WBB: NESCAC

[amh63]

The Amherst roster is now showing only 10 players!  No Juniors as Sally Marx is also missing after scoring 10 points last night and coming back from a long ACL recovery the past two years.  Did the juniors both decide to take their junior year overseas/abroad?

[sumfun]

I guess Uju also decided not to play this year?  Have no idea about the other two.  Hoping for announcers after Thanksgiving.  Students, except for athletes are home on break.

[NH NESCAC Fan]

Yes, down to 10 players, and one of them was/is a walk-on.  Uju, as I understand it, decided not to play this year from a time commitment standpoint.  I believe she is pre-med(?), and wants to focus on her academics.

[amh63]

NH.NESCAC Fan.....thanks for the info.  Understand the "?" attached to pre-med....since there is no such major even in my days.
In Jasmine's first year at Amherst, there was a FY front court player from Ill. that did not return to the team...believed she tried out for the squash team the next year.  In any case and for whatever the reasons, it will be a tough on the present team in regards to depth....hope there are injuries and that the front court players as all the players pick up their defense and rebounding efforts.

[amh63]

Amherst....back from the Thanksgiving break wins against Keene State in New Hampshire by double digits with all players getting to play.  Near the end, all five new players were on the floor together.  Writeup  and box are coming on the Amherst website soon. 
The final score was 65-43, Amherst.   Amherst's outside shooting needs work and the turnovers are still there as the team seems to try too hard to share the ball.  Team chemistry is coming along as well as the defensive efforts. 

[NH NESCAC Fan]

I've always had a very simplistic way of looking at whether or not I think a player is shooting too much...or taking shots that they shouldn't.  I look at the box score, and if a player takes 15 shots in the game I think he/she should score at least 15 points total at a minimum (including made foul shots in the total points).  If Kobe Bryant takes 40 shots in a game, he had better end the night with at least 40 points...as I said, simplistic, but I think it is fairly accurate.  Looking at Amherst under that light, the conclusion to me is that the majority of the players need to focus on non-three pointers.  In a very small sample (4 games) there are only two players that meet my criteria, and two others that are borderline.  They moved the line out last year.  It is a more difficult shot than it used to be.

[amh63]

NH NESCAC FAN......thanks for the education......did not know that the WBB 3-point line was moved.  Guess you can "teach an old dog" something.  Now that I think about it, I recall reading about it.  The key to Amherst's team, IMO, is the need and therefore development of a PG.  Passes are at times sloppy and turnovers occur.  I was struck that one pass inside was easily picked off.....others were missed or over thrown.  Hopping that one of the FY players will come through as the senior guards seem uncomfortable in that position.

[amh63]

Amherst wins over Skidmore in NY in a 20 plus game.  The game was close in the first half.....only a 3-point lead by Amherst at the half....29-26.  Megan Robertson go two fouls on her in the half and went out.  Bridget C. was not having a good game.  In the second half, Amherst held Skidmore to only 10 points and blew the game open.  Megan R. scored 12 points in the half and had 4 blocks.  S. Holiness came in and took control of the boards.  Amherst senior guards took over with 10 assists and 7 steals between them.  Both along with Megan scored in double figures with Jasmine Hardy leading the way with 15 points.  Particulars and box will be posted on the Amherst website soon.

[7express]

What happened with Colby this year??  I know they lost some starters off of last year's team, but didn't think it was as bad as Bowdoin had it.  Losing by 20+ at home to a bad Roger Williams team is not good.

[amh63]

Amherst wins over Emmanuel in Boston tonight...74-61.  It was a 6 point lead at the half against the ranked Saints.  Amherst started to break open the game in the second half when J. Hardy and M. Voigt started to hit from the outside.  In the last 3 minutes, the Saints were trading fouls for long shots to come back....and when Voigt fouled out in a questionable charge foul, Jasmine Hardy took over the ball handing duties.  Both of Amherst's big front court players had 4 fouls in the second half as they were matched up with a big Saints' front line.  Both teams played hard and physical....but Amherst prevailed tonight against a game opponent in an away game.  Amherst had five players in double figures in scoring with Meg Robertson the leading rebounder with 12 boards....going along with 11 points.

