MBB: Centennial Conference

[fritzdis]

The NCAA's bracket (http://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/basketball-men/d3) now shows F&M as hosting the sectional.

[Bucket]

But you never know... find out in about 2 to 3 hours.

Less than an hour actually. Midd, F&M are the eastern seaboard hosts for sectionals.

[Reserved Seat]

fritzdis, since this is the NCAA site, I'm assuming it must be right.

[Pat Coleman]

Yep -- if you follow us on Twitter you also learned almost 90 minutes ago.

[old_hooper]

Not to discredit Amherst, but the majority of their big wins were at home.  They played Wesleyan and Williams twice (1 counts in the Nescac standings, 1 doesnt); both of the conference games were at home.  They also only played Middlebury once and once again that was at home.  Not saying they won't win, but Amherst is more vulnerable on the road which is what this will probably be.

7express, you are right that Amherst has played huge games at home.  They are a very good team and playing their best ball right now.  The losses they have this year was to Brandeis before the new year in which Toomey was out with injury and the last second shot by Wesleyan at the buzzer.  Coach Hixon said this was a turning point for them in the season and they have played that way ever since.  Middebury is an excellent team that they had big leads on in both games and were able to come back and make them classics to watch.  Their strength is the bench, two big men that rotate time that the oppenents will have to contend with, a PG that is just getting better.  His performance against NYU on Saturday was stellar.  His ability to create and go to the basket and turn them into points with accuracy (either by FG or FT) is what he is doing now so much better than at the beginning of the year.  It they can get the two seniors Barrise and Waller to contribute in double figures they will be very difficult to beat.  F & M at home does present a major challenge for Amherst but they will have to play a complete game to win this game.  This will be two legendary coaches that will put their knowledge and experience to test!

[7express]

Also, good luck to F&M moving forward.  Good to talk to a few of the fans at the game yesterday, very hospitible.  Played great defense on DaQuan Brooks, Porter didn't give him anything easy and for the most part stayed in front of him the whole game and didn't get beat off the dribble in the second half like Newport did on Friday.  I'd say the best DaQuan played was the latter stage of the 1st half when Porter & Milligan were out of the game with 2 fouls each.  If they can slow down Aaron Toomey, they may very well be in the final 4.  It's too bad Lancaster is 4.5 hours away, otherwise I'd go back there next weekend for the game.

[oftdip]

To the Commishs:
In the explanation area of the announcements for the Sectional sites, you mentioned the 'non-secret regional rankings'.... The last one I can locate was dated 2/22/12  -  http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-men/d3

Q1: Is that the final ranking of note? Q2: Is that where a regional #2 seed like F&M got the nod over a #3 regional seed like MIT?

[Pat Coleman]

Yes -- those are the non-secret ones. There is another regional ranking, which the NCAA and the committee each promised to release, that is conducted in order to guide the selection and bracketing process. That's the secret one. (Apparently the NCAA reneged on the release. Members of the committee have made it pretty clear to us that they wanted to do it.)

So it is not the final ranking of note, but that ranking would have been a big part of the selection site selection process.

[oftdip]

Pat:
Thanks for the explanation... If you need some guys in Lancaster to get inside the NCAA offices to get the 'secret' rankings, there are some guys at Delta House I know we can count on...

7express: I am glad that your trip to Lancaster was enjoyable and 'hospitable'... Mayser was a pretty good place to be this weekend if you are a D3 hoops junkie... great action, close ball games, packed houses both nights and legendary coaches in the House... WestConn gave it everything they had... F&M 'D" when called on to step up usually answers the call... Milligan's fouls were completely uncharacteristic and nearly devastating for the Dips... We are glad you had a good trip... Brooks was worth the price of admission...

It will be jumping on Friday night in Mayser... We promise to be a hospitable host to our comrades from the North... Amherst will be our ultimate test this season, but that's what we have worked towards... Yeah, a little bit of good fortune like 2009 always helps but this sectional is particularly strong...

Let's go Dips!!!
Thought some would enjoy the local coverage from last night...
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/598139_Gyokchyan-lifts-Diplomats-into-Sweet-16.html

[njf1003]

The only bad thing about this weekend is it is the start of F&M's spring break so the student count will be way down. I do know some will stay especially for Friday night, but Saturday, I'm not so sure.

