Weekend Preview – Nothing But NESCAC

Not Just Happy to Be Here: Hoboken Regional Preview

#12 Colby (24-3, 8-2, at-large bid)

This was a bit of a different year for NESCAC Basketball with no one team looking dominant and the conference “only” getting three teams into the NCAA Tournament. Although they may not have won the NESCAC, it’s hard to argue that anyone else had a better season start to finish than the Mules. Colby raced off to an 18-0 start behind the excellent play of Sam Jefferson ’20 who looked like he might run away with the Player of the Year Award before he went down with an ankle injury in their game against Hamilton. This team only features one frontcourt player, so their strategy is basically to speed the game up to get out in transition and shoot a lot of three pointers. This has mostly worked for them, particularly since their lone big man Dean Weiner ’20 has really elevated his play recently, matching up against some of the conference’s elite bigs. Colby has never appeared in the NCAA Tournament, so we’re about to find out if they’re truly ready for the biggest spotlight.

How They Got Here

Sam Jefferson ’20 *(Courtesy of Colby Athletics)*

As I just mentioned, the Mules got off to a blazing hot start at 18-0 and climbing as high as 5^th in the national rankings. Losses to Tufts and Amherst late in the year dropped them to 2^nd in the NESCAC by the end of the regular season, earning them a home game against 7^th-seeded Bates in the quarterfinals. This game became an instant classic as the Bobcats failed to seal the win late and big shots by Alex Dorion ’20, Will King ’23, and Matt Hanna ’21 allowed Colby to walk away victorious. They followed this up with yet another thrilling matchup with Amherst, coming from behind to eke out a 4-point win to advance to their first NESCAC Championship. Although they ended up on the wrong side of yet another ridiculously exciting, double overtime contest against Tufts, the committee awarded their efforts with an at-large bid and a trip to Hoboken for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

How They Lose

I feel like I’ve been saying it all year, but the recipe for a Colby defeat doesn’t seem that complicated. They only have one true big man and they rely heavily on the three-ball, so you’d think that a team with a bit of size who slows the game down would be able to put the Mules to rest. That said, this strategy hasn’t exactly worked for everyone who’s tried it. Amherst employed this very technique in the semifinals but Colby was able to grind out a low-scoring win in come-from-behind fashion. The Mules also use about 7-8 guys per game and Coach Strahorn really rides his starters, so I can envision fatigue catching up to them a bit, particularly for Dean Weiner ’20 since he’ll likely be asked to play more minutes than he’s used to in order to matchup with opposing big men. These all seem like very likely ways for Colby to lose, but it really hasn’t been that easy this year. Only two teams all season have been able to defeat the Mules, so I don’t anticipate them being an easy matchup for whoever they go up against.

The Competition

Christopher Newport (21-6, 9-1, at-large bid)

The Captains earned at at-large bid out of the Capital Athletic Conference where they were pretty dominant all year. Their only conference losses were at the hands of York College, once in the regular season and once in the conference championship. York is also an excellent team that has a chance to make a run in the tournament, so these aren’t particularly bad losses. Their non-conference schedule was also pretty loaded, as all but one of their losses came to teams that are also in the NCAA Tournament. The scoring duties are led by junior Jason Aigner ’21 who’s averaging 13.9 points per game while shooting over 45% from beyond the arc. He’s aided by senior forward Dalon McHugh II ’20, who’s putting up 12.3 points and hauling in nearly 8 rebounds per game. CNU has some guys with size who could give Colby trouble, but they aren’t regular members of the rotation so it’ll be interesting to see if they stick with what they’ve been doing or if they decide to overpower the Mules with some size off the bench. Either way I think this will be a good matchup, but I don’t see Colby’s season ending tonight.

Writer’s Pick: Colby 86 – Christopher Newport 80

The Other Two

Stevens (23-4, 12-2, MAC Freedom Champions)

Stevens is somewhat of an enigma given that they come from a relatively weak region, but there’s no doubt that this team can play. They blew threw the MAC Freedom Tournament, winning the title game in convincing fashion en route to becoming a host for the first two rounds of NCAAs. This team has some experience playing against the nation’s best, as they defeated #6 Johns Hopkins early in the year and battled to close defeats against #1 Swarthmore and #21 Middlebury as well. The Ducks are led by the trio of Spencer Cook ‘20, Alec DiPietrantonio ‘21, and Kevin Florio ‘20, each of whom average double digits in scoring. Cook shoots the three at a nearly 50% clip, so you can bet that teams will key in on him and make sure to always get a hand in his face. They’ve been tested before so you know they’ll be tough, but given that they haven’t played a particularly tough schedule since before the New Year, it’s hard to know exactly what we’ll see from them.

Nichols (20-8, 12-4, CCC Champions)

The Bison are easily the weakest team in this region and I really don’t anticipate them getting past day one. They had a great run last season making it all the way to the Elite 8, but they lost quite a bit to graduation and really haven’t been the same team at all this year. They’ve got some experience with NESCAC teams as they took down Trinity and lost to both Tufts and Hamilton earlier this year, plus they earned a win early in the year over New England College who’s also an NCAA Tournament team. After finishing second in their conference during the regular season, Nichols defeated top-seeded Endicott in a thriller to earn the automatic bid into the tournament. DeAnte Bruton ’20 is as versatile a scorer as any, posting 22.3 points per game and big man Matt Morrow ’21 has been a beast this year, averaging a double double with 15.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Jaekwon Spencer ’22 chips in 12.6 points per game of his own, but outside of these three guys there isn’t a ton of damage to be done. They have the pieces to make some games interesting, but this is a tough region and I don’t think Nichols has the fire power to consistently keep up with some of these other schools.

Middlebury Magic?: Brockport Regional Preview

#21 Middlebury (20-5, 6-4, at-large bid)

It is a testament to the NESCAC and its strength year after year that Middlebury was able to finish in 5^th in the conference, lose in the first round of the conference tournament, and still be considered a no brainer to make the NCAA Tournament. On the back of a 15-0 out of conference record, Middlebury spent a good portion of the season in the Top 10 of the national polls and hovering at the top of the Northeast regional rankings. An electric offense led by two-time all-league junior guard Jack Farrell ’21 (16.9 PPG) and junior transfer forward Tommy Eastman ’21 (18.6 PPG in conference play) have shown that they can score with anyone in the country, but injuries and inconsistent play have kept them from reaching the heights that some thought they could reach.

But that is largely where the guarantees for Midd end. This will be the 3^rd straight year the Panthers enter the Big Dance with two weeks off, courtesy of yet another quarterfinal exit. It’s hard to say whether or not this has affected them all that much. Last year they did lose in the first round, but it was to Nichols, an Elite 8 team, by just three points. The year before, they were bounced from the Sweet 16, nothing to be ashamed of. The success of this Middlebury season now hangs largely in part on their ability to recover and try and play their best basketball at the right time.

How They Got Here

Jack Farrell ’21 *(Courtesy of Middlebury Athletics)*

As I already touched on, Middlebury flew out of the gates to start the season, winning their first 15 games, including a road win over nationally ranked Springfield, before losing at Amherst in their NESCAC opener. Despite finishing the season with a 20-5 record, it has been a year of up and downs for Panther nation. An already thin bench was depleted even further with the preseason season injury to G Joey Leighton ’20, before they lost sophomore C Alex Sobel (11.4 PPG, 6.8 REB/G, 1.5 BLK/G) for undisclosed reasons just 12 games into the season. Despite the 15-0 start, there were shaky performances in a largely uncompetitive schedule—a 4-point win against Bridgewater St., close games against Wentworth and Johnson St., and escaping in a 1-point win against New England College. A 6-4 record and a quarterfinal exit in NESCAC play did not do much to inspire confidence heading into the tournament either. However, if you’re a Middlebury fan, you have to feel pretty good about your draw, but we’ll get to that in a second.

How They Lose

Middlebury can score with anyone, there is no denying that. But when the shots aren’t falling, which every team is prone to, they don’t always have the defensive consistency required to stay in the game. In their 5 losses, they have allowed opponents to score 88.4 points per game, including 100 to Trinity (not a noted NESCAC offensive powerhouse) in their NESCAC quarterfinal loss. Middlebury’s lack of size at the wing position and lack of true defensive centers is an issue that is not going to go away, so it is really on their guards to prevent opposing teams from penetrating and getting to the rim. Despite their lack of elite team defense, they do have a couple players who put up some nice defensive numbers. Jack Farrell (1.9) was second in the NESCAC in steals per game, while F Matt Folger ’20 was one of two players in the NESCAC to average more than a steal and a block per game. His 1.4 steals per game was 4^th, and his 1.5 blocks was 5^th. Getting those types of contributions from both would be a welcome sight for Panther fans.

The other deficiency for Middlebury is rebounding. Their -0.2 rebounding margin was 2^nd to last in the NESCAC, another factor of their lack of size. There are certain things that you can’t fix on a whiteboard, especially when you start 3 6’0 guards. They are just going to really have to give championship effort on the glass, especially if they want to make a run into the second weekend and beyond.

The Competition

Westfield State (20-7, 10-2, MASCAC Champions)

*(Courtesy of Westfield State Athletics)*

The Owls announced their presence to the rest of the NESCAC very early in the season, pulling off a shock 68-67 upset of then #3 Amherst just before Thanksgiving on a Jauch Green Jr. ’20 layup with 3.7 seconds left. As the year went on, it proved to be not nearly as much of an upset as fans of the NESCAC might have expected. Westfield St. captured the regular season MASCAC honors with a 10-2 league record and then proved it was no fluke by winning the conference tournament as well. Unlike Middlebury, who is coming into the tournament on a two-game losing streak, the Owls are peaking at the right time, winners of 13 of their last 15. They are led by the senior duo of Green (18.4 PPG, 7.6 REB/G, 3.1 AST/G) and G Vawn Lord (19.7 PPG, 6.7 REB/G), both of whom were named to the MASCAC 1^st-Team. The gameplan for this team is pretty simple—keep them off the glass, and don’t let them get to the line. They might just be the best rebounding team in the country: 1^st in total rebounds, 6^th in offensive rebounds, and 14^th in defensive rebounds. As just mentioned, this is a huge weakness for Middlebury. The other thing Westfield St. does really well is get to the free throw line. They took more free throws than any other team in the country (775) and were 3^rd in makes, with 501. It is not so much the points themselves that might be concerning, but the fact that Middlebury is already running a very short rotation, playing just 7 guys right now, with Junior F Ryan Cahill ’21 still questionable with a foot injury. Upon closer inspection, this could be a nervy game for Middlebury.

