MBB: NESCAC

[d3basketball34]

I love the "neutral observer" ploy!  That's a laugh.  Nobody, but nobody that watches D3 basketball is neutral.  You either have someone that you are following (therefore no neutrality) like a brother, son, roomie or you are an alumnus.  Nobody watches D3 basketball on streaming video when there's the D1 matches going on at the same time in HD unless they have a vested interest.  So enough of the neutral observer bit.  And please don't tell me that you just wandered into Salem last night w/ nothing else to do!

As for the whinning bit let me tell you this.  Last night's game was an outright mugging!  That game should have been on TV under the heading "Bad boys, bad boys!"  When the refs let a game get out of hand by standing around and not calling obvious fouls, then the game ceases becoming what it should be.  Basketball has evolved into a mugging.....be it D3, high school, pros, whatever.  The team that now wins is the one that can play real rough and count on the refs looking away.  I saw it so much in college this year that it's becoming discouraging.  A less talented team can win now by simply manhandling the more talented opponent.  If the refs don't allow for this then Amherst would have won going away.  Up by 8 w/ 5 minutes to play and all of a sudden Amherst can't score?  And they are not fouled until the last minute of the game?  Come on.....the refs blew that one.  It's not whinning when you see a mugging.  I should have called 9-1-1.

[d3basketball34]

Rumor has it John Bedford:

[d3basketball34]

Try that again.  Rumor has it that John Bedford made 1st Team All Region and 3rd Team All-American!  Just a rumor but a pretty reliable one at that.  And jeez louise -- John couldn't make 1st team all Northeast?  How about them cookies?

[TigerFan_1973]

That was a great game.

Congrats to Amherst on the game and a great year as well.  I was amazed by their 3-point shooting in the second half.  I had heard how good they are at the 3s and it was looking like they were in good shape when they were up 8 with about six minutes left.

Again, a great game!

[Pat Coleman]

Try that again.  Rumor has it that John Bedford made 1st Team All Region and 3rd Team All-American!  Just a rumor but a pretty reliable one at that.  And jeez louise -- John couldn't make 1st team all Northeast?  How about them cookies?

That NABC is always a little weird. Our soon-to-be national player of the year is on their third team.

[jumpshot]

To d3basketball34:

It's weak to attack a person rather than one's comments, make excuses and poor assumptions, and ignore the facts when they're not what you wish them to be.

1. I am in Salem (as I have been for the past 6 years) and have been present at over 20 D3 games since the first of this year, regardless of who's playing;

2. Please spare us all the usual excuses for the loss and inference that your team is "more talented" in spite of the score and the facts;

3. The facts are that Amherst had five turnovers and were 0-for-8 from the floor in their final 11 possessions, and Wittenberg had 11 steals and Amherst 16 turnovers for the game (see today's Roanoke Times). Amherst did not ever get into a flow and shot poorly. It is not clear to some of us present why Amherst changed tactics with an 8 point lead with 5 and 1/2 minutes to play contributing to Amherst not getting good looks toward the end.

Enough on that game. It is pleasing to see schools this year at the final four whose enrollment is typical of d3, ranging from 1450 to 2100.

A key item today will be how effectively Wittenberg can defense Brandon Adair, Virginia Wesleyan's clever 6'5" inside post player. He seems to be a good competitor who keeps his focus despite physical play, is left-handed which adds a different element to stopping him, and kicks the ball outside well for three-point shots by his teammates.

[nescachoopsfan]

d3basketball, i think everyone is pretty tired about hearing how the refs blew the game.  anyone who ever has played basketball knows that that excuse is the worst of them all.  while a lot of times you feel that that is the case you know you cant blame it on them.  while admitedly i didn't watch the game, i feel like if witt's gameplan was get the ball inside, and amhersts was knock down 3's maybe that is where the foul descrepancy came from.  up 8 with 6 minutes to go, is that when the refs started to lose it for amherst, because even if they werent getting calls it seemed like they were able to put that on the side up until then.

at first i thought it was good to play the 3rd place game, but now i realize i dont think anyone really wants to play in that game.  walzy i agree, this game doesnt really determine much.  congrats to amherst, would have liked to seen them take it home for us.

