MBB: NESCAC

[hoopjunkie]

Congrats to the All Region team -
A few thoughts :

Still can`t believe no love for Drew Cohen .
Still can`t beleive too much love for Rob Stockwell  & Dan Wheeler
I  want their PR people .

Wheeler shot 4-12 & 1-7 from 3 point line against Stevens all that with
Steve Nash er .... I mean Olson spoon feeding him.

[nescac1]

Wow, some serious omissions ... in particular Zak Ray (who definitely should be on over Stockwell, but at the very least, if Stockwell is a first teamer how is Ray not at least a third teamer) and from outside NESCAC, Jimmy Bartolotta of MIT (check out his stats, unreal).  Russ Martin as a first team seems like a stretch, considering he couldn't crack first team all-NESCAC and he was pretty much equally valuable to Kino Clarke, who didn't even make any of the all-region teams.  Also think Olson deserves player of the year, look how far he took Amherst vs. how far Downie (who like Olson had some solid players around him) took Salem State ... imagine Olson's stats in MASCAC. 

Speaking of Bartolotta, that must have been quite a high school team in Colorado with Bartolotta (best player in NEWMAC) only the second best player, and Snyder of Williams (starting as a sophomore) the third best (the point guard on that team is D-I). 

[ScotsFan]

Remember the time when one of the Amherst haters posted on how Olson wouldn't be able to rack up huge assist numbers against decent opponents? 

I was under the impression that Amherst has yet to face a decent opponent in the tournament?! Did I miss something???  To say their road to Salem was the easiest by far is a vast understatement!  I know I'll get hammered for saying this, but it's just my opinion and I'm sticking to it!

Cast will absolutely be a factor as the Amherst players will most likely be smart enough to take away his right hand and force him to shoot with his left.  I'm still confused as to why the JCU post players didn't try to take away his good hand.  To his credit though, Vandervaart played a heckuva game for having a cast.

And no other team has been smart enough to figure that one out???  I'm surprised your not a head coach already?!

Having seen both Amherst and Wooster play this year, I will take Amherst by 7-10.

I seem to remember a similar prediction to this about Brockport beating Wooster?!

I saw Wooster play last night and was underwhelmed by the overall talent of the team.  One of their big guys is playing with a cast on his hand but still managed to get to the hoop.  For some reason the JCU players didn't try to make him score with the broken hand.  They have another solid big guy who is a tough defender and can get to the hoop pretty well.  Their 2 starting guards are pretty good.  #22 has a weird shot, but made some huge baskets in the 2nd half for them.

  Last year Russ of Wittenberg killed Amherst. However, last year, a soph NOT RUSS, was player of the year in that conference. (NCAC or whatever it is) That soph is now a junior at Wooster.

That soph, now a junior at Wooster is #22 with the weird shot, James Cooper.  The only reason he didn't win the NCAC POY back to back is because of a guy named Tom Port or #33 for those not familiar with Wooster.  Brockport's coach admitted that he had no idea, after watching 4 different game tapes on Wooster, how they were going to stop James Cooper and they didn't as he went off for 34 points including 9 in OT!

Wooster has faced all sorts of different styles this season.  They have faced tall teams (several top ranked NAIA schools), they have faced athletic teams, they have faced perimeter shooting and they have faced balanced scoring teams and they have performed quite well among all the different styled teams they have faced. 

I haven't been able to see Amherst in person, but I did watch the NESCAC Championship where Amherst blew at least a 17 point lead against an average looking Williams team...  AT HOME even?!    Looking at them statistically, they have a very good team offensively and defensively.  But, as has been mentioned before, it's not as though Wooster hasn't had to go up against some very good defensive opponents before and they have still managed to put up some good #'s in those games (Centre, JCU and Brockport).

Bottom line is this is the Final Four and all four teams are more than capable of bringing home the Walnut and Bronze.  I wish I could say that I would be there for what should be a very entertaining weekend of basketball, but alas, family obligations are preventing me. 

I'm hoping that the 3rd time is NOT a charm for the Lord Jeffs and that Wooster can exact some revenge on the NESCAC for the last time they were in Salem!  Hopefully, they have a new guy running the clock this time around!?!  8)

[FisherDynasty]

I take Amherst by 7 over Wooster.  10 pts if they are hitting their shots 3 pts if they are not shooting their norm.  Cooper is very good same with Port, but Wooster doesnt have enough fire power to contend.  They were very fortunate to get past Bport, if it wasnt for a very undeserving Technical foul on bport, they would have lost.  That being said, i take nothing away from Wooster they are very good, just not as good as Amherst.  I think Amherst will take the title this year, +3 against Virginia Weslyn.

[ScotsFan]

I take Amherst by 7 over Wooster.  10 pts if they are hitting their shots 3 pts if they are not shooting their norm.  Cooper is very good same with Port, but Wooster doesnt have enough fire power to contend.  They were very fortunate to get past Bport, if it wasnt for a very undeserving Technical foul on bport, they would have lost.  That being said, i take nothing away from Wooster they are very good, just not as good as Amherst.  I think Amherst will take the title this year, +3 against Virginia Weslyn.

You're definately entitled to your predictions.  Thankfully, your predictions haven't been very good lately, that all!  I hope you don't gamble!

[geronimo]

It's official, this result just in!  In the AtR preplay (on the money so far, 6-6 in postseason DIII play) Wooster has downed Amherst by the score of 89-77.

Close most of the way, the Scots slowly edged away from the Lord Jeffs to produce the final twelve-point gap.  The differences were a rebounding margin of 33-36 and Amherst having a poor shooting night from range, going only 7-27 from beyond the arc.

