MBB: NEWMAC

Hugenerd · February 03, 2009, 03:52:38 PM

So essentially if both teams go 11-1, they will be tied in every tiebreaker scenario. Is that what everyone else gets?

T990 · February 03, 2009, 08:57:59 PM

WPI loses at CLARK tonight!

68-56.

Clark lead by 5 at 4:00 left.

Clark lead by 6 at 1:42 left.

Clark lead by 8 at :39 left.

Clark lead by 10 at :25 left.

My info from:

http://www.clarku.edu/athletics/varsity/basketball_livestats/xlive.htm

JustAFan · February 03, 2009, 09:16:35 PM

Clark's Jack Minister, who was averaging 8 pts a game coming into tonight's game vs. WPI, exploded for 27 tonight--everything he threw up at the basket went in. 6-5 freshman teammate Brian Vadya had 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Cougars.

Clark played a 2-3 zone that really shut down WPI. The Engineers should expect to see a lot more zone defense over the rest of the season. WPI really struggled from the outside tonight, and even though they played 3 guards for a lot of the second half they didn't look for their outside shot and they also didn't seem to be confident the few times they took it. They don't seem to have a consistent outside scorer this year to bail them out when they can't penetrate and dish. WPI played most of the second half without Etten, who was in foul trouble, and their 6-8 kid didn't play much either, and without those 2 kids WPI is very young up front.

This loss may teach the WPI players more about themselves, and their deficiencies that need improvement, than they have learned in all of their recent wins. Congrats to Clark coach Phillips for a good gameplan and for getting his kids to execute it.

T990 · February 03, 2009, 09:40:34 PM

JustAFan, good post. I must say 2 of the freshman I noticed in the NEWMAC so far are Brian Vayda (Sturbridge, MA) and Jamie Karraker (MIT).

Hugenerd · February 03, 2009, 09:42:37 PM

I guess all that tiebreaker stuff goes out the window. Great win for Clark.

T990, I agree with you about the those two being the top two freshman.

massd3fan · February 03, 2009, 10:10:41 PM

Hugenerd,

Just got home and was looking at the box score, looks like Clark figured out how to get their bigs going against WPI Normandin, Vayda & Minster matched the entire WPI offensive output with 56 points. Fpr WPI, Lessard only played 16 minutes and they only other real size they have a 6'7" freshmen doesnt play much at all. That means they are going more than half the game with no one on the court over 6-3" or 6'4". Clarks big 3 worked well inside and out tonight.

JustAfan is right, WPI has not had a consistent go-to scorer this season. Kirkland had been scoring well recently, but was held to 7 pts on 1 of 6 shooting and Robinson was the other playeer who has had some big offensive games only put up 4 pts making 2 of 13 shots.

The only bright spot tonight for WPI tonight was Perez with a near double-double ( 9 Reb, 13 pts)

Perez's effort though was clearly overshadowed by Vayda's 15 boards and 21 pts on 8 of 11 shots.

Huge loss for WPI after returning to the Top 25 today. Now they MUST win at MIT on Valentine's Day in order to win the regular season title and play host for the conference tournament.

That of course assumes the win the rest of their conference games, which after tonight is not a given.

Hugenerd · February 03, 2009, 10:36:32 PM

Massd3fan, thats why all the games between WPI or MIT vs. Clark or CGA will be/were close (although MIT was able to build a 20+ point lead at Clark by shooting lights out from 3). WPI and MIT both have much stronger perimeter play while Clark and CGA have some guys who can get stuff done inside. When WPI and MIT play eachother, they really are a good matchup for one another. MIT is much stronger in their top few players, while WPI has a lot of depth. I think if Bartolotta and Johnson stay out of foul trouble, MIT has a really good shot when they host WPI. With that said, MIT needs to take care of business the next 3 games before that matchup. MIT does have 4 of their final 5 at home, which will help, while WPI is on the road 3 of their final 4.

Hugenerd · February 04, 2009, 03:07:57 PM

NCAA Regional Rankings are up: WPI 1st, MIT 6th in the Northeast.

Hugenerd · February 04, 2009, 10:21:14 PM

MIT comes back to beat Springfield tonight at home. MIT played an awful first half, which had some to do with Springfield's good defense and also MIT's poor shooting. The team was really carried by Jamie Karraker, who scored more than half of MITs points in the first frame (12), including the first 9 points for MIT, while Billy Johnson was held scoreless and Jimmy Bartolotta scored only 2 points. Halftime score was 29-23 Springfield.

The second half was more of a battle. In the first few mintues, Springfield opened up a 9 point lead, and they were able to hold onto the lead for the first 7.5 minutes, but you could tell that MIT was starting to find their rhythm as they started making shots (it took them less than 10 minutes to equal their entire first half output). From the 12.5 minute mark until about 1.5 minutes left in the game, it was a seesaw battle with no team leading by more than 4 points. However, from the 3.5 minute mark until the end of the game, MIT took control with their defense (Springfiled only scored 4 points in the final 3.5), 3 point shooting (MIT was 3-3 during that span), and FT shooting (MIT was 6-6 to close out the game). Jimmy B started it off with a 3 to give MIT the lead for good at 56-53. That was followed up by 3s from Jamie Karraker and Billy Johnson. MIT made its FTs down the stretch which accounted for the the final score, 68-57.

Karraker and Bartolotta (18 in the second half) each finished with 20 points. Bartolotta also got it done defensively with 4 blocks and 3 steals. The Billy's (Johnson and Bender) controlled the glass for MIT with 14 rebounds and 12 rebounds, respectively. Brad Gampel did a great job leading the team, with 7 assists, 4 steals, and only 3 turnovers. Eric Zuk was very efficient, going 5-7 from the floor with 11 points. It was a great team win for MIT tonight. With the win, MIT still controls its own destiny. If they win out, the get to host the NEWMAC tourney, which would be a huge advantagefor them as they are perfect at home this season.

LyonFan · February 05, 2009, 08:36:22 PM

For Hugenerd and others, if you have not seen it already, check out the piece in the NY TImes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/sports/ncaabasketball/06mit.html?_r=1&ref=sports

Hugenerd · February 05, 2009, 11:51:01 PM

Thanks LyonFan

Hugenerd · February 07, 2009, 01:20:13 PM

MIT up 16-2, 6 minutes into the game. CGA's coach has already been hit with two T's and was ejected.

Hugenerd · February 07, 2009, 01:44:04 PM

MIT up 33-29 ath the half. Bartolotta has 20.

Hugenerd · February 07, 2009, 11:25:10 PM

Missed the second half today due to family commitments. Looks like I missed a good game, but a bad result for MIT. They lose in OT, in a game it looks like they should have won in regulatiton, up 3 with 2 seconds left. Bartolotta had 38 points in the loss.

nescac1 · February 08, 2009, 09:30:49 AM

Wow, what did the CGA coach do?

Up 3 with 2 second left? Did MIT do the smart thing and foul or the dumb, conventional thing (e.g., Memphis v. Kansas last year) and allow a three point attempt? I can't stand when teams don't foul up 3 with less than five seconds left -- odds are much, much better of stopping a free throw make, intentional miss, offensive rebound, conversation than a regular 3 point play, yet no one ever seems to do this ... drives me nuts.