WBB: NESCAC

[MVP]

Babson beat Tufts in the first game of the Williams tournament Saturday night by nine after trailing by nine at the half. Babson was beat on Sunday afternoon by a very good Williams team. Babson only shot 21% from the field for the game. This poor shooting performance is unlikely to happen again.

[sumfun]

I don't think of Tufts as a strong team this year and Babson struggled with them.  Tufts then lost to Whitman which isn't ranked in D3 Hoops.  The "big 3" from Babson should have more than handled Williams.  Looks to me that Babson will have to focus and dedicate itself to improving or they won't get that rematch with Amherst in the NCAA.  For that matter, neither Amherst or Babson have the luxury of believing that they deserve to be in NCAA Elite 8 against eachother.  That has to be earned.

[Ourtrun]

I watched the Babson vs Williams game and from my observations, the Williams inside players were simply more athletic than the Babson BIG 3. As the pace of the game picked up the inside quickness and agility Williams became the big factor. Size wise (height) Williams matchup well the Babson Big 3.

[LORENZO123]

Babson's record is "only 6 – 4 when playing on a NESCAC team floor." Agreed, but 3 of the 4 losses were against Amherst; in the first round in 2009, in the Elite 8 in 2010 and again in the Elite 8 with Amherst winning the championship game in 2011. Babson's win against Colby two years ago in double OT was one of the best games I've ever seen. Their win against Bowdoin last year in OT wasn't a snorer either.

Secondly, the Babson and Amherst teams have both EARNED their successes.  Why anyone would suggest that because of their past success they think they deserve a free pass to the Elite 8 is a mystery to me. Last year the knock on Babson was their "easy" schedule. There are a limited number of non-conference games that can be scheduled and opportunities for getting tougher teams on your dance card doesn't happen overnight. They have a tougher schedule this year and losing this game will only make them better.

One game does not a season make. Williams had a great game, Babson did not. It's early in the season and the best is yet to come.

[amh63]

NH..Fan & Sumfun...FYI if you are not already aware.....On the Amherst website, in the Flicker section, there is a number of photos of the ceremony of the unveiling of the 2011 NCAA Championship Banner in the Gym....and the handing out of rings to the players.  Saw two stars that graduated there to pick up their rings. J. Hardy is in the last photo receiving her ring.  It was held on Friday the 19th.
Also, If you go to the U-Tube video of the season preview, you will note that the players do not expect to return to the Final 4 without earning it on the floor.

[Maine 1]

Looks like NESCAC overall is off to a good start.  Williams appears to have dominated Babson.  Williams has been coming on strong the past two seasons, and may have another strong season.  Amherst is loaded again, and appears to have replaced their inside players.  Watched Colby twice this weekend.  They will be strong again, although they do lack depth. There first five is strong, but not much scoring off the bench. The Brandeis team they beat was not strong, and missing their best player.  It looks like another good year for NESCAC women's basketball

[toad22]

Williams has their best team in a long time. Claire Baecher is the most talented Eph in at least a decade. She completely disrupted the Babson bigs with her blocks and shot alterations. I hope they can start to believe in themselves. They could be very good.

[Maine 1]

I saw Williams last year at Colby.  I thought that Baecher was very talented, but that overall Williams did not play very smart. They seemed to be in love with the 3-point shot, even though it was not falling. My sense is that they have the talent to compete at the top level of the NESCAC, as long as they play smart basketball.

[amh63]

Amherst had a wake-up call game tonight at MHC.  In the pre-holiday game, it was 21-18 at the half, Amherst.  Using a number of combinations in the second half, Amherst scored 46 pts to 23 points in the second half.....for a 67-41 win.  Amherst was led by Meg Robertson, a FY front court player with 16 points.  Amherst couldn't hit their outside or inside shots in the first half.  MHC had a higher field goal % and 3-point % than Amherst.  Amherst won the battle of the backboards and had more chances at the basket.  Amherst turned on the defense in the second half and had over 20 steals in the game.  The coach let Finucane and Atanga McCormick sit after they scored in double figures early in the second half.  The reserves had plenty of time on the court with Renner playing her part......leading her team in assists and rebounds, I believe...as she directed the players off the bench.  Stedman had an off-night in the first half...1-10 in shots and 0-5 from outside.   Good to get a game like this early in the season....a good "lesson learning" game so to speak.

