MBB: NEWMAC

[Hugenerd]

Hugenerd,

Congratulations to Noel Hollinsworth on the Player of the Week award.  Very Well Deserved!

I agree he is a very patient low post player.  It does not surprise me that had a big day against CGA's James.  James may be very physical, but give me a talented 6'9" player in the low post against 6'4" or 6'5" any day of the week. Also, it's not like James is 6'5" and 240 lbs either.  Noel gets the ball up in a good shooting position very quickly and lets face it, there are no 6'5" players around whose reach alone is going to bother a 6'9" player of Hollinsworth's ability.  From the box score, Noel was 10 for 13 with 2 of the 3 misses coming from outside the arc.  It just proves my point, you are not going to be able to defend a player like Noel with someone the size of a Jerome Stewart or Jevan James.  He simply plays over them.  It is a huge advantage that MIT & Coach Anderson fully exploit.  This is backed up by your observations and the 2 1/2 games I have seen him play, he has the ability to completely destroy smaller guys in the low post and mid-range areas.

You also see MIT have this advantage in the guard slot as well.  How many other 6'5" shooting guards is Bender matching up against?  None in the NEWMAC that is for sure.  Also Johnson at 6'8" is more comfortable on the perimeter where he is rarely drawing someone his own size this season.  I know his offense has been sub-par based on what he has done in the past, but he is still a hard weapon to defend when he gets going. 

I wouldnt say Billy Johnson has been subpar, he did have a minor shooting slump at one point, but he has been very gracious in accepting a limited offensive role in order to make the team better.

[mass_d3fan]

"I wouldnt say Billy Johnson has been subpar, he did have a minor shooting slump at one point, but he has been very gracious in accepting a limited offensive role in order to make the team better."


You are correct, My bad on that one.

[toooldtoplay]

Johnson is enjoying this year doing what he loves to do which is shoot the ball and play the game. I don't think it is or ever was about the stats for Bill. His teammates love him and he does whatever he is capable of on the floor. Sometimes it is knocking down 3's, helping the guards when they are pressured, defending a big guard or a post player and sometimes it is going down to the block and scoring and rebounding. He is a versatile big who can play the perimeter. Best of all when he is not in the game he is a great cheerleader for his younger teammates. He recognizes their talent and is glad to fit in and let them flourish.

MIT would not be 18-2 without him and will miss him next year. He brings so many intangibles to the game. This is a totally different team than last year when everyone played off Bartolatta who commanded double and triple teams.

[toooldtoplay]

WARNING:  Don't sleep on Babson.  They have wins over WPI and Wheaton and a 2 point loss to Springfield. The second time around the losing team makes adjustments and the winning team usually stands pat which leads to a closer game or different outcome.  I expect the Beavers to come ready to chop wood!!

[Hugenerd]

Springfield squeeks out a win over CGA, 58-56, to pull within 1/2 a game of MIT in the NEWMAC (for the moment).

Wheaton wins at Clark, 74-69.

MIT up on Babson 39-21 at the half.

[toooldtoplay]

Best first half of basketball this year. Everyone involved, tempo controlled and team defense very tough. I am surprised at the Springfield score. They seem to leave everyone in the games and then pull them out.

[Hugenerd]

Best first half of basketball this year. Everyone involved, tempo controlled and team defense very tough. I am surprised at the Springfield score. They seem to leave everyone in the games and then pull them out.

MIT now up 24 with 14 minutes to play, 52-28.

[Hugenerd]

MIT wins comfortably, 67-49.  MIT was again paced by Noel Hollingsworth with 21 and 8 rebounds.  A very balanced effort from the starting 5.

CONGRATS TO BILLY JOHNSON ON SCORING HIS 1000TH POINT TONIGHT!!  With his 9 points tonight, he has exactly 1000 for his career.  Great achievement for a great player.

[BBallers]

Great game by MIT, especially the first half.  My only suggestion would be to play the bench earlier in the second half of a blowout because those kids also practice hard.  Special congratulations to Billy Johnson for scoring over 1,000 points.  It is something he will always be proud of.

[toooldtoplay]

Moving through the second half of league play I am going to take a stab at mid-year honors in the league.  Still time for anyone to step up and show what they have.

First team:
Noel Hollingsworth (MIT) - MVP so far. Player of the week 4 times. Leads league in scoring and 2nd in rebounds.
Jeff Robinson(WPI) - Best player on WPI, 2nd in scoring, FT %, and first in 3 pt %.
Mark Alexander (Clark) - #3 in scoring, FT%, 4th in steals and minutes played.
Matt Cavalieri (Spr) - # 1 in Rebounding and #7 in Scoring
Mitchell Kates (MIT) - #1 in Steals and assists, #8 in scoring, #5 in fg%, and second in minutes played.

Second team:
Anthony Coppola (Whe)
Jevon James (CGA)
Brian Vayda (CLK)
Pat Crean (Spr)
Tri Fernandez (CGA)

[tball]

I would hope that Billy Johnson would get consideration for 2nd Team if MIT wins out in conference (I know this will be very difficult & maybe unlikely) or if they are regular season & tournament champs.

His numbers are comparable to WPI's Etten & Lirette last year when WPI had the best record & placed three players on the All-Conference teams.  History says Clark would not have two players with their record,  maybe CGA as well.

His contributions as the leader of a very young team should not be underestimated or go unrewarded.

[Hugenerd]

I would hope that Billy Johnson would get consideration for 2nd Team if MIT wins out in conference (I know this will be very difficult & maybe unlikely) or if they are regular season & tournament champs.

His numbers are comparable to WPI's Etten & Lirette last year when WPI had the best record & placed three players on the All-Conference teams.  History says Clark would not have two players with their record,  maybe CGA as well.

His contributions as the leader of a very young team should not be underestimated or go unrewarded.

I agree completely.  Bill Johnson, as well as the other two co-captains: Senior Pat Sissman and Junior Eric Zuk, have been instrumental to this teams success.  Without their leadership there is no way this team is where they are now.  The younger guys have a lot of talent but the older guys have done a great job of teaching and acclimating everyone to the MIT system and the college game.

[Hugenerd]

Tonight's games at MIT have been postponed until tomorrow.  Release here:

http://www.mitathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/2009-10/releases/Snow_021010

[Hugenerd]

MIT and WPI both ranked in this week's regional poll.  MIT at #2 and WPI at #11.

[Hugenerd]

All of tonight's NEWMAC games have been postponed until tomorrow.