MBB: NESCAC

[GoJumbosOrGoHome]

While Rudin led his team in scoring and assists, Black's number are equal or better across the board. Better %'s, Assists...etc... I wonder if he would be eligable? What is the ruling on redshirts

[nescac1]

Given the history of prior Tufts rookies of the year (Barlow was co-rookie of year with Crotty and got the most hype of the rookies his year but ended up quitting the team, Coup ended up transferring), perhaps you are better off having Black avoid that jinx ...

I think it has to be Rudin given that Midd improved its record dramatically from last year basically thanks to his contributions, despite losing most of its key scorers. 

Thanks for the info on the Eph Delware recruit.  If Weisbrot can develop and this guy can play quality minutes as a frosh, the Ephs can be a very dangerous team next year ... but those are still two big ifs. 

[CCsalive]

Not enough praise for Tufts on this page...two great years in a row...Go Jumbos.

[dman]

congrats to amherts and tufts on making the ncaa's. my pick'em will have amherts in the final 4, and i view them as one of about twelve teams that could win the national championship.  i was really disappointed that neither trinity nor bates made the field.  for those that don't troll other boards, there was alot of vitriol this year about nescac and its scheduling, which i thought was unjustified.  folks seemed to think that the nescac league somehow "games" the ncaa to get more teams in the nationals, which is utterly ridiculous and i won't spend energy on.  with that said, to have the ccc conference and the empire 8 conference with two teams in this tourney is a travesty.  neither trin or bates could win it all, but surely they belong in the tournament before gordon or utica......

[mrmike88]

dman, the reason the CCC has two teams in is because Gordon was upset in the conference tourney.

[Dr E. Spengler]

CCsalive, you continue to grasp at straws and I am sure the Jeffs will continue to prove you wrong about every comment you make about them just as they have the past two weeks.

Olson is what Amherst needs MOST of the time, and when he isn't there is RC who is  without a doubt of starting point guard caliber.  So saying Olson has problems at times is completely pointless...who doesn't?

He isn't Steve Nash?  goodpointgoodpointgoodpoint

I agree with lots of your points in regard to Amherst...creating their own shot late in a possession could be a problem

What are you judging this on...one game?  And when push came to shove the Jeffs got the job done.  Wheeler can rise above anyone and drain a three, Olson can drive to the basket and dish it out to wide open Cas, or put the ball in Bedford's hands and let him go to the rim...your choice.  All three work just fine for me though.

Whoever you seem to criticize on Amherst seems to have the game of their life soon or directly after. 

[formerbant10]

Egon,

CCsalive was going over what my thoughts were after the Amherst/Tufts game. 

As I said, I think Amherst is a talented team, and I can see them getting to the Final Four this year w/o too much trouble.  The ONE problem I thought they had against Tufts was their lack of a player who can bring the ball up and score.

Amherst likes to grind out their offense until they get a bucket.  So even when they were down 1 with a minute to go, they ran their offense well but could not get a great shot or a shot that most people would want at that time.  The credit goes to Casnocha for hitting that three with no time on the shot clock, but Amherst will not want to rely on that too often.

Wheeler might be the best option if they can get him the ball in the post.  He's got game down low and can face up and hit the jumper.  I was hoping that Bedford would've been a little more aggressive in getting to the basket on the last possession, because I think he would've gotten a call from the officials if it was close and he's deadly from the FT line.

I think what CC was saying about Corrigan is how its such a luxury for Amherst to have two high quality point guards, let's not forget about Zalaski who is a good player as well.  But Olson did not have as great a game against Tufts as some might have expected.  I think that's mostly due to the Tufts guards having great games.  Olson played well, but he's capable of much more....but CC might be worried that an older, stronger guard will take advantage of him.

It might happen, but if Amherst is shooting well.....I don't think it would even matter.

[walzy31]

Rumors are flying around and getting to me. People say that Hamilton loves to run, shoots threes and puts up points. Early line on the Saturday Hamilton-Amherst game is an over/under of 157.5
Andrew Olson is not Steve Nash.
Dan Martin is not Shaq.
Mike Salerno is John Lynch.

Formerbant,

I am in completely agree with your comments about Amherst. Based on the Tufts game you saw, you have been 100% accurate in your disection of the team.

Amherst hit a stride starting at the away Williams game and carrying through to the last weekend of the regular season (Bates by 36, Tufts by 29). That 4 or 5 game stretch they were playing their best basketballl of the season and it didn't matter what the other team did (Bates shot well in the first half against us and was losing by about 15 at the half) because everyone on Amherst was on. The Conn and Bates game were a small notch below the level of play the Jeffs had the weekends before, and then the Tufts game they played kinda bad. I give Tufts credit for playing an incredible game. Black, Martin and Weitzen hit everything they threw up it seemed. They out shot and out rebounded us. It was nice to see Amherst win such an important game without playing their best basketball, but I hope they jump back into the level they were at when the regular season ended so they can go back to Salem.

