MBB: NEWMAC

[pjunito]

The article says that Emerson will join starting in the 2013-14 academic year. Looks like they will have once last shot at the GNACs.

[remsleep]

So...I guess I'll ask the obvious question.  What is the upside for the NEWMAC by adding Emerson?  This weakens ( both academically and athletically) a conference already struggling to gain regional (let alone national) respect.  This ought to hasten consideration by MIT to pursue a NESCAC or UAA affiliation I would think.  Emerson?  Hard to believe that Babson, WPI, Smith, Clark, Wheaton, Wellesley, MIT would support this...but apparently they did.   If they want to further dilute their overall standing then join up with the CCC or GNAC.  Better yet, let's invite Nichols, Curry and Holyoke Community College.  Someone else please weigh in on this...HN--please offer your insights on this!  As a strong ( but weakening!) supporter of the NEWMAC I am very discouraged by this announcement.  I hope it is not just to add another mens' team member. Someone please convince me that this is not a terrible strategic decision.

[WPI89]

So...I guess I'll ask the obvious question.  What is the upside for the NEWMAC by adding Emerson?  This weakens ( both academically and athletically) a conference already struggling to gain regional (let alone national) respect.  This ought to hasten consideration by MIT to pursue a NESCAC or UAA affiliation I would think.  Emerson?  Hard to believe that Babson, WPI, Smith, Clark, Wheaton, Wellesley, MIT would support this...but apparently they did.   If they want to further dilute their overall standing then join up with the CCC or GNAC.  Better yet, let's invite Nichols, Curry and Holyoke Community College.  Someone else please weigh in on this...HN--please offer your insights on this!  As a strong ( but weakening!) supporter of the NEWMAC I am very discouraged by this announcement.  I hope it is not just to add another mens' team member. Someone please convince me that this is not a terrible strategic decision.

Rem

I can't help you much athletically - a quick glance at Emerson's teams the last couple of years did not uncover much success?  However, I do believe you are underestimating the school from an academic standpoint (which I guarantee is why they were added) - a couple of very bright students from our local HS in CT go there every year and the college review books show BU, NYU, and Northeastern as their "comparables" academically.  Also - maybe not hold much weight on this site but it has one of the best theater programs in the Northeast.  Men's basketball, not so much......yet.

[WPI89]

Over 100 posts and I still mess up when I try to reply to messages directly..sorry - see response above in blue.

[pjunito]

I think the move makes sense from a financial standpoint; you have another school in the boston area. Therefore, travel will be reasonable, you have full men's teams in baseball, basketball, soccer, cross country, and volleyball. The teams have not been competitive of late, however, Emerson was the class of the GNAC a few years ago in basketball and with a great coach, could be there again. Dennis Leary did graduate from there, so maybe the NEWMAC thinks it can get him to assist with fundraising or at least getting the name of the conference out there.

Just thoughts...

[WPI89]

Congratulations Josten's finalist Matt Carr and the other representatives for this prestigious award! 

Listed below are the 10 finalists for the 2012 Jostens Trophy:

Men's Finalists
Seth Anderson, Gustavus Adolphus
Matt Carr, WPI
Felix Friedt, Whitworth
Matt Johnson, Univ. of Chicago
Spencer Liddic, Muhlenberg
Tim McCrary, Wheaton
Ryan Sharry, Middlebury
Aaron Van Klaveren, Cal Lutheran
Aris Wurtz, Ripon
Jordan Zimmer, Illinois Wesleyan

Formatting issues - women's finalaist are listed on front page of d3hoops.

[falcons2010]

I think academically Emerson makes sense. They are a very strong school cademically. And its not as if there joining the Ivy League............If O'brien stays, I'm assuming he will get some talent in there bc of his ties in the Boston area, as well as his already great coaching resume.

[Hugenerd]

NEWMAC awards announced:

http://newmacsports.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/releases/2012_MBK_awards

MIT places 3 on the first team and coach of the year, but Berthiaume of Springfield wins POY.  This is surprising to me based on results in previous years where top players from the first place team were selected over the highest scorer (eg, Bartolotta his sophomore and junior year).

[toooldtoplay]

Does Hartwick College provide live video of the games? I cannot seem to get an real answer on the website.

