MBB: NEWMAC

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · March 04, 2012, 05:13:40 PM

Quote from: amh63 on March 04, 2012, 01:11:14 PM
MIT to travel to Lancaster Pa. Hope to watch a MIT vs Amherst final live.

About 90 minutes from my home. I'm going to attempt to get there, but no firm plans just yet.

WPI89 · March 04, 2012, 07:36:31 PM

NEWMAC 4-0 this weekend. I think it was a pretty easy sell for coach Bartley to get the boys motivated to get their 20th win this weekend. 9 seasons in a row - unheard of 15 years ago - quite an accomplishment no matter how you get there.

I agree with Nerd - nothing easy from here on out but MIT got the best they can hope for in the round of 16 and then potentially 8.

Amherst/F&M game is a monster..................

mass_d3fan · March 04, 2012, 09:38:37 PM

Great Finish for the WPI seniors. Matt Carr & David Brown finish their college careers with a record of 84-26, winning 20 or more every year. Jamie Shannon's career ends at 81-29 (63-20 at WPI).

The championship game was decided in the 1st half as Carr dominated it with 15 points and 5 boards. It was a 1 point game with about 7:30 to go in the half when WPI went on a 19-3 run behind 10 by Carr, a 3 by Ryan Kolb, a layup by Brown and free throws from Sam Longwell & Shannon.

Kolb had a great weekend with his first career double-double (13 pts/ 10 rebs) on Saturday and 11 points and 9 boards in the title game.

The seniors all played well. In their final collegiate game, Shannon had 21 points and 5 assists, Carr filled up the stat sheet with 21 points, 7 boards, 4 blocks and 2 assists and Brown posted 12 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

Longwell chipped in 9 points and 3 steals and Domenick Mastascusa added 8 points to go with 5 rebounds.

Congratulations To the 2012 ECAC New England Men's Basketball Champions!

BBallers · March 05, 2012, 10:43:42 AM

Quote from: WPI89 on March 04, 2012, 07:36:31 PM
NEWMAC 4-0 this weekend.

Great for the NEWMAC teams. I was really disappointed that WPI did not get selected to the NCAA's as I believe they were definitely deserving. I believe the Northest Region has definitely proved to be the strongest region in the tournament.

I watched the MIT games. I am often critical of the officiating, but I really believe the 3 officials in the first MIT game did not do enough for player safety. The first of 2 plays happened with Kates having an open layup and the Skidmore player lowering his shoulder and going after Kates with his right shoulder and right elbow without any indication or intention of going for the ball. It was a textbook intential foul. I believe they gave the smiling Skidmore player a warning. After seeing that play, I mentioned that someone was going to get hurt this game. Early in the second half with MIT up by ~14, Bender had a clean (non-contact) steal and the angry Skidmore player's alleged attempt at the ball missed by ~4 feet and landed straight in his eye. Bottom line is that Bender has some kind of orbital fracture behind his eye that caused his face to be numb and he had some double vision. He was taken to Boston before the Farmingdale game and the Boston doctors saw him late Saturday.

Getting back to real basketball, it was great to see MIT hold off Skidmore in a game that shouldn't have been so close as they have marginal talent. Skidmore deserved to be their by winning their conference tournament, but I believe WPI or Springfield are much better teams. The Farmingdale game on Saturday has to be one of the best overall games for MIT. Hollingsworth probably played his best game and was on fire. Tashman may have played his best game with tremendous defense on their dominant athletic 7-foot center who is the key to Farmingdale's team. MIT had limited turnovers, played great transition defense (that had been lacking in most of their games) and got some good offensive looks as their center was very slow in transition. Hopefully, MIT will continue to bring this degree of effort (and shooting percentage) against Staten Island.

Go MIT, NEWMAC & NE Region teams!

Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) · March 05, 2012, 11:02:29 AM

As refs go, generally the closer you get to the midwest, the more contact they'll allow. This issue crops up all the time in the tournament, as midwest teams coming east often really struggle to adjust to the calls from East Coast refs.