[formerbant10]

Walzy,

That was the Amherst I was expecting to see.  The team that after the Trinity loss went on to destroy everything in sight.  They were up for every game and it showed.  I really think Tufts did a great job against them.  The Jumbos took away what Amherst really wanted to do offensively and completely neutralized Amherst's size by grabbing every defensive board in sight.  I also thought Tufts did a great job offensively, it helps when you make nearly every shot you take.

What lets me know how good Amherst is, was the fact that with everything Tufts did right it was still a tie game at the half.  As I've said in some previous posts, champions find a way to win and it's not always pretty.  Amherst took Tufts best shot and came out on top. 

I feel like Amherst used the Trinity loss as a wake up call in the middle of the season and went on a tear.  I feel that this close call with Tufts will remind them that they have to be on top of their game to win the rest of the way.  And I think Amherst has the ability to rise to the occasion, especially with the draw they have in the tourney.  I have them getting to Salem in my bracket, and I hope they don't let me down.

[bed]

Hey CC,

Hamilton has a kid Zarette Rogers playing for them.....kid looks pretty good...guess he transferred from the Camels to Hamilton.

Kid could be important next year when Welchons graduates.

A lot of interesting chatter over on the Liberty League bulletin board.

[qbsfinest]

Any thoughts on the matchup between Tufts and Endicott. How does Endicott matchup against a bigger Tufts team. Close game-blow out- what are the predictions?

[bed]

Tufts will win by at least 15.  This game won't be close.

[dman]

mr.mike,
  i know why gordon is in the tourney.  my point was that i think gordon "gamed" the system to qualify for the ncaa's.  i would say they have one good win, mit, in their entire schedule.  somehow they got a high qowi, and that 0-0 record against regionally ranked opponents really stands out.....the funny thing to me is utica faces gordon in the first round, so the ccc's 20yr losing streak in the first round might not continue....but i picked utica.......

[GoJumbosOrGoHome]

As a former sommervillian, i remember seeing Endicott before the new coach. Are they still running the Flex? Nothing like a good flex offense to jazz up a game, it will be interesting to see if the Jumbos can take the Gulls out of their game.

[24/7/365]

Im gonna try and weigh in on the Tufts/EC game.  Looking at Tufts and their squad, they average 83 points a game, which is just PHENOMENAL.  They are led by their big guy Martin down low.  He stands at 6'8 and nets 17ppg to go along with just under 7 boards.  Behind him is their Forward Weitzen with 15ppg to go along with 5.5rbds.  They also have two other players in double figures in that of O'Keefe and Shepherd.

The Jumbos rebound like whoa too.  Their game average on the glass is a staggering 42 per game.  It looks as though everyone gets in on it, making them an even more difficult team to contend with because everyone will be making a mad dash for the boards. 

They do have 7 players averaging 20+ minutes a game also.  This might be the only thing going against them.  If they find themselves in foul trouble early, they are going to have to turn to players like Grauer and Sullivan who are both averaging less than 10 minutes a game.  In terms of negative aspects, this one is far down on the chart, but it could be a factor.  Basically what I am saying is EC has an up hill battle the entire way.

On the other side of the ball, EC comes in averaging 63ppg as a team, for those who are not Math Majors, this is a 20 point differential, WOW!  They are led by their two 1,000pt scorers in George and Darko with 14 a piece.  Ellis rounds out the double digit scorers with 11.

EC is one of the best rebounding teams in the CCC at 35 a game, but that still pales in comparison to Tufts 42.  Look for EC subbing a lot in hops of getting fresh legs in so that they are able to compete for every rebound opportunity.

I think ECs biggest challenge come Friday, minus the drive, which Tufts will be making as well, is the size that Tufts contains.  They have two big boys in that of Martin and Sullivan, 6'8 and 6'9 respectively.  This is definitely one of the main reasons they rebound so well.  I think that Tufts will also do a formidable job shutting down the "trash man" Darko, as well as ECs Sullivan, who really shies away from the spot light in big games.

Honestly, I think the only thing EC can do is keep the game respectable.  This Tufts team is just so good this year.  It wouldn't surprise anyone if they stepped over Amherst on their way to the Final Four.  Tough draw for EC this year, looks like they are starring an 0-3 NCAA record in the face.