MBB: NESCAC

[maineman]

Anybody know when Amherst will announce tickets sales for this weekend?  Will they be available online or at the door only?

How about locals giving a rundown of some of the local eateries that might be worth patronizing and their locations?  Thanks!

[Bucket]

Anybody know when Amherst will announce tickets sales for this weekend?  Will they be available online or at the door only?

How about locals giving a rundown of some of the local eateries that might be worth patronizing and their locations?  Thanks!

Amherst has announced that they are only selling at the door, though Middlebury will be selling their allotment of tickets through Middlebury's box office. Not sure what Bates and Wes are doing.

[walzy31]

"No tickets will be sold in advance of this weekend's NESCAC Men's Basketball Championship games. All tickets will be sold on site, with doors to LeFrak Gymnasium opening at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. Tickets will be $5 for adults and $2 for students and children. Amherst students with a valid ID will be admitted free of charge." - Courtesy of Amherst College Athletics

The doors are opening so early because that is also the time tickets go on sale for the Women's games which precede the Men's games on both days.

[Bucket]

However, Middlebury is selling tickets to the semifinal games in advance through its own box office. So, you can't buy them in advance through Amherst, but you can through Middlebury, apparently. At least those of who are here can.

NESCAC Men's Basketball Ticket Information

February 20, 2012

Tickets for the NESCAC men's basketball semifinals will go on sale from Wednesday, February 22nd at 2:00 p.m. through Friday, February 24th at noon in the McCullough box office. Tickets are priced at $5 for adults, $2 for students/seniors. You can purchase tickets online at: http://boxoffice.middlebury.edu/index.php, call 802-443-6433 or stop by the McCullough box office. One ticket gains you admission to both semifinal games at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets for the championship game will go on sale at Amherst gym on Sunday morning 10:30.

Saturday, February 25th at Amherst
Bates @ Amherst - 5:30 p.m.
Wesleyan vs. Middlebury - 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 26th @ Amherst
Championship Game - 2:30 p.m.

[Marty Peretz]

How one earth is Amherst going to seat the number of people that want to be there this weekend? Not even bring critical, just inquiring. I'm assuming they'll clear the gym after the women's games but it doesn't sound like there's a ton of time to do that. Middlebury always travels well, Wesleyan is only an hour away and I'm fairly certain Bates has a kid from Amherst plus an assistant coach with huge ties in the area, so they will have a sizable contingent as well. Then you have two Amherst teams hosting. The place fits, what, 1400, 1600 with standing room at the most? To me it would seem a lot more logistically feasible to provide, say, 200 seats to each of the visiting schools and then sell the rest in advance at Amherst.

In the event that they're not going to clear the gym, I'd imagine it will be a nightmare trying to find a seat, since the Amherst womens fans are probably going to stick around (obviously there will be a lot of crossover fans...ie those who root for both teams, but you still have families of womens players who wouldn't always go to men's games but will definitely do so on this weekend). I unfortunately won't be able to get up there for the games, but I'll tell the people I know who are going to get there at 10:30 prompt. I have a feeling a mighty large number of people are going to get turned away.

[NEhoops]

New to the board, but I've been following the league for years. It is great to see all the loyal supporters on this board as well. Exciting time of the year for the conference, I guess now is as good a time as any to post my all conference selections. 

First team:

Ryan Sharry (SR) Middlebury
Will Hanley (SR) Bowdoin
John Squires (SR) Bates
Shasha Brown (JR) Wesleyan
Aaron Toomey (SO) Amherst

Second team:

Ben Foreman (SR) Colby
Will Workman (JR) Amherst
Scott Anderson (JR) Tufts
Matt Vadas (SO) Conn
Joey Kizel (SO) Middlebury

POY
Ryan Sharry (SR) Middlebury

DPOY
I don't have a pick for this one because I didn't see enough of every team. Not an award that can be picked by stats alone. I would like to hear some peoples picks.

ROY
Ben Ferris (FR) Tufts

COY
Joe Reilly - Wesleyan

[walzy31]

NEhoops,

Welcome!
The DPOY will either go to Thompson or Workman. Pretty much a toss up...depends on what you are looking for.

My random thoughts I have already expressed about who will be on what team are as follows:
Sullivan and Robertson will also probably be in the mix for all-conference recognition...especially over Foreman and Vadas since Conn and Colby went a combined 3-17 in conference play. I would personally swap Brown and Kizel since Kizel is 100% going to get all-conference and Brown might get beat out by Callaghan (I think Brown deserves 2nd team over Callaghan). I guess Squires may have played his way into the 1st team mix the past couple of weeks.

