WBB: NESCAC

[goubears89]

For those of you who've seen lots of the games this year, any predictions for NESCAC tourney play this weekend? As a board-described Bowdoin apologist, I shall refrain.
*backs away slowly*

[bobcat44]

The only upset I see this weekend is the bobcats over bowdoin.  The senoirs at bates never won at bowdoin and i think they will come out focused and win it.

GO BOBCATS!!

[wbbhoopsfan]

I would agree re: Bates/Bowdoin.  Either way, though, I think it'll be a great game.  I think Tufts is the team to beat in the tournament, and their rematch opportunity with Amherst, while a couple of wins away, could be a great game. 

[sumfun]

I'm not in the region this weekend so my laptop will be busy from 2 to 5ish watching and listening to "sumfun" games.  I think it's hard for anyone to win at Bowdoin, but Bates could pull it off.  Best of luck to all!!! 

[Balder Eagle]

Nice win for Bowdoin over Bates  Final  55 - 51, anyone know why Jill Anelauskas is having limited playing time?

[wbbhoopsfan]

As told to me by a third party, she banged her head on the floor in the closing minutes of the game v. Colby and has been limited since.  I don't know if there was another injury today, but to me, if it is a head injury, you either play or you don't.  I hope she didn't have another setback and can be ready for next weekend - they'll need her and it is real credit to the P'Bears to pull out today's win without Jill and Rubrega.

[daoustian]

Amherst beat up on Colby again, setting up a likely rematch with Bowdoin (assuming that all seeds hold).  Regardless, someone is coming to LeFrak next weekend for a home game.  If it is Bowdoin, that will be an interesting matchup since Bowdoin has so much more postseason experience than this Amherst team, despite Amherst's strong record this year.  I imagine it'd be a different matchup than the first with a full week to prepare -- last time the game was played in Brunswick as the second half of a Maine road trip.  Should be a fun one.   

[feces monkey]

Perhaps I fell under the pessimistic spell of Papabear and his senility, but I was mildly surprised to see Bowdoin pull it out on Saturday, especially since they were trailing at halftime. I think the larger story in that game was Bates and the fact that everyone's favorite -- especially NescacHoops -- fifth-year senior didn't give the Bobcats the title this year. In fact, they seemed worse with her. There was something seriously flawed about this year's Bates teams. I love Murphy, but something was amiss.

The NESCAC tourney road trip will be the first for the Polar Bears since '01 when they also went to Amherst. Bowdoin was the third seed then, beating #2 Colby before upsetting #1 Amherst for the first of every title. Now they get the Lady Jeffs right off the bat. If the Polar Bears do pull it off, it won't be pretty. They'll have to scratch and claw this one out, and I would guess they're 10-point underdogs.

Tufts and Amherst are in the tourney no matter what. I think if either Bowdoin or Wesleyan can pull one out of the bag (I think Wes has a better shot), the conference will get a third bid. If the Polar Bears and Cards advance there will be, obviously, four in.

Balder, thanks for checking in. Are the Eagles a FF lock again?

[Balder Eagle]

Balder, thanks for checking in. Are the Eagles a FF lock again?

Monkey Man    Good to hear from you.

The Eagles have what it takes to make the Final Four and go even further.  However, as we all know, anything can happen during Tournament Time, no one is a "lock" 

I was at the game against Colby when Jill Anelauskas took a hard fall to the floor, her game time has been down since then. I hope she is doing well. Bowdoin will need her strength if they are to advance.

[senatorfrost]

 As far as talent is concerned I don't think Amherst is blessed with a lot of it. Pollack is an extremely heady pg and Reiff is an offensive talent who needs special attention. However, the rest of the team contributes by hustling their ***** off almost all of the time.
This year a big difference is that I haven't seen too many plays/happenings where I found myself asking 'WHY did she do THAT!?' They play hard and smart and for the most part don't let down on defense. It's a lot of fun to watch players achieve because they never stop scratching.
   