[frank uible]

When life turns undesirable, some people steady their forward gaze and look to improving the future; others cast about for someone or something to blame other than themselves. It could be called a character thing.

[d3basketball34]

It's not just the refs who blew the game -- I really believe it's the game itself.  Basketball as a sport has plateaued and I believe it's because of the way it's now being played.  I've watched basketball since the early 60's when you could watch a team with finesse play basketball the way Nasmith wanted it played.  Watch the Celtics of the Bill Russell era and you will see what I mean.  Today ballplayers push and shove their way to titles and many viewers are getting turned off by that.  Look at the regular season attendance for some of the big money teams.  Attendance is down everywhere and it's not just because of the price of the tix either.  I believe it's the quality of the product that's hurting attendance.  If the corporations didn't buy up the majority of the tix there wouldn't be many showing up at all.  

Why do I say this?  I began watching D3 basketball a number of years ago because it was being played at a purer level than at the pro and D1 levels.  Dunking wasn't every other shot (real talent there if you're 6'11") the way we see today.  A premium was being paid for strategy and passing.  Yesterday's game reminded me more of the ugly way that D1/pro's play their game.  And I, for one, was hoping for a cleaner game.  And if you weren't watching b-ball 40 years ago you have no clue about how the game should be played.  

[Jumbos35]

Bob Sheldon was an assistant on those Clark teams, I'm pretty sure.

[formerbant10]

Jumbos,

Coach Sheldon was a part of the Clark family back then.

D3basketball,

I could've sworn that in the original rules that Dr. Naismith drew up, players weren't allowed to dribble and there were many other limitations.  I don't know if what the Celtics of the 60's is exactly what he intended when he created the game as a way for baseball players to stay in shape during the cold New England winters, but I'm sure he was smiling while watching it from above.

And not all pro games are clutch and grab.  In the NBA all you have to do is watch the Phoenix Suns, they are certainly a finesse team who can shoot and get up and down.  Not all NBA teams are fun to watch, but the NBA isn't the only pro league.

I was watching a tape of the 72 NBA All Star game and there were a few big differences in that game.  1) No 3 Pt line 2) The guards jacked up shots like nobody's business 3) They did a much better job outletting the ball 4) Jerry West is the best player never to use his left hand.

After checking out some of the other boards, you are not alone in thinking that the Amherst game was an Ugly basketball game.  So I understand your displeasure.  It's too bad one of D3's biggest games was played in such a manner.

[Gregory Sager]

Ephhoops:

Right on about Clark.  The 84 and 87 teams were great.  I've seen a lot of tapes of those teams.

Your dad is Wally Halas? Cool. He's Papa Bear's great-nephew or something, isn't he? Several members of the McCaskey family have attended North Park, including Brian McCaskey (currently the Bears' director of player relations), who was a year ahead of me in school.

As a North Park alumnus I was there for the 1987 national championship game. Kermit Sharp of Clark was quite a player. He really put the Cougars on his back and led that phenomenal second-half run that made what had been a blowout fairly close. It wasn't until he fouled out in the last few minutes that Vikings fans were able to relax a bit.

[formerbant10]

Mr. Sager,

That would be my dad.

Kermit was quite a player.  Great guy too, I used to love when he would come by the house.  The 84 team had Dan Trant who was a great guard as well, last cut for the Celtics after he finished his career at Clark.  I grew up watching the game tapes of those guys.  A lot of fun to see how they played the game.

[fpc85]

 Congrats to Amherst for a fine season. Watching them play with such passion and poise this year was a treat. I look forward to next season and another great year. I think they have the best returning talent...only time will confirm this.

[GoJumbosOrGoHome]

Amherst blaming the refs would be like Tufts blaming a fluke shot on them not being in the final four themselves. I watched the game and i didn't see the refs throwing the ball all over the gym in the 1st half and taking 30 foot shots during the stretch run. It was a great game and it's a shame someone had to lose it, sorry the NESCAC couldn't get a W, but it's a great season for the league with a couple classics between the jumbos and the jeffs.  The NABC is all political... congrats to beford on a great career.