Coast Guard (14-13, 6-8, NEWMAC Champions)

One of the tournament’s true Cinderella stories this year, the Coast Guard bears entered the NEWMAC tournament with a losing record at 11-13 and needing to play in the 4 vs. 5 play-in game to earn the right to make the semifinals. They came from 10 down to knock off last year’s conference champions Emerson 80-78, then traveled to top seeded Springfield and bested them 88-82, before coming roaring back from 25 down early in the second half to knock off WPI 89-86 in overtime. It was one of the strongest years in recent memory for the NEWMAC with Springfield, WPI, and Babson all winning 20 games and spending numerous weeks in the d3hoops.com Top 25, and all securing at-large bids to the NCAA tournament. But it was Coast Guard who punched their ticket first. The Bears are led by a senior trio in G Packy Witkowski (17.7), F Noah Baldez (13.4), and F Justin Kane (13.0), who combine to score 44.1 of their 83.6 points a game. Offense doesn’t seem to be an issue, as they averaged those near 84 points a game on 45/37/74 splits, rather it is on the other end of the court where they struggle—allowing 82.6 points per game on 45.8% shooting a game. Those numbers would rank last and second to last in the NESCAC, to put it into perspective. The reality with this team is that you can throw the stats out the window and forget about them. The slipper has clearly fit so far and their potential opponents just need to hope they run out of magic this weekend.

SUNY Brockport (24-3, 17-1, SUNYAC Champions)

The hosts this weekend, the number 1 ranked team in the East region, and one of the hottest teams in the country are the Brockport St. Golden Eagles. Winners of 17 in a row, the winners of the SUNYAC haven’t lost since January 10^th. They were every bit as dominant as it appeared, averaging 85.3 points per game on the season, and holding opponents to just 70.9. Brockport is led by its three All-SUNYAC recipients, first team Sophomore G Jahidi Wallace (14.1 PPG, 4.9 REB/G) and second team seniors Tyler Collins (12.4 PPG, 3.8 AST/G) and Justin Summers (15.5 PPG, 6.1 REB/G, 1.7 BLK/G), the latter of which probably would’ve been a first teamer and a player of the candidate if he didn’t miss 9 games in the middle of conference play. While those individual numbers might not jump off the charts, it is safe to say this team is greater than the sum of its parts. Brockport’s gaudy conference success was fueled in part by their 16.6 assists per game, which led the conference, and their opportunistic defense, their whopping 10.9 steals per game was 8^th in the entire country. Additionally, they do a terrific job of guarding the three point line (29.3%, also 8^th in the nation), and believe it or not—are arguably second best in the country at getting to the free throw line, behind Westfield St., 2^nd in the country in attempts and 4^th in the country in makes. (Sidenote—if Westfield St. upsets Midd and plays Brockport, not going to be the easiest game on the eyes). The biggest question mark with a team like Brockport is really just its strength of schedule, having played 18 of their 27 games in conference. They seem like the clear favorite to advance, however.

Everything Else

If you’re a Middlebury fan, it might almost be pointless to read and digest any of this preview. I know that’s not the best marketing ploy in the world, but the reality is that the team that is best equipped to beat Middlebury is Middlebury. When they are clicking on all cylinders, we can see why they were considered to be one of the best 5-10 teams in the country. The offensive talent—Farrell, Bosco, Eastman, Folger—is to die for, but the consistency issues, coupled with overreliance on an already thin rotation, has boom or bust written all over it. If Middlebury makes it out of this weekend, they only have to beat Tufts, a team they beat before, to reach Fort Wayne and the Elite 8. But all signs point to this team being just as likely to lose to Westfield St. as they are of cutting down any nets.

Writer’s Pick: Middlebury 82 – Westfield St. 76

Disrespected No More: Medford Regional Preview

#20 Tufts (21-6, 9-2, NESCAC Champions)

Tufts secured their first NESCAC Championship in program history this past weeked, surviving a grueling double-overtime game against Colby in what will surely go down as an instant classic. Despite leading by as many as seventeen points late in the first half, the Jumbos simply could not put away the feisty Mules; maintaining a nine-point advantage with just under eight minutes remaining in regulation, Tufts allowed the visitors to surge ahead on a 15-2 run, capped off by Sam Jefferson’s three-ball with 2:51 on the clock. With the Jumbos trailing by one with eleven ticks left, a missed layup by senior leader Eric Savage ‘20 seemed to signal a potential sour ending in the team’s journey to capture a NESCAC Championship on their own floor. However, Savage was given an opportunity to redeem himself after Matt Hanna ‘21 calmly knocked down two free throws to stretch Colby’s advantage to three with six seconds remaining. The decision made by Coach Damien Strahorn to not foul was quite puzzling (although it is easier to say this behind a keyboard and not in the heat of the moment), but it nevertheless came back to bite the Mules as Savage drained a triple to send the game to overtime. The teams traded leads back-and-forth during the first few minutes, and Savage once again came up big with another three-ball to knot the game at 83 with 52 seconds left. The Mules answered thanks to Will King’s layup, but it was the Jumbos who once again refused to quit; Savage’s missed jumper was followed up by Dylan Thoerner ‘23, who was fouled with virtually zeros on the game clock. In arguably the most intense atmosphere the rookie had experienced in his playing career to this date, Thoerner cooly sunk both free throws to force double overtime. In the final five minutes, big man Luke Rogers ‘21 gave the Jumbos the lead for good with a layup followed by a successful three-point play, and with a plethora of converted free throws down the stretch, the Tufts’ players, coaches and fans erupted with joy as the seconds ran down, knowing they had finally emerged victorious.

How they Got Here

Luke Rogers ’21 *(Courtesy of Tufts Athletics)*

All roads to success for the Jumbos lead through the duo of Savage and Rogers, who averaged a combined 32.7 ppg during the regular season. The two compliment each other very well, as opposing teams are normally left with no choice but to provide help defense with whoever is guarding Rogers down low, allowing for extra driving lanes and an extended perimeter to shoot from for Savage and the rest of the Jumbos’ sharpshooters. The veteran leadership from Savage, the only senior on the Jumbos’ roster, is extremely impressive considering where the Jumbos are now compared to a season ago. Despite flashing glimpses of their potential such as their shocking upset against top-seeded Middlebury in the NESCAC Quarterfinals, the 2019 season saw Tufts finish just 12-14 with a 4-6 record in-conference. The maturation and focus that was required of this team in order to regularly compete at the highest level was met with open arms, and the reward is the team’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2016.

While the offense certainly had its moments, the defense was key concerning Tufts’ successful path to securing a regional host. The Jumbos boast one of the stingiest defensive units in the conference, allowing opponents to shoot just 41% from the field. They don’t force a ton of turnovers (12.4 per game) but rather grind down opponents by keeping them outside the paint, leaving defenses frustrated after forcing contested shot after shot. And despite the lack of turnovers as a whole, steals have not been a problem to come by; all the guards have very active hands, constantly pressuring the ball-handlers and making life as uncomfortable as possible for the opposition.

How they Lose

The Jumbos certainly have flaws on both sides of the ball. On the offensive end, poor free-throw shooting has plagued this team all season long. Quite frankly, it is a minor miracle they lost just six games while shooting 64% from the line as a team. Amongst the nine members of the team who average twelve minutes or more during a contest, only three of them (Brennan Morris ‘21 – 84.5%, Tyler Aronson ‘22 – 83.1%, and Thoerner – 78.3%) are reliable from the charity stripe. The other six? 56.3%. I have mentioned this in the past, but Rogers in particular can be exploited for his poor shooting efforts (79-171 from the free throw line this season, good for 46.2%) late in games as teams begin to foul intentionally.

Another common factor that seems to reoccur when the Jumbos drop a contest is the number of fouls the team picks up. As good as the defensive unit is, Tufts leads the NESCAC in fouls committed by a considerable margin with nearly 21 fouls per game. This essentially means that not only will the respective opponent experience a bonus opportunity in each half of the contest, but (more than likely) they will eclipse ten fouls and get to the double bonus. As Tufts heads to the Big Dance, opposing teams with deeper rosters will look to use the Jumbos’ aggressiveness against them and draw contact in order to pile up both the fouls on Tufts and the free throw attempts. Being in a familiar environment, however, should be beneficial for the NESCAC Champions, who have lost just one game in front of their faithful supporters this calendar year.

**Speaking of faithful supporters, shame on Johns Hopkins for hosting a regional and barring fans from partaking in the event. At the very least, the University should have notified the NCAA about their stance regarding the coronavirus and public sporting events sooner, so that the next highest seed could host and this type of situation would not occur. Cowards, all of you.

The Competition

Western Connecticut St. (20-7, 12-4, Little East Conference Champions)

The champs out of the Little East Conference started out slow, losing three out of four conference games in early January; however, they caught fire and closed out the season winning ten of eleven, including seven in a row. While the offense is nothing out of this world, the Colonials boast an extremely deep roster – thirteen players average at least eight minutes a game. Three players average double figures, led by senior forward Fenton Bradley ‘20 (16.1 PPG, 6.3 REB/G). Ahmod Privott ‘22 (10.6 PPG), Jaheim Young ‘23 (10.3 PPG), and first-team all name selection Legend Johnson ‘21 (8.6 PPG) round out the top scoring threats for Western Connecticut St. In all honesty, the Jumbos should have no problem taking care of the Colonials: after all, Bradley is the team’s tallest player at 6’7’’, and even if he were to limit Rogers in some fashion, the Colonials’ supporting cast severely lacks the height and size to continuously bang down low. I expect a bit of nerves from the Jumbos to begin, but by the second half, things should start flowing. Give me the Jumbos by 15+.