   What has happened to Bates? I suppose a lot of people have theories and so why not give mine??
   Though the years I've watched Bates women, including a couple times at the Springfield tournament. The one thing that always struck me in the games that I SAW, was that Coach Murphy was always so relatively calm. He would talk and instruct and to me it didn't look any different than if he was casually talking to the girls in a normal everyday setting.
   Last year was different. There was something going on between Barton and the coach. Also, he was fussing and fuming and appeared to be genuinely angry/upset. This continued for pretty much the whole game, which Amherst won. I wondered why. Then it hit me. Fern Masse was no longer around.
   When coach Masse was there, I would always see him gently conversing with a girl or two before and after the huddle. It is possible that players were able to express themselves and perhaps let off a little steam to a very sympathetic 'Gramps' Flaherty was a really good player who played with a fiery intensity that I've seen from maybe one or two others.
   If you keep steam under pressure and don't let some of it out-well you know what happens. I think a lot of W teams could use a Grand Ma/Pa.

[bbald eagle]

Balder, thanks for checking in. Are the Eagles a FF lock again?

Monkey Man    Good to hear from you.

The Eagles have what it takes to make the Final Four and go even further.  However, as we all know, anything can happen during Tournament Time, no one is a "lock" 

I was at the game against Colby when Jill Anelauskas took a hard fall to the floor, her game time has been down since then. I hope she is doing well. Bowdoin will need her strength if they are to advance.

Mary Wash Eagles are again very good but surely no "lock" for the Final Four. Even last year they could have gone out at Sweet Sixteen in the Scranton game or at Elite Eight against Bowdoin, two excellent teams.

[Billy Hoyle]

Senator Frost,

How can you say Amherst has no talent.  I don't care what sport you are playing, you can't win the regular season conference without talent.

First of all, Samantha Swenson is somewhere in the top 3 talented players in the league.  The entire Senior class screams with talent almost as much as the fresh four!  The NESCAC better watch out the next few years because the Lord Jeffs are loaded with talented players.  Swenson, Leyman, Dunleavy, Daigneault, and Long are ready for a few more NESCAC championships.

Don't tell me I didn't warn you

[sumfun]

Billy,

I couldn't agree more, not to mention the Gromacki factor.  I think you'll see him put together a tougher out of conference schedule next year.  He pretty much inherited the schedule this year.

[savahoops]

As far as talent is concerned I don't think Amherst is blessed with a lot of it. Pollack is an extremely heady pg and Reiff is an offensive talent who needs special attention. However, the rest of the team contributes by hustling their ***** off almost all of the time.
This year a big difference is that I haven't seen too many plays/happenings where I found myself asking 'WHY did she do THAT!?' They play hard and smart and for the most part don't let down on defense. It's a lot of fun to watch players achieve because they never stop scratching.
   
   What has happened to Bates? I suppose a lot of people have theories and so why not give mine??
   Though the years I've watched Bates women, including a couple times at the Springfield tournament. The one thing that always struck me in the games that I SAW, was that Coach Murphy was always so relatively calm. He would talk and instruct and to me it didn't look any different than if he was casually talking to the girls in a normal everyday setting.
   Last year was different. There was something going on between Barton and the coach. Also, he was fussing and fuming and appeared to be genuinely angry/upset. This continued for pretty much the whole game, which Amherst won. I wondered why. Then it hit me. Fern Masse was no longer around.
   When coach Masse was there, I would always see him gently conversing with a girl or two before and after the huddle. It is possible that players were able to express themselves and perhaps let off a little steam to a very sympathetic 'Gramps' Flaherty was a really good player who played with a fiery intensity that I've seen from maybe one or two others.
   If you keep steam under pressure and don't let some of it out-well you know what happens. I think a lot of W teams could use a Grand Ma/Pa.

you are right, women are weak in this regard, too much going on in their head.  they  would rather talk to someone else about their issues than going right to the source.  just the way most of them are built.  Nurture and praise.  don't call them out on anything in front of peers.....unfortunately, sometimes coaches don't hold players accountable because they wont' confront bad sports habits in front of the team.  its a delicate balance.

[daoustian]

Very impressive win for Amherst today over Bowdoin -- 71-47.  Even as an Amherst fan, I did not expect a score anything like this.  Nice job Lady Jeffs.