MBB: NEWMAC

[Hugenerd]

So we are essentially done with the first semester of the season (Springfield has 1 game and Wheaton has 2 games before christmas, but everyone else is done until that time), so I thought it might be interesting to look at some top performers so far.

My candidates for first semester POY:

1.  Noel Hollingsworth, MIT  (11 games so far)
Averaging 21.1 ppg (on 57.1 FG%, and 75% from 3), 10.2 rbp (5.1 offensive, 5.1 defensive), 1.7 bpg, 1.6 apg, 1.2 spg, and 2.7 topg.

2. Jeff Robinson, WPI (10 games so far)
Averaging 21.9 ppg (on 45.5 FG%, 41.9% from 3), 2.9 rpg, 3.0 apg, .7 spg, .3 bpg, 3.7 topg.

If anyone else wants to get into the conversation, they need to win some games in the second half of the season.  I have learned from experience that the best player in the league does not always win this award, you need to be the best player on a top 2 team usually.  The only other feasible candidate are Mark Alexander from Clark or Anthony Coppola from Wheaton, or perhaps Pat Crean from Springfield, but they are going to have to start winning some games and keep their numbers up.

Rookie of the Year

If Hollingsworth is eligible, this will be difficult for someone else to win (he is a sophomore but this is his first year in d3.)

If this award is only for freshman, I believe the following 5 are the top candidates (I looked through all the rosters and stats and found that only these 5 players who are freshman are in the top 6 in scoring on their respective teams).

In no specific order:

From Babson:
Marcus McDermott - 10.5 ppg (40% fg, 28% 3fg), 2.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.4 spg.
Russell Braithwaite - 8.6 ppg (38.5% fg), 5.8 rpg

From MIT:
Mitchell Kates - 13.8 ppg (51.8% fg, 31.3% 3fg), 3.2 rpg, 4.5 apg, 2.8 spg.
Jimmy Burke - 9.3 ppg (46.4% FG, 43.3% 3FG), 2.7 apg, 1.3 rpg.
Wil Tashmen - 7.6 ppg (54.7% FG), 7.5 rpg.


If I had to choose, I would pick Kates for Rookie of the Year, he has hit so many clutch shots and runs their team, playing the most minutes of anyone on an 11-0 MIT team.

[Hugenerd]

Congrats to Noel Hollingsworth on his second consecutive NEWMAC player of the week honor.  This is the first time I can remember that a player has won the award two weeks consecutively, as they usually try to spread the award around.  However, Hollingsworth's numbers were that spectacular.  In 3 games he averaged 29 points on 61.5% shooting from the field (35-57), 60% from 3 (3-5), and 73.7% from the line (14-19), 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in a 3-0 week for MIT.

http://www.newmacsports.com/sports/mbkb/awards/weekly/2009-2010/mbkbweekly121409

[tball]

In response to the remark on MIT's defense posted on the Northeast rankings board:

Here is how teams they have faced fared against other teams and versus MIT:

                                  Points                Shooting %            Rebounds

                          vs All   vs MIT         vs All       vs MIT     vs All    vs MIT

Emmanuel                  72.1      54         41.7%       37.5%    39.9       31
Rensselaer                 86.1      55         46.7%       35.1%    50.3       37
Curry                        67.3      56         44.3%       47.8%    35.0       36
Suffolk                      73.0      50         44.4%       30.9%    40.2      33
Emerson                    62.9      51         43.0%       34.7%    34.3      23
Newbury                    65.1      50         40.1%       33.9%    36.1      32
Gordon - OT               73.2      73         45.0%       47.2%    43.4      43
Umass Boston             69.4      54         41.5%       38.6%    39.9      31
Salem State - OT        79.2      93         44.5%       47.0%    39.1      34
Lesley                       63.7      61         41.4%       40.4%    32.3      29

The numbers tell a pretty good story and they look better if you back out the performance against MIT from the All category

Tashman was sick for the Gordon Game so rebounds would have been improved.

While MIT may have slight issues with being beat off the dribble, defense is more than that aspect.  This team is very good at limiting possessions to one shot due to rebounding and the guards are contesting shots leaving them more vulnerable to the drive.  They may feel with Hollingsworth, Tashman & Montgomery behind them this is worth that risk.

Kates is leading the conference in steals and Bender did a great job of shutting down Gordon's guard in the second half.  The Gordon guard scored 30 on last year's team.

WPI is giving up 14.2 more points per game and has 43.5% opponent field goal percent versus 38.4% for MIT.

The defense is really not that bad especially for a young team.

[tball]

sorry the table is not straight.  It was when I posted it.

[Hugenerd]

Nice work, I fixed your table.

