WBB: NESCAC

[Maine 1]

Just to clarify on the last shot--I would not say the Colby players froze--there was a play set up-the first option was not available, and when the ball was kicked out,  The amherst defense swarmed the ball--there really was no where for the Colby player to go with the ball (the Amherst players were taller than the Colby player). 

[amh63]

Some comments on the weekend play and maybe some dings on comments made.
First, I posted that FY Meg Robertson had 9 rebounds.  It is recorded that she had only 7.  It was Bridget that is listed with 9 rebounds.
Meg who was learning how tough it gets in conference play in the last few games.....rebounded from the Bowdoin game with a huge game against Colby on Sat.....leading the team with 18 points and pulling down 7 boards.  It seems that Meg and Bridget held their own and more against the bigger Colby front line.  It is noted that Coach G was not concerned in such a tight game by bringing in another FY front court player late in the game to give Bridget some rest.
Bottom line on the last play, IMO.  Both coaches had time to prepare for the last 18.5 sec.  The last play shows what has lead this year's Amherst team...defense.  the Amherst defense won the game as Amherst outside game was off and Colby's front court reduced the effectiveness of the Jeff's inside game.
Maine 1......I would not say that this year's team is not as strong as earlier teams.  It is different and still learning.  Loosing 4 players that contributed over 4 years is hard...including two 1000 pt. scorers and the team's leading rebounder.  Last year's team had more depth than the previous year and this year's team is developing into an even deeper team.  With Lem Atanga sitting out the two games this weekend.....the team had to adjust to a younger less experienced front court.  With Lem out, both the outside and inside game suffered.  Oh yes, Lem is a 1000 pt. player.  Also one of the graduating seniors was the Player of the Year and a two time AA.
I'm glad that Farmer decided to let the topic go.  The final judge of teams, players and coaches is on the floor in games played under all sorts of conditions, etc.  This weekend, Amherst played two Maine teams at their place. Both Maine teams played very well.  Amherst players learned that one needs to stay focused....to handle the pressure of a win streak and other things.

[Maine 1]

amh63--just following up on comparing this Amherst team to last few years--I am not sure what you are looking at.  Amherst lost Daignult, an all-American, and Leyman, who was a rock inside. They were able to bring McCormick off the bench.  This team does not have that depth or fire-power.  I thought Crowley was lost on offense on Saturday, and was just not a factor.  It appears that Amherst has not real bench either (look at the minutes played by the starters on Saturday). 
I actually felt that Colby's top seven were better than Amherst

[amh63]

That is what makes this board interesting.  Everyone sees things different and our view doesn't really matter.  If you are correct in your last post....then Colby should sweep the rest of their games by 20 plus points and end up in the conference tournament.  There if the seeds are correct, Amherst will meet Colby again in the title match for a rematch....the better team should prevail.

[lefrakenstein]

amh63--just following up on comparing this Amherst team to last few years--I am not sure what you are looking at.  Amherst lost Daignult, an all-American, and Leyman, who was a rock inside. They were able to bring McCormick off the bench.  This team does not have that depth or fire-power.  I thought Crowley was lost on offense on Saturday, and was just not a factor.  It appears that Amherst has not real bench either (look at the minutes played by the starters on Saturday). 
I actually felt that Colby's top seven were better than Amherst

It's unusual to say that a team with 3 1,000 point scorers on it doesn't have firepower. It might be fair to say that the team isn't as strong as last year's after the loss of Jaci and Leyman, but I think it has to be conceded that Lem and Robertson have played exceptionally well in the post to help account for their departure.

I think it's crazy to 1) criticize Amherst's bench when Colby's starters played all of 2 fewer minutes in aggregate than Amherst's did, and Amherst was missing a starter, and 2) to say that Colby's top seven is better than Amherst's top seven when Colby's top seven just lost at home to Amherst's top seven (and again, that's without Amherst's best, or second best, player!).

[amh63]

There is a nice preview of the upcoming "non-conference" games between Amherst and Williams on Wednesday at Williamstown on the Amherst website.
Both the WBB and MBB matchups are between ranked teams.  It must be a big thing in the Berkshires since there will be live TV coverage of the games in the western part of the state as well as the now FREE on-line webcasts out of Williams.  Expecting a full-house in the Williams gym.....in part to the local town following and the normal students......maybe the reason for the TV coverages of a D3 game.  Last year, the MBB game at Amherst received national mention on an ESPN show by a Boston writer in attendance.
The info on the TV and on-line coverage are noted in the Amherst preview for those interested.

[NH NESCAC Fan]

Amherst won easily tonight at Williams to remain undefeated.  The loss was only the third for Williams, and to me it highlights the difference in talent between the NESCAC and the other DIII teams up in the Northeast.  Now that the league schedule has started (and I know this one was technically non-conference) it will be interesting to see how everything shakes out in the next few weeks.

[sumfun]

Seemed huge for Amherst to have Lem Antanga McCormick back, and Ephs didn't have an answer for Stedman's 3's.

[amh63]

For other interested  posters, Amherst won by 22...80-58 and it could have been more.  I believe the lead was 25 at the half.  There is a writeup of the game and the boxscore on the Amherst website now.  There will be video highlights on Thursday.  Stedman lead the scoring with all the "starters" contributing...defense, rebounds, etc.  Meg Robertson was huge tonight...starting for Lem.  She had a double-double...16 points and 10 rebounds.  Lem came in and sparked the 2nd half.  With Bridget also having a good solid game, Amherst dominated the boards.  Without Williams big player....ACL injury, Williams will have a tough time in conference play....against Colby's big front court.

[7express]

Amherst won easily tonight at Williams to remain undefeated.  The loss was only the third for Williams, and to me it highlights the difference in talent between the NESCAC and the other DIII teams up in the Northeast.  Now that the league schedule has started (and I know this one was technically non-conference) it will be interesting to see how everything shakes out in the next few weeks.

Only really tough game Amherst has left is @ Tufts, but they should still win that by at least 10.  I don't think Bates, Trinity or Middlebury give them much trouble, and they should win the game in Amherst against Williams by 15+.  They already got through the tough part of their schedule unscathed which I thought was their best chance to slip up (that week with the game vs. Kean and the road trip to Maine).

[LORENZO123]

Au contraire, mon ami. There is always Babson.

[NH NESCAC Fan]

Unless I'm missing something on Amherst's schedule...they don't play Babson.  Yup, just double checked, no Babson on Amherst's schedule and no Amherst on Babson's schedule. 

Wait, unless your comment is in response to my earlier post.  If so, I'm not saying that there aren't other good teams in the Northeast besides NESCAC schools, and clearly Babson is a good one, but it seems the NESCAC dominates outside conference.

[LORENZO123]

Actually, I was responding to 7express, a frequent and informative poster. I thought it would be obvious that I was responding to his post and that I was referring to the possibility of a fourth consecutive matchup of Amherst and Babson in post "conference" season play. Evidently not, but now you know. NESCAC teams' success outside their conference is a fact.

[NH NESCAC Fan]

Got it.  I was thrown because 7express's post was about the regular season schedule.  Clearly they will face tougher competition in the post season, including Babson.  Although at least going by the results, Amherst hasn't had too much trouble the past three years with Babson (avg margin of victory = 19 points).  Of course, every year is different.

[LORENZO123]

Agreed, "any given night" but a fan has to be optimistic!