MBB: NESCAC

[SpringSt7]

Ephs bounce back and hold serve at home vs. Bates. They trailed by as many as 8 in the second half but finally strung together some good performances from all of their stars at the same time. Spivy (19-6-4 on 8-12), Porter (18 points on 5-7 from 3), and Karren (13-4-5) all needed big showings and they had them to get back on track.

Quite frankly, this weekend was another step in the wrong direction for Williams, a lifeless loss yesterday that was the worst home performance in a long long time and long stretches of lethargic play against a Bates team that just didn't have the horses to compete for 40 minutes. But the reality is that it is a long season and every season has key moments like this weekend that can serve as a wake up call and a rallying point for a group. It is easy to say "oh we lost at Amherst and lost to a good Middlebury team, we'll be fine", but they learned the hard way yesterday that it wasn't that simple. They can use this as an opportunity to regroup, hopefully continue to get healthy, and then head to Connecticut next weekend for two huge games against Trinity and Wesleyan that could serve as a real springboard if they could find a way to get both.

[jumpshot]

EPHS go on a 20-0 run with 9 minutes remaining in the second half putting smiles back on their faces in a 75-59 win over Bates.

[nescac1]

Agree with SpringSt.  Spivy was the best Eph on the floor this weekend as he's been basically for all of league play. He's playing like a first team all league player and has been incredibly consistent.  The Ephs are best when he's attacking the rim.  The Ephs however need more from their other starting guards, who have been very quiet over the last few weeks.

Great to see Declan bounce back from a rare pair of off games.  The Ephs need him taking a lot of shots every game. Teams are going to try to take him away and simply put he has to get a lot of attempts in rhythm. 

The team's energy was totally different during the 20-0 run then during the whole rest of the weekend.  Just having fun and not overthinking out there.  Hopefully they find a way to tap into that during a massive Nescac four-way showdown weekend that will go a long way towards deciding who the Nescac pool C's and first round hosts are.  Hudson Hansen had his best game in awhile and when he is contributing he brings a burst of energy that this team needs.  Alex Lee also had one of his better games.  Such a smooth mid-range game. 

[Hamilton4]

That Hamilton Wesleyan game was incredible!! A huge game of runs, both teams played exceptional disciplined basketball!! Hoping both teams make it to the NCAA tournament!! Great players, great young men!!!

[Conts Fan]

Agreed - it was a great game, but I don't see either of those teams making the tournament. Very nice weekend for Hamilton, though.

[Old Guy]

Old Guy: You did the right thing editing out a completely inappropriate portion of your latest post that said more about you than the observation you put forth. Surprised and disappointed when we all initially read it .... Quite unlike your longstanding quality posting.

Jumpshot, I appreciate your comment. I took down my words because I regretted writing them, had misgivings not long after posting. At the risk of offending twice, I'll explain.

In my comments about last night's action, I wrote at one point that I didn't understand how, with its size, Williams gets outrebounded. Then I added the question, "Is it heart?" thinking at the time that I was making a somewhat neutral inquiry about effort. That's it, those three words.

Upon reflection, I realize "heart" and "effort" are not the same word; "heart" has different connotations. Nonetheless, if I had said "effort" instead of "heart," I still would have deleted the question.

I am not in a position even to pose the question. I have great admiration for NESCAC athletes, at Middlebury and elsewhere, and a positive view of sports in general which I try to reflect in my posts.

I apologize to Jumpshot and others who read my comment and found it objectionable, including the athletes who were impugned. As is sometimes the case, I wish I had slept on it and proofread in the light of day.

[Hamilton4]

Curious does the regular season nescac champ get an automatic bid to the ncaa tournament?

[middhoops]

No.  The conference tournament champion receives the automatic Pool A bid.

[names jaismith]

Props to Hamilton for their win vs Wesleyan.  Hamilton, Midd, Wesleyan, Williams will all be in the playoffs.  Only Bates and Bowdoin are pretty much out of it.  Bates can be a spoiler, I think.  Bowdoin severely damaged Conn's chances with an ugly win over the Camels.  Conn has three more road games vs Colby (which absolutely needs a win today), Amherst and Hamilton.  And the two home games are Midd and Williams.  Ouch.  Trinity and Tufts still have work to do and are not safe yet.  Both benefitted by Conn's loss to Bowdoin since Conn holds the tie breaker vs each of them.  Amherst is still very much alive but has been horribly inconsistent.  Or bad, depending.  I'd say the last four spots will be Trinity, Tufts, Colby and Amherst.

[SpringSt7]

Tufts Pool C chances up to 74% according to Drew Pasteur after this weekend.

[Homer]

In response to Jefffan about the inconsistent play of the mammoths: I was at both games this weekend. Amherst had a height advantage over both Wesleyan and Trinity. They couldn't take advantage of it. Easy shots wouldn't fall. Is it is a matter of concentration, confidence? At the end of the Wesleyan game, Amherst has trouble getting the ball inbounds and nearly lost except for some clutch free throws. They have had trouble with inbounding early in the season. Wouldn't that be something the team would practice and get right? Turnovers and the inability to finish easy shots in the first half of the Trinity game were pathetic. At half time, you could hear Coach Sears screaming through the public bathroom walls which separate the bathrooms from the Amherst men's locker room. The yelling didn't help. The men didn't respond. It was an ugly game from Amherst. From my perspective, it doesn't look like Sears has found a lineup with which he is comfortable. The starting lineup plays 5 minutes and he substitutes a new lineup. In many games , 10-11 players play around 20 minutes or less. I don't see any consistency on the court. Is it frustrating to play for Sears? It's frustrating trying to figure out a game plan, wasting all the height, and wondering if Amherst practices inbounding the ball. it is difficult to watch a season drift away.

[Hamilton4]

Both Tufts and Trinity lost this weekend but both moved up in Drew Pasteurs rankings?

[Bucket]

In Tuft's case, their strength of schedule increased by playing Williams and Middlebury, so yes. Not sure about Trinity.

Pasteur uses the very strict and specific criteria that will govern regional rankings (strength of schedule, winning percentage, record vs regionally ranked opponents, etc) which will then inform how tournament selection goes, which is based entirely on regional rankings.

[SpringSt7]

Drew Pasteur's rankings also factor in projecting out the rest of the season. In Tufts' case for example, they were likely projected to lose to both Williams and Middlebury. The win over Williams therefore improves their chances vs. their previous projection.

[Hamilton4]

That makes sense thanks!