WBB: NESCAC

[pureshooter]

 Bowdoin is just not that good.

[senatorfrost]

 Read what I wrote. I did not say Amherst had no talent. I said they didn't have a lot. What they do have is neverending drive at both ends of the court. Swensen has been a non issue lately. She got taken out after 11 minutes v Bowdoin and then missed a couple of games. She played 5 min. v Colby and 8 min. v Bowdoin. I am assuming she has some sort of injury.
  Perhaps I underestimated Roesch. The seniors can all get their own shot at least some of the time-the others just go all out. Harik is improving on offense and has always played good defense. Leyman is just one of those players who you look at and wonder why everyone can't be like her and so on.
   Improvement- that's what I see when I look at Amherst. So much improvement over last year and even the beginning of this season. I think there are a number of teams that have at least close to the same level of talent but the idea is to develop it and to hustle ALL the time.
   I could name a player who had a pretty poor year this year yet when she went up against Amherst and their glittering record, she became inspired. For that one game she looked like an all star but then seemed to go back into hiding. So does that mean she has no talent??
  Speaking of talent-Tufts looks really good. Three pretty big girls who can all move (for NESCAC) and a really top notch little pg who showed she can shoot on the run and do just about anything. The rest of the cast is like Amherst, in that they seem to hustle pretty much all the time.
   By the way has there ever been a woman who came back to the huddle and said, "Give me the ball I can take this turkey with no sweat?"
 

[mamadukes]

In answer to your question senatorfrost.
YES!

I can't even believe I would dignify such a stupid remark!

[senatorfrost]

 Mr. Dignity-if you're responding to my second question, I doubt the answer is yes. Of course you are entitled to an opinion.
Another question I have is will the winner of Amherst/Tufts host since Southern Maine lost?

[heart4rose]

Trinity beats Midd.
Hasiuk hit some huge shots down the stretch.
Go Bants - Sunday at 2:30!

[feces monkey]

Good luck to Tufts and Amherst in the NCAAs. Hopefully they'll be on other sides of the bracket so they'll have the opportunity to make a run.

This site is projecting Bowdoin makes the field, but I hope not. This season needs to be euthanized.

[Pat Coleman]

I hear ya, but they have the numbers. They're definitely on the bubble (we picked them 18th of 21) but they had the numbers.

[feces monkey]

Bowdoin has definitely played the toughest schedule out of anyone in the conference but I think I'd rather see them ride off into the sunset with one 20+ point waxing instead of two, which will likely happen if they get shipped off to USM, Salem State or some other home seed. I think Wesleyan would put up a better fight at this point.

If only for a year, it appears Bowdoin is a men's basketball school ('cause it ain't women's hoops and it sure as heck isn't a hockey school anymore....)

[Pat Coleman]

Guess they could always decline the invitation.

[tothehole]

Amherst and Tufts deserve to be in but Bowdoin???  I'm sure there are tons of better record teams; oh I forgot they get in because of their history.  Right, I remember at some point they got a final ranking of 4th not even making the final four. FUBAR Mr Coleman.

[eclinchy]

Their history, and their strength of schedule...

[goubears89]

Well, if the Polar Bears do get in, it will certainly mark the first time ever that an NCAA selection committee has put a team in a tourney based in no small part on their history. Yep, this would be a first.

Congrats to the Lord Jeffs on the title. Let's hope for great NESCAC representation in the tourney.

[gordonmann]

Actually, we projected the Bears based on their criteria, not their history.

Bowdoin's numbers (.727 regional win, .647 OWP, .547) and the fact they had a win against a regionally ranked opponent -- which most remaining teams did not -- separated them from the pack.

For what it's worth, Bowdoin was the 19th team we projected for a Pool C bid out of 21.  That doesn't make them last obviously, but they were certainly close to missing out.

[goubears89]

Gordon, it sounds like the rationale and the "placement" of the Pool C's is correct for the Polar Bears. Now I face the alumni director's dilemma -- my alma mater and my employer are both in -- likely on both the men's and women's sides. Let's hope Rochester and Bowdoin don't align to play each other again this year!

[feces monkey]

Gordon, the big brain who theorizes about Bowdoin's history has been beating that drum for about three years now. We tend to ignore him in this room, but his slow-processing NEWMAC intellect provides a little diversity, which is in line with the overall inclusivity of the NESCAC philosophy.

If you want a preview of what will happen in the next 24 hours, especially if the NESCAC gets four in on the men's side like Pat is postulating, is the Hillary-esque whining about the unfairness of the NESCAC's single round-robin format. This differs from tothehole's half-baked theories in that it has been going on for a decade, but it is nice to hear from our cornfed friends in the Upper Midwest.

As for the Bowdoin women, I hope by some miracle they can get sent out of region because the Northeast is too rich for their blood right now. My instincts tell me they have a trip to Willimantic, Conn., this weekend.