MBB: NEWMAC

[BBallers]

Disappointing end to the season, losing 3 of 4 and playing their worst basketball of the season.

I think Bender was missed the last three games rebounding more than anything.

I agree and it completely baffles me.  I love Coach Anderson and think he is a great coach, but I believe he made two significant mistakes in his coaching:
·   Benching MIT's starters in 2005 or 2006 game in the NEWMAC tournament costing them the game and a potential shot at the NCAA's.  That team was probably MIT's 3rd best team besides the current team and last year's team.
·   Not playing Bender in this NCAA game after he went though a full practice and most of the players not playing well.

Don't know why.  Maybe he wanted to prove the D3Hoops.com article wrong that depicted MIT's 3 losses in the last 4 games could be due to his absence (now 4 of 5).  It's not that he is an all conference player, but he gives the team what it needs and always plays well in the big games.

This was a big loss.  I'm sorry, but to be truthful, I don't know who DeSales played to earn their record, but I believe they are at best a 3rd place team in our conference.  If this were how they always play, Clark would have easily beaten them.  MIT's defense this game could be referred to as Matador Inspired Technique defense.  Darnell Braswell is a good player, but he could not hold Jimmy Bartolotta's jock strap IMHO.  I didn't see the whole game, but it was obvious that Braswell was not even trying to score earlier in the game (don't confuse that with the defense), but when it was needed, he easily got great looks.

Oh well, my apologies to everyone (especially Coach Anderson) for being negative.  I'm just a disappointed fan.    To be perfectly clear, I wouldn't trade Coach Anderson for any coach and I'm sure he will get MIT re-loaded next season and go deep in the NCAA tournament and play some strong teams in the early season.  

[T990]

DeSales will be playing Albertus Magnus tomorrow night.  Wm Paterson took the lead w/ 1.6 sec remaining in the game, then Magnus hit a HALF COURT SHOT before the buzzer to win it 57-55 !

[mass_d3fan]

"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 "

I have to say this is a bit contradictory.  If your full of great young talent, then you do not have a lack of depth.  They do have 3 great young players, but you cant expect to be sucessful game in & game out when they have to play these number of minutes.  Tashman stepped it up big for MIT tonight, otherwise this is not even a contest.  Very hard to win a tournament game when your best 2 players combine to go 11 for 33. Take Tashman's 8 FGs out, and the rest of theam only scored 14 FGs in 45 minutes of play.  They needed much more from Johnson with Bender being a non-factor.  5 points in 41 minutes was not good for him in these circumstances.

It is amazing that they had Kates play 45, Tashman 44, Burke 43, Hollinsworth 41 & Johnson 41.  Other than those 5, the rest of team only contributed 11 minutes among 3 other players.  Even if they had won, what would they have had left in the tank to play tomorrow?

Certainly Bender not being able to contribute was a big reason for the late season collapse, but that is why you must develop depth during the season.



Congrats to Clark for a thrilling last minute 2-pt win!  It's up to them to carry the NEWMAC banner now.  Brian Vayda with a huge game to lead Clark.

[emesb]

Clark finally get some love. one of the best games i have ever seen win or loose but wining is nice.

[Hugenerd]

Disappointing end to the season, losing 3 of 4 and playing their worst basketball of the season.

I think Bender was missed the last three games rebounding more than anything.

I agree and it completely baffles me.  I love Coach Anderson and think he is a great coach, but I believe he made two significant mistakes in his coaching:
·   Benching MIT's starters in 2005 or 2006 game in the NEWMAC tournament costing them the game and a potential shot at the NCAA's.  That team was probably MIT's 3rd best team besides the current team and last year's team.
·   Not playing Bender in this NCAA game after he went though a full practice and most of the players not playing well.

Don't know why.  Maybe he wanted to prove the D3Hoops.com article wrong that depicted MIT's 3 losses in the last 4 games could be due to his absence (now 4 of 5).  It's not that he is an all conference player, but he gives the team what it needs and always plays well in the big games.

This was a big loss.  I'm sorry, but to be truthful, I don't know who DeSales played to earn their record, but I believe they are at best a 3rd place team in our conference.  If this were how they always play, Clark would have easily beaten them.  MIT's defense this game could be referred to as Matador Inspired Technique defense.  Darnell Braswell is a good player, but he could not hold Jimmy Bartolotta's jock strap IMHO.  I didn't see the whole game, but it was obvious that Braswell was not even trying to score earlier in the game (don't confuse that with the defense), but when it was needed, he easily got great looks.

