MBB: NEWMAC

[Hugenerd]

What a world (conference) we now live in that WPI, after winning 22 in a row needs to win tonight in a very hostile gym in Cambridge just to win the regular season NEWMAC!

What a long way we have come.

Plus lets think about how great the next couple of weeks in NE D3 hoops should be.  The 3 NESCAC's going nuts, Springfield, MIT, and WPI vying for I hope at least 2 bids and throw in RIC, Magnus and the rest - holy cow.

I agree, should be fun.

Magnus may be in trouble though, their SOS is extremely low, and with their recent loss to Suffolk, I think they need a Pool A bid to get in.

[WPI89]

Northeast - Week 2

1 WPI 22-1 22-1
2 Amherst 21-2 21-2
3 Williams 18-3 20-3
4 Middlebury 18-1 21-1
5 Rhode Island College 20-3 20-3
6 MIT 16-4 17-4
7 Brandeis 16-6 16-6
8 Springfield 16-7 16-7
9 Curry 16-6 16-6
10 Westfield State 17-4 19-4
11 Eastern Connecticut 15-4 15-7
12 Albertus Magnus 20-2 20-3

[Hugenerd]

Northeast - Week 2

1 WPI 22-1 22-1
2 Amherst 21-2 21-2
3 Williams 18-3 20-3
4 Middlebury 18-1 21-1
5 Rhode Island College 20-3 20-3
6 MIT 16-4 17-4
7 Brandeis 16-6 16-6
8 Springfield 16-7 16-7
9 Curry 16-6 16-6
10 Westfield State 17-4 19-4
11 Eastern Connecticut 15-4 15-7
12 Albertus Magnus 20-2 20-3

I like to see that WPI's record vs. common opponents kept them ahead of Amherst (Amherst is 4-2, loss to Springfield on a neutral court and loss to Babson at home, and WPI is 8-1, with a loss at Springfield).  Everything else is almost a wash between WPI and Amherst, with WPI having the slight edge in WP and Amherst with the slight edge in SOS and results vs. regionally ranked opponents.

Looks like Brandeis' loss at Case Western was enough to knock them down a spot.  It will be interesting to see how they hold up, as they still have at least 2 tough games left on their schedule. 

Good to see Springfield move up also, despite the loss to MIT.

MIT is likely locked behind RIC because of the head-to-head result, therefore, there is not much room for movement for them upwards.  The most vulnerable team I see in the Top 5 is Middlebury, who now has two losses, an average SOS (0.521) and no wins vs. regionally ranked opponents (with only two games played against regionally ranked opponents).  If RIC continues to perform well, and Middlebury loses in their conference tourney, I wouldnt be surprised to see Middlebury slip a bit.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

This may seem trivial... but it does read "results vs. regionally ranked opponents" not record. I only say that because some people may take "record" and look at who has the better WP... when the criteria does not say that... it is only results meaning the number of games. We are already seeing some rankings where the number of games not the record seems to be a factor.

[Hugenerd]

In this case it is essentially trivial (WPI is 4-1, Amherst is 5-1), but I see how that in other situations in may not be.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I suspect with every thing else being equal or offsetting one another... the WP won out the decision between Amherst and WPI.

[Hugenerd]

Amherst's loss to Babson at home has to also play some sort of tiebreaker.  WPI absolutely clobbered Babson both times they played, with an average score of 68.5 - 40.5 (+28). I know point differential and points allowed are not part of the criteria, but Amherst allowing 78 points in an 8 point loss at home is a bit shocking when compared to the WPI-Babson results (results against common opponents is a criteria, I believe).

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yep... that is part or primary criteria: In-region results versus common regional opponents.

[Charles]

$7 to watch MIT-WPI?
Really, lousy feed and all?
You got to be kidding.

[Hugenerd]

Great win for MIT.