[amh63]

Several things that caught my attention while reviewing the write ups of the Amherst game from last night.  First, the box did not show any blocks for either team.  I thought that there were at least 3-4 blocks by Amherst and about the same for the Saints.
Last night, the Saints pressured the Amherst guards hard through out the game.  Amherst FY guards got a schooling at times and the press finally needed the senior guards to break.  It also was a good game for Amherst's front line players to gain experience.......against big physical players.  Several times Meg R. was knocked down and had her ball knocked away....as did Bridget C.  Both Amherst players adjusted their game accordingly.
OOPs, a Saints reserve player, that played very well, was credited with 3 blocks.

[gordonmann]

Amh63:

Were you surprised by the short rotation last night?  I was surprised they basically used 7 players.

[amh63]

Gordonmann....yes and no.....a somewhat non answer that is pure speculation on my limited video observations of the team.  Will try to be more specific.  During, a pre-season practice observation,  another alum observer and I were noticing the somewhat limited players on hand.....before the roster was posted.  Only 12 players as one front line player took the year off....see a post above.  After several games the squad was down to to 10.  The FY players are primarily guards and maybe a forward.  Though Coach G. has in the past gone with short rotations, the game last night, upon reflection...and based on your comment and the story on the D3 hoops front page...was a good time to evaluate his players and team under a good press and against a strong opponent.
The starting team has one FY guard and two senior guards.  Both Hardy and Voigt in past seasons have been off/scoring guards, IMHO.  They have not played full games in which they have had to handle the ball and distribute....run the offense.  I have commented that Amherst needs to find a reliable PG to distribute the ball and run the team and play DEFENSE.  There has been several FY players working at PG, it seems.  Last night, Voigt spent more time at point, imo, as the Saints went to a heavy press in the second half.  Voigt also was carrying the scoring load with Hardy.  When Bridget Crowley picked up fouls, there was need for Holiness to pick up the rebounding.  When Meg Robertson picked up her 4th foul, the other FY foward got some time.  When Voigt got her 5th foul, it was the experienced Hardy at the "point"....handling the ball, bringing up the ball.....a role she needed to step into....since Amherst did want to win the game.  Hardy was in for ALL 40 minutes!...and she came through....though I wish the foul shooting improves...it will.  In brief, the short rotation was there because the game dictated it with all the fouls called, and the defensive style the Saints was playing.  The new FY guards were being evaluated and the senior guards were also, imo, being evaluated in different "roles" in tough game situations.  A good early game for Coach G. to evaluate his talented players...new and experienced,,,under stress and often in new roles.  It was a game where Voigt fouled out, both experienced front line players had 4 fouls and basically a shooting guard having to play 40 minutes and being the prime ball-handling guard.....in a game that Amherst did not really have control until the last 3 minutes, I believe.
Amherst won the game and Coach G. has a better idea of what his team can do.....as well as how fast he needs to bring on his new players.   That is my take of the game.

[gordonmann]

Thanks for the scouting report, amh63. Maybe GP was trying out the shorter rotation since that's what he'll likely use down the stretch.  Whatever the reason, it was a good win for Amherst.

[ECsaintsfan10]

I have to admit....I was quite impressed by the Emmanuel performance. Although Amherst came out on top- I think it proved that a GNAC team CAN compete with a NESCAC opponent. Emmanuel has struggled against Amherst for many years but I think this game proved they are strong competitors and relayed a message that if they were to meet again in the tourney they will not go out without a fight. I was quite impressed by both Bramante and Buijnowski. They were both a strong force. I am excited to watch the Tufts/Emmanuel game later this season.