MBB: NESCAC

[walzy31]

Aggregate score Amh/Bates men AND women.
Line: Amherst -14
Actual: Bates +6, Covers by 20

Total steals by Zak Ray AND Jenny Muller.
Over/Under: 5.5
Actual: 4, Under

Combined FG Percentage of Rob Stockwell AND Stefanie Reiff.
Over/Under: 46.5%
Actual: 10-19 = 52.6%, Over

DJ Carcieri enters game.
Yes: +220
No: -300
Actual: No

Olson breaks single season assist record.
Yes: -450
No: +320
Actual: Yes

[WeezyFBaby]

Whitmore has mellowed, hard to hate now.

Whitmore told his players "you go over there and show those ******* that we won!" which is why westbrooks and a few others were taunting the crowd and midd's players. yes the crowd was rowdy but they're college kids. They were clearly getting to Whitmore.

pretty classy stuff from Whitmore, way to represent your institution.

props to colby, gritty win, good to see two great players continue their seasons. great season for midd, look for them to be top 3 next year. good luck everyone, i'm out.

[WeezyFBaby]

also formerbant thanks for the message

[walzy31]

Additional Amh/Bates lines:

"The Lithuanian Rebounding Bet" - Featuring former Amherst NESCAC Rookie of the year and Mr. Double-Double himself
Total rebounds on Saturday:

Matia Kostakis -5
Brian Baskauskas +5
Actual: Matia=7 Brian=6, Baskauskas by 4

Will Tim McLaughlin block a shot?

Yes -120
No -120
Actual: No

Who last possessed the ball as the final buzzer went off?

Dan Wheeler +400
Andrew Olson +100
Fletcher Walters +300
Brian Lundeen +2000
Zak Ray +800
Bryan Wholey +900
Other Lord Jeff +300
Other Bobcat +1000
Actual: Bryan Wholey deep three

FROM AROUND THE NESCAC:

Kevin Bradley AND Eileen Flaherty total 3 point field goals made.

O/U 5.5
Actual: Eileen 1-2 Kevin 0-9, 1 = Under

Bowdoin Men's AND Women's COMBINED aggregate score.

Bowdoin -30
Trinity +30
Actual: Bowdoin -1 (blame the women) = Trinity by 29

"The Martin Bet"
Russ AND Pat Martin total points.

O/U 32.0
Actual: Russ 16 Pat 11, 27 = Under

At halftime in Oosting gym, the contestant that wins the Bantam Softball raffle will make the half court shot and win $100.

Yes +850
No -1100
Actual: No

"Williams' Gunners Bet"
Maggie Miller AND Chris Rose COMBINED Field Goal Attempts.

O/U 33.5
Actual: Miller 8-13 Rose 5-10, 23 = Under

Drew Cohen AND Nick "Colin" Farrell COMBINED percentage of Colby's points against Middlebury.

>50% -110
<50% -110
Actual: Cohen 26 Farrell 22 Bowdoin 92, 52% = Over

Williams Men verse Tufts. First player to score a point for Ephs first name is "Chris."

Yes -300
No +220
Actual: Chris Rose 3 Pointer 23 seconds into game = Yes

Rebounding Margin in Tufts/Williams game.

Tufts -11.5
Williams +11.5
Actual: Tufts 44 Williams 35, Williams by 2.5

More total points combined.

Val Krah AND Brian Kumf -7.5
Kevin Snyder AND Goheghan +7.5
Actual: Krah 16 Kumf 5 Snyder 11 Goheghan 4 = Williams duo by 1.5

Will Ryan O'Keefe reach 1000 career points this season?

Yes -130
No -110
Actual: O'Keefe 981 = No

Cups of water Coach Paulson drinks over course of Tufts game.

O/U 14
Actual: 14 - Push

[eclinchy]

Congrats to Paulsen... it looks like he outsmarted Tufts today.

Weisbrot and Goheghan were HUGE for the Ephs today, forcing Fitz and Kumf to overextend because they were overmatched height-wise.  That led to foul trouble for both of them, which led to the Jumbos' inside game being effectively ruined.

So Tufts was reliant, as usual, on O'Keefe and Pierce and Weitzen to carry the offense by knocking down threes.  And Paulsen, by setting up his defense in a zone (or as a frustrated Dave Shepherd called it, "that wacky 1-3-1"), made sure that every Jumbo shooter was double-teamed the instant he got his hands on an open ball on the wings.

