I can travel to some of the WIAC games in Western WI and also the Twin Cities area conferences. Maybe Westbury or Stillwater or Hudson WI.
Since my spouse is a marine biologist, we think living near the Mississippi River is a great spot for her, too.

Welcome to the Twin Cities! I agree, living east of the Cities would probably be ideal for getting to the Twin Cities schools plus River Falls, Stout and Eau Claire. It leaves you further from St. John's but that might be an OK trade-off.

Found out today the move won't happen until April 1 so this is a 2023/24 issue

[toad22]

Looking forward to a fun game at Chandler Gym in Williamstown today. Hoping to see some Panther posters this afternoon. There have been so many classics between these two teams, and maybe, just maybe, today will be another!

[middhoops]

Middlebury lays some STIFLING defense on the Ephs in the first half.  24-13.  Who holds Williams to 13 point?  Sheesh.
Jeff Brown has the game going in the direction he dreamed of.  Too bad we gotta play another 20 minutes.
Damn, sure wish Midd had played this level of D against Hamilton and Rochester.
Everyone knows the Ephs will come out in the 2nd half playing with increased intensity.  Gonna be a barn burner.
How can you not love D3 basketball after an effort like that?

[nescac1]

Extremely ugly first half for Williams - 13 points on 4-23 from the field and 3-7 from the line (including a missed front end of a 1-and-1).  Midd's defense has been stellar for sure but doesn't account for missing a wide-open layup in the paint, struggling with free throws, or also missing some pretty open three-point shots.  Ephs simply can't buy anything so far today and hopefully the bounces even out a bit in the second half in terms of shooting.  Midd's offense hasn't really been much better (and Williams' defense has been very strong) but they have as expected killed Williams with key offensive rebounds and bullied them in the paint.  A key play in the game so far was Nate Karren picking up a second foul (on an utter nonsense call when you consider how physical the game has been).  Ephs just don't have the interior depth to deal with Midd and from that point on, Midd owned Williams after the game being fairly even before then.  Nate has to play most of the second half for the Ephs to have a chance to come back in this one, he did a nice job on Sobel but no one else the Ephs have has a prayer and Brennan basically just bulled guys out of the way as well. 

Sobel was his usual dominant self, on both ends, for Midd and you can see a lot of Williams guys altering their shots or overthinking it when they get into the paint.

Midd just needs to keep doing what it's doing to win this one.  Williams needs Spivy, Declan and Nate to all get going, and fast, to come back.   

[nescac1]

Middlebury about to finish off a well-earned victory over Williams.  Williams woke up in the second half but the deficit was just too much.  The difference in the game was four things: Midd, as expected, got a ton of second chance points and owned the glass; Midd seemed to get to EVERY loose ball, Williams just could not secure the ball; the Ephs had WAY too many turnovers, the two worst of which were ill-advised passed that Sobel twice stole (with a great play, but you have to anticipate that) and took the length of the floor; and Sobel's immense impact on both ends.  Sobel altered a ton of Eph shots around the rim and Williams just was not finishing inside with its usual composure, the two-point percentage was abominable.  I thought the Ephs did as good a job as they possibly good on Sobel defensively, but his presence on the glass and on defense was still dominant. 

[grabtherim]

Great week for the Panthers.  Tough wins on the road.  You don't win titles in January but you do get experience that helps later on.  Midd sure got that this week.