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Messages - Bucket

#2
Region 1 men's basketball / Re: MBB: NESCAC
March 08, 2024, 05:13:42 PM
Quote from: NESCACBBALLFAN on March 08, 2024, 04:54:07 PM
Quote from: D3BBALL on March 04, 2024, 05:15:49 PMVery good weekend for all NESCAC teams and not surprising at all, that all won 2 games. Unfortunately for Tufts/Trinity they have to play for the 3rd time in sweet 16.

Williams has been heading in the right direction for the last 2 months. Beat Trinity in a close one and then lost in a close one. They have the most talent in the league top to bottom. They may have the best shot to get to final 4, they just seem to have someone different step up each game. If Roughley and Karren play well, they will be tough to beat.

Tufts/Trinity should be another close one, will be interesting to see what kind of defense Tufts comes out with. In 2nd meeting they went with box and 1 against Callahan-Gold, held him to 4 points but still gave up 80 points.  They had no answer for Okorougo and got out rebounded by 10. Gyimesi played much better in 2nd game and will need a repeat performance if Tufts is going to win.

Regarding the awards, whether it was the coaches or someone at the conference, the reason to change from 10 to 14, had to be about trying to give credit to players on bad teams and having the awards be shared throughout the teams. I think 100% wrong, it just waters down the entire awards process. Usually, we can argue about 1 maybe 2 selections, this year way more than that. As stated by someone in an earlier post, if anything, they should have gone with 3 teams of 5 players. The first team I don't think anyone can argue with those 7, except whether to be on first or second team, but they all belong. I still think Johnson should definitely be on 2nd team. That would have left 2 spots if only 10 players. All of the rest you can make an argument one way or the other. But to say that because they play on bad teams, that hurts their chances, I would counter it is simply an eye test. And Hamilton had 4 wins and got 2 players. I have watched enough league games this year and I don't believe there is one decent coach in the league that would take Poulton, Schainfeld, Singh, Espinosa, Osher, Scherer over Roughley or Smith or even Okorougo. All 3 do some much more for their teams on both ends of the court than any of these. And if they didn't have to defer to the talent of their teammates, their stats would be even better, it's a simple eye test. While Scherer was certainly a defensive force, offensively he didn't do a lot in conference (and you can argue that is not his fault). But Bernstein then should get a look as well, both are about the same. I might have taken one of them along with Roughley or Smith if it was just 10 total players. But all of the 6 mentioned should not be part of the 14, maybe 2-3, but all 6 it's all about keeping everyone happy and that is not what the awards are about. Both Roughley and Smith are simply better players. Leaving them off a top 10 list is ok, leaving them off a 14 list, is wrong.

Go NESCAC this weekend!!


I have been an avid reader of these message boards for quite some time, and am pleased to say that I agree with roughly 75% of said in any given comment (perhaps a conservative estimate). However, to say that Smith, Roughly, and Okorougu are definitively, objectively better players than the six players in this years second team (and that any "smart" coach would trade one for the other in a heartbeat) is blatantly incorrect. In the case of Smith and Okorougu, their offensive performance this season has been heavily dependent on the emergence of Vetter and BCG as first team all conference players (maybe all region). They command so much defensive attention that players such as Smith, Okorougu, and Dorion are able to find seams in the defense to exploit. If you took these players and put them on the rosters of the Maine schools (where they would immediately be the primary offensive weapons), I would guess that they struggle. I do not think that Smith or Okorougu- both incredible perimeter defenders - have taken a difficult shot the entire year. Roughly, one of the best post scorers in the conference, might also experience a decline in production if he isn't playing alongside Karren. The players on the second team this year - specifically Poulton, Singh, Osher, etc, require far more defensive attention and are still producing. They may not have experienced as much team success, but I am more inclined to respect impressive offensive performances from players who are able to perform when the entire gym knows who is going to shoot the ball as opposed to players who shoot uncontested shots because the primary offensive weapons on their teams are being doubled/tripled.
There is a reasonable possibility that I am absolutely incorrect in my assumptions, as I often am. But to say that the three players you mentioned are objectively better than four 15+ ppg guys on the second team seems to be a miscalculation.

