WBB: NESCAC

[Red1]

Bates 83-Amherst 41.  Amherst had no answer for Meg Coffin in the paint.  They tried to triple team her when she got the ball and it still didn't work.  She scored virtually at will, rebounded at will, and topped it off with a couple of good blocks.

All-Nescac predictions:
First Team
Coffin (Bates)
Pourevalis (Bowdoin)
Flaherty (Bowdoin)
Stubbs (Wesleyan)
O'Malley (Williams)

Second Team
Miller (Williams)
Cox (Trinity)
Barton (Bates)
Serafin (Conn)
Hession (Williams)

Other possibles that might get 2nd team in place of my picks:  McCabe (Col), McVary (Mid)

POY:  Coffin (Bates)

DEY:  Pourevalis (Bowdoin) (I haven't been impressed by NESCAC defense this year in general.  I've never been impressed with Pourevalis on the defensive end because she falls for absolutely every ball fake and gets beat by going for steals that she can't get to.  On the other hand she's solid when she stays off the perimeter, and no one else has really impressed me with her defense either.)

ROY:  Anelauskas (Bowdoin)

COY: If Bowdoin wins NESCAC tournament:  Pemper (Bowdoin)
If anyone else wins the tournament:  Manning (Williams)

Cheers,
Red1

[speedy]

Bowdoin downs Williams 70-60. I guess that means that Bates will end up hosting the NESCAC tournament!!

[Red1]

Bates 78, Trinity 47.  Trinity is a small quick team with some good shooters, but absolutely no answer for Coffin and Kostakis in the post.  These two players absoultely took control of the game and led Bates to a convincing win.

Congratulations to the Bates College Bobcats 05/06 regular season Nescac champions and hosts of the 2006 Nescac tournament!!

Cheers,
Red1

[carolina]

Boy you are a rocket scientist!!!!! Tourny will be at Bates but I don't see them winning it. Heard the refs did a job on Williams even on there home floor. Congrats to Bowdoin for the win and to Bates for Hosting. It was ibteresting until the end but look for Williams to win the Tourny!!!!!!!

[Red1]

The home floor is a monmumental difference for the bobcats as they went undefeated at home including the conference win over Bowdoin.  For the past 3 years Bowdoin has beaten Bates in the final in Brunswick.  Look for the homecourt advantage to make its mark again. 

Williams will have to get through Bates and Bowdoin in that order to win the tournament.  I find that highly improbable, especially on Bates' floor.  Wesleyan's got the same deal.  There's a distinct level change from the top 4 teams to #s 5-8, so look for the top 4 to be playing at Bates.  Bates might very well have the second biggest homecourt advantage in the country (behind Bowdoin of course).  Not even the mighty Polar Bears, nor the current #1 Huskies have found an answer to Alumni Gym.  Look for Bates to win it all this year.

Cheers,
Red1

[usmhoops1]

Red1
Sounds like some fun in  Lewiston is on the way!!

FYI:  Checked the archives
USM  vs Bates
1997-98 season / @ USM 91-60  USM wins
98-99 / @ Bates  (1-21-99) 55-52  USM wins
99-00 / @ USM / 65-52  USM wins
00-01 / @ Bates / (11-21-00) 77-69  USM wins
01-02 / @ USM / (11-20-01)  71-68  USM wins
02-03 / @ Bates / (11-26-02) 69-66 USM wins
**USM was down 18-20 and came back in this one**
03-04 / @ USM / (11-25-03)  84-61  USM wins
04-05 / @ Bates / (11-23-04) 61-37 Bates Wins
05-06 / @ USM / USM wins

My daughter played at USM from  99-03.  Missed no games her Soph, JR and Sr years
Huskies have taken 3 of last 4 at Bates. I think USM has done quite well in Lewiston.


I wish Bates, Bowdoin, USM and whoever else is on top could play more often.  Win or lose, those are great nights of basketball.
Playoffs at Bowdoin and at USM the last 3 years have been incredible nights for womens hoops in our state.  Just wish we did not have to wait so long in between games for the epic matchups!!

Good luck to all the rest of the way!!

[carolina]

Ok
I will give Bates and Bowdoin their due but Bates got lucky with the home seed because technically Bowdoin and Bates were tide in the win/loss column but I guess that is why we have the tie breaker. The top teams are so good I think it would make for a more interesting game if they played at neutral sites for the tourny (JUST MY OPINION). I would like to see all teams play have the same advantages or disadvantages. I don't care what anyone says. Referees play a major role in a close game when on the home floor of a team. Just let the teams decide who is best on a given night. IN MY OPINION ONCE AGAIN....I believe Bates, Bowdoin and Williams are very Simliar with their talent. I guess you might add Wesleyan to that group. So a neutral floor would be nice.

