WBB: NESCAC

[amh63]

Babson's offense is based on the their front court...has been for three years.  Often as seen in their game on Friday, has one of their bigs pass to another big under the basket and if they miss the shot, two bigs go for the rebound and put back.  Surprisingly, King, I believe, made a number of outside shots in the first half of the game on Sat.   It is too bad that the tall Babson trio did not develop their talents in other areas....and got better support from their guards.
Several other comments from us who had to watch on-line.  First, there are too many "media time-outs".....it makes the game choppy and can stop runs.
NH NESCAC Fan....you may be correct that Wuderman was tired.  Even some Amherst starters started to miss foul shots near the end of the game...fatigued players.
Looking at the box score last night.....shows that Babson controlled the boards....the spread was not as bad as it was in the first half when Babson had 14 more boards...mostly offensive rebounds.  However, Amherst had more steals and more than doubled Babson's blocks.
The student announcers wondered out loud if Lem Atanga and Meg could be put in the game together..along with Jackie....to counter Babson's bigs....3 experienced six footers against 3 experienced six footers.  In the 2nd half, Lem and Meg played together and were the key to the win,IMO.  Both are offensive threats, good rebounders and shot blockers.  Both had foul problems in the first half.  In the second half both scored inside and from outside and caused defensive problems for Babson's bigs.  They along with Voight led Amherst to the win.  Stedman had an off night offensively...due in part, IMO, playing hard defense.....most of the time against King.

[NE Hoop Guy]

AMH63--you are really something.  I read these boards and from time to time (too much lately) offer a comment or two.  Your view's are so parochial and myopic that it is hardly worth responding too, but after resisting for a while I am giving in. 

Your comment that it is too bad the Babson trio did not develop their talents in other areas is ludicrous.  What are you talking about?  Do you think they should be playing volleyball also?   Is that what you mean? Surely you are not talking basketball talents, because if you look at the stats you will see that they fill the stat sheet in all categories.  They all regularly shoot from the outside, play tenacious defense (check with C. Stedman)so again what are you talking about?  Stedman was off because of the Babson defense on her, not because of the defense she was playing. 

For all the talk about the Babson lack of depth, and some of it has merit, I notice Stedman put in 40 minutes herself.  That would seem to indicate that the rotation is not quite what it was.  Fiorentino had 20 in the first half and likely would have also gone for 40 save the foul trouble.

So if you want to bleed Amherst as you do, that is great, but show some respect for the opponent.  That seems to be lacking in Amherst at times in many ways.  Amherst is very good this year, but not quite as good as they were.  They know they faced their toughest threat of the year last night and they got lucky in a couple of ways.  They held off a ferocious challenge and the bracket collapsed around them, so they have much weaker teams coming to Amherst than anticipated.  So I think they go to the final four again, but barring a great recruiting class they come back to the pack in the NESCAC next year, with Tufts the likely winner "IMHO".  So maybe a bit of humility would be helpful and respect for the tremendous talents and efforts of others along with your love for Amherst.  Again, just my opinion.

[Maine 1]

In terms of last night's game--as I mentioned with four minutes to go, I thought Voight was the difference in the game.  Made some big shots, rebounded, and was a force. It looks like she is coming out of her season long funk, as she played well in the NESCAC finals. I also thought that putting in McCormick and Robertson togheter helped offset the Babson height advantage. 

Babson's achilles heel, as it has been the last couple of years, is consistent guard play.  The Big three had 44 of 48 points. If Babson had developed some reliable outside shooting during the season, it would have given them the balance that they would have needed.

I do agree with the previous poster, that Amherst does not have the depth it has had in the past.  Finnucane has not been effective, so she is starting, but not playing starter minutes. McCormick is a starter, so the only real reliable player off the bench is Voight.

[7express]

I can't see a team on their side of the bracket that can beat them.  George Fox probably has the best chance, but Mary Washington doesn't have enough offense to keep up.  If MW ends up winning their part of the bracket, Amherst can coast to the championship game without much trouble.  On the other side even though Tufts lost both games to them this year, Tufts held them to below 50 points in both meetings IIRC and have the most familiarity with them being conference opponents.  I also think Chicago can give them a run for their money, but imo the team most likely to knock Amherst off of the 15 that are left are Tufts.

[NH NESCAC Fan]

Maine1 - I agree.  Marcia Voight came up huge last night.  She clearly has come out of her year and a half funk.  While her scoring will be what people focus on, I think it was her rebounding that made the difference.

Amh63 commented on the "media timeouts".  I have to tell you, sitting there and watching the game, those things made it painful at times...and not just because bleachers aren't the most comfortable thing to sit on.  There was one point where Babson called a timeout with possession of the ball under their defensive basket.  It was a full timeout.  Play resumed, they inbound the ball, and I don't remember exactly what happened, but they used the bulk of the 30 second clock, at the end of which there was a foul.  Tweet...media timeout.  Really?

