MBB: NEWMAC

[hugenerd]

MIT won its 19th game of the year, tying a school record set 39 years ago.  Dou Soumare returned after a open dislocation of his thumb that kept him out 7 games. Her is MIT's best defensive threat.  He was instrumental on the defensive end in the second half of tonight's game.  Getting 5 blocks and 9 boards in the final 8-10 minutes of the game.  MIT faces CGA on saturday.  Soumare was injured a month ago in the two team's last meeting.  Should be a good one, along with the other NEWMAC final between WPI and Wheaton.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

MIT actually has a shot at an at-large bid if they keep winning.  They will need a lot of other teams who are supposed to win, continue to win, but there is an outside shot if the beat Coast Guard.  I think the 8 region losses might kill them, but their QOWI number is way up right now.

[newmacnewcommer]

It would be justice for MIT to get in. If not for 1 bad no call at the end of the WPI game, MIT would be the regular season champs. However, they are probably going to have to win the tourney to get in.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Yeah, it would be a bit crazy if MIT got in without winning the tournament.  I think they can do it though.

[sixer]

I'm glad to see MIT and WPI both doing so well this season.  It's good to see some "geek" schools do well in a conference that definately has its share of "jock" schools (ie Wheaton and Springfield).  WPI catches a lot of crap about being so nerdy, it's great to be able to hear about something other than robotics competitions on camps.

[sixer]

what would need to happen in the other NE conferences for MIT to have a good shot at an at-large bid?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It's not the NE conferences, its every conference in the country.  Pretty much every team that is leading their conference would have to win the automatic bid.

In the last QOWI rankings, MIT was 19th among teams not leading their conference.  Add to that their regional losses (which will be 8 by the time they get to Pool C) and its a super long shot.  They are better off winning the tournament.

[newmacnewcommer]

Hoops Fan,

What happen's to WPI if they lose to Wheaton? I would think they are still in>

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Yeah, I think they are in no matter what.

[newmacnewcommer]

Hoops Fan,

Thanks.
Who gets knocked  out if someone other than WPI wins?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

That's tough to know until it all pans out.  Teams like NYU, NJCU, and St Thomas are "on the bubble" so to speak.  You really can't know who would be hurt by that loss until Sunday.

[babsongunz]

enough talk about mit.  if they do make it to the finals they will have to prove that they can hang with wpi and coleman anyways.  give them crdeit for last nihgts win at least - that big kid #21 stalled us, and what surprises me most about that team is how deep they are.  i sat in the stands and watched a blond kid and an asian kid with a headband hit like 15 consecutive threes in warmups.  ive been to all three babson matchups this year, i dont think those two played a combined 5 minutes.  go figure. 

[hugenerd]

That was #21's (Soumare) first game back after missing 7 games, he dominated the last 10 minutes of the game getting 5 blocks and 9 of his 10 rebounds in that span.  He should make a big impact in the Coast Guard game, Johnson had a field day last time the two teams met after Soumare was injured early in the first half.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

With Soumare back, MIT becomes the favorite in this game, in my book.  He adds something that MIT really needed.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

With Soumare back, MIT becomes the favorite in this game, in my book.  He adds something that MIT really needed.

Wow, talk about subject-verb agreement problems...ouch.