Writer’s Pick: Tufts 78 – Western Connecticut 62

The Other Two:

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (23-4, 17-1, at-large bid)

If Tufts advances to the round of 32, Rensselaer looks like the odds-on favorite to be their next opponent. Prior to falling to Ithaca College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was previously the 24th-ranked team in the nation. After an 0-2 start to the season, RPI thoroughly dominated their schedule and only dropped two contests the rest of the way (both to Ithaca College). The tone-setter for this squad is most certainly their defense, allowing a mere 60.6 PPG. Tufts will most certainly have their work cut out for them on the offensive end, as the Engineers force over 16 turnovers per game. Similarly to Western Connecticut St., the offensive unit will not strike a ton of fear into Tufts’ hearts, but they do possess a slew of players that can create their own shots. Patrick Mahoney ‘21 leads all scorers on the Engineers with 15.1 points per contest and chips in with 5.7 rebounds/game. Mason Memmelaar ‘22 (13.2 PPG, 5.5 REB/G) and Dom Black ‘22 (11.4 PPG, 6.2 REB/G) round out the other two reliable scorers, while Johnny Angbazo (43.5% from three) ‘23 and Will Rubin ‘23 (9.2 PPG, 39.1% from three) will absolutely knock down shots if not given the proper attention.

New England College (21-6, 10-2, New England Collegiate Conference Champions)

The Pilgrims enter the NCAA Tournament in brilliant form, winners of ten straight (seven of those by double digits). What’s more is that they already own a victory over the Jumbos, a 59-56 defensive battle that saw Tufts turn the ball over 23 times. The game was quite uncharacteristic for both teams involved, but was especially so for the Pilgrims, who average close to 90 points per game. New England College features five different players who average double figures, led by Izaiah Winston-Brooks ‘20 (18.0 PPG, 5.3 REB/G) and Jamal Allen ‘22 (15.0 PPG). They love to drive into the lane and get to the free throw line, averaging right around 16 attempts per game. The defense is below average, allowing over 80 points a game and struggles to rebound the ball. It really is quite puzzling that Tufts fell to a team with this poor of a defensive unit, but upon realizing this was a non-conference meeting during the normal conference slate, the sloppy play is not totally surprising. If they meet again, Tufts should be able to re-enforce their defensive superiority and limit the Pilgrims’ talented weapons, but this is certainly a team to keep an eye on as a potential sleeper in this regional.

Love (And Postseason Hope) Is in the Air: Weekend Preview 2/14

Friday

Hamilton (14-8, 2-6) vs. Conn College (4-18, 0-8), 7pm, Clinton, NY

Because of their loss last weekend to Bowdoin, Hamilton must win both their games this weekend in order to even possibly qualify for the postseason tournament; if Bates and/or Bowdoin wins one game, Hamilton will be eliminated regardless of their outcomes. The Continentals wouldn’t have been in this position had they not blown a 23-point lead in the second half of their game against the Polar Bears, but they’ll need to shake that one off and take the Camels seriously in order to move on to Saturday and keep their postseason hopes alive. It’s already been established that Kena Gilmour ‘20 is the heart and soul of this team as he’s the only player averaging double figures, but someone else really has to step up during these last two games as a reliable second scorer. Even if it’s the Gilmour show again, Hamilton can get away with it against Conn, although it won’t be as comfortable of a win as they’d like it to be.

Writer’s Pick: Hamilton 78, Conn 69

Amherst (16-6, 6-2) vs. Trinity (15-7, 5-3), 7pm, Amherst, MA

With both teams having already locked down postseason spots, this game remains crucial for seeding purposes. After last week’s impressive sweep of both Bowdoin and Colby, the Mammoths are just half a game behind the Mules and have an opportunity to leap them for the second seed. Conversely, a slip-up against Trinity would allow the Bantams to surpass them, so it’s safe to say this one will be a hotly-contested matchup. Trinity rebounded from their beatdown against Tufts by absolutely throttling the slumping Bobcats. Nick Seretta ‘20, Colin Donovan ‘21, and the rest of the Bantams’ bench ran the show, pouring in 65 points. It should be a tight and hotly-contested affair early, and while Trinity has had a slew of impressive victories during the course of the season, Amherst currently has the hotter hand and will deliver a huge win in front of their home crowd.

Writer’s Pick: Amherst 77, Trinity 68

#12 Colby (20-2, 7-2) vs. Wesleyan (13-9, 2-6), 7pm, Waterville, ME

The Mules have now lost conference games in consecutive weeks, officially eliminating them from obtaining the number one seed in the postseason tournament. Even in their close win against Hamilton this past Friday, the Mules struggled to put together a complete effort and record a convincing win. Most of their problems have (surprisingly) come on the offensive end in recent games, including their 72-61 win against Bates on Tuesday evening. The Mules shot just 39% from the field, with multiple major contributors struggling (Matt Hanna ‘21, Noah Tyson ‘22 and Alex Dorion ‘20 a combined 5-26 from three). Thankfully for Colby, their defense saved the day with fantastic perimeter defense. At 2-6 in conference play, the Cardinals would need to win out and have some help in order to steal that final seed. Having dropped four consecutive conference games, however, doesn’t instill much confidence in me to believe they can actually achieve this. We don’t know the status of Jefferson, but I expect the Mules to bounce back regardless and shake off those offensive woes.

Writer’s Pick: Colby 88, Wesleyan 75

#10 Middlebury (19-3, 5-3) vs. #18 Tufts (18-4, 8-0), 7pm, Middlebury, VT

Tufts has already secured the title of regular season champions, but this match-up poses real threats to their unblemished conference record. Similarly to the Mules, the Panthers like to spread opponents out; however, they have some more height to combat star big man Luke Rogers ‘21 with the duo of Matt Folger ‘20 and Ryan Cahill ‘21 (still waiting on the return of big man Alex Sobel ‘22). The defense has started to show signs of tightening things up, and the offense drained fourteen triples in their last game against Wesleyan. As for the Jumbos, don’t think that this game is meaningless because they’ve already wrapped up the top seed for the conference tournament. Despite having accomplished that in addition to a victory over the Mules, the Jumbos are slotted eighteen in the national polls, a distant third behind #12 Colby and #10 Middlebury. Tufts will surely feel disrespected and motivated to leave Pepin Gym with a resounding victory. It feels like we’ve been waiting for Tufts to finally drop a game in conference play, and I think we might just see it today as they venture outside the confines of Medford. Rogers and veteran guard Eric Savage ‘20 will surely make this a game, but I think the Panthers put together another well-rounded performance to give the Jumbos their first conference loss.

Writer’s Pick: Middlebury 83, Tufts 76

Williams (11-11, 4-4) vs. Bates (11-11, 3-5) 7pm, Williamstown, MA

Last week’s win against Wesleyan was significant because it locked down a top eight seed for Williams. Where they will finish, however, is anyone’s guess. Currently occupying the sixth seed, the Ephs are one game behind the four seed, and conversely are one and a half games ahead of Bowdoin for the eight spot. They’ve had their ups-and-downs this season, but this game might just come down to how effective our Nothing But NESCAC brethren Matthew Karpowicz ‘20 is. Coach App surely has seen the numbers Luke Rogers put up against the Bobcats and will try to recreate offensive sets for his big man similar to how the Jumbos featured theirs. For the Bobcats, it’s been tough sledding on offense end these past two games, and that’s not a great sign considering the Ephs are second in the NESCAC in points allowed per game. Bates needs just a single win in one of their next two games to automatically qualify for the conference tourney, but with the potential absence of sharp-shooter Kody Greenhalgh ‘20, another poor shooting night could derail those hopes.

Writer’s Pick: Williams 71, Bates 65

Saturday

Amherst (16-6, 6-2) vs. Conn College (4-18, 0-8), 3pm, Amherst, MA

Onto the Saturday slate, where Amherst really should have no problem dealing with a Conn team that seems primed to go winless in conference play for the third consecutive year. The Mammoths seem to have been motivated upon their disappearance from the Top 25 rankings back in mid-January; most notably, they’ve found a real groove on offense, averaging 84.8 ppg over their past five contests. That’s a scary statistic for the rest of the NESCAC given that Amherst also boasts the league’s top defensive unit.

Writer’s Pick: Amherst 83, Conn College 62

Hamilton (14-8, 2-6) vs. Trinity (15-7, 5-3), 3pm, Clinton, NY

Not to overlook the Conn game, but this match-up right here is essentially do-or-die for the Continentals. Under the presumption that Hamilton beats Conn, even if they win against Trinity, they may not make the conference tournament if Bates wins one game or if Bowdoin defeats Wesleyan. However, they surely don’t have a chance if they drop this contest against the Bantams, so they’ll need to rally together on Senior Day because everyone wants to see Gilmour work his magic in the postseason. Unfortunately for the Continentals’ faithful, I just don’t see enough consistency out of this team to merit a victory over a better caliber opponent. Take the over on Gilmour’s points, but the Bantams will grind down the home team and leave New York victorious.

Writer’s Pick: Trinity 77, Hamilton 72

Williams (11-11, 4-4) vs. #18 Tufts (18-4, 8-0), 3pm, Williamstown, MA

Whether they win or lose against Middlebury on Friday, the The Jumbos will be weary from their game against the Panthers as they hit the road again to take on the Ephs. This match-up pits the two best big men in the conference against one another in Rogers and Karpowicz. Karpowicz might have the experience, but Rogers has been more of a force on the glass and has the surrounding shooters to allow for more isolation plays. The Eph defense will keep this one close for a half or so, but give me the Jumbos to conclude their end-of-season road trip with a quality victory.

Writer’s Pick: Tufts 74, Williams 64

#10 Middlebury (19-3, 5-3) vs. Bates (11-11, 3-5), 3pm, Middlebury, VT

On paper this appears as if it could be a bloodbath given the way both teams are trending, but circle this one as a hangover game for the Panthers. I really do think they defeat Tufts on Friday, and if they do, then I fully expect a sluggish start against a Bates team that could very well be playing for their playoff lives on Saturday. That kind of desperation, coupled with a more relaxing vibe on Senior Day after an important home victory the previous night is a recipe for a bit of chaos. Key cogs in the offense such as Stephon Baxter ‘23 and Jeff Spellman ‘20, haven’t shot well recently, but with some added adrenaline it’s very possible the offense starts knocking down shots. I’m not saying Bates will win, but I believe this one will be much closer than most people believe. Middlebury scrapes by with a win, and Bates still makes the tournament with Hamilton’s loss to Trin.