So the end result was a 5-for-32 Tufts three-point-shooting performance, including a combined 2 for 21 from O'Keefe/Pierce/Weitzen/Shep.  No team can win when they're shooting like that.  Bravo to Paulsen, and to Chris Shalvoy for being one of the most athletic defenders I've seen in a long while.  The Ephs earned this one.

And nescac1, thanks for the praise.  Personally I think I have a long way to go... I'm still a rookie in the broadcasting world.  But hey, there's always next year.

[nescac1]

I agree that Paulsen's defensive strategy was huge against Tufts.  Tufts has a lot of guys who pose one-on-one mismatches for the Ephs making man defense difficult, but other than Weitzen, who had lots of great passes through the zone, they didn't move the ball crisply enough and settled for way too many contested jumpers.  I wonder if Williams will employ the same strategy against Trinity, I'd think if they do use a zone they'd want to pack it in a little more as Trinity's top scorer is a center and they take a lot fewer 3's than Tufts.  Plus, Trinity's guards are better penetrators than their gunner counterparts at Tufts.   I'd rather take my chances with Trinity bombing away than allowing them to pound it inside or dribble past pressure.  Should be a great match-up just like the last game between these teams. 

Schultz might need to get a little more love for rookie of the year.  By my estimation, in the 10 games since being inserted as a starter, he's averaged about 11 points, 5 boards, 1.5 assists a game, on about 75 percent shooting from the field and about 50 percent from 3, and the team's level of play has gone way up (four losses in those 10 games, but those were at Keene in OT, at Amherst, at Trinity by a bucket, and one bad half of basketball in the home loss to Tufts).   Overall in the league, seems like a much stronger frosh class than last year, when Rudin won running away.   

Colby -- Amherst should be very interesting.  All of the Cohen-Hopkins debaters will get another chance to see their guys play head to head.  Colby seems to be on a major roll and Amherst looks a little more vulnerable than earlier in the year, and inside stars always give the Jeffs problems.  But Amherst is a lot deeper than Colby, which, along with home court edge, should be enough to carry them unless Cohen and Farrell both go absolutely nuts.   Cohen--Farrell--Choice are pretty much a wash against Hopkins--Olson--Wheeler, but Colby doesn't have the complimentary parts to match the production of Baskauskas, McLaughlin, Jones, etc., so they will need their big three to outplay the guys guarding them on Amherst. 

[HARGO]

Don't count Colby out. Farrrell is the most explosive player I have seen in the last few years. He is the heart and soul of a team playing well. He led the comebacks in each of the last three NESCAC road games. Drew Cohen is healthy now and playing his best ball. He is a defensive force in the paint, and can score big. It will be tough beating a very good Amherst team, but tournament games are not always predictable. Farrell for Player of the Year . He and Cohen do not have the depth to go with them, like other teams do, but they are in the final four. Simpson is playing well, Choice is very solid and can score, and Westbrooks is a very good defensive player and plays his role well. A very thin bench needs to contribute this week with Gaudet out with an injury.
Oh, the comment made on line that Coach Whitmore sent his players to the Middlebury fans to heckle after the game is just not true. He is as class a person as there is. I must admit the chants throughout the game from the fans about Farrell's girlfriend were disgusting. She and Her family deserve an apology, and Farrell deserves a medal for keeping his composure. They crossed the line big time with that filth.

[dman]

tufts not only failed to pass the ball well, but seemed to be standing around on offense, which absolutely killed them.   shalvoy played a great game on both ends of the floor...i hate to criticize officiating, but it sounds like reilly and bates got the shaft on that one.  let me guess.  in true amherts fashion, nixon started working the refs during the national anthem and kept it up for 39 straight minutes, including halftime.   after an academy-award winning flop on a pick and pop, reilly just couldn't take it any more....meanwhile amherts is nearing the nescac record for fan ejections......

[mrmike88]

The foul itself was no flop, the guy ran right through Olson.  Reilly's problem was with the timing of the call - the whistle blew as Wheeler was letting go of the ball and I'm pretty sure his problem was with them counting the Wheeler 3 AND giving Amherst the ball.

The officiating seemed fair enough to me.  I thought both teams had a few complaints.  Of course, I'm an Amherst fan and the Jeffs profited the most from the 8-point sequence and the Stockwell fouls...

