MBB: NEWMAC

[Hugenerd]

MIT will be playing against DeSales on Friday night...although MIT will outsize them, DeSales runs almost all their stuff through their guards who are very good...teams that do this with quality at the guard position generally give MIT problems....expectation is this will be a close game and should be viewed currently as a toss-up.  Either way, the winner of this game may be playing William Patterson on Saturday ( assuming WP defeats Albertus Magnus)....highly unlikely that either MIT or DeSales will prevail over William Patterson...they're pretty stacked and certainly a lot more athletic than MIT....having said all that many many kudos to Coach Anderson ( by the way, he IS a very impressive guy) and and his team...they will continue to progress in the next few years because they are recruiting very effectively

I think a lot will depend on how healthy MIT's guards are.  If Bender and Kates are close to 100%, they will have a pretty good shot.  MIT will definitely outsize DeSales, as they dont play anyone over 6'4" more than ~10 minutes a game, and MIT will start 6'2", 6'5", 6'8", 6'8", 6'9", but the game will depend on how much MIT can slow down Darnell Braswell and who shoots better from outside.  If MIT is -18 or more points from 3, they will have a tough time beating anyone.

Also, with respect to William Paterson, and not overlooking DeSales in any way, but I think an MIT/WP matchup would be a very close game.  Both play similar styles and both are top ~7 in the country in scoring defense, which makes me think that if they were to play, the game would be low scoring and both teams would have a shot at it.  I think DeSales and WP are both very good teams though, so there is no telling who is coming out of that pod (Albertus Magnus also has a lot of talent).

Appreciate the DeSales preview and analysis.  I agree it will be a tough matchup for MIT.  I believe Kates is close to 100% and Bender was cleared to play but still has a high ankle sprain.  BTW, the game is being shown on video (link is at the MIT website under "Schedule/Results").

I hope everyone filled in their D3 Mens brackets on this website.  My only chance of being close to a high score is if MIT goes all the way!  

All those links are also on the MIT Basketball Blog.

[emesb]

I may be making an assumption that is incorrect but I have watched both teams newmac teams are playing on video online it surely didn't seem very physical. I would be very concerned. It looked like people were being given a free pass to the basket and there was noo bodying up like we see.

[BJ - DSU SID]

Been following the conversation on this board all week in anticipation of tomorrow's MIT/DeSales match-up.

One thing I must correct.  DeSales has started 6-6 Jamey Bercier in all 27 games and 6-5 Bob Zanneo averages 15+ minutes per game.  So we do have some height on our roster to go along with all our quick/skilled guards.

Should be an exciting and interesting match-up tomorrow.  I am looking forward to it.

[toooldtoplay]

What kind of crowd will Desales bring to New Jersey? I don't expect alot of people for the first game but expect it to be pretty full for the WP contest with all the giveaways to the students.

[Hugenerd]

Been following the conversation on this board all week in anticipation of tomorrow's MIT/DeSales match-up.

One thing I must correct.  DeSales has started 6-6 Jamey Bercier in all 27 games and 6-5 Bob Zanneo averages 15+ minutes per game.  So we do have some height on our roster to go along with all our quick/skilled guards.

Should be an exciting and interesting match-up tomorrow.  I am looking forward to it.

On the site it says Bercier averages 15.0 mpg and Zanneo plays 14.7 mpg.  Also Bercier has played 9, 14, and 10 minutes in the last 3 games despite two of those being blowouts.  The general comment was meant to say that DeSales prefers playing a smaller lineup, and mainly plays players 6'4" and under.  Out of players who have appeared in at least 75% of the teams games, players over 6'4" play only 35 minutes or so out of 200 total minutes.  And the two players you pointed out who are taller than 6'4", who are 6'5" and 6'6", play 30 of those ~35 minutes.  Needless to say, MIT will be the bigger team.  It will be an interesting clash of styles.

http://athletics.desales.edu/custompages/mbball/2009-10/teamcume.htm?path=mbball

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Been following the conversation on this board all week in anticipation of tomorrow's MIT/DeSales match-up.

One thing I must correct.  DeSales has started 6-6 Jamey Bercier in all 27 games and 6-5 Bob Zanneo averages 15+ minutes per game.  So we do have some height on our roster to go along with all our quick/skilled guards.

Should be an exciting and interesting match-up tomorrow.  I am looking forward to it.

