Weekend Preview
#19 Amherst (18-3, 5-2) @ #10 Williams (19-3, 6-2)
Amherst and Williams will battle it out in Williamstown this weekend as 2 of the top teams in the country will collide to see who can sit atop the NESCAC. Amherst enters this contests after having won 4 straight NESCAC contests. While Wesleyan was certainly able to give the Mammoths a run for their money last weekend, their other 3 victories were quite convincing. Amherst does a great job of spreading the ball around. Unlike many teams, they don’t have a few dominant guys and a few role players to fill holes but rather they have a complete roster where they are comfortable having any combination of players on the floor. They will need this unpredictability this weekend because the Williams squad they are facing is not too shabby themselves. The big story last weekend was that Williams took only their 3rd loss of the season in an overtime battle with Bowdoin. Looking at the stats I think this game is somewhat of a fluke. Bowdoin shot like Brook Lopez from three, hammering Williams left and right. I think that Williams will be able to bounce back from this loss and finish out the season strong.
Score Prediction: #10 Williams 74 – #19 Amherst 68
Bowdoin (14-8, 3-5) @ Connecticut College (7-15, 0-8)
Bowdoin enters this weekend on their high horse after their overtime win against Williams helped boot them out of a top-10 seed nationally. As I have previously mentioned, the Polar Bears were on fire from 3, shooting 15-28 (53.6%) against Williams. Jack Simonds was the star of the game, dropping 32 points on 6-10 from 3. David Reynolds was nothing if not efficient, scoring 16 on 6/10 from the field and 4/7 from 3. If Bowdoin could repeat this performance every game they would be a dominant force, but that just isn’t realistic. That being said, they certainly aren’t playing a Williams-caliber team in this one so I would expect those players to thrive once again. There’s no two ways about it, Conn’s season has gotten rougher and rougher as it has progressed. There are really no quality wins to write home about and their trajectory does not seem as if there are any coming soon. Senior David Labossiere has had another solid season, averaging over 18 PPG, but does not have enough support to take down the other NESCAC teams. I would say that Conn is tanking for a draft pick, but that’s just not how it works.
Score Prediction: Bowdoin 83 – Conn 69
Colby (15-7, 3-5) @ Wesleyan (15-7, 5-3)
Both of these teams have been down on their luck in their last few NESCAC matchups. After an unexpected weekend in which the Mules managed to take down two nationally ranked teams on the road, they have since lost their last two games. To be fair to the Mules, they have had to face the top two teams in the conference, and were heavy underdogs in their last four games. Considering that fact, it really isn’t too bad at all that they are 2-2 in their last 4. Wesleyan, on the other hand, had their run of success much earlier in the season when they took down Midd, Hamilton and Amherst. Since then the Cardinals are 2-3 in their last 5 NESCAC contests, including 3 straight losses. This has all the makings of a very weird, back-and-forth game. While on paper Wesleyan seems to have the better record (in conference), I think this game is closer than it appears.
Score Prediction: Wesleyan 88 – Colby 85
Bates (7-15, 3-6) @ Trinity (15-7, 4-4)
The Bantams will have home court advantage in this matchup as they host a Bates team that has been up and down all season. At the beginning of the year it appeared as if we had underestimated the Bobcats when they were able to win one of their first two NESCAC contests despite a poor preseason. Since that time it seems as they have come back down to their expectations, but still were able to grab conference wins against Conn and Tufts. This will be Bates’ last conference game of the year so I would expect them to put it all on the line for a shot at getting an 8-seed in the conference tourney. Trinity had themselves a great two games last weekend which launched them up in ‘CAC standings to a nice, safe 6th seed in the conference. You hate to say it but a win against Conn at this point is just a given, but their win against Wesleyan may have raised some eyes. That win suggests to me that Trinity are not a team to be taken lightly, especially in a playoff scenario. Another conference win here will really help the Bantams solidify their playoff spot, and they have all the opportunity to get it.
