MBB: NEWMAC

[nescac1]

NESCAC is rooting for that to happen (at least until the finals of the NEWMAC tourney, where a Springfield win would almost guarantee two NEWMAC teams in the NCAA, barring a huge collapse by WPI), because the big five from NESCAC all beat Springfield, and Springfield getting to .500 would help all of their SOSI's (unless SOSI is calculate based on the time the teams met, but I can't imagine that is the case?). 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

No its figured from the end of the year.  If WPI loses a few more, they might be out of the Pool C race.  Anything is possible.

[newmacnewcommer]

and when you put that up against Sean Kelly's 7 assists for the night it makes for a tough matchup.  Doesn't help that WPI shot for 18% from 3-point territory, where they usually excell.

I think Tue's game against Springfield will be a real test.

Iagree. I also believe that Saturday's game against CGA is a test. Last year CGA beat a better WPI team ( my opinon ). WPI had the other 6' 11" player and he's still better than this years version. Although he is getting better with each game. Must be nice to have an extra big guy around if you need one. I think that with the talent and experience that WPI has they should have beat teams in their conf. more soundly. What do you think their record would be if they were in the NESCAC?

[sixer]

No its figured from the end of the year.  If WPI loses a few more, they might be out of the Pool C race.  Anything is possible.

Hoops Fan, can you clarify that?  By end of the year do you mean the Pool C bids are figured by the end of all games prior to the NCAA tournament, or by the end of regular season play?

Worst case scenario, if WPI loses a few more and drops the NEWMAC tourney who do you forsee getting the Pool C bids from New England?


I think the reason Wheaton won last night was because they're one of few teams so far that has been able to silence Cain AND Coleman at the same time.

[617primetime]

 I would just like to say that WPI doesn't seem to get the respect they deserve. Everyone, myself included, tends to look at the faults of this team, instead of their strengths. I'm very aware they've played some not so good teams to the wire (WOR ST) and lost two games you wouldn't think (CLA & WHEATON)they would, but anyone who sees them play immediately knows they're loaded with talent. They are 18-2 and have beaten two current top 10 teams, WILL & SAL ST. I just think that they'd be a fan favorite if they had snuck up this year, instead of being expected to be a national power. I think this is a legit team.

[newmacnewcommer]

617Primetime

I agree that WPI is loaded with talent and thats why they have won as many games as they have. I was at the Williams game and I thought that WPI was the better team from a talent standpoint in fact I would say 10 points better. However, Williams is so well coached that they almost won the game. I would guess that by this time if WPI played them again Williams would win going away. I'm sure that they're a better team by now and WPI is struggling to win close games.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The selection committee looks at all in-region games, including the conference tournament. If WPI loses to Coast Guard and Springfield and then drops a game before the tourney championship, they could be in trouble.  I mean its a worse case scenario, but 5 regional losses, 4 of them in a row, they could be in trouble.  I think if they win one of the next two and lose in the conference final, they are still in.

[617primetime]

Does the committe take momentum into account (i.e. 4 losses to end the year)? Does it benefit to end strong, or is it stricly numbers?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The committee has primary and secondary criteria.  So if they are trying to decide between two teams, they have some extra things they consider other things.

Primary criteria (after in-region record and QOWI):

in-region head-to-head
in-region common opponents
(these two are only for ranking teams within a region though)
in-region games versus regionally ranked teams (ranked at the time of selection only)

Secondary criteria (which matter more when comparing teams from different regions):

out of region head-to-head
overall d3 winning percentage
results vs common d3 opponents
results vs teams ranked in any region
overall winning percentage
overall results vs common opponents
overall QOWI
play during the last 25% of the schedule

These criteria are in no particular order.  From past experience it seems losing before the conference tourney final will hurt a team more than anything else.

[617primetime]

Thanks for the education brotha

[sixer]

I think WPI has an amazing amount of talent too!  But that's why people pick them apart so much, because we know what they could be doing. 

And don't forget where they came from too...it was only a few years ('02-'03) ago that they were 1-11 in the NEWMAC and the year before that they were even worse. 

So clearly there was some great coaching there to turn a program around so dramatically.  But sometimes I start to wonder if last year's run went to Bartley's head and now he's aiming for a championship instead of focusing on playing good basketball...

Don't get me wrong, I think he's a great coach and a great guy (I mean he invited the entire team to his wedding), I just think he might have changed his focus a bit.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I think they've got a good program developing there.  I never want to put a damper on people getting excited, I just wanted to keep realistic expectations, especially with the way the voters pumped them up so much.  I don't think the final four is a legitimate goal for this team.  I've seen too many good this falter because the expectations got too high, too fast.  Keep supporting the WPI boys, but don't expect them to be in Amherst or Williams' class (overall, as a program) just yet.

[newmacnewcommer]

SIXER,

From what I understand, Prior to Bartley, WPI didn't really actively recruit players.
So the big turnaround is largely due to the fact that they starting recruiting. Also, Bartley's prior assistant is responsible for all the players curently there. He's gone so we"ll see what kind of players come in now.

Bartley gets and deserves credit for the intense and effective defense his teams have played under his watch.

He also has to assume responsibilty for the offense. Earlier I stated that he doesn't have 1 player in the top 10 in assists. This is because he has 4 players, who play alot of minutes , who feel that they are the #1 option, at least thats how they play.They won't give up the ball unless they can't do anything with it, even if another player has a better shot. This is the problem in a nut shell. There is 1 player that he's been encourging to pass all year, well coach, if hes not doing it 19 games into the season , he either doesn't understand or doesn't care.

IF they could get it going on both sides of the ball at the same time they could do some serious damage in the big tournment. I for one would love to see it.

[hugenerd]

Mike Dauria of MIT was selected as First Team All Academic for District I today by CoSida.  He is now eligible for Academica All-American.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

What does that say about one of the most prestigious academic schools in the region, that they only get one guy elligible for academic all-american??

I love MIT (one of the best libraries around, by the way); they should demand more respect than that.