The Panther Express, all shined up and still sporting a number-two-in-the-land pennant swirling in the Maine winds, rolls into Lewiston today for the nescac tipoff with Bates. As ventured here last week, our 9-0 was good enough to hold down the second spot in the national polls, but Midd was leapfrogged for #1, by No.Central (Ill.), probably based on their early strength of schedule edge. Not to worry, 'TheBoys' recognize that there are only five 'Tall Trees' left in the d3 forest, and being on the road with the gaudy ranking makes them a big target. Bates is scrappy, but doesn't really shoot 3's well, and looks out-manned, but have us in their building. Does 'the road' plus the fact that they always play hard, give them enough to overcome our guards, new found 'O' punch, and depth? From here the answer is a respectful, 'No'! Joey, Jake and NolanT. have a good hand on the game throttle, score as necessary and have demonstrated close out abilities regularly. Now with added options from Lynch's inside consistency and Merryman's ability to score from downtown, the offense keeps the pressure on the opponent to be able to match buckets at each possession. Although the 'D' is not at the nation-leading (percentage wise) levels of recent seasons, most coaches would be drooling to get the likes of Jensen, NateB. or LongJack to play hard-nosed stoppers or get he ball off the boards. And that doesn't even count their scoreboard contributions. Bates is definitely do-able despite their positives, and TheBoys will move on to Tufts.
Tufts will be the harder game of the two. One advantage for Midd is that Tufts is going to be all juiced up to try and beat Williams tonight. If things go well in Lewiston early, it gives us the advantage of saving some legs for the trip down to Medford. That is always a plus in the 'back-to-backs'. They've got size in Lanchantin and (frosh) Pallencini (both 6'8) to be effective up front and decent G. play. They've played hard and hung till late with MIT (then #1), and Ill.Wes. and those were 'roaders'. The advantages TheBoys have are in the close-out ability led by our G. rotation, whereas they haven't yet quite finished the deal. Add the fact that one of their scorers may be in for a deflating afternoon because I'm advised NolanT. is bringing his handcuffs, and that is another hidden plus that you can't find by looking at a box score. Maybe close, but no Red Auerbach cigar for The Jumbo's.
A quick rundown of the nescac looks like there are three tiers: up top, Midd, The Ephs and TheLordJeffNation; at the next level are the aforementioned Jumbo's, Wesleyan- who has been tres disappointing to date, but still have the coaching and talent to be heard from, then maybe Bowdoin. The bottom group is up in the air- because Bates has a problem scoring with regularity, always a negative in games where the most points determines the winner; Trinity is in the same boat shooting-wise, and also has the underlying question of what is going on over there, with at least six kids having left the program in the last two years. From my seat that doesn't bode well for seasonal success. I don't know where Hamilton is strength wise but they've been in and out at best in the nescac run-up. The absolute bottom looks like a tossup between ConnColl. and Colby and I'd take The Camels to break that tie simply because Vadas will be the only impact player in the game when those two go head to head.
From the scheduler's standpoint The Ephs get the best of it because both Midd and TheLJN have to travel to Spring Street this season. And The Panthers get last licks with Toomey and his pals at Pepin to end the regular season. It ought to be challenging, and certainly there will be the need for lamaze sessions as the season tightens down. Maybe tomorrow, but not tonight.
Before signing off- I would like everyone to know that Midd lost one of the stars in its constellation the other day when Paul ('Head') Witteman, '66, passed after being saddled with multiple myeloma for the past nine seasons. 'Head' was one of our great BBall supporters, loved the game, and loved Middlebury. An enthusiatic, caring and brilliant man, he made sure after Roger Ralph graduated, that Butch got picked up for every game. He was the important second in that line of young men, (and that all of us who've been lucky enough to put on the blue-and-white are a part of), that have given some of their time to helping Butch, and for which tradition, Middlebury has been recognized and rewarded. I am certain that when Midd's Bball Alumni gather next weekend that more than a glass or two will be raised with a story about 'Head'. From somewhere you know he will be watching.
And remember: "down The Alibi's stairs, out of SamEmilio's beer cooler, over the scorer's table and off the thirty-five second clock, nothin' but net". Be well. Clubbo.
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