Score Prediction: Trinity 74 – Bates 65
#8 Hamilton (19-2, 5-2) @ #10 Williams (19-3, 6-2)
The battle of the big dogs will go down this Saturday as the two highest-ranked teams in the conference will go head-to-head for the first time this season. Williams is lucky enough to have gotten the home court advantage for this year as they will host the Continentals. Both of these teams appear to be the obvious best 2 teams in the conference (no disrespect to Midd, you guys are dangerous too). Kena Gilmour has been an absolute animal for Hamilton this year, averaging nearly 20 PPG as well as almost 6 REB/G. On the other side of the ball Williams has the always dangerous Bobby Casey who is putting up an impressive 18/5/4.6 line so fat this season. There is not too much to separate these two on paper, which should make it a fun match to watch. Two high-quality, evenly matched teams atop the NESCAC is great for the brand and should be great entertainment value overall. When it comes to both NESCAC rankings and national rankings, this is an important game. I will certainly be watching and you all should too.
Score Prediction: #8 Hamilton 86 – #10 Williams 82
Bowdoin (14-8, 3-5) @ Wesleyan (15-7, 5-3)
After a warm-up game against Conn, the Polar Bears will head into Cardinal territory for their final NESCAC contest of the year. Bowdoin will likely be riding a high after taking down Conn and will have their eyes on taking down Wesleyan in order to secure a playoff spot. While Wesleyan is certainly the favorite in this contest, Bowdoin’s take down of Williams leaves them confident that they can take down anybody, and Wesleyan is no exception. While Bowdoin may be in form, it is also a fact that Wesleyan is a stronger team overall. They have more quality wins in conference and obviously have a better record. While the cards are stacked in the Card’s favor (I’m sorry), you can’t count Bowdoin out. It’s upset season and this game has upset alert written all over it.
Score Prediction: Bowdoin 78 – Wesleyan 76
#19 Amherst (18-3, 5-2) @ Middlebury (17-5, 6-2)
For the moment, Midd sits atop the conference and has their eye on that #1 seed heading into playoffs. The only problem for the Panthers is the strength of schedule they will have to face finishing out the season. Directly after Friday’s Game of the Week versus #8 Hamilton, Midd will get right back into it on Saturday as they host another top-25 team in Amherst. If there is any way to solidify yourself as top dog at the end of the season it is to beat two ranked teams to end out the year. While this is what all Panther fans are imagining, it is much easier said than done. Middlebury has lost games against the likes of Tufts but then comes right back around to easily take down a former top-10 seed in Williams. This tells us to things about Midd: they are dangerous and can beat anyone, they are human and anyone can beat them. They are not supposed to be at the top of the NESCAC ahead of 3 ranked teams, but they are. There’s a certain grind about them that I like and you can see it on the court until the final buzzer. Amherst’s tough week gets tougher after having to face #10 Williams they have to bus up to Vermont and take on a red-hot Midd. While they off-the-court factors may not be in their favor, Amherst has proven they have everything they need to take care of business on the court. I think that Amherst will need to ride whatever energy they have after facing Williams into this game. If it is a loss, play angry. If it is a win play with confidence. This game is also make or break for their bright, shiny national ranking. A loss here will likely kick them out of the top 25 and boost Midd right into it. I know that is something Mammoth fans would not be happy to see.
Score Prediction: Middlebury 83 – #19 Amherst 77
Colby (15-7, 3-5) @ Connecticut College (7-15, 0-8)
While this game may seem fairly insignificant at face value, in reality it could have a huge impact on how the bottom of the playoff seeds shake out. Colby needs to take this gimme win and run with it for their playoff sakes. As was mentioned in a previous NBN article, one more win should launch the Mules into playoff position, and this is their surefire way to secure that win. Additionally, if the Mules are able to capture another win before this point it will help their seeding out tremendously and possibly avoid a first round matchup with the likes of Williams or Hamilton. The key for the Mules all season has been Sam Jefferson. When he is hot there is nobody that Colby can’t beat. He lead the charge that week when they took down Amherst and Hamilton and he is going to need to lead their final playoff push. For Conn this is a final opportunity to not go completely defeated in conference. It has been another rough season for the Camels and I’m sure they won’t be all too upset to see it draw to a close.
Score Prediction: Colby 83 – Conn 71