MBB: NESCAC

[D3BBALL]

Middlebury really missed Dominick Ducree yesterday, out with a sprained ankle. I don't believe his presence would have changed the outcome, but his scoring and shooting (14 ppg, 47 percent from 3, good for 2nd in the conference) would certainly have helped.

That said—and all el jefe noted being true, concerning shooting and turnovers—Middlebury played really, really hard yesterday. Obviously Trinity's defense and athleticism makes life miserable for opponents, and that aspect of their game, combined with their ability to score and go on runs, so often saps the will of opponents (thus the Bantam's +37 scoring margin, the largest in the country), and that didn't happen with the Panthers yesterday.

I don't believe in moral victories, however I do have more of a bullish outlook for this Midd squad after yesterday's game, tbh, and disagree with el jefe's assessment that the Trinity game and result could foretell further difficulties for Midd this season. 

I had the opposite feeling after the final buzzer on Friday night.

Tip of the cap to the defending champs and best team in the country.

More games to play.

Agree on Ducree, wouldn't have changed the outcome but Middlebury very limited offensively.

[D3BBALL]

Trinity doing a nice job on Hansen Rein and Yates. Williams bench keeping them in the game. Trinity up 8 at the half

[nescac1]

Man, Lazarre and Okorougo are the key to everything Trinity does defensively, either would be a worthy DPOTY but I'd go with Okorougo just because whoever he is guarding basically has no chance one-on-one, so strong, fast, and balanced.  It's gonna be another great POTY race this year between Cuevas, Okorougo and Gyimesi.  Tristan Davis is also physically imposing, although he did get into foul trouble in that half. 

I really like when Williams plays Sommers, Marshall and Shepherd together as a group.  They are obviously very inexperienced as a trio but enable Williams to play with more pace, and they really seem to work well together. 

Quiet a weekend for Wesleyan and presumptive POTW Wolinski bouncing back from a brutal team offensive showing against Amherst. 

[nescac1]

Rough, rough weekend for Williams. The main bright spots were FYs EJ Sommers and Solomon Marshall who absolutely looked like they belonged playing against the best team in the country. And both are really exciting players to watch, especially Marshall, who is the most electric Eph guard to watch in a long, long time.  He's going to be a fan favorite for the next four years.  Sommers sure looks the part of a future all-American.  Dylan Shepherd also had his best weekend as an Eph and he has improved dramatically since the start of the season, if the three point shot can get there he's a starting-caliber two-guard.  Rein and Yates I'm confident will bounce back from a tough weekend, Wesleyan and Trinity have some of the best perimeter defenders in the country between them and I think it was a learning experience facing that Okorougo/Lazarre/Cormier/Cameron etc. gauntlet. 

Trinity is going to be very, very tough to beat this year.  You need to have an elite ball-handler at the point of attack to have a chance, once they get a run fueled by turnovers it's so hard to recover, and that's unfortunately for Williams been a big problem all year given all the injuries and guys rotating in and out at guard.  I'm not sure I've ever seen a D3 team which is better able to pressure the ball well past the three point line in the half-court so effectively without giving up many open paths to the basket when the defense (purposefully) overextends.

[D3BBALL]

NESCAC, Sommers was terrific today as you say. The best Williams player and maybe the best player period in the game today.
You talked about turnovers Trinity had 5 yesterday and 12 today. Their turnovers never seem to create a lot of easy baskets for the other team. Middlebury had 17 and Williams 16 turnovers.

Game got within 2 in the 2nd half but  again trinity bench just too much. Ayles and Davis both in foul trouble, McDonald gets hurt and Norris and Berete both played very well the last 10 minutes. Berete gives them another wing that can defend and Norris an athletic big who made 2 threes today. Trinity bench just got better. 2 players on the road in conference play, coming up big.

Davis, Okorougo, McDonald, Norris, Berete just too much on the boards and controlled Rein and Hansen

Didn't help Williams that Hansen got in foul trouble the last 10 minutes on a couple of ticky tack fouls. Refs were terrible today for both teams.

[D3BBALL]

Man, Lazarre and Okorougo are the key to everything Trinity does defensively, either would be a worthy DPOTY but I'd go with Okorougo just because whoever he is guarding basically has no chance one-on-one, so strong, fast, and balanced.  It's gonna be another great POTY race this year between Cuevas, Okorougo and Gyimesi.  Tristan Davis is also physically imposing, although he did get into foul trouble in that half. 

I really like when Williams plays Sommers, Marshall and Shepherd together as a group.  They are obviously very inexperienced as a trio but enable Williams to play with more pace, and they really seem to work well together. 

Quiet a weekend for Wesleyan and presumptive POTW Wolinski bouncing back from a brutal team offensive showing against Amherst. 

I know he's not gonna get it or even be considered, but Lazarre should be in the running for player of the year. If you watch him play, he just does everything well.

[toad22]

Man, that Trinity-Williams game was really rough. A lot of blood was spilled, and a bunch of stitches too! Congrats to Trinity. The Ephs played together, and quite well, except for 6 minutes in the middle of the second half, where more than all of Trinity's lead came from. The Ephs can't play partial games, they're not that good.