MBB: NESCAC

[magicman]

Amherst after trailing early gets the Toomy and Kalema show in gear and to move in front of Morrisville 42-32 at the half.

Down 23-17, with 10 minutes left in the half Toomey goes off for 14 points and Kalema gets 3 layups to put the LJ's  back in control. The score was tied at 28 with 4 minutes to go when Amherst exploded for a 14-4 outburst to give them the double digit lead.

Toomey has 17 points (he got point #2000 with a 3 pointer at the 14:42 mark) and Kalema has 11 to lead Amherst. Toomey is 5x8 from the field, including 4x6 from long distance. Kalema also 5x8, mostly on drives to the hoop, but also hit one from behind the arc.

Jordan Prior is the main man for the Mustangs with 13 points. Brandon Hanks has 7.

[middhoops]

Midway through the 2nd half it looks like two teams from western Mass are going to meet again.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

You have to be thinking now how nice (and easy) it would have been to swap the Williams and IWU brackets.

[middhoops]

These Morrisville guys are impressive.

[middhoops]

Williams was nothing less than terrifying this weekend in Fredericksburg, VA. 
Not sure anyone could have stayed with them.

[magicman]

Amherst advances to the Final Four with an 84-74 win over Morrisville State.

[nescac1]

Congrats to the Ephs!!!!!!  Third Final Four (and fourth trip to Salem) in five years.  Simply incredible.  On behalf of the Virginia Eph fan contingent, thanks to Williams for making Virginia a second home in the Maker era.  What an incredible performance from the Ephs.  Tough night for Mary Washington who simply could not throw the ball in the ocean, just not their day and they are a better team than they showed tonight, but Williams played some great defense and had a perfect game plan, which certainly contributed to Mary Washington's woes.  As usual for the Ephs (when they play well), tremendous balance, with Mayer, Epley, Robinson, Rooke-Ley, and Greenman all making very big contributions.  Duncan is still struggling a bit from three but has been awesome, on both ends, in all other aspects of the game.  He was particularly tough on the boards today with a career high 14 caroms.  Mayer is the best center in the country, and has been simply dominant over the past month of play.  The key is the other guys -- when Epley and/or Greenman are having big offensive days, as they did today, the Ephs are really, really tough to beat. 

Of course things get a lot tougher now going up against Amherst, which has been the Ephs' bane for the last few years.  This is the second time Williams and Amherst have met in a national semifinal -- as others have said, I wish they were on opposite halves of the bracket, but a Final Four meeting is still pretty sweet.  Amherst has the best starting five in the country without a doubt, so Williams is going to have to get contributions from a wide variety of guys, starters and bench players alike, to finally take the Jeffs down.  The Ephs will be, deservedly, an underdog, but these are two titans both playing at an incredibly high level right now, and I expect a great game in Salem.  Hope to meet AmherstStudent05, AncientSonofHixon, Walzy, and the other Lord Jeff die-hards, and of course catch up with amh63, on Friday -- it's all fun and friendship until tip off! 

For the NESCAC as a whole, this makes SIX Final Four squads from NESCAC over the past five years.  That is simply amazing.  When you consider how much Williams struggled to beat Middlebury and Tufts in the NESCAC tourney, it just shows that a heck of lot of teams from NESCAC can play with anyone. 

[AmherstStudent05]

What a day!  Aaron Toomey crosses the 2000 point threshold (2030 and counting) and Amherst advances to its 6th Final Four in program history to meet up against Williams.  It really doesn't get much better than that!

As has been mentioned, Amherst beat Morrisville 84-74 in a very competitive game (the Jeffs went on a big run at the end of the first half that really was the difference).  Toomey was sensational with 31 points (6-9 from three and 11-11 from the line).  What a way to end his career in LeFrak.

Now on to Salem and another showdown with the Ephs.  I obviously couldn't catch today's game, but what, did Williams put on a show against Mary Washington tonight or what? Maybe the Ephs have found their defensive form just at the right time (we all know they can shoot the lights out in their sleep).  Can't wait till Friday.

Unfortunately, I am heading out of the country on Thursday, so not only will I not be able to make it down to Salem, but I am not even sure I will be able to watch this game live (though I will do everything I can to find the best internet feed possible).  However, I was courtside the last time Amherst played Williams in Salem, so perhaps it is just as well for my Jeffs that I sit this one out.

A great day for the NESCAC as we are guaranteed a representative in the Title game.  Still a big difference though as to who that representative is!

[GnacBballFan]

Just saw the score of Williams, WOW. Like I said, I firmly believe my team lost to maybe the second best team in the country. Just wow

[frank uible]

How many points will the Smart Money require an Amherst fan to give? Is 10 enough? How about 12? The Smart Money will probably jump at 14 - maybe a little fewer. The Smart Money only wagers when it believes it has at least a major edge.

[AmherstStudent05]

The one sad bit of news today is the fact that our seniors -- Aaron Toomey, Tom Killian, David Kalema, and Connor Gach -- have played their last competitive game at LeFrak.  By any measure, they have protected our home court advantage to a degree that is probably unprecedented in NESCAC history.

Over the past four years, Amherst is a whopping 63-1 at home with the one loss coming in a non-conference game in December (damn Babson).  I believe Toomey has played in all 64 of those games (and, in any event, he is 47-1 at LeFrak as a starter).  Over that time, Amherst is 24-0 against NESCAC teams in the regular season, 10-0 during the NESCAC Tournament (including three championships on home court), and 6-0 in NCAA Tournament play (including an Elite Eight win and two Sweet 16 wins).

What an incredible run.  Even more incredible when you think of all the good teams that have come through LeFrak over the past four years.  Obviously, we host Williams every year. We also play every NESCAC team at LeFrak every other year, and, the last three years, we have taken on the best the NESCAC has to offer an additional time during the NESCAC Tournament.  This is not to mention all of the non-conference teams (RIC, Brandeis, ECSU, Babson) that we have hosted as well as the NCAA Tournament games.

Needless to say, this senior class will be missed!  Any chance we can get the upcoming Final Four moved to LeFrak?

[AmherstStudent05]

How many points will the Smart Money require an Amherst fan to give? Is 10 enough? How about 12? The Smart Money will probably jump at 14 - maybe a little fewer. The Smart Money only wagers when it believes it has at least a major edge.

I thought you would be preoccupied by pitchers and catchers, Frank, after that Albertus game (if not a few others before that).  Anyway, shoot walzy a pm.  He is always good for NESCAC action -- especially when it is Amherst and Williams!

[magicman]

How many points will the Smart Money require an Amherst fan to give? Is 10 enough? How about 12? The Smart Money will probably jump at 14 - maybe a little fewer. The Smart Money only wagers when it believes it has at least a major edge.

The spread on a neutral court at the present time has Amherst favored by only 4 points. So if you can get the smallest number you've put forward of just 10 points Frank, you should jump all over it. Perhaps that spread may rise a point or two as the week goes on but it won't get close to 10.

[jumpshot]

Superb job this weekend (and throughout a long season) by Williams College head coach Mike Maker and his assistants Derek Johnston and Scott Day! Effective game plans, excellent use of personnel (including key minutes by several players off the bench), and a deep seated culture of resiliency, preparation, and unselfish teamwork. Even a gracious use of a timeout by Coach Maker on behalf of Mary Washington (out of timeouts) allowing MW to recognize its seniors in the final minute.

Of course, the games belong to the players who have taken collective ownership for creating a memorable experience for themselves.

On to Salem ....

[Vandy74]

No upsets.  No surprises.  Congratulations to Williams and Amherst and may one of them get two more wins under their belt.