MBB: NEWMAC

[mass_d3fan]

'With him in there, they are able to go 6'5", 6'8", 6'8", 6'9" in the starting lineup 2-4.  That is really unique for a d3 team. '


I agree.  Against WPI, That front line completely neutralized Perez's ability to be a real influence on the outcome of the game.  He did go 5 for 7, but only 7 shots in 30 minutes when your being counted on as the low post game for your team is not much.  Many times he got the ball down low in a good position, only to find one or two defenders 6" taller right there to deny him a good look.

I have said it before - MIT present a huge matchup issue for most teams and especially for WPI.  Springfield may be still be the best team in the conference to matchup with MIT.  I have a feeling the Clark-MIT rematch will not be anything like the first game.  Clark had their chance in catching the Engineers on a down day after the very emotional win over WPI.

If there is a loss out there in conference for MIT, I think it may be when they travel to Springfield.

[toooldtoplay]

         Don't look too far ahead. In league play any team can beat any other.  A few injuries and a couple of players with stomach issues  can neutralize a size or skill advantage. Tomorrows game could be alot closer than expected.  BEWARE!!

[mass_d3fan]

toooldtoplay,

I agree.

I was talking more about if the teams stay healthly.  There is no way to predict injuries and what their impact will be on a team.

Having seen MIT twice, once in their place - charged up to take the conference's reigning big dog and then in the game after that when they had a very natural let down.

Their talent is the best in the conference, I have no doubt about that.  Youth & experience are perhaps their weakness, but they now have a numbe rof games behind them and have gone through the expereinces of winning blowouts, winning close games and winning rival games.   The expereince factor is becoming a much smaller part of the picture now.

I would say thier biggest concern now is if Kates is going to continue to struggle with that wrist/hand issue.   

[BBallers]

I agree that the 6-5; 6-8; 6-8; 6-8 lineup with skills definately creates mismatches and Kates is a good sized one also who probably won't play against bigger point guards.  I believe Clark matches up against MIT better than Springfield, but either have the potential to beat MIT if they play bad.  Right now I'm just worried about Wheaton.  I think MIT should dominate Wheaton inside, but I just heard that both Billy's (Johnson and Bender) along with Devin have the flu, with 2 of them spending the night in the hospital.  Don't know who will play, how long or how well.  Wheaton's top two scorers appear to be their 1 and 2 guards, Choppola and Degnan who are both fast and good shooters.

[Hugenerd]

From what I head it was food poisoning, but it doesnt make any difference, both of the Billy's played.

I caught the second half of the game and MIT didnt play anywhere close to where you would hope.  They havent played well since the WPI game, so this may be a good wake-up call for them that they cant just show up and beat teams.  They do have guys sick or dinged up, but you gotta play through that.  Unlike the game against Springfield, they didnt get great production out of Hollingsworth or their two main shooting threats (Johnson and Burke), so they just didnt have enough.  They had their run in the second half and took a 4 point lead at one point, but then they went cold for 4 minutes with 5 minutes left in the game, and you cant do that if you want to win games.  They missed some layups and gave up some 3s that ended up costing them this game.  I hope that this gets the guys attention and that they can rebound and start playing well again.  Bender played tough today even though he wasnt 100%, going for 12 and 12.  Kates played a bit more like himself but missed a couple big layups near the end of the game.  Another bright spot was Tashmen who went for 15 (6-8 FG), 9 rebounds, and 4 steals. This is a game they should have won, but they didnt get it done.  Wheaton is a bit of an enigma, they only have 2 league wins and they are over WPI and MIT.  Anything can happen in league play.

[BBallers]

You're right.  They haven't played good enough since the WPI game and hopefully this will be a wakeup call.  It was kind of strange seeing MIT in a zone against a team that was making over 50% of their 3-pointers.  Then again, MIT had difficulty stopping them off the dribble.  The other thing I noticed defensively was that there was too much "help" defense from several players even when the player was already covered.  Several times it ended up with several MIT players trying to guard one player that allowed them to easily kick the ball back out to their choice of shooters.  The rotation off of help defense was also slow.  I assume other conference teams might try the same tactic, but I'm sure Coach Anderson will get it corrected.  On the bright side, I agree that Tashman had a good game and appears to be playing better each game.  Hollingsworth had a bad game, but from what I've seen in the conference, he would still be my choice for early player of the year.  I pity Wheaton when Hollingsworth plays them again.  Your right that anything can happen in conference play, but I didn't think their first loss would be at home.

At least the whole team didn't get the flu like the 2007-08 MIT team at the end of a promising season.  I hope MIT keeps winning enough to get an at large bid to the NCAA's even if they lose a game in the conference tournament, but that's looking ahead too much...