[BBallers]

Also - maybe not hold much weight on this site but it has one of the best theater programs in the Northeast.  Men's basketball, not so much......yet.

I agree that academics and proximity were probably the primary factors.  They have the best game filming and interviews I've seen in D3.  Their basketball team was not very competitive this year when MIT played them.  It doesn't appear that playing them twice now that they will be in the NEWMAC with improve MIT's SOS.

[BBallers]

This is surprising to me based on results in previous years where top players from the first place team were selected over the highest scorer (eg, Bartolotta his sophomore and junior year).

That is exactly what I thought when it was announced and I knew you would pick up on it.  Not a lot of other surprised except I don't remember anything about the Babson or Coast Guard players, but I'm sure they are deserving.  I wish they had more players either by expanding the size of the first and second teams or adding a third team.  I'd be curious to see some of the stats of the bubble players.

[WPI89]

WPI gets Bridgewater State in the ECAC semis on Saturday after Bridgewater handled Wentworth in OT last night.

[69celts]

WPI vs Bridgewater State sounds familiar, and its at Harrington Aud. I remember the last time they battled on the West Side of Worcester, great game won at the last second by one of those great guards that WPI seems to find, Jeff Robinson. Let's see what kind of game Matt Carr brings with him, see if either team is down because they did not make it to the NCAA tourney.

[WPI89]

WPI vs Bridgewater State sounds familiar, and its at Harrington Aud. I remember the last time they battled on the West Side of Worcester, great game won at the last second by one of those great guards that WPI seems to find, Jeff Robinson. Let's see what kind of game Matt Carr brings with him, see if either team is down because they did not make it to the NCAA tourney.

Not nearly the importance this time nor likely the excitement, but in case anyone wants to re-live it............after this, I will back off and leave the board to MIT as it should be.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJWhbmcsgE0

[mass_d3fan]

Good Day Gentlemen

Sorry  I have been away, but I caught a particularily bad flu bug and spent a couple of days in the hospital.  Doing much better  now and took some time last night to catch up with the goings on out here.


Right now, I am not going to go into my opinions on the NCAA selection process.  The very simple truth where WPI is concerned is they put themselves in that position with 2 bad losses to Wheaton.  Win the games you are supposed to win and there would have been no issues.

I did get to MIT last weekend for the semis and I want to congradualte MIT on winniing the AQ for the NEWMAC and wish them best of luck this weekend.  Also congrats to Springfield for making the title game and pushing MIT in that game.

I will say I was very disappointed with WPI's performance in the conference tournament.  They did not shoot the ball well at all and could not come up with the big play in final 5 or 6 minutes to allow them to pull out a win.  I'll say this once again, very poor work by the coaching staff, they are running the same plays looking the same as they execute them as they did in December.  Zero Adjustments - on offense & defense (still leaving good 3 pt shooters alone on the perimeter.) 

Last night I was watching the North Carolina game and it was pleasant to see a team get the ball inside BEFORE the defense gets set up.  Zoeller faced a lot of double teams, but NC still found ways to get him the ball so he could be effective (30 pts of effective).  They got it to him early, they cleared out the side he was working on, they ran some plays where he came of screens. I really thought the Engineers would come into the conference tourney with some new wrinkles, my bad.....   Well, maybe with the storm last night the WPI staff watch the NC game as well, LOL.  It will be interesting to see how the play on Sat.


Congratulations To Alex Berthiaume for being selected as POY.  As others have pointed out, it does seem to be a bit out of character in regards to the past, but if you throw that out, he was a worthy choice.

Congrats to Noel, Hollingsworth, Will Tashman, Mitchell Kates, & Matt Carr for joining Berthiaume on the first team.  All were most deserving of that honor.


Also, kudos to the 2nd teamers, especially DJ Bailey.  Nice to see the conference acknowledge another big who has worked hard on his game.  Good to see two more Engineers on the team in Marco Coppola & Jamie Shannon.

One more Congrats to hand out to Matt Carr for being named a Josten's Finalist.

Lets See this is the 3rd time today I have tried to post this....  Internet is bouncing on & off here today.

Also, Good Luck to Everyone from the Northeast region in the NCAAs!!!!!!!!!!