Writer’s Pick: Middlebury 83, Bates 78

Sunday

Bowdoin (8-15, 3-6) vs. Wesleyan (13-9, 2-6), 3pm, Brunswick, ME

Winners of two of their past three, the Polar Bears are currently holding onto the last remaining spot in the conference tournament. They must defeat Wesleyan, however, as a loss would in all likelihood bounce them out. A huge piece of Bowdoin’s run has been star David Reynolds ‘20. The senior poured in 33 points in their remarkable overtime comeback against Hamilton, and can get hot very quickly from just about anywhere on the floor. Wesleyan doesn’t really have a defined, go-to scorer like how Bowdoin has Reynolds, although Antone Walker ‘21 and Jordan James 21 form a nice duo. Still, it’s hard not to believe the Polar Bears will rise up on Senior Day in the most important game of their season, and behind David Reynold’s 25+ points, Bowdoin will finally secure a playoff berth in a thrilling win.

Writer’s Pick: Bowdoin 79, Wesleyan 76

Over the Hump: 2/1 Weekend Preview

Friday

Amherst (13-6, 3-2) vs. Wesleyan (13-5, 2-2), 7pm, Amherst, MA

We’re kicking things off with a very interesting game out of western Mass. Wesleyan won the non-conference meeting between these two, but that was three weeks ago and these teams have each come a long way since. Amherst has been fairly inconsistent so far, taking down Middlebury, Hamilton, and Bates but losing to Williams and Tufts. These are all good teams mind you, but the Mammoths haven’t really found much of an identity yet and we can’t seem to figure out exactly how good they are. Senior swingman Eric Sellew ’20 suffered a shoulder injury a few weeks ago at Bates and hasn’t played since, so we’ll have to keep an eye on his status for this weekend because he had been one of the most impactful players in the league to start the season. The Cardinals, on the other hand, have won 4 in a row and have looked like a different team since their opening weekend losses to Tufts and Bates. Wesleyan has shown recently that they have an array of guys who can go off on any given night. Antone Walker ’21, Jordan James ’20, and Gabe Ravetz ’21 seem to be taking turns as the team’s leading scorer and the fact that they all play different positions is huge for the versatility of the lineup. I expect this game to be fairly low scoring, but with Sellew sidelined I think the Cardinals are going to pick up their 5^th win in a row on the road in this marquee Little Three matchup.

Writer’s Pick: Wesleyan 72 – Amherst 67

Conn College (3-14, 0-4) vs. Williams (9-9, 2-3), 7pm, New London, CT

There’s never much to say about the Camels. They had a golden opportunity to seal the victory against Trinity last week but a few late missed free throws and a miracle, full-court heave by the Bantams allowed them to come away with the win. Dan Draffan ’21 and Ben McPherron ’23 have been Conn’s leading scorers all year, but they both fouled out late in the game against Trinity and had to watch both overtimes from the bench. It seems like nothing can go right for the Camels so we’ll have to keep waiting for them to put it all together. Williams has been another fairly inconsistent team this year, beating Amherst twice but blowing a 15-point lead against Hamilton and struggling in a few other conference games. Matt Karpowicz ’20 is the best center in the league but was essentially a non-factor in their last game at Middlebury, so look for him to try and get more involved this weekend. Cole Prowitt-Smith ’23 has been remarkably streaky, having flashes of looking like the most talented player in the league while also have stretches of playing completely out of control and undisciplined. I don’t see the Ephs losing this game, but they’ve got some things to figure out moving forward.

Writer’s Pick: Williams 84 – Conn 61

#22 Tufts (14-4, 4-0) vs. Bowdoin (6-11, 1-4), 7pm, Medford, MA

I’d say we pretty much know what to expect from this game too. Tufts has been one of the hottest teams in the league (although they did lose a non-conference game this week) and Bowdoin has had a fairly disappointing season thus far. The Jumbos have had a lethal scoring attack, led by talented big man Luke Rogers ’21 and senior captain Eric Savage ’20. This team already has impressive wins over Wesleyan, Hamilton, Amherst, and Bates despite having just one senior on the roster. Tufts is very talented and very explosive and they can score in a hurry. They also have the ability to really lock in on defense and their opponents often go through long stretches without scoring. The Polar Bears have not seen the same success and have been ridiculously one-dimensional this season. David Reynolds ’20 is putting up over 20 points per game, but it doesn’t really look like anyone else can contribute anything in the scoring column. Zavier Rucker ’21 is a solid point guard, but when Reynolds is the only guy you’re passing to it’s not very hard to defend. The Polar Bears may steal a win at some point this year, but this will not be the day. The Jumbos aren’t dropping this one on their home court.

Writer’s Pick: Tufts 87 – Bowdoin 71

Trinity (12-6, 2-2) vs. #10 Middlebury (17-2, 3-2), 7pm, Hartford, CT

I think this game has the potential to be interesting. The Bantams always seem to surprise us, as they did last Saturday at Conn when Christian Porydzy ’20 hit the shot of the year and Trinity managed to escape with the win. They have 4 players averaging double figures in scoring, led by reigning NESCAC Player of the Week Donald Jorden ’21, who is averaging a double double on the year. The problem, however, is that they’re going up against Middlebury. The Panthers are one of the best teams in the league and they’ve got quite a few scoring threats of their own. In fact, 5 of their players are averaging double figures in scoring and they have some of the craftiest guards in the league. Jack Farrell ’21 and Max Bosco ’21 can score almost any way, while Matt Folger ’20 is probably the biggest wing in the NESCAC and uses that to his advantage. Middlebury has already taken two losses in conference (against good teams) but they have some very impressive non-conference wins on their resume and their talent is undeniable. The Bantams could make things interesting playing in their own gym, but I think the Panthers will roll tonight.

Writer’s Pick: Middlebury 81 – Trinity 70

Bates (10-7, 2-2) vs. #5 Colby (17-0, 5-0), 7pm, Lewiston, ME

Call me biased, but this game has my pick for game of the day. We’ve talked about Colby all year long and deservedly so. Sam Jefferson ’20 is the most talented scorer we’ve seen in recent years and he’s surrounded by a bunch of dudes who can freaking shoot. The Mules are 2^nd in the NESCAC in shooting percentage and 1^st in 3-point percentage, while leading the league in points per game by a fairly large margin. It doesn’t matter that they only have 1 guy in their rotation over 6’4” because if you give anyone on their team the tiniest bit of space then they’ll kill you. All of that said, the Bobcats always tend to surprise us as well. They have a good recent track record against Colby and bragging rights are on the line in this CBB matchup. Bates will also have the advantage of playing in famed Alumni Gym, where they’ll play in front of a raucous crowd that is sure to play a factor in this one. Omar Sarr ’23 didn’t have his best day in their last game against Tufts, but he has a chance to really exploit the Mules’ lack of size. Aside from the low post these teams actually matchup fairly well, so my guess is that this one will come down to whoever has the ball last. There is sure to be a lot of scoring, but the hostile Alumni Gym environment is likely not something Colby has seen yet this year. All signs seem to point to a Bobcat upset.

Writer’s Pick: Bates 86 – Colby 83

Saturday

Trinity (12-6, 2-2) vs. Williams (9-9, 2-3), 3pm, Hartford, CT

This game is a lock for 2^nd best game of the day. Each of these two have bounced around the bottom/middle of the league and are looking to distinguish themselves. Williams has the advantage of playing Conn the night before, so they likely won’t have to have their starters overdo it. I’m intrigued to see how the Matt Karpowicz-Donald Jorden matchup goes given that they’re two of the most talented big men in the league but play very different styles. We’ll also keep an eye on Spencer Spivy ’22 who missed a game with illness and didn’t play extended minutes in his first game back. I believe that the Ephs have the more talented lineup, but the Bantams have experience and that goes a long way. Trinity starts 5 upperclassmen who have played together for years, so they have a wealth of experience in these big conference games. Playing at home is always nice too, but I really don’t see that making enough of a difference, especially having to play Middlebury the night before. My guess is that this is a tough weekend for the Bantams…

Writer’s Pick: Williams 78 – Trinity 68

#22 Tufts (14-4, 4-0) vs. #5 Colby (17-0, 5-0), 3pm, Medford, MA

We’ve been waiting for this one for a little while now. These two have identified themselves as the top two teams in the league right at the moment and they also have each gotten some national recognition. Tufts is coming off a mid-week loss against a talented New England College squad, but that was just their 4^th loss of the season and they still have yet to lose a NESCAC game. Luke Rogers ’21 is going to be the key for the Jumbos because he’ll be able to really go after Colby’s lack of size. Tufts’ backcourt has a chance to be competitive with their talented Mule counterparts, so Rogers is going to have to really make a difference. It basically seems like Tufts will have to take one of two approaches against Colby: either expect Sam Jefferson ’20 to have a big game as he always does and don’t let anyone else beat you or key in on Jefferson and make someone else beat you. So far neither of these strategies has worked for anyone yet, but it feels like the Mules have to lose at some point. The Jumbos have a lot of talent and home court advantage doesn’t hurt, so I think they’ll give Colby their first (or second) loss of the season.

Writer’s Pick: Tufts 88 – Colby 82

Conn College (3-14, 0-4) vs. #10 Middlebury (17-2, 3-2), 3pm, New London, CT

This is about as lopsided of a matchup as you’ll find in NESCAC basketball. Middlebury, a perennial power, heads south to take on a Camel team that is truly struggling at this point in the season. The Panthers really don’t have to worry about losing this game, but we should be paying much closer attention to the injury status of big man Alex Sobel ’22. Sobel is very talented and was off to a terrific start to the season when he went down with injury. The sophomore has missed the last 7 games and we have no time frame on his return. Jack Farrell ’21 is a potential POY candidate for the Panthers and will likely dominate in this one. Middlebury should head home on Saturday sitting pretty at 2-0.

