MBB: NESCAC

[hugenerd]

On a different note, this is confirmed:
Senior Ethan Timmins-Schiffman scored the 1,0000th point of his high school basketball career on February 7.

First off, that is alot of zeros.

Secondly, in my opinion, being the best player on the best team is alot easier in most cases, because you obviously have a bunch of guys who know what they are doing on the basketball court to take pressure off youself, than being the best player on a team that only has one or two other guys on the court at a given time that you can count on to perform. I know most people will dismiss this as BS, but just think about how much easier as a player it is to get things done when your opponent has to respect every player on your team as an offensive threat and thus play you straight up.  Then think about how hard it is to score when your opponent knows that one guy is going to have the ball in their hands more times than not to take the shot and see if they can perform when they pretty much have to do it themselves every time.  Again, try to think about having guys who get significant PT on your team who were bench players in high school or didnt even play in high school.  I know this will never happen in places like Amherst, Williams, or WPI, because their recruits are 1000 point scorers and are the go to guys at their high schools.  You see how Caltech performs under these conditions, they haven't won a conference game in 2 decades.  Then tell me that what Mike Dauria and the rest of the guys at MIT have done is not special.  I am not putting down anyone because every person on that team works as hard as they can, some just don't have the natural talent, body, or basketball background to do any better, which you can't blame them for.  I think Mike Dauria and the rest of the MIT team deserve everything they get.

[mrmike88]

That's the trouble with individual honors: it's impossible to extract the player from the team.  Sometimes, in the case of a bad team with a star player, it's easier than others, but you still can never truly grasp a single player's performance.  Sure, D'Auria performed better statistically than Bedford.  But we'll never know what would have happened if roles switched.  Put him on Amherst and I wonder what he'd do (of course, having not seen him play I won't even begin to predict).  And again, as Formerbant has stated time and time again, it really doesn't matter in the end.  I bet Bedford would never agree to switch places, and I'm sure anybody else would trade the individual award for the Final Four bid.

[senatorfrost]

Soze:

I give Ephs credit. I always have. I am not saying Rose is not good, simply that he is NOT as good as Wheeler. Rose is good but at this point is one dimensional in my opinion. Every year it seems there are "Golden Boys" who for whatever reason catch folk's fancy and are rated higher than they should be. Last year I felt Schiel fit into this category. This year Rose. I didn't hear you complain when I was (relatively) knocking the POY award given to Schiel.

I can't prove it but i feel very strongly that the name Chris Rose, by itself is a vote getter. I tried to stress that point.

I now wish I had seen D'auria. I might add that Bartolotta on MIT was rated the #6 Senior in Colorado last year, ahead of Snyder. (Williams) They were teammates at Heritage I think.

Amherst /Wittenberg, No opinion because Witt has two Big People.
D1-I like UConn and Florida in that order.

[walzy31]

I was almost really impressed with Williams snagging a 10,000 point scorer...then you go and say he just scored his 1,000...wa-hoo.

Also for the record, I am not Keith Zalaski. Some others of you on the board may have come closer...

MrMike88,

All this hype for me to come on air with you guys at the half. I want to but I am a living Amherst scouting report and, as formerbant said, I prefer to keep my knowledge to myself in order to help Amherst in everyway. But I will come talk 1st half with you if Amherst is winning or losing by 5 or less. If we are down more than that, I will not be in the mood to talk. Does that work?

SALEM is as advertised...championship city and proud of it. Very hospitable so far.

[hugenerd]

That's the trouble with individual honors: it's impossible to extract the player from the team.  Sometimes, in the case of a bad team with a star player, it's easier than others, but you still can never truly grasp a single player's performance.  Sure, D'Auria performed better statistically than Bedford.  But we'll never know what would have happened if roles switched.  Put him on Amherst and I wonder what he'd do (of course, having not seen him play I won't even begin to predict).  And again, as Formerbant has stated time and time again, it really doesn't matter in the end.  I bet Bedford would never agree to switch places, and I'm sure anybody else would trade the individual award for the Final Four bid.

I think the important thing is to do the best you can with what you are dealt and it appears both players have done that.

[formerbant10]

Nice story on Olson.  I like the "Frodo" chants.  Reminds me of Jesse Farrell being called Harry Potter in many away games. 