[Maine 1]

amh63-can you give us a report on the freshman group at Amherst--looks like they have picked up a couple of strong post players.  Are they as deep as they have been. If so, that could be trouble for the rest of the NESCAC

[amh63]

Maine 1.....you flatter me on my knowledge, which I have little.  I again suggest you go to the Amherst website and watch the video of the practice.  First, remember the Amherst coach is a fine "recruiter" and recruits to fill needs and builds for the future.  This year, aware that the team lost two front court starters that provided both points and rebounds and leadership, the Coach brought in four front court type players.  Julia Weatherly is the 6' transfer from a Div.l school.  She will bring in her front court talents off the bench as she blends in  to the style and pace of Amherst on the offense.  Amherst tends to run up and down the floor when it can.  Julia's father is a Colby graduate.  Megan Robertson is the FY player that has gotten more and more time on the floor and appears to blend well with the starters.  She is a 6'2" front court player.  Her talents include rebounding and scoring down low and playing defense.  I expect her to be a major player off the bench.  Savannah Holliness is a FY player that also can play down low.  Listed at 5'11", she maybe taller and can hold her own against bigger front court players.  The 4th front court player is Uju Momah, a 6' FY player that has to date, not appeared in any games.  In a picture after the St. Lawrence game, she is in street clothes....so I believe she is recovering from an injury.  There is another "new player" in guard Sally Marx who missed all of last season due to an ACL injury.  She also has not appeared in a game to date but is seen in early practices with a leg brace.  I expect her to bring her talents by the Las Vegas tournament in late December.
  In discussing the depth question, one must consider the returning talent.  Five seniors return to be the starting 5.  Antanga McCormick goes to the  front court and will score and rebound there and will shoot the 3 if she is not guarded.  The other 6' player will be J. Renner, a Div. 1 transfer, who is more a point guard....sort of a "point forward" like the UConn MBB player in the late 90's, I believe. She is not a scorer inside as much as a outside shooter and a rebounder.  B. Crowley, a 6'1" player has shown in the games to date that she will be more than adequate as a scorer and rebounder down low.  This maybe her year to have a "break-out" type season.(Meg Robertson is the other front court player to give Atanga relief.)  Two other players may/will have their impact on the season.  Jasmine Hardy, a Div.2 transfer guard last year, now understands Amherst's team play, defensively and offensively.  She will bring her outside shooting talents and rebounding skills to play this year.  The conf. FY player of the year, M. Voight will also come off the bench and provide relief to the starters.  She can score inside and outside and like Amherst's guards, rebound.  She has learned to play tough defense and will have more time on the floor.
In short, Amherst will have depth this year....and if the early season is any forecast of the season, Amherst will be tough again.  Barring injuries and good chemistry and the blending in of the new players...They will remain tough in the front court.
Still, it is still early in the season.

[amh63]

Quickly glanced at the D3hoops latest polls.  Seems the conference has picked up another top 25 rated team,,,,Williams.  Bowdoin and Colby are still there as is Amherst. 

[amh63]

Amherst beats Keene at home 66-45.  It was 41-18 at the half.  Amherst played everyone that was dressed.  Keene played hard the 2nd half and drew the fouls.....getting ten fouls before Amherst got 5.  Amherst rotated players in and out and played a man to man defense that caused Keene fits.  Last year, Amherst beat Keene by 41 at Keene.  Amherst needs to work to get the ball inside more.  There was one play that had Amherst pass the ball around until B. Crowley lay it in under the basket without anyone guarding her.  Fooled Keene and the Amherst announcers.  The Amherst coach called time out when he wanted better offensive execution and/or more intense defense.  The boxscore provides the details.

[BBstudent]

The "one play" referred to above was a thing of beauty. Keene was in a 1-3-1 defense so Amherst's offense set up with two girls on opposite sides of the baseline, one on the foul line and two on top (a 2-1-2); the passing was side to side and baseline to opposite wing, strong passes that didn't "float" forcing the the whole Keene defense to be constantly moving at full speed. The ball never touched the floor and no one held it long enough to let the Keene players stop moving.... until the pass from the right wing to Bridget open on the right block for a layup. It was 7 or 8 passes and happened so quickly that I believe there were still about 10 seconds on the clock.
I would also observe that the improvement in Megan Robertson's defense between last Saturday's Saint Lawrence game and yesterday was what you might expect to see from freshman year to sophomore year, not in just ten days. She had great positioning and worked extremely hard the defensive end, and on this team that is what seems to get you playing time.

[amh63]

BBstudent.....your description of "The Play" was quite informative and befits your "handle", so to speak.  Guess you were at the game.  I watched on-line and my eyes are not so quick or young....I'm guessing.  Anyway, it is a shame that the Amherst play is not recoverable and put on the u-tube.  There is no achieving of Amherst's webcasts......even with the new hardware.