Writer’s Pick: Middlebury 89 – Conn 60

Bates (10-7, 2-2) vs. Bowdoin (6-11, 1-4), 3pm, Lewiston, ME

It’ll obviously be very important to see how each of these teams do on Friday because that always has an impact on the attitude heading into the second game of the weekend. That said, it’s hard to envision Bates losing this game. The Bobcats won the first meeting between these two back in December and we have no reason to expect a different result this time. The emergence of freshman Stephon Baxter ’23 has added a huge spark to this senior-dominated backcourt and he has done a really impressive job making mature plays for the offense. Kody Greenhalgh ’20 and Jeff Spellman ’20 are as good as anyone in the NESCAC at creating their own shot and making teams really pay when left unchecked. Bowdoin likely won’t have an answer for Omar Sarr ’23 underneath and I don’t think David Reynolds ’20 will be able to shoot the Polar Bears to victory on the road in Alumni Gym. Bates will be coming off an emotional game against Colby the night before, but I think they’ll respond against Bowdoin either way.

Writer’s Pick: Bates 79 – Bowdoin 67

Sunday

Hamilton (13-6, 1-4) vs. Wesleyan (13-2, 2-2), 1pm, Clinton, NY

The final game of the weekend comes from upstate New York, where two teams who desperately need a signature win will square off to get one step closer to the NESCAC Tournament. Much like Bowdoin, Hamilton has been very one-dimensional this year. Kena Gilmour ’20 was last year’s NESCAC Player of the Year and is following that up with another stellar season, but he can’t do it all himself. Wesleyan has been nearly the opposite, with someone new stepping up each night. Antone Walker ’21 and Sam Peek ’22 have been the go-to guys around the perimeter, while Jordan James ’21 is on our Alonzo Mourning Center of the Year Award watch list. The Cardinals have a crucial matchup on Friday with Amherst so a lot will be decided then, but I think they’re going to be a little bit too much for the Continentals to handle. The trip to Hamilton is never fun, but I think Wesleyan will be happy on their ride back.

Writer’s Pick: Wesleyan 74 – Hamilton 65

A Mix of Rivalry Week and Marquee Matchups: 1/25 Weekend Preview

Amherst (11-6, 2-2) vs. Hamilton (12-5, 1-3), 3pm, Amherst, MA

Both of these teams really need a win to get back on track. Amherst followed up a nice road win against Bates by getting smacked in the mouth by Tufts, then proceeded to drop another game to Williams to complete the season sweep (albeit this was the non-conference tilt). Hamilton has plummeted towards the bottom of the standings with a dismal 1-3 conference record, and Kena Gilmour ‘20 is getting absolutely no help from the rest of his starters. The Bobcats did a great job limiting Gilmour to just fifteen points, but the rest of the starters combined to shoot 28%. What’s even more alarming for the Continentals is that they let the Bobcats splat eleven threes – the night prior, Amherst held the ‘Cats to just one triple. That combination of lackluster defense and inconsistent offensive production is, quite simply, not good enough to beat a team like Amherst. As long as Eric Sellew ‘20, Fru Che ‘21, and company are patient on offense and knock down their open looks, the Mammoths will have no problem getting by the Continentals.

Writer’s Pick: Amherst 83, Hamilton 70

Conn College (3-12, 0-3) vs. Trinity (11-6, 1-2), 3pm, New London, CT

Two words to describe Trinity’s performance against Wesleyan last weekend: not good. The Bantams shot just 33.3% from the field, including a head-scratching 10-30 from two. Conversely, Wesleyan got just about anything they wanted from inside the arc. The good news for the Trin faithful is that they essentially have a bye week against Conn, who just got absolutely obliterated 98-59 against the Cardinals. Although everything is falling apart for the Camels, the defense is especially a problem as they’ve now allowed at least 83 points in each of their three conference games. Trinity seems to have some offensive woes, but it would take an especially poor shooting day (think in the 20’s) for Trinity to drop this one. I’ve got Donald Jorden ‘21 tallying a double-double as Trinity rolls by double digits.

Writer’s Pick: Trinity 85, Conn 64

Bowdoin (5-10, 1-3) vs. #5 Colby (16-0, 4-0), 3pm, Brunswick, ME

Just like Trin and Conn, this inter-state bout looks like it won’t be very close. Colby has asserted themselves as the alpha dog in the NESCAC after their road victories against Middlebury and Williams. The most important stat from those two games is that they only turned the ball over a combined 19 times, signaling that this group feels no pressure in some of the more hostile environments in the conference. Sam Jefferson ‘20 has to be considered the MVP of the league by a considerable margin at this point, and it helps to have three alternate (and equally as talented) scoring options in Matt Hanna ‘21 (14.8 PPG, 4.1 AST/G), Alex Dorion ‘20 (14.1 PPG) and Noah Tyson ‘22 (12.4 PPG, 8.7 REB/G). What’s more, they annihilated Bowdoin by 46!!! earlier this season. In the second half alone against the Polar Bears, Colby exploded for 67 points and knocked down eleven threes. While it won’t be that much of a route this time around, expect the Mules to blow their rivals out of the water by at least twenty.

Writer’s Pick: Colby 92, Bowdoin 68

#12 Middlebury (16-2, 2-2) vs. Williams (9-8. 2-2), 3pm, Middlebury, VT

While Tufts and Bates could be viewed as the game of the week, I’m casting my vote for this particular matchup due to the unfamiliarity in the standings for both teams. Both Williams and Middlebury sit at .500 in conference play, and a loss would drop either team near that #8 seed cut-off for the conference tournament. Both these teams will almost certainly make the tournament when it’s all said and done, but the situation still presents an intriguing scenario. The Panthers had to have a quick turnaround after dropping a tough home matchup against the Mules, and they successfully did so by throttling the Polar Bears 93-71. Five Middlebury players hit double figures, led by Max Bosco ‘21 and Tommy Eastman ‘21. The defense is still a bit of a concern as the Polar Bears were able to hang around until the Panthers’ offense pulled away in the second half, but luckily for the Panthers, the Ephs isn’t known for their explosive offense. Williams likes to grind out games with a stout defense, and while it didn’t work against Colby, they held both Bowdoin and Amherst to 62 and 60 points, respectively. Jovan Jones ‘22 found his shooting touch with seventeen points, and Cole Prowitt-Smith ‘23 continued to impress with fourteen of his own. If this game was at Williams, I would consider looking into the upset; in the end, however, Middlebury was ranked as highly as number five in the national polls for a reason, and they are too talented drop this one at home.

Writer’s Pick: Middlebury 75, Williams 66

#23 Tufts (13-3, 3-0) vs. Bates (9-6, 2-1), 3pm, Medford, MA

I honestly have no idea what to expect from this one. Tufts continues to to keep pace with Colby as the last two remaining unbeaten teams in the ‘CAC, having just recently throttled Amherst by 18 in Medford. Everyone is contributing – all five starters hit double digits against the Mammoths, and the Jumbos got an additional 17 bench points to cushion the win. Right now, Luke Rogers ‘21 is the best big man in the league, having eclipsed twenty points in each of his last four games (three of those were double-doubles). The Bobcats’ best kept secret (although at this point I think the cat might be out of the bag) is freshman Omar Sarr ‘23. I’ve been raving about Sarr before conference play started, and the big man has become the best rim protector in the league. He’s averaging an absurd five blocks per game in conference play to go along with eleven points and eleven rebounds. He’s the most important player on the Bobcats, because without him, they lack a reliable shot blocker and rebound getter. Both teams have their fair share of shooters, but in the end I think Bates’ inconsistencies on the defensive end will allow Tufts to work inside and out well, pulling away late. The ‘Cats have won three in a row against the Jumbos, however, so a road victory wouldn’t surprise me in the least.

Writer’s Pick: Tufts 88, Bates 81

NESCAC Saturday Tipoff: 1/11 Weekend Preview

Editor’s Note: Michael O’Hare is a junior at Hamilton and is a new writer for Nothing but NESCAC this year. A fun fact about Michael is that he is still evading capture by the FBI for helping Edward Snowden release thousands of classified government documents.

NESCAC Basketball Weekend Preview

Connecticut College (3-8) @ Bowdoin (4-6), 3pm, Brunswick, ME

The Connecticut College Camels tip off their NESCAC Schedule in Brunswick, Maine this weekend as the face off against the 4-6 Bowdoin Polar Bears. They have lost four in a row and are looking to get back on track against a Bowdoin squad that beat them 76-68 in New London last season. Though they battled hard in a 77-71 loss against Mitchell, Conn College’s pitiful 26.6% from beyond the arc has to improve it they want to challenge Bowdoin, who averages nearly ten more points per game. Conn College will look to Freshman swingman, Ben McPherron ’23 to continue his hot streak, as he is one of only three Camels averaging double figures. Meanwhile, the Bowdoin Polar Bears will rely heavily on Senior swingman, David Reynolds ’20, who is only one of three conference players averaging more than twenty points per game. Despite the Camels hopes of revenge, Bowdoin is going to pull it out at home.

Writer’s Pick: Bowdoin 71 – Connecticut 64

Williams (6-5) @ #15 Amherst (9-3), 3pm, Amherst, MA

The Williams College Ephs are traveling intrastate to Amherst, their Little Three Rival, to face off against the top 25 Mammoths. Last season, this would have been the game of the week as both teams were both NESCAC and D3 champion hopefuls. Williams won the battle 84-79 last season in Williamstown, but the Mamo’s won the war defeating the Continentals in Clinton, New York to win the NESCAC title. This season, Williams is on a different track and looking to stay above water as they are a mediocre 6-5 while Amherst holds a perfect 5-0 record at home. Amherst distributes the basketball very well and shoots an impeccable 41.5% from three. The Ephs will look for Senior Center Matt Karpowicz ’20 to score and hold the Mammoths at bay defensively, while I expect Amherst’s Junior swingman, Fru Che ’21, to continue churning out points. Expect scoring from these purple people eaters, but Mamos’s will roll.