Oh well, my apologies to everyone (especially Coach Anderson) for being negative.  I'm just a disappointed fan.    To be perfectly clear, I wouldn't trade Coach Anderson for any coach and I'm sure he will get MIT re-loaded next season and go deep in the NCAA tournament and play some strong teams in the early season.  

Have to disagree with you on a few points here:  

1) MIT has now lost 3 of 4, previously it was 2 of 3 (they lost to Harvard and Wheaton earlier in the season).

2) The game that the starters got benched in 2006 was in the ECAC Semifinals, it did not cost them anything in terms of NCAA appearances (I know, I was a grad assistant that year).

3) Bender is ineffective when he cant move.  He is a great player for MIT, but he is not the most athletic player in the world even when 100%.  When you add a serious ankle injury to the equation, things get very subjective.  Coach Anderson put him out there, and obviously didnt like what he saw, and add to that that Burke was playing pretty good defense and I guess he went with the lineup he felt gave them the best chance to win.  He knows his players much better than anyone else, and he put the guys out there he thought would give them the best chance to win.

If you want reasons why they lost:
1) Getting outrebounded even though you are 4 inches taller than everyone on the opposing team at positions 2-5

2) Shooting 13-24 from the FT line (if they make even 70%, they win the game in regulation)

3) Shooting 7-26 grom 3.  Not getting it done.

4) Shoot 38% from the field for the game.

5) Not winning any 50/50 balls, DeSales got nearly every long rebound (hence the edge in overall rebounding).

MIT had a shot, and I wanted to see them win, but you cant expect to win when you get outshot across the board, outrebounded, and out-hustled.  Hopefully this will be a good learning experience for all the young players on the team.  It was certainly a great season and it was amazing to see what this young team did.  No one expected them to win this many games, so I think it best to just be happy with what they accomplished, not what they didnt.  It is unnecessary to try to rehash decisions Coach Anderson made in tonights game, let alone 4 years ago.

There is a lot to look forward to next season...

[T990]

Clark's Coach Phillips did a marvelous job of letting the talents of his players win the game tonight, as well as in the NEWMAC tournament.  He seems to let the players do what they do well and ultimately to win the game.  Clark actually played great in crunch time making critical plays as if they did not have to over think what coach would want, but just play basketball and do what comes naturally to their skill set.  Vayda's 3-pt play in the lane while trailing in the final seconds and double-teamed was immense.

[BJ - DSU SID]

I agree and it completely baffles me.  I love Coach Anderson and think he is a great coach, but I believe he made two significant mistakes in his coaching:
·   Benching MIT's starters in 2005 or 2006 game in the NEWMAC tournament costing them the game and a potential shot at the NCAA's.  That team was probably MIT's 3rd best team besides the current team and last year's team.
·   Not playing Bender in this NCAA game after he went though a full practice and most of the players not playing well.

Don't know why.  Maybe he wanted to prove the D3Hoops.com article wrong that depicted MIT's 3 losses in the last 4 games could be due to his absence (now 4 of 5).  It's not that he is an all conference player, but he gives the team what it needs and always plays well in the big games.

This was a big loss.  I'm sorry, but to be truthful, I don't know who DeSales played to earn their record, but I believe they are at best a 3rd place team in our conference.  If this were how they always play, Clark would have easily beaten them.  MIT's defense this game could be referred to as Matador Inspired Technique defense.  Darnell Braswell is a good player, but he could not hold Jimmy Bartolotta's jock strap IMHO.  I didn't see the whole game, but it was obvious that Braswell was not even trying to score earlier in the game (don't confuse that with the defense), but when it was needed, he easily got great looks.

Oh well, my apologies to everyone (especially Coach Anderson) for being negative.  I'm just a disappointed fan.    To be perfectly clear, I wouldn't trade Coach Anderson for any coach and I'm sure he will get MIT re-loaded next season and go deep in the NCAA tournament and play some strong teams in the early season.  

I am not going to dignify this post with a comment.  Stay Classy BBallers.

[tball]

Re Hugenerd last post:

My comment about Bender was that his rebounding was missed due to injury not coaching related.

I do think they need to find ways to score more easy baskets.  Nearly half of the shot attempts in the last two games have been threes and all of Kates' assists the last two games have been on three point shots.

