WBB: NESCAC

[Balder Eagle]

make me pine for the days when all we had to worry about was the Mary Washington crew conjuring up striped phantoms on this board.

ahh, the pre-Scranton days! 

Since both Schools are in "The Dance" perhaps they may meet again ......... long time no see Monkey, how are things? Cheers to you bbald! 

[senatorfrost]

   Gromacki lost 4 out of his first 6 from last year. Shibles lost one starter but Rubega came back so she really lost nothing. Gromacki reloaded? What did Bowdoin do? Henrickson looked EASILY as good as any frosh Amherst has. I'm pretty sure I could say the same thing about Gould. Bowdoin reloaded also.
   The biggest reason why Amherst is so good this year is because last year's frosh improved a lot. Last year Daigneault looked a little like a tin man. This year she's a work of art. I would guess maybe the coach had a little something to do with that. Long also improved. Last year I used to wince shen she moved with the ball. This year I watch her and am at ease.
   Leyman always looked fine last year and never made me wince but she's improved too. Brossy appears to be hobbled according to her minutes lately but she too used to make wince a bit. No more.

[senatorfrost]

 I should mention that last year Bowdoin looked like a team with problems. There was something about a van ride and then the coach left. This year seems like they're doing what they figured to.
  This could all be academic because only one team from NESCAC W has gotten to the final four since 1994-Bowdoin of course.

[feces monkey]

Prediction: the officials will once again hand the NESCAC title to Bowdoin.

Record of the Bowdoin women's team when there has been fair officiating: 0-35

Man....we've all done some whining about refs before but that's some serious
sour grape wine right there....

Must have been bad ref-ing that accounted for that 33 POINT LOSS by Williams (the land where they forgot that even Tennessee has to recruit) at Bowdoin last weekend.       

Um....forget it.

Anyway, it's good to have the hairless Eagles in the house -- welcome back boys. I figured it would take just a little cage-rattling to get Frederick's Finest to reappear. It's also nice to have the Polar Bears back in their rightful place. It's just a shame the refs had to spoil things again for Amherst.

If I'm reading things correctly, I think we can have a regional of USM, Mary Washington, Bowdoin and Brandeis in Brunswick. That would be a peach, and just like old times. Stripers don't run for a couple more months in Merrymeeting Bay, but we can get Balder a bobber and worm and see what happens. Or maybe a four for a one-weight. That's your stick of choice, right?

Just think: if you come to Maine again, you could change your handle to "Baldacci's Eagles." And you can take him back with you (Sorry, forgot. No politics).

So I'll be rooting for Mary Wash to take care of business. I'm not a huge fan of Brandeis, but they've got a Colby gal leading the way, so I'll push for the Judges by default. Southern Maine is a crooked outfit, but they are Mainers. Since Amherst fans are obviously angling for an intellectual "bailout," we've got our regional.

Make it happen.

[senatorfrost]

 Monkey:
  I just saw your post on page 58.
  It takes a while for some of us to appreciate high level humor. I've always considered you to be the most intelligent person on D3 hoops and you proved me right.
   You took the word 'Jeffs' and took OFF the FF and put in RK which changed it to Jerks. Really clever as well as hilarious.
   I heard the favorite TV show up there, down east or whatever, is still All in The Family.

[sumfun]

Senator hit the nail on the head.  Gromacki is making this run on the backs of freshmen and sophomores.  Brossy hampered by an ankle and Harik with a broken nose have had limited minutes lately as seniors and there are no juniors on the team.  I heard a quote once...the best thing about freshmen....is they become sophomores.  Some of the streaky shooting and hesitancy to take a shot goes away with age and experience... all  very evident against Bowdoin.

Having said that, watch out for Amherst over the next few years as Gromacki is a great recruiter, but for this year I think their lack of experience will catch up with them this coming weekend or next.

[sumfun]

Question:

Obvioulsy who hosts Sweet 16 depends on who survives, but.....

.....if Amherst, NYU, Brandeis and Bowdoin emerge from this upcoming weekend....who would host?