[Red1]

USMhoops1,

I was referring to Bates current home win streak which extends more than 2 years, and during which Bates defeated USM in Lewiston (and Bowdoin twice).  Your numbers only further support my point about just how large Bates' homecourt advantage has been over the last 2+ years.  Prior to that USM had no trouble against Bates anywhere, but since the streak began even the mighty Huskies fell at Bates.  By the way, how many D1 transfers does USM have now?

Schedule more games between Bates, Bowdoin, and USM.... Are you a fan of pain?  Besides the fact that USM doesn't have enough non-conference games for that it would physically and mentally burn all three teams out.

Carolina,
Have no fear, Williams will likely make the NCAA tournament with an at large bid if they don't win the automatic bid.  The same is true for Bowdoin.  The same, however, may not be true for Bates as the bobcats have struggled away from home this year.  The current scenario gives the NESCAC the best chance for 3 teams in the tournament this year (perhaps even 4 if Wesleyan is good enough to make it).

Cheers,
Red1,

[usmhoops1]

Red,

The only D1 transfer at USM is Marble and she was a D1 Volleyball player at Orono, not basketball.  She would struggle to play basketball at UMaine.  Hard to be a 5'9" forward even in UMaines current state of being!!  She was a solid volleyball player at best at that level and Maine is not on top of the Volleyball world by a long shot.

USM vs the in state NESCAC schools play on each others floors on alternating years.  I think the Bowdoin streak at home is really something!!  Not to take a thing away from the Bobcats.  I enjoy watching Coach Murphys teams play.  Great guy and a fun style to watch.  Bates would need to go about 3 plus more years to equal what the Polar Bears have done at home.

Unfortunately, the home of the Bobcats is not legal by NCAA standards to host the NCAA's which is too bad for that to happen.  Maybe raising the tuition a few grand could get the new place built!!

My reference to having them play more, I know will not happen.  Duke vs NC, and rivalries of that nature happen home and away each year so I guess wishing for the same in our great state is reasonable!!
Hope the blizzard doesnt wreak too much havoc today.  Not going to any games today.  My wife does have a list for me though!!

[usmhoops1]

Just found something interesting.  Reading about the upcoming NCAA tourney and the new format.  According to what is printed in that info,  there is the potential that the NCAA may relax a few of the standards for who may host. 
Talk of having seperate admissions for the first 2 games of the regional.  I wonder if that would help someone like Bates  with attendance being an issue as far as how many Alumni gym can seat.  Anyone know more about this.

On the home page of this site you can find the article about this.

[carolina]

Well I guess the rumor was correct. Bowdoin shot 33FOUL SHOTS TO Williams 6. Quite the disparity. Luckily for Bowdoin they had those shots or they might not even of been in the game. I know Williams probably fouled but I am sure it shouldn't of been 33-6!!!!!!!!!!!

[demonizzy]

Ok
I will give Bates and Bowdoin their due but Bates got lucky with the home seed because technically Bowdoin and Bates were tide in the win/loss column but I guess that is why we have the tie breaker.

Wait, Bates got "LUCKY" with the home seed? I don't think going 8-1 AND beating Bowdoin, the other 8-1 team in the league, makes them "lucky" to have the home seed. As far as I can tell, Bates EARNED that home seed.

[Pat Coleman]

Just found something interesting.  Reading about the upcoming NCAA tourney and the new format.  According to what is printed in that info,  there is the potential that the NCAA may relax a few of the standards for who may host. 
Talk of having seperate admissions for the first 2 games of the regional.  I wonder if that would help someone like Bates  with attendance being an issue as far as how many Alumni gym can seat.  Anyone know more about this.

On the home page of this site you can find the article about this.

I think Bates might be allowed to host a regional but still probably not a sectional.

[usmhoops1]

That would be great for the Bobcats.  If they earn the right then they should be able to host it.  Would be a great night for ticket scalpers!!

[Red1]

Bates has hosted regionals before (that is games in the first 2 rounds).  In fact they did that last year when they beat Emmanuel.  The rounds of 16 and 8 are both considered sectionals although the round of 16 is also the regional final, and Bates has never (and probably will never in Alumni) be allowed to host sectionals even if they do earn the highest seed.   This was proved last year when top seeded Bates had to travel to second seeded USM, and lose all of the advantages they had earned with that top spot, because Alumni is too small.  If Bates could host regionals before the NCAA relaxed its standards then they certainly should be able to do so still.  I think it would take a lot more relaxing then the NCAA is willing if Bates were to host a sectional.  This may all be a moot point this year anyway as Bates will likely have to win the NESCAC tournament just to get in to the NCAAs and even if they do it's highly doubtful that the Bobcats will get to host any round this year.

Cheers,
Red1