MBB: NEWMAC

[Hugenerd]

MIT had a poor first half with Hollingsworth taking virtually ever shot. Looked like the game plan was to feed the beast!.  He was unstoppable the entire game but the difference in the second half was Kates and Burke.  Burke was deadly from long range (4-5) on several kickouts from Hollingsworth. He is a big time weapon against the double and triple teams. Mitchell Kates has 11 points 5 assists and 5 steals to control the game late as the lead built. Kudos to the defense holding Babson to 19 second half points.

Hollingsworth's biggest strength is the way he uses his size in the post and holds his position.  When you front he gets real good position and MIT kills you with lobs and if you play behind he has both the mini and long range hook, as well as the mid-range jumper (especially using the backboard) to just kill you.  When Babson started doubloing down, as toooldtoplay stated, he would kick out for open 3s to MITs real good shooters.  He scored 37 without scoring in the final 9+ minutes of the game.  I thought he might break the scool record (43) after he scored 20 in the first 11 minutes of the second half (making his first 9 FG).

This sets up a big game for MIT, as they host WPI on Wednesday.

Also, MIT could be ranked as high as #10 in the top 25 next week, as #7 Middlebury, #8 Brandeis, #9 Amherst, #10 Mississippi College (twice), and #14 Wheaton (IL) lose.  It will likely depend on how much Middlebury and Amherst drop.  I suspect Middlebury will drop below MIT by losing to the 2nd best team in the CCC at home (MIT beat the best team in the CCC, Gordon, earlier in the year), but Amherst may not because their loss was a close one on the road to #11 Williams.

[Hugenerd]

I thought this was interesting when I noticed it.  Babson is 5-1 when they tie or outrebound opponents and now 0-6 when they get outrebounded.  When Babson was up on MIT in the first half, you guessed it, they were also winning the rebounding battle.


I wonder who wins player of the week this week.  I think it would have to be from MIT or Springfield as they are the teams that went 2-0.  Statistically, Hollingsworth had the best week, averaging 26.5 ppg (25-41 FG), 8 rpg, 2.5 bpg, and 2.5 apg, but he has already won it twice and I could see them giving it to someone else.  Could be Matt Cavalieri as he averaged 18 ppg (14-21 FG), 11 rpg, and 2 spg, but Hollingsworth clearly had the better week. 

[Hugenerd]

Just found out that MIT Coach Larry Anderson will be on Hoopsville tomorrow night at about 7:20.  He is a very genuine person and great to talk to.  I highly recommend tuning in for the interview.  It will be interesting to hear his thoughts on the current squad and how they have been so successful so far with such a young team.

[Hugenerd]

Just found out that MIT Coach Larry Anderson will be on Hoopsville tomorrow night at about 7:20.  He is a very genuine person and great to talk to.  I highly recommend tuning in for the interview.  It will be interesting to hear his thoughts on the current squad and how they have been so successful so far with such a young team.

Here is the release from MIT:

http://www.mitathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/2009-10/releases/AndersonHoopsville_011010

[BBallers]

I agree with what everyone else said about the MIT win.  Babson has a shorter frontcourt, but they are really strong and utilize it in rebounding.  Babson face guarded Johnson, Bender and others, but did not appear to leave either of those two players and neither touched the ball as often as they normally do.  That left Hollingsworth one-on-one and Coach Anderson (being the smart coach that he is) will utilize that match until they decide to double.  It wouldn't matter if he scored 70 points and the rest of the team 0, as long as he is in single coverage, that is probably MIT's best option.  When Babson finally doubled, they decided to leave Burke open, which is a HUGE mistake.  Burke drained the open shots like he usually does.  I thought MIT would rebound better than they did in the game.  I'm curious how WPI will defend against MIT.  When was the last time MIT beat WPI?  Didn't they lose home and away to them the last two years?  I hope MIT uses their record against WPI as additional incentive in their most important game of the season.

[Hugenerd]

I agree with what everyone else said about the MIT win.  Babson has a shorter frontcourt, but they are really strong and utilize it in rebounding.  Babson face guarded Johnson, Bender and others, but did not appear to leave either of those two players and neither touched the ball as often as they normally do.  That left Hollingsworth one-on-one and Coach Anderson (being the smart coach that he is) will utilize that match until they decide to double.  It wouldn't matter if he scored 70 points and the rest of the team 0, as long as he is in single coverage, that is probably MIT's best option.  When Babson finally doubled, they decided to leave Burke open, which is a HUGE mistake.  Burke drained the open shots like he usually does.  I thought MIT would rebound better than they did in the game.  I'm curious how WPI will defend against MIT.  When was the last time MIT beat WPI?  Didn't they lose home and away to them the last two years?  I hope MIT uses their record against WPI as additional incentive in their most important game of the season.

That would be February 20, 2003.

[BBallers]

Appreciate the info, Hugenerd.  Wow, 7 years since MIT beat WPI.

BTW, just listened to Coach Anderson and was very happy to hear that MIT will probably play D1 Harvard again next year and future years.

[Hugenerd]

Appreciate the info, Hugenerd.  Wow, 7 years since MIT beat WPI.

BTW, just listened to Coach Anderson and was very happy to hear that MIT will probably play D1 Harvard again next year and future years.

If they continue to bring in recruiting classes like this years and the one they should bring in next year, they could compete very closely in those games soon.

[Hugenerd]

Congrats to Noel Hollingsworth for being named NEWMAC Player of the Week, for the third time in 4 weeks (and 3 out of 5 weeks the award has been given out this season).  

http://www.newmacsports.com/sports/mbkb/awards/weekly/2009-2010/mbkbweekly011110

[Hugenerd]

In terms of statistics, MIT players are doing pretty well in conference:

Hollingsworth leads the league in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage.  He is also second in the league in blocks.

Mitchell Kates leads the league in assists, steals, he is 4th in FG%, 8th in A/TO ratio, 9th in scoring, and 13th in FT%.

Jimmy Burke leads the league in 3FG%, 2nd in 3s made, 4th in A/TO ratio, 8th in FG%, 13th in assists, and 17th in scoring.

Billy Johnson is 4th in 3s made, 8th in blocked shots, 9th in 3FG%, 19th in rebounding, and 20th in scoring.

Billy Bender is 11th in 3FG%, 13th in 3s made, 16th in rebounding, 26th in scoring.

Will Tashmen is 7th in rebounding.


As a team, MIT leads the league in scoring defense, scoring margin, and rebounding defense.  They are second in scoring offense, FG%, FG% defense, 3FG% defense, and rebounding margin.

[Hugenerd]

MIT Athletics is on twitter and facebook now, for anyone interested:

http://www.twitter.com/MITengineers

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/MIT-Engineers/220473176562

The pages have all press releases by MIT as well as possible score updates through twitter.

[Hugenerd]

Article aboue MIT recruit Tim Donegan:

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/highschool/s_661588.html

[tball]

Great win for Babson & the NEWMAC Conference tonight.  Nice work!

[Hugenerd]

HUGE win for Babson tonight over#9 Amherst, 65-59.  Babson led the entire game, and by as many of 14 early in the second half, until they gave up the lead for the first team around the 5 minute mark.  They never went down by more than 2, however, and were able to rally to make some timely shots down the stretch and pick up a great win.  Marcus Edwards and Russel Braithwaite led Babson with 13 points each, but everyone on the court made big plays down the stretch.

[toooldtoplay]

Nice work Babson.  Amherst hangover from Williams?