MBB: NEWMAC

[magicman]

WPI put up 100 on RPI.  No overtime.  Whoa!

The Liberty League of which RPI is a member will not be a strong league this year. RPI gave up 105 points to your Panthers last year among others. Heck even Sage beat them by outscoring them 94-89 last year,  and Caltech put up 97 against them in a loss. 

[BBallers]

WPI put up 100 on RPI.  No overtime.  Whoa!

The Liberty League of which RPI is a member will not be a strong league this year. RPI gave up 105 points to your Panthers last year among others. Heck even Sage beat them by outscoring them 94-89 last year,  and Caltech put up 97 against them in a loss.

Agreed.  RPI was really a run-and-gun team (without a lot of defense) when they last played MIT.

[rlk]

WPI put up 100 on RPI.  No overtime.  Whoa!

The Liberty League of which RPI is a member will not be a strong league this year. RPI gave up 105 points to your Panthers last year among others. Heck even Sage beat them by outscoring them 94-89 last year,  and Caltech put up 97 against them in a loss.

Agreed.  RPI was really a run-and-gun team (without a lot of defense) when they last played MIT.

That's putting it mildly.  They put up 75 points on us, which was the most anyone but WPI scored on us that year (of course, given that we scored 104, that didn't really hurt us).  That was two years ago so it doesn't directly mean all that much today, but WPI scoring 100 against that system is neither here nor there.  I photographed it and recall that it was a fun game.

[middhoops]

Surprised to see that MIT lose to Bridgewater last night.  Is Bridgewater a top quality team or is MIT feeling the pain of rebuilding after losing Kates and Tashman?  The Engineers appear to be loaded with very young talent.   Any analysis(es)?

[rlk]

Nice win by MIT 54-38 over Rhode Island College today at the Cage.  The first half was close until the last couple of minutes, when MIT hit 3 straight shots to go up by 6.  MIT continued its run to start the second (10-2), after which it stayed a 10-16 point game the rest of the way.  The offense looked quite good for the team having to get used to playing without Kates and Tashman, with 4 men in double figures (Matt Redfield 14, Andrew Acker 11, Justin Pedley 11, and freshman Dakota Pierce with 10), and Redfield adding 17 rebounds and Acker another 14.  Turnovers were a problem, with a -2 differential.  The Anchormen had problems from the line (5-14), but the Engineers only went 3-14 from downtown.  Justin Pedley would have easily scored 20 if his 3 went down.  It will.  Acker had a nice dunk in the second half that unfortunately due to a camera mixup I didn't get.

The big story in my mind was MIT's defense, particularly its interior defense.  RIC shot 27% overall and 20% in the second half, but a lot of that was MIT's bigs (particularly but not exclusively Redfield and Acker) clogging the lane.  MIT owned the boards 42-28.  If they play like this the rest of the season things will be all right.

Game photos: http://rlk.smugmug.com/Sports/Basketball/MIT-RIC-20131130/34737718_MVWQ4t#!i=2940327647&k=5TZrNkW .  As usual, these photos may be used with attribution by anyone associated with MIT for the benefit of MIT.

[mass_d3fan]

Best non-conference test for WPI tonight in Worcester Vs. Tufts.  The Engineers are still adjusting to the loss of Coppola, and obviously Tufts makeup is quite a bit different too.

Both teams have had players step.  WPI is getting great play from Ryan Kolb, Sam Longwell & Zach Karalis.  Kolb is averaging 18.4 ppg, 5.8rpg.  Longwell is at 15.8 and leading in rebounding at 7.2 per game.  Karalis has taken Coppola's starting spot and filling the scoring void with 15.2 ppg.  The Engineers are getting a boost off the bench from freshman Sean Doncaser who has gone for double digits twice and 9 in one other game.

This should be a good benchmark game for both teams as we hit the halfway point of the non-conference schedule for the NEWMAC teams.

[WPI89]

I "watched" last night on the stat line until about 10 minutes left.  WPI was up 16 and showed no signs of being threatened.  Any NESCAC guys see this game? - I'd love to know what happened the last 9:30 - besides of course WPI not hitting a single shot!

A month from now it is a win against a good NESCAC team.  Today, I have mixed emotions - great start, scary finish.

Under Bartley we do seem to find ways to win, which continues to be fun.