[Hugenerd]

You're right.  They haven't played good enough since the WPI game and hopefully this will be a wakeup call.  It was kind of strange seeing MIT in a zone against a team that was making over 50% of their 3-pointers.  Then again, MIT had difficulty stopping them off the dribble. 

I think a lot of these problems can be attributed to team health.  I think the most important thing right now is to try to get everyone back as health as possible.  As some of you know, they had three guys in the hospital the day/night before the game, including two starters. A few other guys are playing with lower body injuries that can really effect your movement on the court and shot.  All of them played, but, as you pointed out, they uncharacteristically played a zone a lot of the game and were still slow closing out a lot of the time.  I think the zone was to try to protect some of the players who werent feeling 100%.  They have been shooting awful recently from 3, which doent help either  (they were 4-20 from 3, Wheaton was 10-19). Hopefully everyone will be feeling better soon.  They only have 7 games over the next month, including a week  break after the Babson game and they will get another week break if they can secure first place for the conference tourney (that could be huge for them).  I hope they get back on track at Coast Guard on Wednessday, but it is never easy playing down there.

[Hugenerd]

Here are some video highlights of a recent game of Creighton Prep.  Nick Davis (#24 in White), an MIT recruit, has a pretty nice dunk and some other nice plays.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100122/HIGHSCHOOLS/701229759/-1/highschools

[toooldtoplay]

Hard loss to take over the weekend but probably good in the long run. They were going to lose one somewhere along the way and this was as good a time as any. Kates and Burke are banged up pretty good. That combined with hitting a bit of the freshman wall, and losing a bit of hunger has led to the dissappointed outings. I expect a big performance this Wednesday at CGA providing the legs are healthy.

The penetration is a problem that needs to be addressed. I believe they are a team that is ideally suited to a packed in man or match up zone at times when teams start to put their head down and penetrate. The 2-3 actually got them back into the game and built a 6 point lead. In hindsight it also allowed the long 3's to get back in the game.  The 1-2-2 would keep Tashman and Hollingworth in the paint with Kates, Burke, Bender and Johnson dealing with the perimeter players. 

[toooldtoplay]

Davis looks like a long 3-4 that can put the ball on the floor and get up over the rim easily. Might be a nice addition. Plays on  a good team. Keep up the info as you find it. Thanks.

[atn alum]

We don't have video (as MIT does), but if you want to listen to the Coast Guard-MIT game, you can tune in at 7:30 eastern tonight on http://sportsjuice.com

If you're listening, feel free to send us a note at cgbears2008@aol.com

[Hugenerd]

We don't have video (as MIT does), but if you want to listen to the Coast Guard-MIT game, you can tune in at 7:30 eastern tonight on http://sportsjuice.com

If you're listening, feel free to send us a note at cgbears2008@aol.com

Nice to hear from you Mark.  I thought you had disappeared.

[BBallers]

I know Kates wrapped his wrist and he tweaked his ankle a little at the end of the Springfield game, but he looked pretty good going coast to coast for layups at the end of the game.  What's wrong with Burke being all banged up?  I hadn't heard anything about him, but I hope he gets well from whatever injury.

Appreciate the video of Davis.  The more recruits, the deeper and better the team gets.  I'm more excited at when Jamie returns because he is a proven scorer at the college level and he improved his game over the summer before his late summer back injury.  I haven't heard anything about him coming back this season or waiting/red-shirting until next season.  I know he had back problems and now hamstring problems, but not sure of his current progress.

[Hugenerd]

I know Kates wrapped his wrist and he tweaked his ankle a little at the end of the Springfield game, but he looked pretty good going coast to coast for layups at the end of the game.  What's wrong with Burke being all banged up?  I hadn't heard anything about him, but I hope he gets well from whatever injury.

Appreciate the video of Davis.  The more recruits, the deeper and better the team gets.  I'm more excited at when Jamie returns because he is a proven scorer at the college level and he improved his game over the summer before his late summer back injury.  I haven't heard anything about him coming back this season or waiting/red-shirting until next season.  I know he had back problems and now hamstring problems, but not sure of his current progress.

He is red-shirting.

[Hugenerd]

Mark Simon doing a great job on the call.

MIT up 45-37 at the half.  Jevon James has 13 points for CGA.  Hollingsworth has 14, Jimmy Burke has 11, and Billy Johnson has 9 for MIT.

About halfway through the second half, MIT up 69-48.  Billy Johnson wakes up today, he has had a pretty good shooting night, 4 three-pointers for him so far.

Jimmy Burke also shows up today, with 4 threes of his own so far.  MIT up 21 with 5 to play.