On the site it says Bercier averages 15.0 mpg and Zanneo plays 14.7 mpg.  Also Bercier has played 9, 14, and 10 minutes in the last 3 games despite two of those being blowouts.  The general comment was meant to say that DeSales prefers playing a smaller lineup, and mainly plays players 6'4" and under.  Out of players who have appeared in at least 75% of the teams games, players over 6'4" play only 35 minutes or so out of 200 total minutes.  And the two players you pointed out who are taller than 6'4", who are 6'5" and 6'6", play 30 of those ~35 minutes.  Needless to say, MIT will be the bigger team.  It will be an interesting clash of styles.

http://athletics.desales.edu/custompages/mbball/2009-10/teamcume.htm?path=mbball

Don't mess with the nerd.  He knows how to use that giant calculator.

[BJ - DSU SID]

I am not messing with anyone.  He is partly right...but the lack of minutes over the past few games was a match-ups situation.  The team we played in the conference title game only had one big guy and he wasn't that big and didn't really play in the post.  So we went small to match them.

Definitely going to be a contrast of two styles tonight...although I will admit I didn't do nearly the amount of research that hugenerd seems to have done.  I am just going on what has been said on the board.

Good Luck to everyone!!

[T990]

I don't think MIT has faced a team this year that truly relied on the transition game for its offense.  For MIT to stay with what they've done all year (half court offense and lots of inside game) against DeSales, they will have to minimize their turnovers and control the rebounds.  Generally, MIT is not sloppy with ball.  In their last 2 losses, it did seem there were times MIT was not contending for offensive rebounds as guys would be headed away from the basket on shots rather than getting inside.  The transition game could strain MIT's guards, no question, so MIT is best off being efficient with their own offense and not letting DeSales have too many opportunities on transitions. 

Sounds like Darnell Braswell gets his 21+ pts no matter what you do (like Jimmy Bartollota got his 27+ against everyone last year), so MIT shouldn't get overly concerned with him and foul their team out and put DeSales into the Bonus trying to control him.  Some half court trapping may help, something MIT used effectively a lot in past seasons, but not really used this year.  This year's MIT roster could probably be a pretty good zone D team, although they've only used it in about 3 games this year.

[T990]

Nice Game Preview article here:

http://www.mitathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/2009-10/Game_Notes_NCAA_Tournament_-_MIT_vs._DeSales_Mar_5.pdf

[tball]

Disappointing end to the season, losing 3 of 4 and playing their worst basketball of the season.  I hope they learn from this.  Tashman played well, not much else.

Very poor shot selection, missed free throws and getting out rebounded by a much shorter team equals the loss.  I think Bender was missed the last three games rebounding more than anything.  Surprised how few easy baskets were created today, almost every shot was contested.

[T990]

Clark going toe to toe with Albright, at Albright.

37-34 Clark at halftime.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ncaa-division-iii-basketball-albright

[Hugenerd]

I think the lack of depth, combined with injuries, caught up with MIT.  If you look at their 3FG% the last 1/4 of the season or so, it fell off pretty drastically.  Hopefully, with some more depth coming in next year, they will be a better team going into the postseason, instead of peaking about 20 games into the year. 

Either way, a great and memorable season.  Congrats to seniors Billy Johnson and Pat Sissman on great careers.  The future looks bright for MIT, hopefully they will be able to build on this success.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Clark beats Albright 69-67.

[newmachoopsfan]

I think the lack of depth, combined with injuries, caught up with MIT.  If you look at their 3FG% the last 1/4 of the season or so, it fell off pretty drastically.  Hopefully, with some more depth coming in next year, they will be a better team going into the postseason, instead of peaking about 20 games into the year. 

Either way, a great and memorable season.  Congrats to seniors Billy Johnson and Pat Sissman on great careers.  The future looks bright for MIT, hopefully they will be able to build on this success.

hugenerd,
I completely agree with you assessment. I was able to finally get the video of the DeSales game to pull up on my computer.  I think the guys legs were finally worn out.  The late run in the second half was awesome but it took everything they had to send the game into overtime.  When I saw on the stat sheet that MIT played 5 guys over 40 minutes, it really became apparent that lack of depth and injuries finally did them in.  MIT is full of great young talent that now can be called veterans and hopefully the young guns coming in can contribute next year as much as the freshman did this year.  I did some research on the four players that appear on the MIT blog and found some interesting stuff.  This Baysinger kid is out with an injury but this article appeared from one of his playoff games last year.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/twpdfs/2009/FINAL/W_022809_B_7.PDF

From what I found it seems the other three are currently in their respective state playoffs...

This was a great team to follow this year and I look forward to following them in the years to come.

[Hugenerd]

Next year should be fun to watch.

Congrats to Clark on the win.  I am on the Clark bandwagon for the rest of the postseason.  Hopefully they do the NEWMAC proud.