WBB: NESCAC

NH NESCAC Fan · March 18, 2012, 05:06:32 PM

I might suggest that we should leave the jury out on the remaining members of the team until they actually get a chance to play. With a five senior starting group as talented as this group is it can be very difficult for anyone else to establish themselves during any meaningful minutes. The coach's reliance on the core group was evident in the semi-final. Marcia played like the ROY that she was two years ago for the last quarter of the season. Bridget showed in the semi-finals, and throughout the year, that she is quite talented, and has a nice shot. Jasmine led the NESCAC in 3point FG% at almost 59% for the season in the league and 49% overall. She was the best pure shooter on the team, IMO. Meghan was the ROY this year. Will next year's team be the equal of this team? I'll go out on a very thick limb and say no, I don't think they will. But, I do think they will still be very good.

sumfun · March 18, 2012, 06:19:24 PM

Congrats to Amherst seniors. So much for which to be proud, at the very least the winningest class in NCAA history. Seems many of your guesses were correct. Megan was sick all weekend, but gave it all she had, and you could tell Amherst hearts were not in the second game. That doesn't take anything away from the St.Thomas team who probably used the same motivation Gromacki used 2 years ago to launch their championship run....now is the start of the next season. They are a talented team that could easily use that game to build on for another Final Four run.

Wonder why NCAA still thinks it's a good idea to play that consolation game when men don't, and I can't think of another sport that does. Instead of marking the trophies 3rd and 4th. Just mark them as "finalist," and move on.

Pat Coleman · March 18, 2012, 10:03:06 PM

In the discussion this weekend, apparently water polo does. But that doesn't make for a long list.

Mr. Ypsi · March 18, 2012, 11:18:18 PM

I can understand why coaches (including IWU's Dennie Bridges, despite going 2-0 in them, when the men still had them) and players hate the 3rd place game - it is AWFULLY anti-climactic after your dream has been crushed. As a fan, I was proud that IWU NEVER finished fourth, but I understand (and identify with) the antipathy. Still, I would have been hugely intrigued to see IWU and MIT square off (as long as both teams gave it their best, but that might be asking too much).

(In 1996, IWU took out their frustrations on F & M by 32 points, after a buzzer-beater loss to Rowan. Both Hope and IWU fans agree that the 1996 championship game SHOULD have been contested between them, rather than the Prop 8 transfers from Rowan! D3 instituted the 'Rowan Rule' the next year to close that loophole.)

gordonmann · March 19, 2012, 12:58:36 PM

QuoteAs a fan, I was proud that IWU NEVER finished fourth, but I understand (and identify with) the antipathy...

I realize you're referring to the IWU men, but the IWU women finished fourth last year.

sumfun · March 19, 2012, 01:08:31 PM

And I totally understand IWU's 4th place finish last year. They gave every ounce they had to try to take down a big rival in Wash U on their home court. When that goal fell short, even being on your home court doesn't help overcome the disappointment of the day before. Last year, like this IWU plays a "first time" team to the Final Four who it is a big deal to win that consolation game, and Christopher Newport knocks off IWU. Glad for the Titan's rebound this year. Nice folks, and they do a great job when they host.

Walter Eagle · March 19, 2012, 01:22:57 PM

Wonder why NCAA still thinks it's a good idea to play that consolation game when men don't, and I can't think of another sport that does. Instead of marking the trophies 3rd and 4th. Just mark them as "finalist," and move on.
[/quote]

As a UST fan who drove two days each way to get to Holland, I really appreciated the consolation game. There was so much disappointment and so many tears after having lost a game that we felt was not representative of the way we played all year, it was good for the players, coaches and fans to get another chance against a team that everyone thought was number one all year. We learned some valuable things about ourselves and I suspect Amherst learned some things also.

remsleep · March 19, 2012, 01:27:39 PM

Anybody know anything about the Hamilton WBB coaching vacancy? Wasn't the coach in her first year?

gordonmann · March 19, 2012, 01:45:58 PM

Walter Eagle and Sum Fun summarize the two vantage points nicely.

How valuable the consolation game is depends on who is playing in it. When the program was in a different place, Amherst used the 2010 consolation game to prime themselves for the 2011 title run.

Hoosier Titan · March 19, 2012, 02:01:35 PM

Quote from: sumfun on March 19, 2012, 01:08:31 PM
And I totally understand IWU's 4th place finish last year. They gave every ounce they had to try to take down a big rival in Wash U on their home court. When that goal fell short, even being on your home court doesn't help overcome the disappointment of the day before. Last year, like this IWU plays a "first time" team to the Final Four who it is a big deal to win that consolation game, and Christopher Newport knocks off IWU. Glad for the Titan's rebound this year. Nice folks, and they do a great job when they host.

A couple of other things played into IWU's showing last year. First, they had probably peaked a bit emotionally with the huge come-from-20-down victory over George Fox the week before. But even more important, at least two starters were really quite ill the last weekend with bronchitis. They were trying not to show it, but they could barely talk afterwards and were coughing throughout the games. Makes it hard to execute the high-energy run-and-jump press! Whatever the cause, I'm sure that last year's results made this year's group even more determined to get as far as they could.

I was thinking that St Thomas, with no banners yet, had a lot more incentive than Amherst for that consolation game, and that's exactly how it played out. Perfectly understandable on both sides.

Recent history suggests that good things may be in store for the Tommies. We very much enjoyed watching this group of Amherst seniors over the past two years and wish them well.

Walter Eagle · March 19, 2012, 02:11:28 PM

St Thomas won it in 1991.

Hoosier Titan · March 19, 2012, 04:06:46 PM

Quote from: Walter Eagle on March 19, 2012, 02:11:28 PM
St Thomas won it in 1991.

Thanks! Obviously I need more d3 history.

sumfun · March 19, 2012, 06:43:22 PM

Just goes to show how everything has to come together at just the right time to win the prize. Last year IWU has sick players, this year GF loses Munger in last game. Amherst had at least on sick key player that could barely talk with chills etc. You're right about needing every bit of your energy to compete in those games.

It all has to come together perfectly after a long season, and this year it was IWU's turn. Can't take anything away from an impressive weekend, but a little luck helps too.

NH NESCAC Fan · March 19, 2012, 07:39:42 PM

Is there any word (I haven't looked) as to what the extent of the injury was for GF's Munger?

Mr. Ypsi · March 19, 2012, 08:36:53 PM

Quote from: NH NESCAC Fan on March 19, 2012, 07:39:42 PM
Is there any word (I haven't looked) as to what the extent of the injury was for GF's Munger?

I checked the GF website, but could find no update since the game recap. Both she and the coach said she could have played, but was in great pain and would be risking further injury (and probably could not have played as well as her replacement). She attended the postgame presser in a wheelchair.

Still, if she 'could have played' at all, it sounds like nothing she won't be 100% recovered from by next season. Good wishes to her!