WBB: NESCAC

[pureshooter]

  you need to push the ball against tufts. for the most part, they are slow. you can't get into the halfcourt game with them.
don't know if murphy plays an uptempo game or not. but you need to break off made baskets against tufts. their posts are big and physical, that's why they had the rebounding edge.
if i'm not mistaken, bates posts are more the running type.
tufts runs some basic pick and roll stuff. you need to switch  a lot, then they have you in mismatches.
have to beat them in transition, get open looks from that transition and of course, make those open un-guarded shots.
just looked,18.8% shooting in 1st half, 24.6% for game. that's major brick laying.
who are bates best shooters? barton usaully is, and i know goodridge is good from long range.
the first time they met it was closer, but bates shot 33%.
tufts can play good half court defense, tough man to man, usually gives opponent low shooting %'s.
again, you need to get unguarded looks against tufts in transition. this is not rocket science.

i think many coaches at this level don't stress shooting, don't know how to teach it and don't work on it enough. there are some ugly releases around the women's game, not only d-3.

[savahoops]

Well Savahoops,

I do not really want to argue about this, especially b/c I haven't seen Bates play in quite some time but their point guard dished out 9 assists and Meg Coffin (their center) had 15 pts. in the Tufts game. Beckwith also got to the line 11 times. On the the other hand, Bates 1-13 from 3pt land. At least as far as this game is concerned, I don't think they had a hard time getting penetration and getting inside points. While I would say that Barton is not that quick and her defense leaves something to be desired, she does manage (often times with muscle) to get to the hoop and dish. And while I was not at this game obviously, I would still argue that the 15 pts. scored in the first half is more alarming than defending the penetration....not to mention the fact that Bates lost the rebounding match 51-34 which is perpahs the real telling statistic from that game.

Tough game against Wesleyan for Bates.  Guard play struggles again?

[wbbhoopsfan]

The top of the conference seems to have gotten more muddled, but the plaoyffs teams appear to be set.  Gotta feel badly for Trinity, which has some tough losses in its 0-6 league record.  Surprising that Bates is at 2-3, with all the hype of returning Coffin and her supporting cast.  Seems like any team can beat anyone (with some obvious exceptions) which should make the final two weeks and tournament fun.  I'm sure they would disagree, but Bowdoin's "return to the pack" has been great for the conference.  Good luck down the stretch ladies!

[tothehole]

GP the man can you spell tailspin.
"Senior Meg Coffin (Westford, Mass.) tallied 13 points and 13 rebounds, leading Bates College to a 57-45 victory against Connecticut College in a NESCAC game played at Luce Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon."
Its all about Meg I'm sure her brother(the bmoc) and mom are so happy about the season. They(Bates) were a better team without her. Ya think she'll graduate this year? Poll yes or no?
Can anyone stop the Tufts half court offense?
Who has the crystal ball? Anyone?

[wbbhoopsfan]

Why attack Meg Coffin?  She made a choice to take a year off to recover from an injury and end her college career on her terms... good for her!  Its not as if she quit school to turn pro or waitress tables at the Lewiston Diner.  I think anyone in her shoes, with the perspective of a 22 y.o, would do the same or at least strongly consider it.  That being said, Bates' season is probably not what some may have expected, but they can be disruptive and dangerous and Tues' game vs. Bowdoin could be interesting.

I think Tufts is the best team, or at least has the most weapons, so they are my pick to win the tourney.  Wesleyan is very physical and plays strong defense, and Bowdoin brings an expectation and history to the table.  I , unlike others, don't really believe in Amherst and their version of James Naismith, but they have some nice players.  They have been lucky in games this season, but it is always better to be lucky than good!

[tothehole]

Why pick on the waitress at the Lewiston Diner.  I have a problem with any d3 red shirt.  That's my opinion just an opinion.  Not picking on her or the infamous family ego just an opinionated observation. I think there have been too many egos in the NESCAC. This year there are fewer egos and I think the overall play of the conference is better. We'll see how they do in the NC2As.
PS the waitresses at the dinner are nice you be nice now!

[feces monkey]

They have been lucky in games this season, but it is always better to be lucky than good!

