2015 NCAA TOURNAMENT THREAD

[firstplaceloser]

Nobody hates the NJ teams.  80% of the posters here picked Montclair to get to Final 4, and many of us marveled at MSU-RUC tourney final.

Fair enough. I just feel as though there is animosity towards the NJ teams. I mean you have to give us a break anyway we are from Jersey...

Did you follow the thread?  Only reason any mention made of NJ was because a poster (apparently a NJ poster by screen name) cracked on quality of Tufts and Kenyon.




Exactly..Not sure how you can base your opinion of teams by watching them for game in the NCAA's.  You really need to watch a team a couple times to get a thorough opinion. It looked like a typical Nescac affair to me and if he did not like that game wait until he see's Amherst play Lycoming....

Honestly, I think you can easily base your opinion off a team in one game. It's how some scouting reports are done. You can see a lot about the players in one game. How they react in certain situations. The skill of a player. The mental side of a player. The tendencies of a player. Especially in big games, as most players resort to what works for them under pressure. I in no way said I thought the teams were terrible. The style of play might work for them. I just said I was not impressed. Were you impressed by how both sides played today? Would you say they were at their best or close to their usual caliber? Assuming you watch them more then once of course.

If you read my post. I was questioning what he thought was exciting about the game and mentioned the fact that there were 5 goals. As a majority of the game was from kicking a ball 20-30yds like a hot potato. Just not the style of play that is entertaining to me. I guess from reading posts about Tufts I was expecting a team to actually be organized. You can say they were organized defensively and have a style of play of kicking and running. Maybe instead of asking for an excuse. I should have asked the question "is this how these two teams play all the time?" I wouldn't mind hearing answers to that question.

Hmm...You can base your opinion of a player in 1 GAME?  You would not be a good recruiter because that is how mistakes are done recruiting. You watch 1 game and think you have seen the player and all his talent or lack there of. Big mistake. Coaches need to see a kid 2-3 times to make sure they are not wasting one of their "tips" on a fluke player. Tufts is very organized but Kenyon disrupted them and there was no flow to the game. Interestingly, I thought Tufts would fight thru that considering they see that on a daily basis in Nescac from Amherst, Midd,etc..

I see both sides of your arguments. every team in the NCAA tournament has to do some kind of adjusting for the team they are playing which makes it very difficult to judge players or teams off one result. the Kenyon tufts game had two final 4 quality teams playing which probably held back some attacking from both teams. The Amherst vs Lycoming game will be another kick and run game with two excellent defenses. I give Amherst the nod because of their experience. I watched a little of the loras game and they did not look scared of Depauw at all. Loras is very good this year and this might be the year they finally get into the championship game.

[NJrexSoccer03]

Nobody hates the NJ teams.  80% of the posters here picked Montclair to get to Final 4, and many of us marveled at MSU-RUC tourney final.

Fair enough. I just feel as though there is animosity towards the NJ teams. I mean you have to give us a break anyway we are from Jersey...

Did you follow the thread?  Only reason any mention made of NJ was because a poster (apparently a NJ poster by screen name) cracked on quality of Tufts and Kenyon.




Exactly..Not sure how you can base your opinion of teams by watching them for game in the NCAA's.  You really need to watch a team a couple times to get a thorough opinion. It looked like a typical Nescac affair to me and if he did not like that game wait until he see's Amherst play Lycoming....

Honestly, I think you can easily base your opinion off a team in one game. It's how some scouting reports are done. You can see a lot about the players in one game. How they react in certain situations. The skill of a player. The mental side of a player. The tendencies of a player. Especially in big games, as most players resort to what works for them under pressure. I in no way said I thought the teams were terrible. The style of play might work for them. I just said I was not impressed. Were you impressed by how both sides played today? Would you say they were at their best or close to their usual caliber? Assuming you watch them more then once of course.

If you read my post. I was questioning what he thought was exciting about the game and mentioned the fact that there were 5 goals. As a majority of the game was from kicking a ball 20-30yds like a hot potato. Just not the style of play that is entertaining to me. I guess from reading posts about Tufts I was expecting a team to actually be organized. You can say they were organized defensively and have a style of play of kicking and running. Maybe instead of asking for an excuse. I should have asked the question "is this how these two teams play all the time?" I wouldn't mind hearing answers to that question.

Hmm...You can base your opinion of a player in 1 GAME?  You would not be a good recruiter because that is how mistakes are done recruiting. You watch 1 game and think you have seen the player and all his talent or lack there of. Big mistake. Coaches need to see a kid 2-3 times to make sure they are not wasting one of their "tips" on a fluke player. Tufts is very organized but Kenyon disrupted them and there was no flow to the game. Interestingly, I thought Tufts would fight thru that considering they see that on a daily basis in Nescac from Amherst, Midd,etc..

