MBB: NEWMAC

[middhoops]

WPI89, Spfld has the leading candidate for POY nationally.  Maybe by a bunch.
Even yet, the NEWMAC is going to be fascinating to watch.  Plenty of really good teams.
We're watching NEWMAC games equally with NESCAC this year.  Good luck.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

WPI89, Spfld has the leading candidate for POY nationally.  Maybe by a bunch.
Even yet, the NEWMAC is going to be fascinating to watch.  Plenty of really good teams.
We're watching NEWMAC games equally with NESCAC this year.  Good luck.

If we're judging on one week, the leading candidates are Ross and Nate Schmionitz from Nebraska Wesleyan, but I'm guessing we'll see other contenders emerge as the season goes along.

[WPI89]

Good tourney win for WPI at Umass Boston. Congrats boys.

[rlk]

MIT head coach Larry Anderson's team won the 400th game of his career (in his 25th season) over Lasell yesterday.

[BaboNation]

MIT head coach Larry Anderson's team won the 400th game of his career (in his 25th season) over Lasell yesterday.

Very classy man and it's reflected in the program he runs at MIT.  This year will be a challenge, but if anyone can deliver a tournament team it's your coach.

Any idea why Forsythe is not on the roster this year?

[D3 Junkie]

@wpi89 you might want to think again on the clear cut leaders in the newmac. Babson can hoop!!

[BaboNation]

Babson 76 Bates 48

Well, even though Babson leads the series 15-13, they hadn't won in Lewiston since 1992.  And even in the Flannery years Babson was 1-2, losing home and away.

Babson had everything working in the first 5 minutes, opening up a double-digit lead, then extending it to 20+ before 10 minutes had been played.  Only Salve Regina (thus far) has been able to hang with the starting 5 early on thru 5 games.

Ainge was immense in the first 5 minutes, offensively and defensively, taking away open shots from Spellman, who has been a nemesis for years, and it seems the coaching staff made him a defensive focus. 

The team defense for Babson was outstanding.  At halftime Bates had 5 FGs, only 2 of which were not 3-pointers.  Some fans might lament the open looks Bates couldn't knock down, but IMO Babson missed a ton as well.

Oftring had his way inside for 16 and 18, and Jaworski facilitated with 7 assists and 9 boards.  Love the back cuts and ball movement from the starting unit.  Very few 2nd chance points given up when the game mattered.

I saw a Babson press release that they came into the weekend 4th in the country (D3) in A/TO.  While the ratio declined a bit in this one, their numbers 19/12 were much better than Bates 7/17.

Omar Sarr may be a project but he causes a lot of havoc on defense.

Side-notes:  Dolan no longer appears on the roster.  I assume nagging injuries have taken their toll and wish him well. 
                   Gussen got his first game action.  Still awaiting the frosh Corey.
   

[WPI89]

D3 Junkie - gave you your first applaud - yes Babson looks formidable.

[BaboNation]

Babson 76   Bowdoin 66

This one was close throughout, despite Babson briefly opening up a 10-point margin just after halftime.  Coming in I expected this would be a tough test because of Bowdoin's size.  They gave up nothing easy in the paint.  And kudos to the Polar Bears for keeping this a game with a slow tempo.

Tie game with just over 5 minutes left, but Babson's defense was the difference down the stretch, forcing 2 turnovers and controlling their defensive board.

Bradanese had easily his best game as a Beaver and they needed everything he gave them (10 pts. 3 rebs. in only 18 minutes).  Coolahan was his usual deadly self offensively (19 pts.), but he's also a good fundamental defender.
Ainge had a solid game on both ends and helped keep Rucker in check.  Jaworski had a double-double despite his difficulty getting off his shot all afternoon.

I've watched a few Bowdoin games earlier in the season.  Despite the loss I thought they played better than they had in some wins.  Grad is a known commodity, but Kagitomi, Shea, and Werkman all showed me something.