I haven't always been a believer, but from my perspective there appears to be little luck involved in the Lady Jeffs run. They're legit. They lost in Williamstown and Brunswick -- I'm not sure if there are many tougher places to play in the region. Amherst is pretty much a lock for the tourney and depending on how they finish up they could have several games in that circus tent known as LeFrak.

Bowdoin's win was nice, but a lot of red flags appeared during the win. Rotation, shot distribution, etc., are just some of the issues, but Pemper is smart enough (despite what the Lil' Woodens on this board surmise) to play for the win. The Polar Bears will have to grind out the rest of the season, including the Tufts game, which might be the game of the year in the conference.

Taking a step back, this could be an epic year for the conference in terms of tourney bids. Amherst and Tufts look like locks at this point and Wesleyan, Bowdoin and Williams are all legitimate tourney teams. Bates needs an AQ but is talented enough to pull it off if necessary. I predict at least four teams this year.

[sumfun]

So answer some rookie questions?  Do both the NESCAC conference champs and NESCAC tourney winner get automatic bids?  After that I take it there are "at large" bids.  How large is the D3 bracket?  I agree with the monkey (and where did you get that name), the NESCAC could have 4 teams strong enough to make the tourney.  Some I've seen in person and some via webcast.  Such fun to watch!!!

[atn alum]

Only automatic bid goes to the tournament winner.

NCAA Tournament FAQ

http://www.d3hoops.com/faq.php?category=NCAA%20Tournament

[savahoops]

Why pick on the waitress at the Lewiston Diner.  I have a problem with any d3 red shirt.  That's my opinion just an opinion.  Not picking on her or the infamous family ego just an opinionated observation. I think there have been too many egos in the NESCAC. This year there are fewer egos and I think the overall play of the conference is better. We'll see how they do in the NC2As.
PS the waitresses at the dinner are nice you be nice now!

How about if a student is sick, and has to miss a year, so is eligible for a 5th year, and loves to play, and is taking a masters program on campus. Should they play as a 5th year senior?  What is the difference and who cares?  Its about having a fun college experience with your friends and being part of something positive.   And none of it is really important.  Only the fun of playing ball.

[tothehole]

Savahoops
For any student to be gone for a year due to illness (presumably its serious) not being able to take any classes, I think any parent would think twice to allowing their child to participate at a varsity level the following year. Now if a student uses the system to get the "extra year" red shirt I think that they should realize its D3 and get on with their life and get over it. My opinion just mine, D3 is not D1 and the student athlete  is a student first .  How many NESCAC institutions have comprehensive PG programs.  Tufts is a fine university I'm sure they have fine PG programs in most fields. Most other Nescac schools don't have comprehensive PG programs to support their red shirts' Masters programs. So, somehow somewhere there are students and coaches working the system, but I'm sure with some work Meg could become a competent waitress. So as a board certified psychoanalyst I say get over it, grow up, become a citizen and get out of my office, p.s. pay the bill on the way out. 

[Gilby]

I'm new to the board and a fan of the Jumbos from Tufts.  I want to comment on the Meg Coffin issue.  I think it is unfair to use the term "redshirt" when describing what she did.  Redshirting is a common practice in DI but is illegal in DIII.  It is when a first year student, who is usually healthy, practices but doesn't play any games in order to save a year of eligibility for later.  Coffin's case is completely different.  In my view, the decision to do what she did is a sign of the times.  Even at the DIII level, sports have become extremely important to these kids and their families, not necessarily at the expense of their commitment to academics.  What she did is more common than you might think.   As a parent, I don't think I would encourage my child to do it but don't begrudge Meg or her family the choice they made.

[Pat Coleman]

Yep, it's called a medical hardship year in D-III.

[whoarewebobcats]

Anyone have any details about the Bates/Bowdoin game last night? My crew opted to travel to Lewiston to see the boys in a non-league game--a sign of how poor the girls look this year. Also, any word as to why Meg was out? Was she at the game on the bench at least?

[Balder Eagle]

Bowdoins Event Summary

http://www.bowdoin.edu/hoplite/teamNavigation?method=result&id=12935

Congrats to Anelauskas  -  Player of the Week

http://www.bowdoin.edu/hoplite/teamNavigation?method=release&id=874