Overall we can look forward to next year, especially if Karraker & McCue are back & if Montgomery works hard to improve this summer and relieve some post minutes.  I would have liked to see a little more of him this year.

[Hugenerd]

Re Hugenerd last post:

My comment about Bender was that his rebounding was missed due to injury not coaching related.

I do think they need to find ways to score more easy baskets.  Nearly half of the shot attempts in the last two games have been threes and all of Kates' assists the last two games have been on three point shots.

Overall we can look forward to next year, especially if Karraker & McCue are back & if Montgomery works hard to improve this summer and relieve some post minutes.  I would have liked to see a little more of him this year.

Your post was fine, my response was to BBallers. 

As I said earlier, great season for MIT.  They just got worn down and had too many injuries to win.  Kates, Burke, and Bender were all limited or did not practice last week, not to mention Nick Sather who got injured in the first game this year and Jamie Karraker who was out the whole season.

The return of McCue and Karraker will help, but so will some of the new guys coming in.  Coach Anderson has no problem playing a freshman over upper-classmen, he plays who gives the team its best chance to win.  I will be interested to see what happens with regular-action admissions.  Would be nice if MIT could pick up a couple more solid players to round out the class.

[emesb]

This should be called the MIT board not the NEWMAC. All teams deal with injuries players academicaly unable to play and other issues you have to rise above it all. I love you guys. I love Coach Anderson but, Coach Anderson does a great job but.... They didn't get it done thats all. You guys have been bragging about your depth all year. You can't have it the other way. Rmember this beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. STRENGTH COMES FROM ADVERSITY. Your bug man is great but you can't rely on him so much. You need to spread it around a little.

Clark will have a very difficult time matching up today but that is why you play. They have nothing to loose.

[ECSUalum]

The old injury devil bit the Engineers hard by end of a great season.

Next year everyone will have that extra experience, together with a good recruiting year, sould be a NCAA Championship bound,(assuming all starters stay healthy).

[Hugenerd]

As promised previously, new article on Tim Donegan.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10063/1039959-361.stm

[FISHERMAN]

I predict Russell Braithwaite will be POY next year.

[Hugenerd]

I predict Russell Braithwaite will be POY next year.

That will be tough.  Not only does Hollingsworth return (this year's POY), but so do current first-teamers Jeff Robinson (WPI), Brian Vayda (Clark), Matt Cavalieri (Springfield), former first-teamer (and current second-teamer) Anthony Coppola (Wheaton), and current second-teamers Mitch Kates (MIT) and Brendan Degnan (Wheaton).

I honestly dont see it happening.  I think the winner will be from a top two conference team, so whoever the most productive player on the team that finishes one or two in conference will likely win it.  We saw in the past that numbers alone dont get it done, if they just looked at numbers Bartolotta would have won POY 3 years in a row, but he only won it his senior year when MIT was second in the regular season and won the conference tourney.

[BBallers]

Disappointing end to the season, losing 3 of 4 and playing their worst basketball of the season.

I think Bender was missed the last three games rebounding more than anything.

I agree and it completely baffles me.  I love Coach Anderson and think he is a great coach, but I believe he made two significant mistakes in his coaching:
·   Benching MIT's starters in 2005 or 2006 game in the NEWMAC tournament costing them the game and a potential shot at the NCAA's.  That team was probably MIT's 3rd best team besides the current team and last year's team.
·   Not playing Bender in this NCAA game after he went though a full practice and most of the players not playing well.

Don't know why.  Maybe he wanted to prove the D3Hoops.com article wrong that depicted MIT's 3 losses in the last 4 games could be due to his absence (now 4 of 5).  It's not that he is an all conference player, but he gives the team what it needs and always plays well in the big games.

This was a big loss.  I'm sorry, but to be truthful, I don't know who DeSales played to earn their record, but I believe they are at best a 3rd place team in our conference.  If this were how they always play, Clark would have easily beaten them.  MIT's defense this game could be referred to as Matador Inspired Technique defense.  Darnell Braswell is a good player, but he could not hold Jimmy Bartolotta's jock strap IMHO.  I didn't see the whole game, but it was obvious that Braswell was not even trying to score earlier in the game (don't confuse that with the defense), but when it was needed, he easily got great looks.

