'the nescac stew starts to thicken..'

       And you don't even have to add any flour to the recipe. 'ThePantherExpress', all shined up, will chug into the Spring Street station tomorrow so that the traveling Panther Faithful can confront the Chandler 'crazies', while 'TheBoys' (at #3) do battle with The Eph-men (at #9). What is on the line is considerable, but we're at the point in the season, where the possessions start getting a little bigger, and for the uninitated, the diameter of the hoop begins to shrink just a bit. On the line is the first leg up on the nescacs. After tomorrow there will be two unbeatens in league play- Amherst (they're not losing to Trinity at Lefrak. Period) and the Chandler winner. After watching Amherst close down Maker's attack the last four minutes of the first half and crush them from that point (Amherst was plus 25 the last 24minutes), several things came to mind.

      Williams' style has been to try to push it early, open the 3-ball game, with Epley, Mayer and Klemm, and once in front slow the pace, use the shot clock, and run their sets. Against Toomey and his pals, who have firepower, they did open up early, but couldn't get it past plus ten. Then the higher pace played more to the Amherst strength on 'O'. Amherst is adept at finding the open weak-side guy, and is deeper off the bench, and once the ball started to go in, Williams couldn't answer. The 'why' holds the key to TheBoys' strategy. Back at Chandler, with the place roaring, you know Maker will be looking for the kill early. The answer to 'why' Amherst controlled them is in the match-ups on 'D'. First: the one to close down is Epley- who as a senior has come on. Two keys on controlling him are keep the weak-side passes away from him, so he can't spot up for the 3-ball, and if he does get it, sit on his left hand, and make him to put it on the floor. He will oblige, but is not nearly as effective once he does that. Also if he's out of rhythm they have to look elsewhere for those missing buckets. It used to be that Klemm would get the ball for some of those 3's. Not so much anymore, but he's got to be played because he's still got firepower. Seems that NolanT.would get first call on putting the cuffs on Epley. Jensen could spell him, but there's a concern about possible foul trouble out there on the perimeter for James. Joey draws the assignment on Robertson who's their triggerman and did more driving against Toomey, than he's done in other outings. Mayer is the other potential problem. Thought Hixon got it right by having his bigs play about 6 feet off of him while being always watchful of him. Yes, Mayer did make some 3's when open, but his trick is to flash down the lane for the high pass and finish, when the big man turns his head. Would like to see Pedro Lynch in this position because he's quicker to close the passing lanes. If we do those kinds of things Williams doesn't get off and cruising on the front end.

      That plays into Midd's hidden strength. For a group at 16-0, there have been a lot of questions about whether TheBoys belong in the top tier. Suffice it to say my take has been that we may not be the dominant defensive team of a couple of years past, but this edition know what it takes to close teams out and win. On that basis, I broke down twelve of  the wins on a statistical basis. Not included were Green Mt.; So.VT.; JohnsonSt.; and St.Joe's because in those games Midd was comfortably ahead by halftime, and the last ten minutes were extended 'garbage time' to steal a phrase from Marv Albert. Each game was put under a microscope I borrowed from bio lab, and season-wise the stats presented pertain only to our play once the clock goes under ten minutes.

      This is the best G.trio in the country. If we say it enough times somebody beyond the Otter Creek might hear us. In the games dissected Midd is plus 80! That includes the Wesleyan game, where Shasha and Co. went 11-20 from the floor (minus 10); and the Bates game where they went 10-19 (minus 2). Although the FG percentage 'D' isn't great with those two games figured in (67-155 or 43.2%), in our other ten games, it's 38.1%. so the 'D' is there. One other major contributor to the close-out scenario is FT shooting. In years past, we've been shaky at best. This group has been very effective at 85-109 (78%). Remember this is the last ten minutes only, but it is maintained here that crunch time consistency not only wins the 'closies', but creates the atmosphere where TheBoys expect to win and don't feel as much pressure.

      Knowing it's at Chandler, knowing we often start slowly, it's certain that the pre-paid lamaze cards will be getting swiped with regularity. However the take from here is that TheBoys will be fully focused early, play the kind of 'D' that won't let Williams get away and should damper the 'crazies'. Although our depth is getting into uncharted waters because of the injury bug, from what Maker has done, it doesn't appear that he has the depth of other Williams' teams, and some of our guys are capable of big minutes that should turn things our way. Williams is do-able, even on the road and Midd should joins Amherst atop the nescac. After some extra breathing sessions, or even after a couple of the Faithful are whacked with a defibrillator to get their heart palpitations back in line, 'ThePantherExpress' can head back north with the champagne corks a-popping. 

      Remember: "down 'The Alibi' stairs, over the Otter Creek bridge, past the VFW's bar stools, off DickTheHealer's whirlpool, nothin' but net!" I've heard that many more people read this blog than comment, but would appreciate comments- yay or nay- that anyone might have. Be well. Clubbo.