MBB: NEWMAC

[Hugenerd]

I started writing this after the game, but my neighbor had a limb fall on his garage, so after some late fun with a chain saw, I can get this posted.

I went over to WPI this evening and watched the battle of the Engineers go to WPI with a 68-53 win over MIT tonight.  Matt Carr(15),  Jeff Robinson (13) and Kyle Nadaeu(11) and Fernando Perez(9) led the scoring  for WPI.  Mitch Kates(15), Jamie Karraker(10), Tim Donegan(10) and Will Tashman(9) led the way for MIT.  Carr & Tashman shared game high honors with 7 boards.

This one was dominated by Carr early as he lit up the MIT defense for 8 early points before getting a couple of quick fouls halfway through the period.  He sat the final 10+ minutes.  WPI open up the lead to 11 twice, the first time MIT battled back to get it to 5 on buckets from Kates, McQue, Karraker & Donegan.  Perez, Shannon, Nadaeu & Robinson scored to build it back to 11 before a Donegan hoop got the game to a 30-21 halftime score.  Tashman committed his 2nd foul with under a minute in the first half, so both big guys started the 2ns half with 2..

The second half started off just like the first, Carr put a nice spin move on Tashman drawing his 3rd and upping the lead to 11.  Next, a Ben Etten offensive board and assist led to a Nadeau 3 pointer.  Following the 3rd straight MIT turnover, Carr found Nadeau in the corner for another 3 and the lead was 17points, 2 minutes into the 2nd half.  MIT cut the lead to 14 a couple of times, but most of the second half was played with WPI having a very comfortable lead.  MIT did cut it to 13 with just under 2 minutes to go, but got no closer.

WPI won the rebounding battle 34 to 26, but the big difference was on the offensive glass where Carr had as many boards(5) as the entire MIT team and Ben Etten had 4.  WPI  as a team had 15 offensive boards that led to 14 to 3 advantage in 2nd chance points. The other big advantages WPI enjoyed were in points off turnovers, 29-11 and points in the paint, 37-18.

Two unsung heroes tonight for WPI – Joe Wesloski & Jameel Galloway combined to play 29 minutes of very good defense especially when Carr was sitting.

Also another strange lineup tonight for WPI as Jeff Robinson did not start again.  He came of the bench and struggled shooting going 5 for 17 and missed 2 of 3 free throws after shooting 96% from the line in the first 14 games.  I am not sure what the reason is that he is not starting now, but one thing is certain, it is affecting his performance.  Also Jerome Stewart was in street clothes.  No visible signs of injury, so not sure if he was just under the weather or what the issue maybe as he has not played in the last two games.

There were 5 players in warm-ups on the end of the MIT bench tonight,   Obviously Hollinsworth & Burke, but Attanasio, Sather & Watkins did not look like they were there toplay.  To top  that off, MIT has bus issues and the game started 30 minutes late.

I was actually just posting when you wrote that.  Wasnt at the game so I can provide insight into the game, other than how much they miss Hollingsworth and Burke.  Those were two guys they had last year that could make their own shot and do it consistently.  Hollingsworth was their go to go (obviously), and no one else has really stepped up to be that guy.  Their outside shooters also are not getting the same looks they were with Hollingsworth spacing the floor (teams no longer need to sag in to help on him).

By the way, Watkins broke his finger badly in the first game of the season, hasnt played since.  Not sure about Sather and Attanasio.

[mass_d3fan]

Seems like we all took a couple of down days from sport.  So, from the recaps & box  scores – Here a summary of Saturdays action.

WPI moves to 13-3 and 3-0 in the conference with a 78-59 win over Coast Guard.  Robinson with 29pts/6assists/5rebs off the bench. Carr with 14pts/4rebs/2blks after a slow 1st half. Nadeau puts up 13pts/5assists, Wesoloski with 7pts/5rebs and Etten posted 5pts/7rebs.

CGA was led by Ed Gailor's career high 16 pts which included 4 for 6 beyond the arc. Adam Radke had 15pts/6rebs and Kevin Sowers added 13pts/3assists. Jevon James posted 8pts/7rebs, but went 4 for 15 from the FT line.

MIT got back on track with a 77-63 victory over Clark.  The Engineers got big performances from Will Tashman (15pts/15rebs), Mitchell Kates(17pts/5assists) and Jamie Karraker(17pts). MIT dominated the Cougars on the board 39-17.

Clark was led by Drew Billington (17pts/3assists), Brian Vayda(8pts/5rebs//4assists/6steals) and Tucker Esborn(9pts).

Babson hangs on to beat Wheaton 50-49 in a low scoring game.  Alex Rudolph & Matt Florio combined for 33 pts to lead the Beavers.  Peter Foley & Joe Zavertnik gathered 15 boards between them.

Wheaton got 20 from Anthony Coppola, 10 from Brendan Degnan, 8 from Will Bayliss and 7 from Brian Johnson.

Coast Guard plays out of conference tomorrow and hosts across the street rivals, Conn. College.

On Tuesday:
WPI plays at Clark
Babson plays out of conference at Bowdoin

On Wed. :
Big game with MIT at Springfield
Wheaton at Coast Guard

[WPI89]

Thanks for the weekly preview, Mass.  The whole world around here was caught up in Jets/Pats last night - fairly equal split of fans - no dog in that fight for me (pardon the expression post Vick) as I am a Dolphin fan lost in the Northeast.

Where does everyone think WPI will end up in the top 25 this week?  Should move up a few - I have not looked at who lost above them - although WestConn did lose.

[mass_d3fan]

They should move up.  How much I am not sure, but I would hope their point total would increase appropriate to thier record so far.  As I pointed out in the top 25 forum, their only 2 D3 losses came to teams currently in the polls.