Writer’s Pick: Amherst 84 – Williams 72

Trinity (9-4) @ #12 Colby (11-0), 3pm, Waterville, ME

I leaned towards making this game of the day as the Trinity College Bantams are a win shy of making this the first matchup of double digit winners, the Colby College Mules are a perfect 11-0. The Bantams have a solid test in front of them as the Mules are firing on all cylinders. 11-0, 6-0 at home, scoring nearly 100 points per game, and dishing the basketball like Greg Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs. These teams are on a collision course as Trinity has won their last five games by a margin of nearly 22 points per game. A win of this magnitude sure would make the long ride back to Hartford a whole lot sweeter. The Bantams’ Junior guard Colin Donovan ’21 needs to have big game if Trinity wants a chance to win, while Colby’s Senior guard, and POY hopeful, Sam Jefferson’s 25 points per game will certainly come out to play. Despite all that, the Mules will not fear the chicken, and Trinity will have a long ride home.

Writer’s Pick: Colby 89 – Trinity 79

Game of the Day

#3 Middlebury (13-0) @ Hamilton (10-2), 3pm, Clinton, NY

Some may say there was bias in making this the game of the day, but both squads have been at the top of the NESCAC and deep in the D3 tournament in the last few years. Furthermore, while Middlebury holds a top 5 seed, Hamilton has been as high as #22 this year and knocked off #17 Nichols last month. While the Panthers won the Rocking Chair Classic this fall, the Continentals look to pick up right where they left off last season with another strong NESCAC win. Both teams are nearly identical in three-point percentage, free throw percentage and rebounds per game, while Hamilton has a slight edge in points. When it comes down to brass taxes, Middlebury has not lost. The Continentals look to avenge their one point loss last season in Middlebury, Vermont and can rely on their Player of the Year, Senior guard Kena Gilmore ’20, who is averaging 23 points per game. On the other side of the ball, Middlebury’s Junior guard Jack Farrell ’21 is having a nice season of his own and will be essential to their game plan. That being said, I am going with my heart. Continentals edge Panthers in Clinton.

Writer’s Pick: Hamilton 86 – Middlebury 84

Sunday

Bates (7-4) @ Wesleyan (9-2), 3pm, Middletown, CT

The Bates Bobcats travel to Middletown, Connecticut to face off against the Wesleyan Cardinals this weekend. Brunch and basketball, a beautiful way to start your lazy Sunday. These two teams each have a lot to prove as they both underachieved last season, Wesleyan was a modest middle of the pack NESCAC foe while Bates posted a less than stellar 3-7 record in conference. Wesleyan is riding a six-game win streak and look to improve to 6-0 at home while the Bobcats are reaching for their 8^th win of the season. Both squads post nearly identical offensive numbers, so expect this game to come down to a possession or two. I expect there to be a critical defensive hold in the waning moments of the game. That being said Bates looks to senior guard Jeff Spellman ’20, averaging 15 points per game, to lead the Bobcats in scoring while Wesleyan Junior guard Antone Walker ’21 will be a force on the other end. This is going to be a close one, but the Cardinals are flying high this Sunday.

Writer’s Pick: Wesleyan 68 – Bates 65

NESCAC Friday Tipoff: 1/10 Weekend Preview

NESCAC Basketball Weekend Preview

Trinity (9-4) @ Bowdoin (4-6), 7pm, Brunswick, ME

The Bantams, who are playing great basketball right now after a rocky start, get the pleasure this Friday of visiting a Bowdoin team that is clearly still feeling the graduation of stud Jack Simonds. The Polar Bears had more than a few stumbles in their non-conference games, with some brutal losses (Southern Maine, Colby by 46) along with some wins that were too close for comfort (ME-Farmington by 4, Framingham State by 9). With the conference slate being clean for everyone, though, Bowdoin still has a chance to turn it around. They will need guys not named David Reynolds (21 PPG in his last two games) and Sam Grad ’21 to step up if they want to make any splash in the conference this year, or it’s going to be a long season in Brunswick. Trinity, a team for whom offense has been a question mark in the past, has been scoring the ball at a rate we have not seen out of them in some time – albeit against some weaker teams. If you’re Coach Cosgrove, you have to be ecstatic about a starting lineup in which all five guys are currently averaging double figures. The Bantams have averaged 90 points per game over their last five games, all wins. Kyle Padmore ‘20, recently named NESCAC POTW, has looked like an all-conference player on both ends. As we all know, however, this conference is a different animal in the world of D3 basketball. Even Bowdoin will likely be a step up from some of the teams the Bantams have been blowing out lately. If Trinity can keep up the hot shooting while playing Coach Cosgrove’s tough brand of defense, they’re going to be a force in conference play. This team is on too much of a roll for a hiccup against the reeling Polar Bears.

Writer’s Pick: Trinity 83 – Bowdoin 65

Williams (6-5) @ Hamilton (10-2), 7pm, Clinton, NY

Last year this game would have been a lock for game of the week and maybe even game of the year, but this year it pins two teams struggling to figure out their identities against each other. Williams has not scored at anywhere near the rate they were last season and they also find themselves with the second fewest assists per game in the NESCAC. Guys like Cole Prowitt-Smith ’23, Alex Stoddard ’23, and Spencer Spivy ’22 have shown that they’re capable of having big games, but none of them have displayed any level of consistency whatsoever. Big man Matt Karpowicz ’20 is the only guy on this team who has played significant time over the past few years and he’s sure to have a big game, but he’s going to need some help. The good news for Eph fans is that Hamilton is having a similar problem. Kena Gilmour ’20 is a stud, but it’s unclear who else is going to step up to fill the void left by all the players they graduated from last year. That said, the Continentals still average the second most points per game in the league (90.3) so it’s not all bad. This has the potential to be a pretty sloppy game given that these two teams are among the top 3 in turnovers and each of them have a slew of players that haven’t quite proven themselves yet. I expect this to be pretty evenly matched most of the way, but I don’t see the Continentals losing at home to an Eph squad that has been struggling as of late.

Writer’s Pick: Hamilton 77 – Williams 69

Connecticut College (3-8) @ #12 Colby (11-0), 7pm, Waterville, ME

If you’re the Conn College Camels, this is a very exciting point in the season. Everyone in the NESCAC is even in conference play, and you have an opportunity in front of you to put your past struggles behind and turn things around. The bad news for Conn is that they are starting off their conference slate with a Colby Mules team that is gaining attention nationwide for their offensive firepower, currently earning them the #12 spot in the country (only Middlebury is ranked higher among NESCAC teams). Not only is Colby 11-0, but they have also hit triple digits in six of those games. Sam Jefferson ’20 stands out right away with his absurd numbers – 24.5 PPG, 63% shooting from the field, and an unconscious 53% from deep. After Jefferson, guys like Matt Hanna ’21, Noah Tyson ’22, and Wallace Tucker ’21 have been scoring the ball at a high clip as well. The Mules will need to continue to take open threes and hit them in NESCAC play given that they have almost no size. Coach Strahorn has been running with a lineup of 7-8 guys, none of whom are over 6’4. This might work against some of the lowly Maine schools they have been playing, but it’s going to be a much bigger issue come NESCAC play. The one caveat to Colby’s success so far is their weak non-conference schedule. Conn, yes Conn, may very well be the best team they have faced so far. Conn should look to get 6’7 Dan Draffan and 7-footer Ryan Omslaer ’22 as many touches as possible to expose Colby’s lack of height. Defensively, the obvious emphasis needs to be on closing out perimeter shooters because Colby has plenty of them. I want to believe that Conn will make more of an impact in the NESCAC this year, but they just have not shown enough promise so far in their 3-8 season for me to feel good about their chances this weekend. The Mules have enough offense to roll at home.

Writer’s Pick: Colby 89 – Conn 68

Tufts (10-2) @ Wesleyan (9-2), 7pm, Middletown, CT

This is a very important matchup for both of these teams. The Jumbos have started off the year very strong and Wesleyan is coming off of a statement win at home against Amherst. This Cardinal defense has looked outstanding, allowing the second fewest points per game of anyone while forcing a league-leading 9 steals per game. Jordan James ’21 is putting together another fantastic year so far, but he’ll go up against Luke Rogers ’21 who will certainly be the most talented big man he’s faced this season. That matchup will definitely be one to focus on. An interesting difference between these two teams is that Tufts has shot the ball very well so far as a whole, while Wesleyan is actually shooting a very low percentage, particularly from behind the 3-point line. This has worked so far for the Cardinals given that they play such good defense, but if the shots are falling for the Jumbos it’s tough to know who will respond for Wesleyan. Tufts has some very talented, athletic guards and we still haven’t really gotten a good read on the Cardinals’ young backcourt so it’ll be intriguing to see how they fare against one another. Tufts won this meeting last year in Medford behind a strong defensive effort and a hot shooting performance and at this point it’s hard to envision a different result this year.