Oh well, my apologies to everyone (especially Coach Anderson) for being negative.  I'm just a disappointed fan.    To be perfectly clear, I wouldn't trade Coach Anderson for any coach and I'm sure he will get MIT re-loaded next season and go deep in the NCAA tournament and play some strong teams in the early season.  

Have to disagree with you on a few points here:  

1) MIT has now lost 3 of 4, previously it was 2 of 3 (they lost to Harvard and Wheaton earlier in the season).

2) The game that the starters got benched in 2006 was in the ECAC Semifinals, it did not cost them anything in terms of NCAA appearances (I know, I was a grad assistant that year).

3) Bender is ineffective when he cant move.  He is a great player for MIT, but he is not the most athletic player in the world even when 100%.  When you add a serious ankle injury to the equation, things get very subjective.  Coach Anderson put him out there, and obviously didnt like what he saw, and add to that that Burke was playing pretty good defense and I guess he went with the lineup he felt gave them the best chance to win.  He knows his players much better than anyone else, and he put the guys out there he thought would give them the best chance to win.

If you want reasons why they lost:
1) Getting outrebounded even though you are 4 inches taller than everyone on the opposing team at positions 2-5

2) Shooting 13-24 from the FT line (if they make even 70%, they win the game in regulation)

3) Shooting 7-26 grom 3.  Not getting it done.

4) Shoot 38% from the field for the game.

5) Not winning any 50/50 balls, DeSales got nearly every long rebound (hence the edge in overall rebounding).

MIT had a shot, and I wanted to see them win, but you cant expect to win when you get outshot across the board, outrebounded, and out-hustled.  Hopefully this will be a good learning experience for all the young players on the team.  It was certainly a great season and it was amazing to see what this young team did.  No one expected them to win this many games, so I think it best to just be happy with what they accomplished, not what they didnt.  It is unnecessary to try to rehash decisions Coach Anderson made in tonights game, let alone 4 years ago.

There is a lot to look forward to next season...

As usual Hugenerd, you are correct.  That's why I enjoy reading your posts.  You are correct about the wins along with previous tournament (I must have gotten my tournaments confused).  You are also correct that Coach Anderson knows the players and how they are playing better than the fans.  I'm sure Coach would have played Bender if his ankle was better.  Also agree about the shooting, rebounding, etc.

Like I said, if 2 mistakes are all that I remember (and maybe they weren't even mistakes), that is a pretty good coaching job.  I am not always PC and was just a dissapointed fan after a big game.  Like I said at the end of my post, I would not trade Coach Anderson for any coach and I'm sure MIT will be reloaded and make a deep run in the NCAA's next season.  This was their most wins in any season ever so there is much to be proud about.

I agree and it completely baffles me.  I love Coach Anderson and think he is a great coach, but I believe he made two significant mistakes in his coaching:
·   Benching MIT's starters in 2005 or 2006 game in the NEWMAC tournament costing them the game and a potential shot at the NCAA's.  That team was probably MIT's 3rd best team besides the current team and last year's team.
·   Not playing Bender in this NCAA game after he went though a full practice and most of the players not playing well.

Don't know why.  Maybe he wanted to prove the D3Hoops.com article wrong that depicted MIT's 3 losses in the last 4 games could be due to his absence (now 4 of 5).  It's not that he is an all conference player, but he gives the team what it needs and always plays well in the big games.

This was a big loss.  I'm sorry, but to be truthful, I don't know who DeSales played to earn their record, but I believe they are at best a 3rd place team in our conference.  If this were how they always play, Clark would have easily beaten them.  MIT's defense this game could be referred to as Matador Inspired Technique defense.  Darnell Braswell is a good player, but he could not hold Jimmy Bartolotta's jock strap IMHO.  I didn't see the whole game, but it was obvious that Braswell was not even trying to score earlier in the game (don't confuse that with the defense), but when it was needed, he easily got great looks.

Oh well, my apologies to everyone (especially Coach Anderson) for being negative.  I'm just a disappointed fan.    To be perfectly clear, I wouldn't trade Coach Anderson for any coach and I'm sure he will get MIT re-loaded next season and go deep in the NCAA tournament and play some strong teams in the early season.  

I am not going to dignify this post with a comment.  Stay Classy BBallers.

Again, my apologies.  I am not always the most PC, just a fan who was venting, but did not think I was that bad.  Maybe I will wait longer prior to posting.  Best of luck to DeSales and especially Clark who really won a barnburner.