Team	Points vs All	Points vs MIT	Shooting % vs. All	Shooting % vs. MIT	Rebounds vs. All	Rebounds vs. MIT
Emmanuel	72.1	54	41.7%	37.5%	39.9	31
Rensselaer	86.1	55	46.7%	35.1%	50.3	37
Curry	67.3	56	44.3%	47.8%	35.0	36
Suffolk	73.0	50	44.4%	30.9%	40.2	33
Emerson	62.9	51	43.0%	34.7%	34.3	23
Newbury	65.1	50	40.1%	33.9%	36.1	32
Gordon - OT	73.2	73	45.0%	47.2%	43.4	43
Umass Boston	69.4	54	41.5%	38.6%	39.9	31
Salem State - OT	79.2	93	44.5%	47%	39.1	34
Lesley	63.7	61	41.4%	40.4%	32.3	29

[tball]

Unfortunately you are not likely to get a robust debate on Player of the Year & Rookie of the Year since it would seem only MIT supporters are on this board.
   
Should the board be renamed?

(thanks for fixing the table)

[Hugenerd]

MIT is ranked for the first time ever this week, jumping into the polls at #22.  WPI also received votes, they are 33rd.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

MIT is ranked for the first time ever this week, jumping into the polls at #22.  WPI also received votes, they are 33rd.

It's really not right to say teams receiving votes, but not in the Top 25 are ranked (ie WPI at #33).  If the poll allowed voters to rank teams through 35 places, then it would be acceptable.  These numbers below #25 are just not that accurate.

[tball]

Congratulations to Coach Anderson, a nice Christmas present for a good guy!

[Hugenerd]

MIT is ranked for the first time ever this week, jumping into the polls at #22.  WPI also received votes, they are 33rd.

It's really not right to say teams receiving votes, but not in the Top 25 are ranked (ie WPI at #33).  If the poll allowed voters to rank teams through 35 places, then it would be acceptable.  These numbers below #25 are just not that accurate.

I didnt say they were ranked, I said they also received votes, 33rd most.  I also think that people who read these boards know that the rankings are a top 25 so I didnt realize that by saying"WPI also received votes", I was not been explicit enough that they were not actually ranked.

[massd3fan]

Sorry for my absence gentlemen, work, family concerns & the holidays have limited my time online lately.  I have kept up reading the boards, but just hav not had much time to get into the conversations.

Anyway, I have a few minutes here now, and did have to respond to the notion the one cannot consider those below 25 as ranked. 

Given that those who recieved votes are by defintion considered by some to be in the top 25 over those teams who recieved NO votes, it is not at all unreasonable to say the 4th team past #25 is ranked at #29.

That entire concept of a poll is based on opinion to start with.  as an example, in this weeks poll, if St.Mary's is not the #26 team, then how can one claim Wooster is #25?

The logic of saying they are ranked #28 or # 37 is as sound as saying Augustana is #18.  because they got 2 more points than Chapman.  These are the teams the pollsters considered the best in the country at this point in time.  The numerical scoring is the choosen system to determine the order.

Those "others" are indeed ranked, just not "IN" the top 25.

Hugenerd,

   First, Congratulation to MIT on thier first ever top 25 appearance and a great start to the season.  The conference games this year look to be very interesting games. 

  I have seen a couple of the WPI games, and will take some time tonight to hit my word processor gather my "insights".

  How is your family doing?  In case my wife has other plans, and I do want to wish you and everyone here a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.

   

[Hugenerd]

Sorry for my absence gentlemen, work, family concerns & the holidays have limited my time online lately.  I have kept up reading the boards, but just hav not had much time to get into the conversations.

Anyway, I have a few minutes here now, and did have to respond to the notion the one cannot consider those below 25 as ranked. 

Given that those who recieved votes are by defintion considered by some to be in the top 25 over those teams who recieved NO votes, it is not at all unreasonable to say the 4th team past #25 is ranked at #29.

That entire concept of a poll is based on opinion to start with.  as an example, in this weeks poll, if St.Mary's is not the #26 team, then how can one claim Wooster is #25?

The logic of saying they are ranked #28 or # 37 is as sound as saying Augustana is #18.  because they got 2 more points than Chapman.  These are the teams the pollsters considered the best in the country at this point in time.  The numerical scoring is the choosen system to determine the order.

Those "others" are indeed ranked, just not "IN" the top 25.

Hugenerd,

   First, Congratulation to MIT on thier first ever top 25 appearance and a great start to the season.  The conference games this year look to be very interesting games. 

  I have seen a couple of the WPI games, and will take some time tonight to hit my word processor gather my "insights".

  How is your family doing?  In case my wife has other plans, and I do want to wish you and everyone here a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.

Thanks for asking, family is doing great.  My daughter just started preschool, so that was exciting.  Hope your family is doing well and also Happy Holidays to everyone.

[Hugenerd]

Another congrats to Noel Hollingsworth for being named ECAC player of the week in the Northeast.

http://www.mitathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/2009-10/releases/HollingsworthPOTW_121409

[ECSUalum]

nerd,

Congrats on MIT top 25 ranking, I think we all knew it was just a matter of time.

Tball,

Nice job with the stats, they tend not to lie!!!

[Hugenerd]

nerd,

Congrats on MIT top 25 ranking, I think we all knew it was just a matter of time.

Tball,

Nice job with the stats, they tend not to lie!!!

Now if they could only beat Harvard...