Amherst - best record, central Mass.

Brandeis - centrally located and NCAA is trying to be sensitive to time, travel and cost in this economy.  Also has head to head win against Bowdoin.

Bowdoin - 2 wins against Amherst, NESCAC Champs, but parking is issue with contruction and back side is missing from the gym.  Public restrooms are far from gym.

Can't imagine NYU....to expensive to put up those teams in NYC.

Thoughts?

[amh63]

Sumfun

    If Bowdoin, Brandeis and Amherst and NYU all reach the sectionals, I would think for central location. and cost considerations, Brandeis should host.  This location would be a neutral court for both the NESCAC schools...though I am a Amherst supporter.
The Amherst athletic website has the time for the games on Friday and Sat.  There will be a live video, etc. for the Amherst game.  Since Amherst is also hosting the men's and women's hockey semifinal games and will video cast them, the times for the WBB games may have been impacted somewhat.  The Amherst BB game is the second game on Friday and starts at 6 PM.

   Amh63.... I am a new poster, an old graduate and long time supporter of Amherst sports.

[sumfun]

welcome, Amh63.  Think you might be right about Brandeis hosting, and would be neutral for NESCAC schools.  First things first.....those first seeds have to emerge from the weekend that could be full of upsets.

[amh63]

SUMFUN,
   Thank you for your warm welcome.  Having read your postings, I have some Amherst WBB tidbits that maybe of interest to this board.
   I, as an old camp-follower of Amherst, met the Amherst's coach at Salem Va. during the men's team dinner on Sat.  He is a bright young man and knows what he wants in team players.  When the job opened up at Amherst, he sought advice  from an Amherst friend/graduate.  The old Amherst graduate of the 50's was on the St. Lawrence  Board of Trustees when he first met the coach.  This old Amherst graduate and I sat together during the Final-Four games in Salem and that is where I got the background story.
    It is interesting that the star of the Bowdoin WBB team's victory over Amherst was a teammate of an Amherst starter at Norwich Free Acad.  The Amherst player, C. Long, has a father that was a starter for the Uconn  MBB teasm awhile back.
      Amh63

[remsleep]

Should it turn out that Amherst and USM meet on Saturday, I would be shocked if the Jeffs survive.  Look for those two Maine teams with tradition, despite the ups and downs each has had this season, to go a lot further in the dance than one might think....would not be a bit surprised if one or both makes it at least to the Elite Eight.....probably Bowdoin.

[sumfun]

I heard that story from the Amherst Alum/St. Lawrence Board member.  The story goes that Amherst was Gromacki's dream job, so he backed out of the Hamilton job that he'd just accepted after a year as the "interim."  He's done amazing things at Amherst, is a very good recruiter, and has the full respect of the girls.

[remsleep]

So much for my insightful prediction about USM coming out of this bracket a winner.  Somebody forgot to tell Emmanuel they were supposed to lose.   Very disappointed in Babson's effort against Amherst, but understandable in that their strength lies in two first year players.....future will be bright for them.  Tomorrow?  I'm assuming Amherst will win, but.........

Tough night all over the place for the Little East ( Western, Eastern, USM all go down, RIC goes down on the mens' side as well)

[amh63]

Amherst  game just finished.  Score: Amherst 76; Emmanuel 37.  It was a 21 point lead at halftime.  Amherst did  the damage inside this game vice outside yesterday.  Again, almost everyone was in the game for Amherst.  Now the waiting to see where the sectional will be.  The conference teams are doing well so far.

[amh63]

Saw the last five minutes of the Bowdoin-Muhlenburg game.  Muhlenburg won 58-57.  Bowdoin fought back from an 8 pt. deficit.  The last 35 plus seconds was unreal.  I thought the people in the stripes gave the game to Bowdoin by awarding the ball to the polar bears with 13 plus seconds to go and down by 1 point.  A very strange "home court " call.  One that even the broadcasters questioned.  The strippers did not even check with the replay video that was available.  After this game, I may want to join the board members about the strippers up in Maine!