Well said.
#3
Region 1 men's basketball / Re: MBB: NESCAC
February 29, 2024, 12:16:41 PM
Quote from: nescac1 on February 29, 2024, 11:26:41 AMI know these are individual awards, but it's also a bit odd to see Conn with the (deserved) POTY as well as TWO other guys on all-league teams, while Williams only has one all-league player on even the expanded all-league roster, despite finishing first in the regular season and making it to the title game, while Conn's season ended in the first round of the conference championship.  If you are going to go to 14 guys, either Alex Lee or Brandon Roughley would have been deserving. 

Can also point to the 7th and 8th teams having two to Williams's one. Wes I can understand; it's hard to leave off Nicky Johnson. For the Conts, Morgan was a first-team lock. Seems like Singh might be more of a reputation pick than actual performance.
#4
Region 1 men's basketball / Re: MBB: NESCAC
February 28, 2024, 06:02:32 PM
I'm going to be sappy for a moment and say I missed all of you NESCAC board folk during the site's hiatus.

I did manage to catch up with Toad in person when Williams visited Midd, and subsequently shared a chuckle with Kevin App, when he asked how old my son was when he and Mike Maker came into my home years ago on a scouting trip in Vermont. Answer: He was 3 then; he's 17 now and a HS senior. I pointed out Young Bucket, in the stands. He laughed and said he had kids of his own now. (For context, Maker and Bucket have been friends for decades.)

I will have more to share on the season after the games are done.

For now, all attention should be paid to Trinity, Tufts, and Williams. Good luck, gentlemen. Make us proud.
#5
Region 1 men's basketball / Re: MBB: NESCAC
December 19, 2023, 11:48:59 AM
Quote from: quicksilver on December 18, 2023, 09:18:40 PM
Am seeing the following Middlebury commitment on Twitter:

Sawyer Ramey, 5-10, PG, Deerfield (PG)

More on Sawyer Ramey: He's at Deerfield this year as a post-grad player, but he's a Vermont native and (semi) local kid, from Fair Haven (about 30 miles from Midd), where he was the 2023 Vermont Gatorade Player of the Year.

He was an AAU teammate of fellow commit Max Alberts; will be a lot of fun watching the two of them play together for 4 years.
#6
Region 1 men's basketball / Re: MBB: NESCAC
December 16, 2023, 11:08:30 AM
Quote from: nescac1 on December 15, 2023, 10:00:40 AM
Some info on the first round of NESCAC recruits.  This information seems to have become harder to track down than it used to be, so I'm sure there are loads of others. Nice early recruiting group for Williams, which added a very smooth point guard who is quick with the ball, a bigger guard who is appears to be a three-point shooting specialist, and two big, skilled wings. 

Beyond the Williams group, the most notable name here is likely Oscar Edelman to Wesleyan.  Wesleyan should be loaded next season as it returns its entire rotation, including two frosh wings each with a ton of upside, other than its back-up big man, and Edelman should be able to fill in as the back-up big right away.  Mitch Humphrey seems like a good fit for Colby as he's an ace three point shooter with the size to guard up a bit. 

Amherst:

Jacob Blank, 6'4 G, Yavneh Academy (TX)

Bates:

Sean O'Leary, 6'4 W, Franklin H.S. (MA)

Bowdoin:

Liam McBride, 6'3 G, Deerfield

Colby:

Mitch Humphrey, 6'6 W, St. Viator (IL)
Dan Civello 6'10 C, BC High

Conn College:

Bo Moodey, 6'2 G, Malden Catholic

Middlebury:

Max Alberts, 6'4 W, Berkshire School

Tufts:

Isaac Friedman, 6'5 G, Millbrook School

Wesleyan:

Oscar Edelman, 6'8 F/C, New Hampton (#5 N.H.)