Wooster was led, surprisingly by Devin Fulk, who nailed 7-12 three-pointers to total 23 points.  James Cooper threw in 17, while Tim Vandervaart and Evan Will added 15.

Dan Wheeler topped Amherst with 17 and Brian Baskauskas and Kevin Hopkins contributed 15.  Andrew Olson had 8 assists.

I'm hoping to do Virginia Wesleyan vs Washington U. today.

The boxscore:

http://arkski.com/~jwood/amherst_(77)_vs_wooster_(89).html

MrMike, you changed your log-in name to Wooster Booster?  It's about time!

Geronimo and Baby Ipcah ran a similar simulation on a program called "Don't Step to Ballaholic unless you have a wealth of sneakers, towels and tape." 

Our final score was Amherst 87 - Wooster 79.  Predictably, Devin Fulk pooped his underwear and finished a lowly 1-for-11 from beyond the arc.  Andrew Olsen was credited with 11 assists, but the computer-generated statistician missed a few. 

I breast-fed Baby Ipcah during halftime.  All is well in the world.

[Pat Coleman]

Pat,

On the biggest week of your year (I assume), you have nothing better to do than question VigotheCarpathian about mundane matters at 2:22 a.m. and then brag about your keen literary analysis at 3:49 a.m.?

Seriously, I know the big news about the partnership between NBCSports.com and SI.com combined with the two D3 Final Fours is probably keeping you up, but you got to get your rest.  We're all depending on your sharp, unbiased analysis of the upcoming weekend.

I'm up at 4 a.m. every night, Historian. I work nights.

[geronimo]

Are they capable of shooting 54% against Amherst?  They sure as heck are.  

Please watch your language.  This is a family board, and as a woman, I am deeply offended.  We don't go spouting obscenities on the NCAC board.  By the way, did they finally get uniforms in that conference, or are you still wearing jeans and t-shirts?

[wildwest]

nescac1 - good research by you.  Jimmy Bartolotta, Kevin Snyder, and Andrew Brown (starts at point guard for Lafayette in the Patriot League) all played at Heritage High School in Colorado.  They lost in the big school (5A) state semifinals as juniors and then as seniors they went undefeated in Colorado to win the state championship.  All three were first team all-league and Brown and Bartolotta were first team all-state (Brown was state player of the year), while Snyder was honorable mention all-state.  They had no starters (or guys that contributed) over 6' 4" but they were highly skilled and played very well together.  Brown and Snyder were in the top five in the state in 3-point shooting during the 04-05 season.  An interesting side note - the team Heritage beat in the state championship game in 2005 was ThunderRidge - their two best players were Matt Bouldin (who now plays at Gonzaga and was Colorado State Player of the Year in 2006) and Tyler Nading, who is a sophomore at Washington U. in St. Louis and one of their best players.  That's the same Washington U. that is playing in the DIII national semifinals this weekend.

[mrmike88]

Hotel room booked, press credentials set, now just a 10.5 hour drive between me and Salem.

WAMH will be covering both Amherst games online, if you can't get the videocast to work or you want the Amherst-biased call.    We'll be on the air around 5:30 on Friday - http://wamh.amherst.edu/

[JeffRookie2]

All-region teams just announced. Olson makes first team, Wheeler second team. They pretty much seem reasonable except that I cant understand how Russ Martin made first team. He's the third best player on his own team (Pat Martin, Clarke). I can't understand how Steve DeLuca, who pretty much single-handedly kept Brandeis among the top teams in the league, is on the third team, and russ martin is on the first team.

[formerbant10]

Always a bone to pick when All-whatever teams are mentioned. 

Congrats to Russ.  He had a very good year...was the Bants most consistent player this season.

Scotsfan.....after watching the Wooster/JCU game, all I know is the JCU post players were not smart enough to take away his good hand.  Sure it's easier said than done.....but to continually allow a guy with 1 good arm to use only that hand and not sit on it is mind boggling.

[VigoTheCarpathian]

ScotsFan, if you use the word "easy" in the superlative form, "easiest," there is no possible way it can be an understatement.

Next someone from Wooster is going to tell me something is very unique.


Pat, you work nights?  I knew I remembered you from somewhere!

Dan Wheeler had a bad game?!?  I'm ripping down my shrine to him ASAP.

[La Verdad]

Pat,

On the biggest week of your year (I assume), you have nothing better to do than question VigotheCarpathian about mundane matters at 2:22 a.m. and then brag about your keen literary analysis at 3:49 a.m.?

Seriously, I know the big news about the partnership between NBCSports.com and SI.com combined with the two D3 Final Fours is probably keeping you up, but you got to get your rest.  We're all depending on your sharp, unbiased analysis of the upcoming weekend.

I'm up at 4 a.m. every night, Historian. I work nights.

How do you "work" and post at the same time?  Can you pause warcraft?

Wooster sounds like the real thing; two first team all regions and one third teamer.  They are probably the most bestest team Amherst has played to date.  I hope my trip to Salem is funner than last year's.

[woosterbooster]

Are they capable of shooting 54% against Amherst?  They sure as heck are.  

Please watch your language.  This is a family board, and as a woman, I am deeply offended.  We don't go spouting obscenities on the NCAC board.  By the way, did they finally get uniforms in that conference, or are you still wearing jeans and t-shirts?

Which part of my statement offended you?  Surely it wasn't the word "heck", as in eastern circles the more traditional four-letter words flow like Samuel Adams.  No, it must have been the 54% shooting against Amherst.  Kind of sticks in your craw, doesn't it?  Don't worry, it'll all be over soon.