Writer’s Pick: Tufts 78 – Wesleyan 74

Game of the Day

#3 Middlebury (13-0) @ #15 Amherst (9-3), 7pm, Amherst, MA

The surefire game of the week this week is taking place in western Mass tonight. These two perennial powers have played tough schedules so far and have looked very strong throughout. The Panthers’ combination of Jack Farrell ’21, Max Bosco ’21, and Matt Folger ’20 is one of the best scoring trios in the nation and they have showed no signs of slowing down. They have also benefitted greatly from the strong play of second-year center Alex Sobel ’22 who has stepped in to replace Eric McCord. He’ll have his work cut out for him when he goes up against this Mammoth team that is loaded with size. Middlebury’s offense looks incredibly hard to stop, but if anyone is going to do it then it’ll be the team with the league’s best defense. It’s hard to know exactly what to make of Amherst because most of their starters have played limited minutes so far. We know that Eric Sellew ’20, Fru Che ’21, and Grant Robinson ’21 are three of the best players in the conference, but first year Head Coach Aaron Toomey is still trying to figure out what is going to work to get these guys all involved. Robinson in particular hasn’t exactly looked like the same player from last season and there is speculation that he has been dealing with minor injuries in the early part of this season. Again, this is speculation, but something isn’t the same so far for the Mammoths. They’re also coming off a tough loss against Little Three rival Wesleyan, so it’ll be interesting to see which direction they go in their very difficult games this weekend. It’s difficult to open conference play with the best team in the league and I think that’s going to be quite a challenge for Amherst. This also may not be the last time these two teams square off this year…

Writer’s Pick: Middlebury 81 – Amherst 72

Last But Not Least: Weekend Preview 11/9

Bates (1-7) @ Hamilton (4-4), 12:00pm, Clinton, New York

Saturday will be a huge day in Clinton as the Continentals have a chance to finish with a winning record for the first time since the NESCAC football records begin in 2000. Hamilton fought valiantly last weekend against Middlebury, allowing just two scores to one of the conference’s most potent offences. The game was neck and neck throughout but Middlebury took a 14-7 lead by the end of the 1st quarter and rode that to the final whistle. Despite this tough loss, the way that Hamilton has separated themselves from the CBB teams, as well as beating more historically successful programs like Amherst and Tufts, has been extremely impressive. The Continentals have the opportunity to display that separation even more this weekend as they invite a 1-7 Bobcat’s team to upstate New York. Coming into the weekend Hamilton’s Senior RB David Kagan ’20 is tied for 2nd in the NESCAC with 8 rushing TDs, sitting just one short of the leader. Against a Bates defense who gives up over 30 points a game, it looks very possible that Kagan could finish the season leading the conference. While the narrative looks good for Hamilton, nothing is a given.

Bates enters this weekend on a high note after taking their first win of the season away from rival Bowdoin. For the first time this season the Bobcat defense dazzled, allowing only 5 points to Bowdoin while putting up a 30 spot on them. QB Brendan Costa ’21 had his season-high with 3 touchdown passes, with 2 of those going to WR Jackson Hayes ’22, his only 2 catches on the day. While Bates would certainly love to finish the season strong on a second win, they will also be watching the Colby vs. Bates game with keen interest as a Colby loss means a share of the CBB crown for all 3 teams. Hamilton will be a whole different animal from the Polar Bear defense that Bates faced last week, and that may be a rude awakening for them. Against Colby the Continentals were able to pick off Matt Hersch 3 times, and the task will not be any easier for Brendan Costa. This is not the Continental squad of the past and Bates will have to figure out how to adjust to that this weekend.

Picks:
HC: Hamilton 31, Bates 21
SS: Hamilton 38, Bates 23
CC: Hamilton 31, Bates 20
RM: Hamilton 31, Bates 23
MK: Hamilton 24, Bates 14

Writers’ Pick: Hamilton

Amherst (4-4) @ Williams (6-2), 12:00pm, Williamstown, Mass

Coming into the final week of the season Williams finds themselves unlucky to be eliminated from championship contention after a tough 27-21 loss at Wesleyan last weekend. The Ephs were able to bring a one score lead into the final minute of the 4th quarter but allowed a rushing TD with just 17 seconds remaining to force OT. Williams got the ball to start OT but a quick turnover on downs turned into a loss immediately as they allowed a Wesleyan score on their first offensive play of OT. Had that gone differently Williams would be sitting in 2nd instead of Wesleyan. For now though, the Ephs have the opportunity to improve their record to 7-2 and finish strong at home on senior day. Bobby Maimaron ’21 continues to lead the conference in touchdown passes with an insane 20:2 TD to INT ratio. These stats are possible only because of the help of WR Frank Stola ’21, who is 2nd in the conference in receiving yards/game (96) and conference-leader in receiving touchdowns with 12. This dynamic duo have been putting up huge numbers all season long and I wouldn’t expect it to slow down for their last home game of this campaign.

Amherst had a tough time last weekend as they hosted the Bantams, as they were able to rack up over 300 yards of total offense but that only translated to one score. Turnovers killed the Mammoths in the first half, with their first two drives ending in an interception and a fumble. They were able to reach the back of the end zone once in the first half, a 27 yard touchdown pass from Ollie Eberth ’20 to James O’Regan ’20, but that would be their only score as their second half drives ended in an unsuccessful combo of punts and turnover on downs. Their offense will certainly need to liven up this weekend if it wants a chance to compete with the Ephs, who average nearly 30 points a game. Eberth has been a solid quarterback this year but does not really separate himself as a top talent in the way that Trinity’s Seamus Lambert ’22 does with his efficiency or even as Bobby Maimaron ’21 does with his ability to find the back of the endzone. This team has played middle-of-the-pack football all year and that is evident in their record. It will take far more than business as usual for the Mammoths to come out on top and on Saturday we will see if Amherst is up for the challenge.

Picks:
HC: Williams 34, Amherst 17
SS: Williams 31, Amherst 10
CC: Williams 31, Amherst 17
RM: Williams 27, Amherst 10
MK: Williams 24, Amherst 13

Writers’ Pick: Williams

Wesleyan (7-1) @ Trinity (5-3), 12:00pm, Hartford, Conn

The Cardinals pulled out a shocker last weekend as a series of insane plays propelled Wesleyan past Williams to a 7-1 record and places them in a comfortable 2nd place position. Big plays were the name of the game and David Estevez ’22 was the name of the guy making the plays as he threw for a 52 yard touchdown pass, returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown, rushed for a 2 yard touchdown to tie the game in the last seconds of the 4th quarter and finally rushed for a 25 yard touchdown with his first touch of the ball in overtime to win the game. It was a day to have a day for Estevez as he must’ve had a very sore back on Sunday. While the NESCAC crown is still out of reach, the Cardinals can aim to end the season on a high note by going into Hartford and handing the Bantams their first 4-loss season since 2001.

It has been an up and down season for Trinity as they have shown us that they simply are not the same dominant Bantam squad of the past few seasons. A big loss to Williams must’ve been a low point for the Bantams, as they had not had their score nearly doubled in quite some time. QB Seamus Lambert ’22 continues to be an extremely bright spot for this team, leading the conference in completion percentage (63.1%), passing yards (1904), yards per attempt (11.3) and QB efficiency rating which is an insane 182.2. He is a level above most other quarterbacks in the NESCAC and that is what has kept them competitive this season but the team as a whole does not have the ridiculous depth that allowed them to dominate as they have in the past. This game will be a statement from Trinity as 6-3 looks very different from 5-4, especially if you are a prospective student-athlete. Is this a rebuilding year for the Bantams or simply a few unfortunate losses? It will be easier to answer that question on Sunday.

HC: Trinity 23, Wesleyan 21
SS: Trinity 28, Wesleyan 24
CC: Wesleyan 27, Trinity 20
RM: Trinity 20, Wesleyan 13
MK: Trinity 28, Wesleyan 20

Writers’ Pick: Trinity

Middlebury (8-0) @ Tufts (4-4), 12:00pm, Medford, Mass

The Panthers have already clinched this year’s title, but they have the opportunity to go out in style this weekend as they seek their first undefeated season in program history. Last week they held off a pesky Hamilton team in a 14-7 defensive battle for their final homestand. Midd’s pass rush continued to impress as their 4 sacks last weekend maintained their conference lead with 23 on the season. RB Alex Maldjian ’23 had yet another breakout game to lead the Panthers to victory, rushing for a season-high 145 yards and 2 touchdowns on a whopping 35 carries. Maldijan has been the workhorse that has propelled the Middlebury offense thus far, leading the conference in carries (177), rushing yards (769) and rushing touchdowns (9). QB Will Jernigan ’21 and his receiving core have helped take the pressure off of Maldijan, allowing him to put up these outstanding statistics. Along with having a defense that has been nothing if not consistent this season, the stage is all set for Middlebury to complete the perfect season and a Jumbo squad who has certainly seen better days may be their final victim.

This season has been up and down for Tufts but overall falls far below the standard that Jumbos fans are used to seeing. A loss to Hamilton must have been a real sting to the ego a few weeks ago but Tufts was able to save face and cruise to victory against a Colby team that simply wasn’t up to the challenge. RB Mike Pedrini ’21 showed signs of life in the first drive of the game, cutting through the Colby defense like butter for the first 70 yards of the game and a touchdown. The offensive attacked cooled off for the rest of the first half, with the exception of a 100 yard kickoff return, but the Mule offense was nowhere to be seen either. The second half was all about the passing game as Jacob Carroll ’20 and Frank Roche ’20 found the back of the end zone on 3 different occasions to give Tufts a comfortable victory. This storyline is much more reminiscent of Tufts teams of the past and should give Jumbo fans hope that there are great pieces to build on for the future. For now though Tufts faces their toughest challenge to date and it seems unlikely, based on their inconsistency, that they will rise up to it.

HC: Middlebury 29, Tufts 17
SS: Middlebury 24, Tufts 13
CC: Middlebury 35, Tufts 20
RM: Middlebury 24, Tufts 14
MK: Middlebury 20, Tufts 14

Writers’ Pick: Middlebury

Colby (1-7) @ Bowdoin (0-8), 4:30pm, Brunswick, ME

It’s all on the line for Coach Cosgrove and the Mules this weekend as he looks to maintain his perfect CBB winning percentage. Last week was another tough one for Colby, getting run all over in the first half and then being torn up by QB Jacob Carroll ’20 and WR Frank Roche ’20 in the second half. A few forced fumbles and an impressive touchdown pass from QB Matt Hersch ’22 to former QB turned wide receiver Jack O’Brien ’20 were small victories but otherwise it was a game to put behind them before this weekend. The Mules have to go into this game with all the confidence in the world after seeing the way that Bates took care of the Polar Bears with ease. On paper, everything seems to be in their favor, but with CBB games the beauty is that you never know for sure.

It has been a tough season for Bowdoin and their woes continued last week as they were handed another lopsided loss by rival Bates. This game really went to show how far behind the rest of the NESCAC Bowdoin is compared to even the other CBB teams. Bates and Colby has both put up some respectable performances this season despite losing every game, with the exception of Colby over Bates, while Bates has shown lifelessness without fail. It is hard for me to believe that anything can change this narrative and that the Polar Bears can magically pull it together for this last game of the season. They have one more shot left at redemption this Saturday night, under the lights, at home, on senior day, against a CBB rival. If that does not give them enough to put up a fight than nothing will.

