MBB: NEWMAC

[BaboNation]

If I'm Cain, aren't I just content racking up wins in the LEC until whenever Bartley retires? That might not be for awhile but seems like an obvious plan.

I'm with you there.  He has all he needs where he is now to achieve continued success and get to the tournament on a fairly regular basis.  WPI would indeed be a long-term perfect fit, but if his record continues on the current track there may be other attractive options before Bartley's retirement that are too good to turn down.

[WPI89]

Interesting topic.  Good luck today boys - exciting stuff!

[WPI89]

WPI is ELITE!  SLOPPY TENSE GLORIOUS.

WPI and RPI VERY similar teams.  Their best was a little better than our best tonight - but our supporting cast did just enough.

Certainly not an A game from WPI - but I am sure many RPI opponents leave "feeling" that way - they play in your face D - WPI was never comfortable - a couple runs, a couple big 3's made the difference!

Going to need our A-game tomorrow against either team - 56 points will certainly not win it - might need 80+ I would think.

Congratulations boys - enjoy rest-up.  Go get em tomorrow!

[BaboNation]

WPI is the last team standing from New England.

McNamara gets overlooked in the shadow of Lowther and Adams, but he is just as dependable in his role.  He played all 40 minutes, had the go-ahead bucket and the steal in the lane to seal the victory.
And FY Callahan showed a lot of poise despite being hounded by a strong defender in Black for most of the game,

WPI is going to need to keep RMC in the 60's I think.  I expect McNamara to be on Anthony.  McNamara is a very good defender and will make his man work on both ends.  The other matchup I'm anxious to see is Adams vs. Mallory.

Should be fun.

[WPI89]

While I certainly like our chances more if the game tonight stays in the 60s, I see a scenario where WPI can hang with Macon in the high 70s. Will involve knocking down 3's and streaks of dominance from Lowther/Adams....... WPI has scored 74 or more in 20 games this year, albeit several of those wee lopsided wins.

Fun stuff regardless.

I was at our last final 8 appearance in 1985 as a senior in hs "recruit".

Widener college took the air out of the ball and if I remember correctly won the game in the 20s?  Or low 30s. (No shot clock yet). I am going to go look that score up.

[WPI89]

41-38 Widener.

[WPI89]

No joy. Congrats Randolph Macon. Too good.

Congratulations to the WPI team on their history making season. Can't wait for next year!

[Greek Tragedy]

How's the NEWMAC look next year? Any seniors returning for their "Covid" year?

WPI - lose McNamara and Downing (and O'Donnell)

Babson - Bradanese, Kirsch, Welch, Cline

Emerson - Houston, Waterhouse, Martin, DiCenzo, McLean

[BaboNation]

I don't have any inside knowledge into who will add a Covid year.  Sometimes I think I read too much into the Senior Day hugs to gauge whether a player is truly leaving.

It's obviously very early to project next season but I don't think it unreasonable to suggest that the gap between WPI and the rest of the NEWMAC will only widen.

I think the loss of McNamara hurts more than Downing, but WPI always seems to have an off-ball guard that's a tenacious defender and good at dribble-drive.  Before McNamara it was Wisniewski.

But the team is still loaded.  Adams (listed as soph, but WPI had the Covid year) was named D3Hoops National ROY.  The thought of him being around for possibly 3 more years is scary.  If he adds a 3-point shot to his repertoire (not that he needs to) he'll have a total game.  Lowther for another year (or 2);  Callahan running the point as a true freshman and playing very well deep into the tournament;  and capable subs that are ready to step into larger roles (Lufkin, Morelli, et al).  This is a team that just went 27-3 and 15-1 in league play yet I think they'll be better next year.

I think Emerson got hurt the most, losing Houston, Waterhouse and the senior core.  But it's hard to imagine them dropping lower than 4-5.  I could see Max Davis upping his production (20 ppg?) as he becomes a larger focus of the offense.