Amherst's depth is that every one of the 5 starters, and the players that come in off the bench are capable of playing excellent defense, and scoring as well.  Shannon Finucane, who has struggled during Marcia Voigt's re-awakening, is still a 1,000 point scorer.  If you rightly call Lem a starter, then you surely have to give a nod to Meghan Robertson as a bench player.  Jasmine Hardy led the NESCAC is 3 pt field goal %.  Babson's starters all played excellent D, but only 3 were a scoring threat, and there wasn't anyone on the bench, guard or forward, that was able to help with that.

NE Hoop Guy, re: your comment that showing some respect for the opponent seems to be lacking in Amherst at times in many ways, I'm not sure what you are referring to but I would be interested in your take.  Over the past two seasons I have attended a couple handfuls of games, and have not witnessed any disrespect toward Amherst's opponents.  In fact, there were two times last night that impressed me with the level of sportsmanship that fans showed.  With 23 seconds to play in the game, and the outcome determined, the Babson coach subbed a player in for Sarah Collins.  As she made her way to the bench and sat down she received an extended ovation from ALL of the fans in attendance, not just the Babson fans.  Everyone knew that this was her last game, and appreciated all of the effort that she had given.  The second moment came after the game was over. I was still in the gym when the Babson team came out of the locker room to meet up with their parents and fans.  As they emerged onto the court, the entire gym gave them an extended ovation.  It was very nice, and as crappy as those young women felt, I am sure they appreciated the support from all.

[Pat Coleman]

We will never figure out (save the coach's three years on the committee) how UNE gets an at large out of the CCC, and Colby a good team out of the NESCAC, with some senior who will never again get the chance, stays home.  T

Here's how:

Dec. 6, 2011: University of New England 70, at Colby 63
http://www.d3hoops.com/seasons/women/2011-12/boxscores/20111206_3liy.xml

[remsleep]

With 23 seconds to play in the game, and the outcome determined, the Babson coach subbed a player in for Sarah Collins.  As she made her way to the bench and sat down she received an extended ovation from ALL of the fans in attendance, not just the Babson fans.  Everyone knew that this was her last game, and appreciated all of the effort that she had given.

pretty sure Collins is a junior

[sumfun]

Under big pressure I thought Stedman had a great game.  15 points, and some remarkable drives to the basket where her pure speed was on display.  She remained calm and led her team just as a senior should do in a tight game.  With others in foul trouble, and the luxury of media time outs no need to rest her.  I think you'll see more of Finucane in the next game(s), last night was a case where Gromacki needed height at every position.

[NH NESCAC Fan]

Remsleep...oops, my bad.  You're right.  I thought they were all seniors...so...Everyone, but me, knew this was the last game of her Junior year, and appreciated all of the effort she had given.

[amh63]

NH NESCAC Fan....nice recap of the fans last night.   I try to sit on my coat at times while in the bleachers.  When I have to go up the bleachers with the parents (men), I tend to stand up....will not block any fan's sight lines.
I will clarify and respond to NE hoops Guy's comments at a later date....when he calms down from being mad at me, at Amherst, and at the NCAA committee...for not respecting Babson enough....it seems.  Amherst played a nationally ranked team last night in the 2nd round.  Stedman was in the game for 40 minutes because of the respect for Babson's pre-season All Americans.  Stedman is the conference POY.  I made my comments in part because of Stedman's play over the years...and in part of her play in Fri.'s blow-out.  Stedman was not sharp on Friday and was taken out to rest and because she was not needed....earlier than the other starters.
When she is needed to "take over a game" by her shooting and explosive drives to the basket and her steals, etc.,Coach G keeps her in the game.  Yes her drives were limited last night by Babson's defense....but her outside shooting was also off, even when unguarded.
She was still kept in for her defense of a bigger opponent, etc.
Ms. Finucane has been a starter for at least three years.  She is also Amherst's leading "stealer".  She controls the flow of the offense and plays great help defense and even rebounds well.  Jackie Renner at times will spell Shannon at point. 
Oh yes, Lem was selected as a 1st team conf. player, and Meg Roberston was selected Rookie of the Year....as was Voight her first year.  Kim F. was selected 2nd. team.  Just some info for Babson fans on the Amherst team that was on the floor and that struggled against Babson for most of the game.

[NH NESCAC Fan]

NE Hoop Guy - Here i MUST take issue with your last comment about the Amherst families not participating in the ovation.  That is flat out baloney.  I was smack dab in the middle of the families, and we were all applauding the Babson team.  You continue to say... Which is fine, I would not expect them too,...perhaps that is the problem.  I fully expected them to, and they did.  That is good sportsmanship.