[crambam]

Any F&M student that truly cares about the team and is there to see them win rather than just be seen, will stick around.  I know when I was a student there, that's what I did.  Went to Ohio, went to Rochester, and even slummed to New Jersey during spring break.

This is a big deal.  If F&M beats Amherst, it will be huge.

[Reserved Seat]

A lot of students have travel plans, so many won't be able to stay around.
Student support hasn't been great all year, but the students have been great the last two weekends.

[magicman]

Not to discredit Amherst, but the majority of their big wins were at home.  They played Wesleyan and Williams twice (1 counts in the Nescac standings, 1 doesnt); both of the conference games were at home.  They also only played Middlebury once and once again that was at home.  Not saying they won't win, but Amherst is more vulnerable on the road which is what this will probably be.

Actually they played Middlebury twice. Once during the regular season and then they faced off for the NESCAC Tournament Championship. Both times the game was played at Amherst and both times Amherst won by 2 points. The first game was an overtime affair and in both games Middlebury had to overcome double digit deficits. In the regular season game Amherst had a 16 point lead with 5:15 left in the first half but Middlebury closed on a 14-2 run to cut it to a 4 point halftime deficit. Amherst continued to lead until the Panthers went ahead for the first time with 3:21 left. Amherst's Aaron Toomey hit 2 free throws to send it to OT and Amherst got a putback off a missed 3 pointer with 2 seconds left in the extra session to win it 77-75.

The second game for the Tournament Championship again found the Panthers down at the half, this time by double digits 36-26. Amherst extended that advantage and had a 15 point lead at 56-41, with under 10 minutes left in the game. Once again Middlebury fought back and finally caught the Lord Jeffs at 68 with 30 seconds remaining on 2 Joey Kizell free throws. Amherst, with their final possession worked the clock down and with 3 seconds left got a 3 pointer from Taylor Barrisse. They fouled Kizell on the inbounds pass to prevent a tying 3 and he went to the line made the 1st and intentionally missed the 2nd hoping for a putback that didn't happen and Amherst won 71-69.

Amherst only lost 2 games all year, both on the road, at Brandeis (where their top scorer and floor leader Toomey was out with an injury) and at Wesleyan where they had a 1 point lead as the game wound down and were called for a foul with 2 seconds left to play. The Wesleyan player made them both and Amherst lost 68-67. They didn't get beat on a buzzer beater as an earlier poster stated.

Both ranking systems, Massey Ratings and The D3 Basketball index by Jim Eddy show this to be a very close game. They both have Amherst rated as a 2 point favorite. Massey predicts a final score of Amherst winning 69-67. This score takes into account the home court advantage that the Diplomats will enjoy. I don't know who will win this game, but if I had to bet on it I'd pick Amherst. I've seen both teams play 3 or 4 times this year and would give the Lord Jeffs a slight edge because they have 3 very good guards. They can all shoot the 3 ball well and can get to the hoop. That being said, the Diplomats have 2 very good players of their own in Georgio and Hayk. Either guy is capable of taking over a game and against Amherst they will both need to be at their best. Whatever the result of this game is, the fans will be the winners, as they should be treated to a great basketball game.       

[onetinsoldier]

Amherst/F&M should be an amazing game.  This game will come down to two questions.  First can Amherst break the amazingly disciplined, halfcourt defense of F&M?  it is the best in the country.  Amherst does have the one thing you want against F&M's style, which is a three point sharpshooter.  Hit a few early 3's, take the Diplomats out of their comfort zone and set the tempo.

Second, how will the refs call this game?  Amherst, is amazing from the charity stripe.  A game that gets mired in the muck with several fouls favors the Jeffs.  a Let them play mentality definitely favors the home team. 

[r.w. mcnickels]

Amherst/F&M should be an amazing game.  This game will come down to two questions.  First can Amherst break the amazingly disciplined, halfcourt defense of F&M?  it is the best in the country.  Amherst does have the one thing you want against F&M's style, which is a three point sharpshooter.  Hit a few early 3's, take the Diplomats out of their comfort zone and set the tempo.

Second, how will the refs call this game?  Amherst, is amazing from the charity stripe.  A game that gets mired in the muck with several fouls favors the Jeffs.  a Let them play mentality definitely favors the home team. 

It seems like F&M is knocked out every year by a team with good 3-point shooting. Amherst apparently has a powerful inside game as well, so this looks like the most difficult matchup F&M has seen since Virginia Wesleyan last year.