Hixon really should be COY.
10-0 after graduating All American Meehan. My belief is that if any other coach goes 10-0 this year, they are the COY, but Hixon seems to almost be penalized for having a strong 11 year run. For example, in 06/07 Paulsen won it even though Amherst won the regular season league title and the national title. In 07/08 Gilbride won it and in 05/06 Reilly won it even though Amherst won the regular season titles both years and went to the Final Four both years. In fact, Hixon has only won 2 COY awards (00/01 and 04/05) despite FAR AND AWAY winning the most games in conference and out of conference over the past 11 years. I'm not pulling for a COY award for him this year due to lifetime achievement...I'm just saying give it to him when he has earned it. Jeff Brown has won 2 of the past 3...which makes sense because Middlebury had been the most consistent team the past three seasons. Hixon should win it this year.

[NEhoops]

Walzy31,

Great stuff.

A case can be made for Sullivan who is a SR and finished in the top 5 in scoring (16.1ppg but only 4.3rpg), it seems as though he could get grouped in with Vadas and Foreman as one of the last players picked because of their teams lack of wins in league. They all have the ability to take over a game. Robertson is clearly one of the most under-rated players in the league, it will be interesting to see if the Ephs are represented due to their dissapointing finish. Mayer did some good things this year and Wang is a former all-league pick. I would be surprised if Kizel makes the first team. Unfortunately, he is only a sophomore and coaches seem to favor upperclassmen, great player nonetheless. I'm sure Brown and Callaghan will both be nominated, but I feel that Brown will get more votes since he was all-league last year. I agree that Squires has definitely played his way into the conversation and the player of the week honor helps as well. 

I agree that sometimes coaches get penalized for having historically strong programs. I think everyone knew that Amherst and Middlebury were going to finish 1 and 2 in some order this year. Some people feel the award should represent the coach/team that out performed any preseason expectations. However it ends up I feel that Hixon will definitely be in the mix for national coach of the year.     

[amh63]

Been out of the loops for awhile.  Here are my few imputs on the subjects/topics of the moment.  Coach Hixon SHOULD be COY!....even though I'm in his doghouse always and not trying to suck up to him.  Awards should be given based on objective results....I know that it is somewhat wishful thinking here.
The Midd vesus Amherst game had a listed attendance of 1250.  The Amherst vs. Williams game had an attendance  of 1500.  The sectional games at Williams last year had attendances listed around 1500.  Do not expect Amherst to sell more than 1250 tickets...including the allotments to the participant schools..leaving wiggle room for students.  Suggest the Bates, Wes. and Midd fans to get there early for seats.  The floor level seats are the best opposite the players.  The Amherst Prez. and Alumni Secretary were working the OLD fans during the Midd vs. Amherst game in those seats..Cost us BIG bucks...minimum 1821 club memberships.....inside joke here...still floor seats are the ones to shoot for..even if you are surrounded by "unfriendly" people.
Forgot...I believe Willy Workman should be DOY...based on the criteria that FormerBatam..posted earlier...stops, time on floor.  In the Williams game...he was often seen on Wang.  Nate Robertson is good, but he and Wang had problems with Toomey...go see highlight video.

[ECSUalum]

Good Luck to the Lord Jeffs in the NESCAC tournament. Have fun in LaFrak and hope to see the boys in the big show for March Madness!!!!! 

[amh63]

ECSU...Thanks for the encouragment...and good luck to your team too.  Would give you a Kama point if I could figure out how to do it.  Just found out I have the "power" now...though it is against my "ethics?" to have this judgelike big-brother power...a topic Not for this board

[NEhoops]

Should be an exciting weekend, especially with the women hosting as well. As much as we would like to see a Wesleyan/Bates final, I dont see either of those teams moving on to Sunday. Although Wesleyan played Middlebury to a 3 point game earlier in the year, alot of that has to do with the fact that the Cardinals were at home and ended up shooting 51% for the game. Bates battled Amherst in their lone meeting, but couldnt pull out the win even though they were at home and held Toomey to 9 points and only 2 FT attempts. 

[amh63]

Nice preview of the games and schedules, etc. on the Amherst athletic website.....gives points about the last meeting of Bates vs, Amherst, etc.

[walzy31]

Saturday February 25th NESCAC Semifinal Spreads

Bates @ Amherst
Amherst -11.5
O/U: 131.5

Wesleyan Vs. Middlebury (@ Amherst)
Middlebury -5.5
O/U: 129.0

2012 NESCAC Champions
Amherst -110
Bates +1200
Middlebury +100
Wesleyan +500

[ECSUalum]

ECSU...Thanks for the encouragment...and good luck to your team too.  Would give you a Kama point if I could figure out how to do it.  Just found out I have the "power" now...though it is against my "ethics?" to have this judgelike big-brother power...a topic Not for this board

Not looking for points, however #1 you have to be logged in, #2 go any of the person's posts that you wish "to bless" , under their name on left of page in blue colored font you  see "smite" and "applaud".  #3 click on applaud "to bless" this person , click on smite, to send them a "message"

We are all going to have fun this weekend rooting for our teams to get THE BID one way or another.