WBB: NESCAC

[gordonmann]

Bowdoin has good size down low and the Mammoths relied heavily on F Emma McCarthy to win the title game last year. It'll be interesting to see how Amherst handles that this weekend.

[Vandy74]

Almost two years ago someone posted here that it was time to see if Midd is for real.  That was true then and it's true now.  It's also the way the schedule is set up.  The past two seasons Middlebury has been the best of the rest.  They've been the Nescac tournament quarterfinal host who didn't have reasonable expectations of playing in the final four a few weeks later.  The Panthers lost both times to a team they'd handled in the regular season.  5th year head coach KJ Krasco, an assistant coach at Bowdoin before coming to Middlebury, has revived a program that last thrived at the turn of the century.  She has a veteran squad that is ready to win a tournament game at home; if they're for real.  Still, the question.  On Sunday they face Trinity who once was ranked above them in the "also receiving votes"  Top 25 listing.  Trinity only has one loss except for the inevitable outcomes of having faced both Amherst and Bowdoin.  Only a season ending trip to Tufts remains; if Trinity is also for real.  Middlebury has only faced Tufts.  They played them to a four point margin except for an explosive third quarter.  Trinity is a must win game; if Middlebury is for real.  Do the math.  They host Bowdoin following the Trinity road trip and close out the regular season in LeFrak. 

Like amh63, I bemoan the decision several years back to end the M/W doubleheader scheduling format, especially in conference play.  I suspect that both the Panthers and the Bantams are for real.  The sad reality of the situation is that only one can own the boast when Sunday's game is finished.  Even then, there are a few more games to play.  Middlebury plays some good basketball.  They're a lot of fun to watch.  I wish I could do it more often.  I believe this team's for real.

Go Panthers!

[ronk]

 Having seen Middlebury's Betsy Knox play many times in AAU and high school, I know she's a quality player. Another, Vanessa Young, hasn't been a factor for reasons of injury and whatever.

[amh63]

Vandy74....nice to read a perceptive post, again, my friend.  Had noticed that the lady panthers....no, women panthers, were making their talents known in the conference.
Several comments on the women Jeffs ...since the return of Emma M. on the sidelines as an student assistant...been overseas and the new semester is starting. 
First, the experienced upperclass players are all starting and getting the minutes.
Second, ms Fox has moved more to the no. 2 spot and the primary PG duties have moved to Sr. captain, MacNamera that has surprisingly developed a solid 3-point shot.
Third, opponents have gone to a zone to eliminate the slashing/scoring drives of the former Nescac rookie of the year....now a junior and prominent scorer, Eck, along with Fox.
The matchup zone played recently is hopefully to reduce the effectiveness of opponents exterior offense...I.e., Bowdoin and Tufts. 
Seems that the women's game has turned to 3-point shooting these days in many conferences.  On that note, Amherst has Four starters now that can make outside shots...plus a 6 foot plus rookie that has shown that she can shoot them too in several recent games.  She also has long arms to guard the perimeter.   The young FY inside players are playing better in recent games...not being pushed around by bulkier opponents and not rushing their shots.  They are getting rebounds now. 
Will see if the interior play continues today against Colby.  Outside shots falling will open up the inside for drives.
Yes, big games today and on Sat.  Both away games. 

[gordonmann]

Vandy:

Good post re: Bants versus Pants.

The winner of the Trinity/Middlebury game also has a shot at making the 2019 NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. Both teams are going to have really good winning percentages and, I assume, really good SOS. The NESCAC has put four teams in the Tournament before.

PS -- I should've mentioned that Trinity also has a big game against Williams tonight. That's not a given and a loss there takes the luster off any win against the Panthers.

[Maine 1]

I have been quiet so far this season, but should be a really good game this afternoon with Amherst and Bowdoin.  Bowdoin seems to have an overall well rounded team, with good size, inside and outside scoring, and very fast guards that can pressure.  Amherst also looks solid.  Based on what I have seen this year, I think Bowdoin at home has the advantage. This game will likely decide the home court for the NESCAC finals, since Bowdoin has already defeated Tufts.