Babson has won 6 straight against NESCAC opponents going back to last season.  The next opponent is Amherst.  While it will probably still be one of the top games to watch, it would have been nicer if Amherst hadn't just lost for the first time.

[BaboNation]

WPI with another NEWMAC-NESCAC game @ home vs. Tufts.

I've been very impressed with Stephenson this year.  He's got a lot of smooth moves at the low post, never out of control, and is a willing passer when it's called for.  He's big and strong and hard to deny when he gets his spot.  That being said, he'll probably need something like 18/9 tonight and the strength of WPI - team defense - will need to be the story, probably holding Tufts under 73.

First team to 70 wins.  Go NEWMAC.  Go WPI.

[WPI89]

All bow down to Babo. Nearly called the game exactly. Very satisfying December win for the Crimson Engineers! 

Feel like the home team in the Tufts v WPI has won for several years in a row. I will look up tomorrow.

Good win boys!!!!

[BaboNation]

Babson 87   Amherst 82

Just a great basketball game.  Like legendary heavyweight fights of yore.  Amherst's depth, size, and quickness advantages all came into play.  Lesser opponents have wilted in Staake Gym.  Babson kept probing the paint in the first half, but had to confine its offense to the perimeter - with great success, since everyone was hot from the arc.

The second half was played at a slower pace and Babson found cracks here and there.  Neither team built a lead larger than 5 points.  Under a minute left, Babson up 1, coming out of a TO, they get a clear-out for Jaworski who drives and finishes at the rim (I'll bet just the guy they called the play for). 

The entire starting 5 for Babson played very well.  Coach Brennan clearly wanted this one because he shortened the bench and increased starter minutes.

So many of Amherst's stars played well.  Sellew is a really tough matchup.  Che, Chery, Day ... Phelan played really well.  Amherst will be fine going forward, though I think Middlebury is the class of the NESCAC this year.

Finally, a long overdue recognition is in order to a major contributor to this year's coaching staff:  Matthew Droney.

[WPI89]

Congrats Babson - top of the NEWMAC looks great.  After a sloppy start - Springfield beat Trinity as well last night.

One more big pre-Christmas test for WPI in New Haven Saturday against Albertus Magnus - a true clash of styles.  I will be there - hope we get even close to as exciting and well played game that we got in the NCAA's several year's back between these 2 teams.  Of course I would not mind a different outcome.

[BaboNation]

Yeah, that's a tough test playing AM in their gym.  A win would be another big plus in SOS consideration come tourney time.
AM is very quick.  Taking care of the ball will be key (something WPI is usually very good at).  Jake Wisniewski is due for a breakout game.  I could see him having a double-double.

There is a clear separation within the NEWMAC right now.  Three fighting for the top (WPI, Springfield, and Babson), two trying to become cohesive (Emerson and MIT), and three building for the future (Wheaton, CG, and Clark).
The most surprising team for me, so far, has been Emerson.  They have the potential to break into the top 3 to make it a 4-team race, but haven't gelled yet.  Tonight's game @ Emmanuel will be of interest.

If Emerson fades (I don't expect it) there is a chance that all of the top-3 will enter the NEWMAC postseason already having won 20 games.  In a 25-game regular season that might be a NEWMAC record.

As spectacular as Springfield's start has been, their margin of error in funneling so much through Ross/Post has me skeptical that their success is sustainable.

Good Luck @ AM!

[Greek Tragedy]

MIT with an easy win tonight. I only know because I have Ian Hinkley on my fantasy team. Anyway, I noticed they were up 29 at halftime and basically held that lead the whole game, yet Pilsbury plays the whole 40 minutes while Cho and Hinkley each play 38. I don't know the team dynamics regarding the bench, but doesn't that seem a little excessive? Play three starters 38 or more minutes in a 30-point game? It's not like Salem St cut it to 15 or anything. Just curious.

https://www.d3hoops.com/seasons/men/2019-20/boxscores/20191205_ok4g.xml?view=boxscore