[walzy31]

On the Sunday after the NESCAC Quarter-Finals in 2006, I posted the inaugural "All NESCAC All Crazy" Team. I thoroughly enjoyed the draft, and received lots of positive feedback on the forum.
For those readers who are unfamiliar with this, it is not too hard to follow. 5 first teamers and 5 second teamers. Maximum of one alum pick allowed for each team. Nicknames are strongly encouraged, but are not required. Craziness is required.

So without further adieu, I bring you the 2nd annual All NESCAC All Crazy Team.

With the first pick of the 2007 All NESCAC All Crazy Team...I select...Blake Curry of Wesleyan.

1st - Blake "The Green Light / I quit" Curry (Wesleyan – Non-Rostered)
Greg Oden? Kevin Durant? Naaa, Blake Curry! Blake Curry is synonymous with Crazy and is the heart and soul of this team. Using up the alum/non-rostered player for the first team on the first overall pick was not hard. A repeat #1 overall pick from last year, Blake was sorely missed this year by the Cardinals and every fan in the conference. Truly a unique basketball player who had limitless range. The committee for the All Crazy Team is thinking about making trophies for the award recipients that are miniature glass basketball courts with Blake's replica #44 headband lying on the empty court where he threw it off after missing a turn-around 35 footer. Good luck with Chester Green.

And with the second pick...

[walzy31]

With the second pick of the 2007 All NESCAC All Crazy Team...I select...Jordan Fliegel of Bowdoin.

2nd - Jordan "Shawne Merriman" Fliegel (Bowdoin)
Or "Roids" as you may remember him from last years squad, Joins Blake as the only other repeat selection to the 1st team. Mainly because of two extraordinary off season accomplishments. One is that he picked up a newer, better nickname; and two, that his biceps and triceps actually grew in size. Fliegel was asked before the season started what he thought the outlook was for the Polar Bears for the 06/07 season. He responded, "Last year, my biceps were like large oranges or small grapefruits...this year I wanted to fit in the melon class and have my arms be more like cantaloupes and watermelons."

1st - Blake Curry (Wes-Non Rostered)
2nd - Jordan Fliegel (Bowdoin)

[middguy]

Middlebury was up 14 in the second half. [/quote]

OldGuy-

I listened to the entire game through streaming audio on WRMC - really confusing to me why you wouldn't just slow down the tempo and pound the ball in/take advantage of mismatches on the defensive end with such a big lead. Losing a 14-point lead at on your home court when you're the favorite is unacceptable. Based on the call of the game I heard there were some questionable shots, mostly long range, in the waning minutes of the game and also in overtime. Did you observe this as well?

[walzy31]

With the third pick of the 2007 All NESCAC All Crazy Team...I select...Jake Weitzen of Tufts.

3rd - Jake "Bowser/Pillsbury Dough Boy/Jen-ny Craig" Weitzen (Tufts)
Second straight year receiving recognition. Last year was a 2nd team honoree. Too many crazy nicknames to be left off the first team. Scored his 1000th point as a junior this year, but rumored to have traded his 1000th point ball for a cheeseburger the evening he hit the plateau. When asked if he regretted the trade, J-Dub responded, "The trade was worth it. I wrote the date and the number '1,000' on the wrapper of the burger to remind myself of the 1,000 point thing."

With the fourth pick of the 2007 All NESCAC All Crazy Team...I select...Michael Westbrooks of Colby.

4th - Michael Westbrooks (Colby)
Many people's first overall selection in this year's draft, Michael possesses the shortest temper in league history. Although most do not understand him when words come out, the Irish screaming that flows from Michael is usually explicit and directed at opposing players and officials. Part of the duties of being a Mule who plays is learning the safest ways to hold Westbrooks back when he is berating an official or trash talking to an opponent. 2006 All NESCAC All Crazy team Coach Whitmore takes Michael out of the game after every foul or turnover that he commits. Michael, perhaps going as late as 4th in this year's draft will inspire you to do something that will catch my attention on Saturday in the semis.

With the fifth pick of the 2007 All NESCAC All Crazy Team...I select...