Williams:

Justin Belcher, 6'0 G, University School (OH)
Aidan Yates, 6'5 G, Charlottesville H.S. (VA)
Jackson Rein, 6'7 W, Ravenscroft School (NC)
Matthew Nachamkin, 6'7 W, Haldane School (NY)


You can add 6'9" Henry Morrison from Flintridge Prep in California to Midd's commitment list. Rim protector is a position of need for the Panthers.

https://twitter.com/BTIHoops/status/1735808120017060318

#7
Region 1 men's basketball / Re: MBB: NESCAC
December 10, 2023, 09:45:46 PM
Middlebury ends it's pre-exam portion of the season on a high note, winning in OT on the road at Stevens, 84-77.

After a disappointing start to the year—albeit playing a very challenging schedule—the Panthers enter the break having won three straight, with by far its most impressive win coming in New Jersey at Stevens, with the Ducks entering the contest with a 7-1 record and undefeated at home.

Trailing by 2 with the clock winding down, Tristan Joseph sent the game to over time with a driving layup with :03 seconds left. The Panthers never trailed in OT.

Noah Osher led all scorers with a career-high 34, adding six assists. Tristan Joseph again in double figures with 14. Lamine Cisse was highly efficient, scoring 13 in 16 minutes of action.

David Brennan fouled out of a contest for the first time this season, but not before grabbing 14 rebounds.

Midd again playing without Sam Stevens, Jaden Bobbett, and Jackson McKersie. Hope they can use the extended break to recuperate and heal. Joesph, Cisse, and Witherington all impressive the past couple of games and making the most of their opportunities in their teammates' absence.
#8
Region 1 men's basketball / Re: MBB: NESCAC
December 08, 2023, 10:56:54 PM
A short-handed Middlebury—Sam Stevens, Jaden Bobbett, and Jackson McKersie all out with injury—had no problem with Skidmore, running past the Thoroughbreds, 69-51.

David Brennen grabbed 20 rebounds for the second consecutive game (he had an even 20 tonight after recording an eye-popping 28 earlier this week against Plattsburgh). Skidmore started a front court of 6'7", 6'8", 6'10", which didn't faze Brennan in the least. He added eight points and 4 assists.

Evan Flaks led all scorers with 17; also contributed six assists.

Charley Moore flashing a nice all-around game, 10 and 7, knocking down mid-range jumpers which hadn't been part of his repertoire, previously.

And second consecutive start for Tristan Joseph, also in double figures with 10 points, including a highlight-reel baseline drive and slam.

Midd concludes the 2023 portion of its schedule on the road at Stevens early next week.
#9
Region 1 men's basketball / Re: MBB: NESCAC
December 07, 2023, 11:02:25 AM
Not a typo: David Brennan—at 6'6"—had 28 rebounds for Middlebury in an 80-76 OT win at Plattsburgh on Wednesday.

Tristan Joseph with a career-high of 25, starting in place of Sam Stevens, who was a DNP. Osher with 26 and 6 assists.

Panthers host Skidmore on Friday and then travel to Stevens next week before entering the break.
#10
Men's soccer / Re: 2023 NCAA Tournament
December 04, 2023, 09:22:10 PM
Quote from: PaulNewman on December 04, 2023, 06:53:55 PM
EnmoreCat, safe travels and congrats to you and your son on another fantastic season.

Surely you do not believe that Amherst has the market cornered on providing a "life-changing" experience.

He probably does.

—Tucket Carlson
#11
Men's soccer / Re: 2023 NCAA Tournament
December 04, 2023, 02:01:28 PM
Quote from: camosfan on December 04, 2023, 01:50:52 PM
The refs in Vermont are the worst I have seen.

FWIW, 75 percent of the refs "in Vermont" you see for NESCAC games come up from Massachusetts.
#12
Men's soccer / Re: 2023 NCAA Tournament
November 28, 2023, 02:24:32 PM
Quote from: PaulNewman on November 23, 2023, 10:56:14 PM
I will understand if Midd fans abstain from responding, but despite Midd not necessarily being one of my favorite teams I do feel a weird kinship (perhaps family connections to VT and the town but mostly because of Kenyon), and I can feel the massive disappointment.  I wonder what folks affiliated with or who were there think happened.  I know some including Amherst noted the Amherst lockdown defense, but was there anything else?  Did having to come back from down 2-0 to Cortland take a toll?  Did Midd get too caught up in making sure they didn't get punked...and maybe lost a little focus? 