Babson has a small nucleus of strong returning starters in Dorney, Amado, and Gorgol (their best wing defender who missed the conference season due to injury), and Kirkpatrick but there's a noticeable drop after that.  They really need to hope that either/both Parker Mason and/or early recruit Woolhouse can play the 5 so that Dorney can stay at his more natural wing.  I'd guess that Horan, Rob Crouch, Cross, and Staiti are the guys rounding out the 8-9 man rotation.  The wild card for Babson is always transfers.  Right now I have the roster size at 16 (21 - 7 + 2 early commits).  The 21-22 team got huge contributions from Dorney and Kirsch, and flashes from Cline.  Only Dorney returns.  On average they add at least one xfer.  If you treated this like NFL free agency you'd look for an upperclassman f/c and a pg.

Clark should be in the 2-4 range.  They'll probably look strong again OOC and Isaiah Taylor could start to put up gaudy numbers if he can improve his shooting pct. and shot selection.  They will miss Davern for sure, particularly when conference season begins.  I think they need another strong recruiting class to be legit.

MIT is the sleeping tiger that can recruit all over the globe.  Covid interrupted things, but it's very unusual for them to be non-factors for the last 2 seasons.  Here again, they've lost a lot (presumably) in Hinkley-Chatziveroglou-Pilsbury.  Maybe another year at 5?

Springfield?  New coach and lots of roster questions.  I'd guess 6-7.

Wheaton?  I mean, if they don't move into 3-4 this year with Carlisle, Williams, Cook, and Duncan Bubar (who looks like he has upside) it may never happen.  And maybe play some defense.  84 ppg last year.  Sheesh.

Coast Guard?  Lost a lot in Drummond and Perez.  Cameron Brown is probably going to make the biggest year 2 jump.  I thought he played Adams tougher than anyone in the NEWMAC.  But the team (on paper) does not look like a contender.

[Greek Tragedy]

Thanks. +1

[WPI89]

I was just coming in to do a hack job of what Babo did better than I could - I will leave next year alone.  +1 BABO

My last congratulations to WPI - finishing 9 on the top 25 final rankings.  I am assuming that is the highest end-of-year ranking we/they have had.  Almost certain they were higher than that for a short spell (or spells) during the season - during Ryan Cain era..........................but not end of year.

[BaboNation]

I was beginning to think I missed the announcement, but Springfield has its new HC. 

Michael McClendon

https://springfieldcollegepride.com/sports/mbkb/2021-22/releases/20220601d2096h

[BaboNation]

Babson has mostly published its schedule and the first 11 games (pre-conference) look daunting to say the least.

What catches my eye:

Only 3 of the 11 are at home;  2 are possibly "neutral" at the Big 4 Challenge at Tufts gym, but the opening game opponent is not listed yet (Tufts, Salem State, or Brandeis, unless the teams have changed); 6 on the road.  Twice as many on the road vs. at home.  I figured with that lopsided H vs. A that maybe the home games were front or back loaded to handle changes to the facility or something, but that's not the case.

A game at Brandeis, even though they may face each other earlier in the Big 4 Challenge.

End of year trip to Hope (yikes) and Chicago.

Lasell (A)
Salve Regina (H)
St.Joseph CT (A)
Big 4 (N)
Big 4 (N)
Amherst (H)
Bowdoin (A)
Bates (H)
Brandeis (A)
Hope (A)
Chicago (A)



https://www.babsonathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/2022-23/schedule

[stlawus]

We saw last year that W% was vastly outweighed by SOS, so it looks like the Beavers tailored their schedule accordingly.

[WPI89]

WPI non-Conference:

Worcester State
Rutgers-Newark
Me-Farmington
Emmanuel
Fitchburg State
Hamilton
Husson
Salem State
St Joseph (CT) Tourney (Christmas Week)  WPI vs Eastern CT and St Joes v SUNY POLY

Think that leaves one more?