[GameBall14]

Should be a great game between Amherst and Bowdoin today. Williams with a tough hard fought win at Trinity last night as they a late three gave the Ephs the win. Erickson with a great effort for the Bantams but the balanced attack from Williams prevailed.

[NE Jeffs Fan]

Hard fought game between Bowdoin and Amherst.  The youth of Amherst showed in the second half as they seemed to panic a bit when Bowdoin shots started falling and theirs did not.  Mammoths seemed to believe that they didn't have to play as intense defense in the second half with such a large lead.  GP teams rarely lose when they have a lead that large.  Hope they can learn some things and maybe have a repeat in the NESCAC tourney.

[truenorth]

In fairness, the turning tide in that game had as much to do with Bowdoin's second half adjustments and committed, heads-up play as it did with Amherst's "declining defensive intensity"...  It was pretty remarkable that Bowdoin came back from 16 down at the half and prevailed by 9 points against arguably the best defensive team in D3 over the past several years.

[NE Jeffs Fan]

Totally agree with last post.  Hopefully young team will buy-in to what Gromacki is preaching when to comes to executing on defense.  Great adjustments by Bowdoin, and they came out of the locker room truly believing they could win the game.

[amh63]

A little late to post wrt the Amherst games last weekend.....with another key weekend of games ahead.  First...congrats to the Bowdoin women.  They played with great intensity in the second half before a tremendous home crowd.  The announcer...a favorite of mine...estimated 2200 plus with many standing in " no no areas on the stairs".  Offical posted crowd of 1500...facility basketball limit?
In the game against Colby, Hannah Fox's outside shooting was off and scored a few points only....leading scorer.  The other star Jr. player, Eck, carried the scoring load.  Number of FY players played.
In the Bowdoin game, Ms. Fox contributed more in the scoring total....but seemed to me to defer the outside shooting to others.  No outside shots taken by Sr. PG "Mac".   Credit is given to the Head Coach of Bowdoin with her subsitution of players throughout the game, especially in the 2nd half.  Other than the FY guard Resch, few if any other FY players were put in....no front court players.  Seemed Coach "G" wanted his FY players to watch and learn how it is before a "Hostile Home Crowd".  I used the term hostlle here for it was surprising to me to hear the boos...online...in the 2nd half, when calls went against the PBears.  Crowd was dead silent in the first half when Amherst was leading and foul calls were made.
The announcer noticed that in the last few minutes after several Amherst time outs, Amherst made fouls to get another chance to reduce the Bear lead and maybe win.  The announcer suggested on line that Amherst was maybe practicing a scenario in a future matchup.
In the last few years....Amherst played both Tufts and Bowdoin in regular season games that ended in wins, each by very few points.  However, in the national title game against Tufts, it was a blowout win.  In last year's National Title win against the Polar Bears...same result...a 20 point win.

[truenorth]

Well, if we accept the notion that past events are a reliable predictor of the future, Amherst should win their rematches vs. Bowdoin and Tufts this season by blowout margins...   

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

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[GameBall14]

I've seen Amherst play twice this year and they are not even close to the defensive team they've been the last couple of years. They are better offensively this year especially when Fox is on her game, which is most of the time. The halftime adjustments by Bowdoin got the Polar Bears going and got the packed house into the game. Congrats to Bowdoin and the Brunswick community for filling the gym, it was great to see!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I've seen Amherst play twice this year and they are not even close to the defensive team they've been the last couple of years. They are better offensively this year especially when Fox is on her game, which is most of the time. The halftime adjustments by Bowdoin got the Polar Bears going and got the packed house into the game. Congrats to Bowdoin and the Brunswick community for filling the gym, it was great to see!

I would agree with you. Not as solid defensively and I attribute that to how they are a younger team with less experience, but they can still get it done offensively (and with the right opponent, put a lot of points on the board). I don't think Amherst is going to win a national championship, and I didn't expect that going into the season, but they will still make the NCAA Tournament interesting.