[MVP]

Congratulations to the Amherst womens basketball team! They played with poise and toughness in a game that could of gone either way. This was the rematch D3 and the fans were all waiting for all season. It's a shame it was a contest in the 2nd round. Babson almost had them. I think everyone including GP were sweating this one out. Babson was underrated by D3 , the selection committee and again by Amherst. Babson played them tough, left it all out on the court and nearly came up w/ the upset.   In the end Babson didn't quite have enough to beat them. Congratulations to the Babson women's basketball team, the program and its fans! What an amazing season, what a great run!!
Thank you and congratulations to the three seniors, Wurdeman, King and McKenna. You are all great BB players, leaders and women that brought class and recognition to a fantastic basketball program.

Congratulations to Judy Blinstrub, head coach Babson, for her 500th career victory.  Amazing!!

[BBstudent]

An interesting discussion about the Amherst- Babson game.
When my daughter played in the NESCAC there were sometimes comments posted about how a team shut her down or she was over-rated; Looking back I am grateful I learned then how little we as fans know what is really going on. There were times when medically it was questionable if my daughter would even play. But of course the fans wouldn't know that and no one who knew would say anything because that wouldn't help the team. I have no idea what is going on physically or mentally with the team or anyone on it, but I know better then to speculate as to why a player may be having a good or bad game or a couple of good or bad games.

Much more important to me is the assertion that when the Babson players came out of the locker room after the game (and correct me this is not what was being referred to) the Amherst fans did not acknowledge them. It is not true -every Amherst person stood and applauded them, and some parents (Mrs. Stedman notably) even asked a couple of people sitting and talking to join in the recognition. The applause for the Babson team, since they came out togeather then that for any individual Amherst player when they came out. There was and is great respect among the Amherst fans for the Babson team and the players. The failure to see that, and I mean that in the literal sense of how could you not see everyone standing and applauding, raises serious questions.

I understand the comment about Shannon not being as effective as in past years, but I don't completely agree with it. There is a "movement" at Amherst in which it seems that every recruiting class is better in some ways then the class before. So it would be understandable for newer players to maybe be more talented, but I don't think that is the case here. First, with so much talent Coach can't, and I am sure doesn't want to just play seven deep. All these girls can play and they know it, so the starters have to share the time maybe more then in the past. But more important I think you are underestimating Shannon's leadership abilities. She comes in and everything solidifies, everything calms down and everything runs smoothly. The defensive intensity picks up (and we all know how important that is) and she even contributes with the occasional three (remember the Kean game, I think, when she hit two in a row). And if last night you watched during the timeouts, she was yelling at the girls on the floor, imploring them and I thought inspiring them. I know I did not fully appreciate Shannon the first year and a half so learn from my (many and large) mistakes - she is out there for a reason since GP does not give mercy minutes. In my opinion the reason she is out there is because she the team's leader.

[LORENZO123]

I'll second MVP's post. The game is over, the seedings were the seedings and in the end Amherst was the winner. A Babson -Amherst meeting in the Elite 8 would have been a great event but .....  Both teams are made up of some of the finest young women in Women's D3 basketball; last night they left it all on the court. They deserve our respect regardless of what school they play for or what conference they're in. They work hard to bring their best to their team after carrying a full class load semester after semester. The seniors will move on to new opportunities and adventures but they'll always have the friendships, memories and experience of playing for two of the best teams in D3 basketball along with the pride of knowing they did their best. They may have some regrets but their memories will focus on the good times and their collective efforts. I'll take the pride i have for my daughter's accomplishments over the last four years to my grave (hopefully not too soon) and I know i'm not alone.

With respect to the Amherst parents, I wasn't paying attention but I have great respect for them. They've always shown great respect to the Babson team; they're a class act. Negative comments or actions, if any, would likely have come from students who can be forgiven at their tender age. I expect that when they have kids of their own they'll show the same respect to opposing teams that the Amherst parents have shown Babson.

[BruinFan]

I can't see a team on their side of the bracket that can beat them.  George Fox probably has the best chance, but Mary Washington doesn't have enough offense to keep up.  If MW ends up winning their part of the bracket, Amherst can coast to the championship game without much trouble.  On the other side even though Tufts lost both games to them this year, Tufts held them to below 50 points in both meetings IIRC and have the most familiarity with them being conference opponents.  I also think Chicago can give them a run for their money, but imo the team most likely to knock Amherst off of the 15 that are left are Tufts.

Never know for sure how much to read into it when trying to compare teams, but we don't have much else to go on when teams are on opposite sides of the country.

Tufts lost a neutral site game (@ Williams) to Whitman College of the Northwest Conference by 19 points. Whitman finished 3rd in the NWC with two losses to George Fox and two losses to Lewis and Clark. Part of the fun is different opinions. IMO, George Fox has an even better chance than Tufts of challenging Amherst.