5th - Gabe "GGK/Big Gabe" Gonzalez Kriesberg (Wesleyan)
Listed as 6'9'' 275. Truly 6'8'' 335. Gabe is a house. His nicknames makes him sound like a serial killer, but a more befitting nickname for Gabe is the BFG...Soft voice and soft touch for such a fierce and imposing center. Often confused with older brother Big Dan, there are rumors that Gabe got offered (and refused) to tryout for the offensive line of the San Diego Chargers and Washington Red Skins. When asked why he refused to try out, he replied "I don't think I could handle a coach saying something other than 'let's play Wesleyan basketball!' Hearing 'let's play Red Skins football!' or 'let's play Chargers football' would be too difficult to adjust to."

2007 All NESCAC All Crazy First Team

1st - Blake Curry (Wes-Non Rostered)
2nd - Jordan Fliegel (Bowdoin)
3rd - Jake Weitzen (Tufts)
4th - Michael Westbrooks (Colby)
5th - Gabe Gonzalez-Kriesberg

Can you imagine coaching this starting five?

[walzy31]

2007 All NESCAC All Crazy Second Team:

6th - Troy “Monty Python” McKelvin (Trinty-Alum)
The first ever Trinity player to make the All Crazy team is also the craziest Bantam of all time, and one of the best basketball players in school history. This 6’3’’ PG led Trinity to their best season ever: a trip to the final four in the early 90’s.
*At a game in Oosting, Coach Ogrodnick took Troy out of the game after a missed shot. Troy reacted by sitting on the bench and looking across the court to his friends in the student section, shrugging his shoulders and hands as if saying “I have no clue why I am out,” Troy points at Coach Ogrodnick and then twirls his finger in small circles next to his head calling Ogrodnick “CooCoo.”
*Troy quit midway through his senior year (by walking out of the gym in the middle of a game) because he wasn’t receiving as many minutes as he wanted (only 20-25/game).
*But an even more crazy story was when Troy was matched up against (Hamilton Head Coach) Tobin Anderson. Anderson got fouled to the ground on a drive to the hoop. When Anderson stood up and started walking to the FT line, McKelvin tripped him. Immediately, McKelvin and Anderson stood face to face, meanly staring at each other. What would the average NESCAC player do in this situation? Probably walk away. What did Troy McKelvin do? Why grab Anderson’s nose between his 2nd and 3rd fingers and pull him about five feet of course. Kneeuck-Kneeuck-Kneeuck. Troy, you were good, but we need you on this squad.

7th - Brian “Fitz/Fitzy/An Alcoholic with a Basketball Problem” Fitzgerald (Tufts)
Came back for fifth year to lead jumbos to an amazingly poor season which included 10 losses. Biggest snub of the 2006 All Crazy Team. Very red faced Irishman who moves robotically and is always pumping his fists. Very hard fouler underneath the basket. Good for at least two illegal screens (Red1 would argue more than 2) each game, 37 fist pumps each game, and 20 drinks each night.

8th - Jeremy “Swampass” Black (Tufts)
Slipped five spots from last year to this year. The number three overall pick for the 2006 edition, Jeremy was overshadowed this year by the sweatiest team in recent history which took away from the novelty of the color of his shorts. By the opening tip, it looked like Jeremy has sat in bucket full of water, but by five minutes into the game, every Jumbo looked like they dropped into the dunk tank at a carnival. Maybe it’s the material of the uniforms, or maybe it’s that Sheldon recruits sweaty men…either way, Jeremy is the second craziest Jumbo, but his stock is definitely falling fast.

9th - Steve Weingarten/David Greenidge (Conn)
First ever duo selection, but these two need to be honored together for their craziness. Scenario: Down 36 points with eight minutes left at Amherst, a senior (Greenidge) guard throws an alley oop to a skinny freshman (Weingarten) who was calling for it up top…down 36 with eight minutes left. The toss was good, but Weingarten took it with two hands and was rejected hard by the rim… falling flat on his back. The dunk attempt was as smooth as a Bill Laimbeer half court shot during All Star weekend. The crowd chanted “for-ty two” for the remainder of the game in hopes he would try to dunk again.

10th - Joe “Go-Gay-Gun” Goheghan (Williams)
Selected jersey #44 as a freshman clearly aspiring to be part of this team. With a name that is sometimes pronounced the way his is, he was essentially begging to be on the team. Following in the 2nd team footsteps of Will Kuntz and Yosef Johnson from last year. Joe is not as fast as Yosef, nor as poor a rebounder as Will, but a second teamer just like those two crazy Ephs.