You are very accurate about recruiting and I agree with you. If you look above I talk about skill, tendencies, mental toughness. As a recruiter if I saw these things in one game I would come back to see them again. But as a recruiter if I didn't see these things in one game even if its an off game its going to be hard to come back to see the kid again. Especially at the D-3 level with little money to go watch recruits. But that isn't what we are talking here. I was talking about not being impressed with the teams as a whole. Very sloppy soccer(kick ball). Not very organized. Kenyon was exposed many times after getting forward from being unorganized.

[blooter442]

What a save by the Calvin GK. Spread himself well and kept F&M from getting the equalizer.

[casualfan]

What a save by the Calvin GK. Spread himself well and kept F&M from getting the equalizer.

Agreed blooter, but I think the kid has to do a better job of not projecting where he's gonna shoot that. Opened his hips extremely wide so everyone knew he was going finesse far post. Great save though!

[blooter442]

Agreed blooter, but I think the kid has to do a better job of not projecting where he's gonna shoot that. Opened his hips extremely wide so everyone knew he was going finesse far post. Great save though!

For sure, but I think that was a product more of the GK coming out at the right time and forcing the kid to commit.

If it was me I would have either tried to chip him (risky but effective) or just kept it on the ground and tried to go under him. Far post only works well if the keeper stays home and you can go around him in my experience.

[Mr.Right]

I thought the F & M kid should have finished that. Centennial teams are very good but they just lack that special player to get them to a Final 4. Was Muhlenberg the last Centennial team to make a Final 4 in 1995?

I know Hopkins in 2006 was a legit Final 4 team that got upended by Messiah but I cannot remember the last Centennial team in a Final 4.

[Nutmeg]

Thoughts on Tufts Kenyon game. Thought Tufts had the better play all around. Great goal at the end by Kenyon. Thought Barnes played excellent for Kenyon. I think Kenyon's defense will be the weakness that keeps them from winning the title. Amolo was the worst of the 3 forwards Tufts played this tournament. The pk was questionable and it deflated Tufts for a short period. The Tufts midfield could have played a a little quicker. Kayne was double teamed but managed to get off some good balls. He had several steals on defense.  Kenyon has a nice midfield. Don't know why they stopped using them in second half. think their defense will have trouble with tall strong forwards. Majumber played excellent. I can see
Kenyon winning tomorrow. Stop Amolo and Barnes and and pressure their defense is the way to beat them.

[firstplaceloser]

did the Wheaton vs st Olaf game start yet? I'm having trouble with the feed again..

[lastguyoffthebench]

CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITHOUT A LOSS
No. Team From To
66 Wheaton (IL).................................................... Sept. 1, 1996 Nov. 14, 1998
60 St. Lawrence..................................................... Nov. 19, 1997 Nov. 12, 2000
46 Messiah.............................................................. Nov. 13, 2004 Oct. 28, 2006
44 Calvin................................................................Sept. 6, 2014 to >>>>>>>>
43 Trinity (TX)........................................................ Aug. 29, 2003 Nov. 19, 2004
42 Messiah.............................................................. Sept. 4, 2010 Nov. 5, 2011

[WarhawkFan]

did the Wheaton vs st Olaf game start yet? I'm having trouble with the feed again..

Looks like the feed is working now, hasn't started yet though.  Looks like it's going to be an interesting one with the snowstorm they're getting.  Trying to shovel the lines off right now.

[firstplaceloser]

I would love to play an NCAA game in the snow

[KICKIN95]

This "wingnut" is a real Loras hater....What's the story with him kicken?

No idea?  He can hate them all he likes, it doesn't change the fact that they buried DePauw the first half and if desired would have hung another 2 or more on them the 2nd half. Being that Loras is a perennial tournament team they know how to conserve players and not exert un needed energy.  Wing nut can think DePauw had a chance all he wants, but I know and pretty much everyone else knows they never had a chance.

[WarhawkFan]

I would love to play an NCAA game in the snow

I got to play in one last year, but it wasn't nearly this much snow and it was on a nice grass field. Loras' field isn't fun to play on on a good day (not quality turf) but with this snow? I don't envy those guys playing out there today.  I'm just hoping there aren't any serious injuries.

[PaulNewman]

Thoughts on Tufts Kenyon game. Thought Tufts had the better play all around. Great goal at the end by Kenyon. Thought Barnes played excellent for Kenyon. I think Kenyon's defense will be the weakness that keeps them from winning the title. Amolo was the worst of the 3 forwards Tufts played this tournament. The pk was questionable and it deflated Tufts for a short period. The Tufts midfield could have played a a little quicker. Kayne was double teamed but managed to get off some good balls. He had several steals on defense.  Kenyon has a nice midfield. Don't know why they stopped using them in second half. think their defense will have trouble with tall strong forwards. Majumber played excellent. I can see
Kenyon winning tomorrow. Stop Amolo and Barnes and and pressure their defense is the way to beat them.

Tony has another year left, so hopefully he will work on his game this summer and show a lot of improvement.

[dontshootthegoose]

I second that Kickin, DePauw was out played in every aspect of that game. 

Any predictions on Wheaton/St.Olaf.... Have to think this plays in Olaf's favor with slowing down Wheaton's speed.