Picks:
HC: Colby 27, Bowdoin 13
SS: Colby 24, Bowdoin 10
CC: Colby 28, Bowdoin 10
RM: Colby 31, Bowdoin 10
MK: Colby 31, Bowdoin 7

Writers’ Pick: Colby

A Chance to Wrap it Up: Weekend Preview 11/2

The first weekend in November signals the penultimate weekend of NESCAC football, with a chance to crown a champion by Saturday’s end. Will Middlebury solidify their place among the rest of the competition, or will they slip up and allow Williams or Wesleyan back into the picture? Elsewhere, the Jumbos have a trip to Waterville to face off with Colby, who just got their first win of the season last weekend against Bates. Speaking of the ‘Cats, they are set to finish up their CBB slate with a primetime night contest against the Polar Bears in what is sure to be an intense atmosphere. Let’s get to it.

For a quick update, here’s how each of our writers are doing in their weekly picks:
Ryan Moralejo: 29-6
Haven Cutko: 28-7
Matt Karpowicz: 27-8
Cameron Carlson: 26-9
Spencer Smead: 24-11

Hamilton (4-3) @ Middlebury (7-0), 12:30pm, Middlebury, Vermont

For Middlebuty, the time is finally here: after weeks of clinging to the top spot, while most of the general public assumed they would eventually trip up, the Panthers have defied all odds and are one win away from claiming their first NESCAC Championship since they were crowned co-champions in 2013. It hasn’t been pretty by any means, but credit Coach Ritter and his staff for a fantastic season to date in addition to earning his 100th career win in their victory last week against Bowdoin. They put their guys in a position to disrupt plays and minimize their opponent’s strengths every weekend, and the players have remained level-headed and poised throughout the early gauntlet of their schedule. Now is not the time to sit back. The Panthers will be sure to not take the Continentals lightly after their recent surge up the standings. Their 36-21 victory against Tufts did not do Hamilton justice for their absolute dominating performance on the road, racing out to a 34-7 lead by halftime. Kenny Gray ‘20 is finally rounding into form, and he added to his recent uptick in quality play by throwing for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Although David Kagan ‘20 was held to just 39 yards, reserve tailback Joe Park ‘22 made it clear that there would be no drop off in production with a career-high 126 yard performance. The Continentals will need to keep their ground game churning against a stout Panthers’ front seven that is second in the conference in rushing yards allowed per game.

The biggest challenge will be Hamilton’s defense versus Middlebury’s offense; what was (for the majority of the season) a below-average defense has been performing well in recent weeks in large part because they’ve continued to force turnovers. Hamilton sits tied for second in the league with seventeen, including multiple takeaways in six of their seven games. WIth the offense finally clicking, those turnovers are being converted into points, and it is clear that this combination has transformed the New Yorkers into a legitimate upset pick for this Saturday. Given the fact that Will Jernigan ‘21 has a tendency to cough up the ball (6 interceptions and 6 fumbles to date), his focus should be on remaining patient and letting the plays develop in front of him; the Continentals are still allowing 373.4 yards and 28 points per game, so it’s more about making smart decisions and not forcing passes into tight windows or holding onto the ball too long. I really want to pick Hamilton just so the last week of NESCAC football is more entertaining, but I believe the Panthers will rally after digging themselves a hole early on, clinching the NESCAC Championship on Senior Day.

Picks:
RM: Middlebury 33, Hamilton 27
HC: Middlebury 31, Hamilton 27
MK: Middlebury 35, Hamilton 20
CC: Middlebury 31, Hamilton 27
SS: Middlebury 35, Hamilton 20

Writers’ Pick: Middlebury

Tufts (3-4) @ Colby (1-6), 1:00pm, Waterville, Maine

I’ll be honest: I have no real confidence in either team. On paper, Tufts most certainly possesses the better team, but its plethora of individual talent hasn’t been nearly enough to win games. Tufts disappointing season is, in large part, due to the team’s inability to play a well-rounded game. The 49-0 drubbing they handed to Bowdoin gave me a slight indication that the Jumbos might have figured it out, but once again, the defense fell apart. The Jumbos must do something on that side of the ball to stifle the Mules’ offense, such as creating more blitz packages. Turnovers haven’t been in abundance for the defense this season (second worst with only 6 forced), but the Mules have coughed up the football 6 times over the past three weeks. Matt Hersch ‘22 played really well in the first half against Bates, but he was a no-show for the remaining 30 minutes. The special teams was an absolute disaster, with Moises Celaya ‘22 missing an extra point and having both a field goal and a punt blocked. Furthermore, a bad snap cost Celaya 15 yards and gave Bates a chance to tie or win the game in the final minute. Their special teams play has to be impeccable if they want to hang around with the Jumbos on Saturday. Colby is probably more fired up to play Tufts than vice-versa based on recent results, but I’m sticking with the Jumbos in a high-scoring affair.

Picks:
RM: Tufts 43, Colby 27
HC: Tufts 23, Colby 6
MK: Tufts 35, Colby 10
CC: Tufts 42, Colby 10
SS: Tufts 21, Colby 13

Writers’ Pick: Tufts

Trinity (4-3) @ Amherst (4-3), 1:00pm, Amherst, Massachusetts

It’s really quite odd to have both of these perennial powerhouses already eliminated from the NESCAC Championship race with two games remaining on the season, and they each suffered significant defeats this past weekend. For the Bantams, their three-game winning streak came to an end at the hands of the Ephs and its ferocious front seven, who constantly harassed quarterback Seamus Lambert ‘22 and bottled up running back Tijani Harris ‘22 (27 carries for 42 yards). Granted, Williams does boast the league’s best defense in terms of points allowed per game, but this is Trinity we’re talking about. With the talent that Trinity has, it’s simply a disappointment that the offense has looked so volatile, especially after exhibiting the capability to hang 60 points.

Amherst would, in theory, should present another tough challenge for the Bantams’ offense, but I’m not sure how much this team has left in the tank from an emotional standpoint. Of course they’ll be ready for next week’s rivalry game against the Ephs, but you have to think that their rather shocking loss to the Cardinals leaves them shaking their heads at what could have been. Although quarterback Ollie Eberth ‘20 turned the ball over twice in the first half, Amherst managed to find themselves leading the visitors 28-21 entering the fourth quarter. A Cardinals’ touchdown tied it with roughly twelve minutes remaining, and Eberth failed to gain a first down on his remaining possessions in regulation. In overtime, Henry Atkeson ‘20 had an opportunity to clinch the game with a 24 yard field goal after fellow kicker Mason Von Jess ‘23 nailed the right upright from 18 yards out, but the senior endured the same result. To make things worse, Eberth threw his third interception on the ensuing possession in double overtime, allowing the Cardinals to convert their own game-winning field goal. Amherst knows they shouldn’t have lost to Wesleyan, just like how they shouldn’t have lost to Hamilton or Middlebury. This team simply doesn’t know how to close out a game, and I’m more confident siding with the team who tends to respond after suffering defeat.

Picks:
RM: Trinity 27, Amherst 17
HC: Trinity 27, Amherst 26
MK: Trinity 38. Amherst 20
CC: Trinity 27, Amherst 21
SS: Amherst 31, Trinity 24

Writers’ Pick: Trinity

Williams (6-1) @ Wesleyan (6-1), 1:00pm, Middletown, Connecticut

This is our game of the week, but the Cardinals showed some life in their come-from-behind victory against the Mammoths. Ashton Scott ‘22 is the real deal, and Matthew Simco ‘22 is a big playmaker that will give any defense problems; but this is the best defensive unit in the NESCAC, and their double-digit road victory against Trinity reaffirms my belief that this is the best and most complete team in the league. In a battle of one-loss foes, it’ll be Williams who dominates the time of possession and makes life hard on Scott. Ephs fans will be simultaneously praying that Hamilton can knock off Middlebury and keep the championship race open for one more week.

Picks:
RM: Williams 36, Wesleyan 20
HC: Williams 27, Wesleyan 13
MK: Williams 25, Wesleyan 16
CC: Williams 28, Wesleyan 14
SS: Williams 31, Wesleyan 21

Writers’ Pick: Williams

Bowdoin (0-7) @ Bates (0-7), 5:30pm, Lewiston, ME

Welcome to the 2019 Toilet Bowl featuring (for the second consecutive year) Bates and Bowdoin. All jokes aside, for the Bobcats, last week’s battle against the Mules gives me room for optimism heading into Saturday’s clash. Colby punched Bates in the mouth right from the get-go, racing out to a 23-0 lead. The Bobcats could have folded right then and there, but Jackson Hayes’ ‘22 47-yard touchdown reception as time expired gave the ‘Cats some momentum heading into the second half. For the remaining 30 minutes, Bates absolutely dominated the Mules on both sides of the ball. The defense stifled Colby’s offense to the tune of just 78 total second half yards, while Brendan Costa ‘21 and the offense nearly doubled that number. The special teams unit gave Celaya nightmares all second half, ignited by senior captain Jon Lindgren’s field goal block with 4:46 left in the third quarter.

The Bobcats were potentially one dropped pass away from forcing overtime, and while you have to account for the emotional toll the game had on the players, I see no reason why the ‘Cats won’t come out fired up for this game. Not only is it the last game for Bates in 2019, but the 5:30 pm kickoff will surely bring a large crowd ready to cheer their team to victory. In a similar scenario last season, Bowdoin embarrassed Bates 31-14 en route to their only win of 2018; you have to think for Bates, revenge is right at the forefront of their minds. It was only one game, but Costa looked much better against the Mules and should have success against a Polar Bears’ defense that is still allowing over 40 points and 465 yards per game. Emotions will be on full display during a physical first fifteen minutes, but I trust Bates’ offense to put up around 30 points on Bowdoin’s defense, a number Bowdoin’s offense hasn’t achieved in the score column all season. The Bobcats have lost 17 consecutive games, but that streak ends with an emphatic win this Saturday night.

Picks:
RM: Bates 34, Bowdoin 17
HC: Bowdoin 24, Bates 17
MK: Bates 28, Bowdoin 14
CC: Bates 29, Bowdoin 17
SS: Bates 24, Bowdoin 17

Writers’ Pick: Bates