Additional Comments/Honorable Mentions:

*Last year the stars aligned and it was Tufts year. A trip to the Sweet 16, four All NESCAC All Crazy Team Members (and the mascot), and everyone returning except ThunderDan. Things were on the up and up in Medford. However, this year Elvis Priestley (Aaron Galant), Jason “AHhhhh” Grauer, and Pat “Frodo” Sullivan were just not as crazy as last year. Maybe winning is to Tufts as what a full moon is to a warewolf. Winning:Tufts Full Moon:Warewolf…
*The “Tornado” himself fell from the #2 overall pick to a huge 2007 snub. If Simon Behan (Midd-Alum) is reading this, you can blame Blake Curry for not playing hoop this year and taking your alum/nonrostered spot on the first team. I didn’t want to insult you by placing you on the 2nd team, because we all know you are 1st team All Crazy.
*Bill Grevin (Midd) Is a perfect example of the player who gives away that they will NOT be playing in a game. Bill wins the fan favorite “pre game slam dunk” competition. The 6’4’’ freshman from RJ Reynolds threw down 360s, windmills, self lob tosses, self passes off the backboard, reverses. It is clear that young Bill, as a senior in high school, saw last year’s All Crazy team and wanted to get some recognition.
*David Myrie (Wesleyan - Alum) is still credited today for inspiring young Marcus Williams to steal a school laptop and sell it. However, David was not an NBA lottery pick caliber ball player and was kicked out of school. David IS an All Crazy team caliber draft pick, but was up against too much steep Alum competition this year.
*Jimmy O’Keefe (Bates) Purely based on fluidity and esthetics.
*Will Lyons (Conn) Too cool for school. Claims to be Tracy McGrady’s identical twin.
*Casey Gibbons (Williams – Alum) Transferred from Cornell to Williams to get more playing time…only to be benched his senior year in Williamstown.
*DJ Carcieri (Amherst) – Top 5 craziest freshman in the conference. Have you ever seen an all white, fitted, Sox hat, with “Amherst Basketball” spray painted on it in purple?
*Sean O’Grady (Williams – Alum) Rumored to travel to different NESCAC schools and pick fights with team members. Whatever he could do to help the Ephs.
*Brian Gerrity (Bates - Alum) Keep throwing baseball pass inbounds passes at defender’s faces and you will assuredly be drafted in the future.

[walzy31]

2007 All NESCAC All Crazy Team "Fans/SID/Mascot/Coach" awards:

Fans – (Wesleyan)
The school receives the award, but should solely credit Peter "Hooter" Glidden. At Wesleyan, a loud fan section is not happening. But Hooter entertains from start to finish. Since the facility is eerily quiet, Hooter is able to hear every sound that comes from the opposing players. Everyone is the gym can also hear every sound that Hooter makes; sometimes he would echo the play the point guard called, other times he would catch someone's voice crack and call yell his name out loud with a cracking voice for 5 or 6 minutes straight. Somehow Glidden even attracted staff attention and was lightly reprimanded being told to keep his comments positive. His screams while opponents were shooting free throws transformed from "You're the worst player in the 'CAC!" to "You're the best player in the 'CAC!"

Sports Informtion Director "SID" – Brian Katten (Wesleyan)
It was a mistake that we did not draft a SID last year. Always wearing a red long sleeve Wesleyan t-shirt tucked into his bluejeans without a belt and wearing sneakers, Brian works every Cardinal men's hoop game and SINGS the national anthem at every Cardinal men's hoop game.

Mascot – (Trinity) Bantams
The Bantam because they actually have a mascot who dresses up and partakes in pregame rituals in Hartford. Gave high fives during the starting lineups and my bet is that he is either the roommate of Russ Martin, or in RT3's posse.

Coach – Dave Hixon (Amherst)
The first ever Amherst honoree, Hixon led the Jeffs to a regular season NESCAC title despite hopping on one leg for the majority of the season. Although Coach Whitmore has a case for back-to-back honors, Hixon coached for a month in a wheelchair, and is currently sporting wooden cruches and a full leg cast. When trying to call a timeout, Hixon balances by leaning on the near official and yelling to the far official for a TO.
Hix, good luck coaching a headband throwing gunner; a screaming Irishman; Mario's nemesis, and GGK. Playing everybody 4 on 5 will also be tough, but Merriman will most likely not be found on the court as it will conflict with his lifting regiment.