MIT really showed up defensively for about the first 37 minutes of the game, then it got a little dicey for the last 3 as both teams were a sloppy with the frantic pace when WPI was trying desperately to come back.  Tashman was on pace for another huge game, but picked up 3 fouls in the the first 8.5 minutes of the 2nd half, including his 3rd and 4th in about a 1.5 minutes span (13 points and 10 rebounds to that point, didnt pick up another stat the rest of the game).  That resulted in him sitting for about 9 minutes, which was a bit scary, as MIT seemed to be in control at that time.  Fortunately, Andrew Acker kept up the defensive intensity and made his layups to fill in nicely.  Justin Pedly was also huge, connecting on 6 threes, including one in the final minutes that helped push MITs lead to 10 when WPI had cut it to 7.  Mitch Kates had an all-around good game, with 16 points (4-7 FG), 9 assists, 6 boards, and 2 steals.   Hats off to WPI, as their comeback attempt was valiant, and MIT left the door open with a couple of turnovers and two missed front ends of 1 and 1s, but they were fortunate to close it out (WPI cut it to as few as 5, after trailing by 14 with 6 to play).  MIT held a huge rebounding average about 34 minutes into the game, but allowed WPI to close that gap with a flurry of offensive rebounds in the final minutes.  Matt Redfied was also solid, with 8 points and 9 boards.  Jimmy Burke was in foul trouble early, much like Kates was against Clark on Monday, and therefore never really found a rhythm.  Coppola and Kolb led WPI with 22 and 17 points, respectively.  Just as he was against the loss vs. Springfield, Sam Longwell was shut down (4 points).  Production from him appears to be important to WPIs success.

Great win for MIT!!  Now WPI is in a must win this Saturday to tie for the conference championship with MIT.  If they are able to win at Clark, I believe all tiebreakers will be even between the two teams, which I believe would result in a coin toss to determine the hosting site.

MIT closes out the regular season this Sunday against Wheelock at home.

[Hugenerd]

I forgot to mention this in my previous post, but obviously home court for the tourney would be huge for either MIT or WPI...both teams are undefeated at home this season.

[Hugenerd]

Apparently there is a tiebreaker criteria I was unaware of.  I thought all tiebreakers had to do with conference games, but apparently non-conference common opponents is a tiebreaker, according to boston.com:

http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/extras/colleges_blog/2013/02/mit_men_topple.html

"WPI (21-2, 9-2) can still secure home court in next week's NEWMAC tourney, however, with a win against Clark Saturday, with its sweep of nonleague foes Salem State and Rhode Island College serving as the tiebreaker (MIT lost to both teams)."

[WPI89]

HN - was just going to write that WPI's website was saying they can secure a tie for reg season and home court in the NEWMAC tourney with a win at Clark - they did not however define how or why - so thanks for the 411.

Did not see any of the game last night - from 200 miles away - I am fine with both of WPI's 2 losses - they do need to get back on track on Saturday across town though.

[Hugenerd]

Some more recruiting news out of MIT.  They have picked up a commitment from Hunter Gatewood, a 6'5" 190 pound guard, out of Concordia in Houston:

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/tomball/sports/concordia-s-gatewood-eager-for-mit-engineering-basketball/article_d3783ed5-ac07-5400-8761-8bc3755e4704.html

According to this website, he is a top 30 prospect out of the Houston area (the previous article mentions D1 interest, but I cannot confirm that):

http://rcssports.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=312&Itemid=86

He is on the AAU team that won a national championship in 2010.  He is a two time TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) all-state selection, including 1st team this past year.

Some highlights here:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUTQK6OjugUoe2onuJ6cWhVQ

[rlk]

Some more recruiting news out of MIT.  They have picked up a commitment from Hunter Gatewood, a 6'5" 190 pound guard, out of Concordia in Houston:

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/tomball/sports/concordia-s-gatewood-eager-for-mit-engineering-basketball/article_d3783ed5-ac07-5400-8761-8bc3755e4704.html

According to this website, he is a top 30 prospect out of the Houston area (the previous article mentions D1 interest, but I cannot confirm that):

http://rcssports.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=312&Itemid=86

He is on the AAU team that won a national championship in 2010.  He is a two time TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) all-state selection, including 1st team this past year.

Some highlights here:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUTQK6OjugUoe2onuJ6cWhVQ

Sounds promising.  I wonder if he knows that Billy Bender (and now David Bender) are also from Houston.