I saw that Friday at the Ohio Wesleyan game, their big star, Tim Brady was visible shocked by some of the fouls called against him. Having lived in both the midwest and new england, I can attest that the difference is great. There are plays which could easily be technical fouls in the boston area that aren't even called in the midwest.

I'm not saying that was necessarily a factor, but the difference in officiating has been, in my experience, the most difficult obstacle for teams to deal with during the tournament (mostly because few teams know what to expect).

amh63 · March 05, 2012, 03:54:38 PM

I'm told that there is another region that has unique refs....for visiting teams....Maine.
If Amherst can get past F&M on Friday, and MIT past Staten Island....then I hope to see you in Lancaster for the Amherst-MIT game Hoops Fan.
WPI89....left you a response to your post on the 'CAC board.

BBallers · March 06, 2012, 08:44:15 AM

Quote from: Hoops Fan on March 05, 2012, 11:02:29 AM

As refs go, generally the closer you get to the midwest, the more contact they'll allow. This issue crops up all the time in the tournament, as midwest teams coming east often really struggle to adjust to the calls from East Coast refs.

I saw that Friday at the Ohio Wesleyan game, their big star, Tim Brady was visible shocked by some of the fouls called against him. Having lived in both the midwest and new england, I can attest that the difference is great. There are plays which could easily be technical fouls in the boston area that aren't even called in the midwest.

I'm not saying that was necessarily a factor, but the difference in officiating has been, in my experience, the most difficult obstacle for teams to deal with during the tournament (mostly because few teams know what to expect).

Good point, HF. I used to coach a couple AAU teams that traveled accross the country and was raised in the midwest. There are often college referees in most of the big select tournaments because it is in the summer in the basketball offseason. The players on all levels just have to adjust their games to the way the referees call games. As long as the referees are consistent and make calls on what they see, rather than what they anticipate. You are correct that if a player cannot adjust their game to the way the referees are calling it, they will be in trouble. In the 2 plays I recall, there were no legitimate attempts at going for the ball. Players are all amped up and should not be given this type of latitude or injuries are inevitable. Appreciate the insight. I'm hopeful of an Amherst/MIT elite 8 matchup.

amh63 · March 08, 2012, 09:42:29 AM

Dave McHugh of D3 hoopsville has posted on the NESCAC board that he will be in Lancaster, PA for the games. Will support host in coverage of the games with upgrades to the camera coverage, in prticular. Better on-line show for those who can not attend.

mass_d3fan · March 09, 2012, 09:29:27 AM

Best of Luck to MIT today! Go NEWMAC!

WPI89 · March 09, 2012, 06:09:37 PM

Nerd - your boys look AWESOME! As you know - they are up 14 at the half. Karraker (sp?) for President!

magicman · March 09, 2012, 06:11:47 PM

MIT leads Staten Island 44-30 at the half. Karraker and Kates can't miss from downtown. Karraker is 6 for 6 and Kates is 3 for 5 from beyond the arc. Together they have 33 of MIT's 44 points.

WPI89 · March 09, 2012, 07:07:35 PM

Hard to be critical but I hate the way MIT is taking the air out of the ball so early. SI making a semi run.

WPI89 · March 09, 2012, 07:15:21 PM

MIT - great! All but Hollingsworth with + games. I love to watch Kates - he is ALWAYS in control! I have been talking about an MIT/Amherst match-up since early December. We are halfway there.

Congrats NERD!!!

magicman · March 09, 2012, 07:20:14 PM

MIT defeats Staten Island 83-67. Kates with 29 pts, 5 assists, and 4 steals, 5x8 from downtown. Karraker with 25 pts and 7x10 3 pointers. Hollingsworth with 13 pts. and 8 rebounds. Tashman with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Pretty dominant performance by the Engineers.

GoTech73 · March 09, 2012, 07:24:21 PM

Quote from: WPI89 on March 09, 2012, 07:07:35 PM
Hard to be critical but I hate the way MIT is taking the air out of the ball so early. SI making a semi run.

Wholeheartedly agree about this, but thankfully it ended up not mattering. Incredible deep ball shooting and terrific defense won this won for Tech tonight. Hopefully we saved some shots for tomorrow night. Would love to see the MIT/Amherst matchup!