[amh63]

WPI89....in response to your last post on the CAC board....do not worry about your points from my direction.  Not a poster that is an Amherst recruiter
WRT your schedule related comment....which I do not really understand the inference...truly...there is a problem of sorts for coaches of highly ranked teams in general and Amherst's coach in particular.  IMO, Amherst had a hard time to get local teams to play in its tip-of tournament, it seems.  Springfield was in last season and won but did not return this season with a team that seems to be a good one.  Amherst lost 3 starters from its title team and has to blend/build a new team this season.  Yes, Amherst has talented players returning and a talent filled recruiting class.  Still, it takes time to evaluate and build a team for this year....early season games with non conference schools.  CAC teams start practice about a week later than other conferences it must be noted.  I do wish that WPI could play against Amherst each year vice in the post season.  The same goes with MIT.  The tip off Tournament is always available.  ECSU finally is on the schedule as RIC.  Seems both RIC and MIT is down a little this season based on early season games.  Oh yes, SVT, a normal pushover has grownup this season and beat its normal bully Williams.  I guess, that is part of a coach's job when scheduling early games...avoiding hard games during a building period.

[WPI89]

amh63 - I am certainly not familiar enough anymore with the trials and tribulations of scheduling for D3 teams.  As to weather Amherst struggles to get "Hard" teams to schedule them or chooses the route, I couldn't begin to know.  A program like WPI seems to be just on the edge of "having" to schedule tough out of conference games in order to have a shot at an at large bid - see 2 years ago - 20 wins - beat 8 tourney teams and no at large bid.  (to be fair - I guess it was 18 wins before the ECACs).

Amherst has earned the luxury of perhaps being able to build up to the NESCAC games by scheduling a few lighter opponents.  Plus when you add in the NESCAC opponents year in and and out - even if Amherst schedules fairly light pre-conference - they are still going to have plenty of challenges along the way.

[WPI89]

Question Amh63 (or any Amherst guys) - does Amherst have a JV team and are their kids playing JV that may not be listed on the Varsity roster?

[amh63]

WPI89......to the best of my knowledge, No.  But who knows what they do with a long bench.  The "bench" players, including FYs' get their trail during every practice....playing against talented, experience players.  Actually,imo, evaluation of new players during lighter opponents is more to see how they work with their team mates and more on the defensive side.  Of course, the "new emphasis of rules" during game conditions is a challenge for all wrt to defense, etc.

[amh63]

This a repost of an earlier post today that I deleted.  Dumb Dumb me!
Anyway, Emerson beat Amherst at Emerson this afternoon 90-79.  According to the announcers it was the highest total to date by Emerson and the lowest total by Amherst to date.  According to the announcers...Emerson was picked last in your pre-season poll.  Watch out, for Emerson has beaten both Tufts and Amherst....two NESCAC upper tier teams in pre-season polls.  Found out that they left the GNAC for the NEWMAC and that their HBC is a big time former Div 1 coach....coach is recruiting well and wants to compete for the title in the near future.
Oh yes....Springfield gave Williams a very competative game in Willy Town today.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Looks like a NEWMAC resurgence.  WPI winning despite losing their best player.  Emerson takes out preseason #1.  Babson is playing well.  MIT rebuilding, but still a tough out.  Springfield went to Williamstown today and kept it close.

[pjunito]

Congrats to WPI for starting the year off at #9 in the D3Hoops.com preseason poll.

I believe this is the highest ever preseason ranking for the Engineers.

I dont think their schedule presents any real threats to having another 20+ win season.  If they find a viable presence for the 5, they should be in a great position to finally crack through and get to the Sweet 16.  MIT may be their only real test until March.

Congratulations to WPI for topping the NEWMAC preseason poll, although not unexpected.  Rankings are pasted below:

2013-14 NEWMAC Preseason Men's Basketball Poll (first-place votes)

1. WPI (7)

2. MIT

3. Babson (1)

4. Springfield

5. Clark

T6. Coast Guard

T6. Wheaton

8. Emerson

Hey All,

NEWMAC coaches may have to revisit Emerson in the 8th spot. They are well Jim O'Brien completely turn the roster around, he has players from all over the country. I think the NEWMAC will have a strong showing within the region.  Good luck to all the teams! 

[gordonmann]

Big ups to the NEWMAC for an impressive non-conference showing.

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2013/12/dec30-wrapup