I thought it was a 50/50 deal with Amherst, but I thought Midd was going to get it done...exactly as I felt a few times with Kenyon, including last year after beating Calvin and W&L (7-1 on aggregate) back to back and only needing to get by Williams at home.  That Kenyon team last year was really, really good...like "best Kenyon team ever" and national title good...but unfortunately they just didn't get to what clearly seemed in reach.  It's a testament to how good Middlebury was to presume without any doubt that they are experiencing massive disappointment.

I would love to respond to this, but I'll wait until after the games this weekend. Rare moment of magnanimity from Bucket, ceding the spotlight to the four teams playing for a championship.  ;)
#13
Region 1 men's basketball / Re: MBB: NESCAC
November 27, 2023, 11:09:31 AM
Quote from: Old Guy on November 27, 2023, 10:54:00 AM
Sam Stevens went down about halfway through the first half with an ankle injury, was helped off the floor, watched the rest of the game from the bench with his ankle wrapped in ice, and left after the game on crutches. We all hope it's not too serious as he was hampered last season with a shoulder injury and was off to a very good start this year. He's a good player and we need him. He hit the opening hoop, a three pointer, in this game, and looked free and easy. We'll see. Midd plays Chicago and Rochester this weekend in that UCC/NESCAC series and that will be challenging. 

Endicott's pretty good (I seem to be saying that a lot about Midd's opponents this year). This game was a barnburner, 90-86, with Midd scoring 56 points in the second half to Endicott's 50. (the Gulls have a 6'7 frosh center, Elijah Kenny, from Nashville, who is a good player, had 25 points, including a 3-pointer, 6-7 from the line, and 15 rebounds. As NESCAC1 pointed out, it took career games from Osher (32 points) and Brennan (25 and 15) to get the win. Brennan is such a workhorse. He should find his way into some end-of-season acknowledgement. He gets every loose ball, it seems, and contested rebound. Inspiring to watch. Osher had a spell in the second half when he couldn't miss, six or seven buckets in a row (12-22, 5-7, 3-3). Tristan Joseph played 30 minutes, had 15 points (6-10, 3-5), and looks increasingly comfortable on the floor. Kuba Cwalina played seven minutes, hit a couple of shots, including a three pointer. He has a great stroke.

Jeff Brown continues to use the whole bench, figuring out which combinations are particularly effective. Important win, if only for confidence reasons. Good win. Nice home crowd, despite students being on vacation. Very entertaining game. It would be nice to pick up a win or two against these big shot schools coming to the hinterlands this weekend.

Old Guy: You undersold Brennan's output by a lot! He had 21 rebounds, not 15.
#14
Men's soccer / Re: 2023 NCAA Tournament
November 20, 2023, 03:15:58 PM
Quote from: Another Mom on November 20, 2023, 02:47:25 PM
How about Washington Collage or St. Olaf? We've had no discussion about them!

I'm still peeved at Massey. W&L is ranked lower than four teams we beat.

I actually have non-NESCAC, non-W&L content to contribute!

One of my son's former high school (and former local club) teammates is a first year on the St. Olaf squad:

https://athletics.stolaf.edu/sports/mens-soccer/roster/trey-bosworth/12524

He hasn't played much as a first year, but he's a member of a team in the Final Four. As a kid who played at a small public high school in Vermont and was on a local (i.e., not national travel) club team, Trey personifies all that is right with the game we all share a passion for. At least I think so.

#15
Men's soccer / Re: 2023 NCAA Tournament
November 20, 2023, 01:37:40 PM
Quote


Curious... who was the gentleman with the beard in the YouTube clip also waiving to the Midd fans?  He's not dressed to play, and he's out in front of the players at 1:32, taunting the parents.  Is that Asst Coach Ortega?

Yes.