MBB: NESCAC

[Stickthe3]

Saturday Quarterfinals Picks.  8-2 last week, 38-17 overall.

Wesleyan 78 vs Conn College 69
The Cardinals get their revenge on their only conference loss of the year at home against the Camels.

Tufts 82 vs Colby 72
I'd love to see the Colby upset here, but I think Tufts will be too much for them to overcome.  In the previous matchup up in the 'Ville, Dylan Reilly was lights out for 27 points.  I think Colby will have a hard time dealing with Gyimesi, who has been a Colby killer for his career.  The X-factor in this game could be Theo Pow. Since Marcos Montiel went down with a season ending injury and Mitch Humphrey's minutes seemingly disappearing, he has brought a lot of energy and an athleticism they lacked in that spot to bring a different dynamic to the lineup.  Guarding Gyimesi could be a tough ask for the freshman on the defensive end, however.

Trinity 76 vs Bowdoin 62
The Polar Bears just don't have enough ammunition to help Cuevas against a stacked and experienced Trinity team.

Amherst 69 vs Bates 57
In their earlier game, Amherst went full belt-to-ass and limited Bates to 15 (!!!) second half points to win by 21 points.  I'm sure Coach Furbush will try to make some adjustments but I think Amherst is too deep and too good defensively for a different outcome this time around.

[D3BBALL]

My picks, last week 6-4 overall 37-18.

Conn 69 at Wesleyan 75
Colby 77 at Tufts 71 - Upset not sure I really believe this
Bowdoin 63 at Trinity 85
Bates 71 at Amherst 65 - Another upset Pouye dominates and ends the streak.

Again I wouldn't put any money on the 2 upset picks. Hope for good games for all!!!

[JEFFFAN]

Just when you think it is safe to be encouraged by Amherst they crap the bed badly in the NESCAC playoffs.

[stlawus]

Outside a couple seasons under Glenn Miller Conn has never historically been an upper tier team. I wonder if Sweeney is thinking about whether or not the grass has been greener at Conn than it was at Hobart. I'm pretty sure he took the Conn job because he was frustrated about not getting at large selections, but all things considered he had a pretty good thing going at Hobart. His first full recruiting cycle made the sweet 16 (and could have gone further if not for covid) the season after he left for Conn, and it's been fairly mid at Conn outside of 1 season where they still didn't make the tournament.  Now Hixon's protege just took Conn down and seems to be building something at Hartford.  I don't know how much priority the Conn administration places on men's hoops, but one has to wonder about that situation if it doesn't end up great this season.

3 straight losses to end the season, misses the tournament yet again.  Good win against Wesleyan, there is no doubt about job security, but another season of underperformance and no NCAA tournament.

[D3BBALL]

Interesting day.
Conn gave Wesleyan a game
Colby gave tufts a game.
Bowdoin had a chance to win, Cuevas showed why he is not POY. Every chance to win and he was 5 for 16 and 6 turnovers!!
Congrats to bates huge win. They are a lock for NCAA. Wouldnt want to play them first round!!

[Stickthe3]

With about 2 mins left in the Tufts-Colby game, Scott Gyimesi made a great play and blocked a shot but looked like he fell into the basket support on the way down.  Couldn't  tell exactly what happened or what got hurt, but appeared to be holding his knee while on the ground and came hobbling off without putting any pressure on it. I hope he isn't injured and is good to go for next week against Trinity.

[lumbercat]

Just when you think it is safe to be encouraged by Amherst they crap the bed badly in the NESCAC playoffs.

Amherst has a rich Basketball tradition- Why would you dis them like that. Why be a front runner. They lost today to a team that hasn't beat them forever in that Gym. Bates out worked them and grinded out a win. I wouldn't lose too much sleep worrying about the returning players on that roster. I'm sure the promise of matriculation at the most selective liberal arts college in the country will lure a couple of bigs in a heartbeat to Amherst in the near future.