The thing that caught my eye the most was that Hixon was looking to get the ball into the hands of either Casnocha or Wheeler.  Bedford's number was not called on the biggest play of the season.  Shows how much confidence he has in the other players to get the job done. 

The Olson shot doesn't surprise me too much though, he hit some big shots as a rookie too. 

I like his attitude towards the haters on the board too. 

[hugenerd]

I was just watching ESPN and tonight's Outside the Lines documented the DIII national tournament.  Lincoln and Illinois Wesleyen were the main teams followed in the piece.  If anyone is up early, the piece is rebroadcast at 6:40 and 7:40 am EST tomorrow.

[wal 11]

If Ethan had a guard that could have gotten him the ball he might have scored 10000. He was the primary ball handler at 6'7' and therefore got limited touches in the post. If the guards at Williams are as good as you all say ,he should excel. He has a total game both in the post and on the perimeter.

[mrmike88]

Leaving for Salem in about an hour.  Can't wait to get down to my first Final Four!

Remember Amherst fans, WAMH we will have the Amherst-Witt game tomorrow night on the internet.  6:00 tip-off, we'll try to be on the air for pre-game between 5:30 and 5:45.  Listen online at http://wamh.amherst.edu/

11 hours in a car, ONE TIME.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

If you're leaving from Amherst, take 91 to 84 to 81 and you can avoid all the traffic and probably do it in 9 hours of actual driving time.  It's only about 20 miles more than what mapquest tells you to do, but it saves a ton of time.

[d3basketball34]

I've seen @ 15+ Amherst games this season and this is what I have noted:

  Bedford is the catalyst for this team.  He does whatever is needed to win......be it rebounding (you'll see much more of this from him against Witt) when the frontcourt needs him....scoring, posting up, assisting......generally dictating the action on the court.
Olson will bring the ball up and won't have to worry too much about harrasement (unlike against NESCAC foes) because it doesn't appear that Witt does this (looking at # steals)
Cas or Wheels will get their 3 looks because one of them will be matched up against Witt's smaller forward.  I envision one of them coming up real big against Witt.  As well and because of their perimeter prowess, I see them drawing out one of Witt's post men.
The center committee, be it O'Shea, Goldsmith, Hopkins, et al will have to play the collective games of their lives in keeping Witt off their backs and get the outlet pass moving.
In the event that the Witt's backcourt heats up then there's always the Ray Ray option to shut them down.

If Amherst gets their offense flowing like I've seen in the past (very rarely don't they) and they can get 40-45% of the rebounds, I like their chances very much.  I believe that last year's loss to Rochester was a culmination of poor shooting by everyone on Amherst and the physical intimidation that Rochester put on Amherst.  This go around, I don't believe that Amherst will be intimidated.

Just my two cents or was that two dollars.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I think that's a really good assessment of Amherst.  I don't think they'll be intimidated and I know they won't give up.  They haven't faced anyone as tough as Wittenberg yet this year, so to me preparation is key.  If they come in knowing what to expect and what to do, they can stick with Witt and make it a game.  I'm not sure we've yet seen all Amherst can do.  I'm excited to see how this one plays out.

[walzy31]

Here is my assessment of Amherst:

Boo! - scares people 
Wheel - is rolling
Mac - crushes kids like a truck
Frodo - seems to get the job done in Lord of The Rings all the time
Cas - Clutch
RC - sparkling like cola 8)
O'Shea - big irish force (game day on st. patties day)
Goldsmith - golden touch
Coulibaly - cool with the ball
Hopkins - Hops out of the gym
G Wong - long ball
Baskauskis - (rearrange some letters) buckits
Bals - takes ballsy shots
Mike-Sa-ler-no        clap-clap clapclapclapFletch (Prince) Walters - Barbara and Tayshaun's kid
BRANDONJONES - PATRICKEWING
Holsey - blocks shots like trees
marcus bradley - in love with a stripper

and they are 28-2 with 18 straight

[Pat Coleman]

As in previous years, D3hoopsNet will be broadcasting the entire Final Four, this year in conjunction with Penn Atlantic, which will provide live video coverage of the semifinals and third-place game.

http://www.d3hoops.com/audio/
http://www.d3hoops.com/salem/06/video.htm

Airtime is 4 p.m. ET on Friday and carries through both games and the postgame news conference.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Baskauskis - (rearrange some letters) buckits

...and add a 't'


Nice try and extra props for the school spirit.