Here is the "how they fared" list from the top 25 Forum.

Only 4 teams from #13 to #25 did not lose!

#17 - St. Marys(MD)
#19 - Illinois Wesleyan
#21 - Hanover
#23 - WPI



How They Fared--Complete

Top 25
Rank    Pts    Team W-L    Results
#1 617 Wooster 16-0 def. Oberlin, 82-55; def. Denison, 72-64
#2 585 Virginia Wesleyan 16-0 def. Randolph, 53-50; def. Roanoke, 96-82
#3 550 Whitworth 15-0 def. George Fox, 81-57; def. Willamette, 84-70
#4 540 St. Thomas 13-0 def. Concordia-Moorhead, 69-61
#5 527 Middlebury 13-0 def. Tufts, 79-63; def. Bates, 78-65
#6 471 Williams 15-1 def. Bates, 68-50; def. Tufts, 71-52
#7 454 Wabash 14-1 def. Allegheny, 80-58
#8 443 Augustana 15-0 def. T#32 Wheaton (Ill.), 70-57; def. T#39 Carthage, 58-54
#9 434 UW-Stevens Point 13-3 def. Macalester, 82-51; LOST at UW-Platteville, 56-57; def. UW-Superior, 71-56
#10 400 Amherst 14-0 def. Connecticut College, 70-56; def. Wesleyan, 77-61
#11 375 Randolph-Macon 14-2 def. #14 Eastern Mennonite, 83-78; def. Emory and Henry, 75-48
#12 341 UW-River Falls 15-2 def. UW-La Crosse, 89-83; def. UW-Platteville, 56-53
#13 337 Brandeis 11-2 def. Bates, 53-50; LOST at Carnegie Mellon, 52-53; LOST at Case Western Reserve, 63-66
#14 311 Eastern Mennonite 12-3 LOST at #11 Randolph-Macon, 78-83; def. Guilford, 79-67
#15 288 St. Norbert 11-3 LOST at Ripon, 60-70; def. #41 Illinois College, 87-73; def. Knox, 68-59
#16 217 Western Connecticut 13-2 LOST to Keene State, 76-81; def. Mass-Boston, 87-72
#17 215 St. Mary's (Md.) 12-3 def. Mary Washington, 91-65; def. Frostburg State, 88-60
#18 212 Franklin and Marshall 11-4 LOST at McDaniel, 53-61; LOST at Muhlenberg, 67-71; def. Washington College, 84-71
#19 114 Illinois Wesleyan 12-3 def. Millikin, 75-56; def. Elmhurst, 75-55
#20 76 Ithaca 11-3 LOST at Utica, 81-85
#21 74 Hanover 12-2 def. Franklin, 82-56; def. T#36 Anderson, 57-54
#22 73 Ferrum 14-2 def. Greensboro, 69-61; LOST at Christopher Newport, 67-80
#23 71 WPI 13-3 def. T#32 MIT, 68-53; def. Coast Guard, 78-59
#24 70 Chapman 13-3 def. UC Santa Cruz, 69-62; LOST at Menlo, 52-54
#25 69 New York University 11-3 def. Hunter, 85-59; LOST at Case Western Reserve, 76-80; LOST at Carnegie Mellon, 70-76

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Others receiving votes
Rank    Pts    Team W-L    Results
#26 61 Ramapo 14-3 def. Montclair State, 75-66; def. Rutgers-Newark, 80-74; def. Rutgers-Camden, 72-57
#27 53 Marietta 14-2 LOST to Capital, 74-82; def. #35 John Carroll, 101-90
#28 35 Becker 13-2 def. Elms, 81-71; def. Newbury, 82-58; def. Daniel Webster, 61-52
T#29 22 Mary Hardin-Baylor 12-3 def. Concordia (Texas), 107-100; def. Schreiner, 67-57; LOST at Texas Lutheran, 53-56
T#29 22 Washington and Lee 11-4 LOST to Roanoke, 59-73; def. Lynchburg, 80-73
#31 16 Plattsburgh State 8-5 def. Cortland State, 69-57; LOST at Oswego State, 65-72
T#32 12 MIT 11-5 LOST at #23 WPI, 53-68; def. Clark, 77-63
T#32 12 Wheaton (Ill.) 11-4 LOST at #8 Augustana, 57-70; def. North Park, 80-76
#34 6 Manhattanville 11-3 def. FDU-Florham, 61-44; LOST at Misericordia, 58-72
#35 5 John Carroll 10-5 def. Muskingum, 76-62; LOST at #27 Marietta, 90-101
T#36 4 Anderson 10-5 def. Rose-Hulman, 69-54; LOST at #21 Hanover, 54-57
T#36 4 Lewis and Clark 12-3 def. Pacific Lutheran, 77-66; def. Pacific, 73-54
T#36 4 Rhode Island College 9-5 LOST at Southern Maine, 88-95; LOST at Colby, 58-69; def. Plymouth State, 73-56
T#39 2 Carthage 9-6 def. Elmhurst, 73-63; LOST to #8 Augustana, 54-58
T#39 2 Centre 11-3 def. Hendrix, 68-56; def. Millsaps, 77-51
#41 1 Illinois College 10-3 def. Grinnell, 104-92; LOST to #15 St. Norbert, 73-87; def. Ripon, 97-94

[mass_d3fan]

Congratulations to WPI's Jeff Robinson for being named the NEWMAC player of the Week.

http://wpi.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/releases/20110117mj21zp

[mass_d3fan]

Congratulations to WPI moving up to #18 in this weeks poll.

MIT still receiving a little love in the Other Receiving Votes.


Tonight's NEWMAC action:

WPI-Clark postponed until tomorrow night.

Babson-Bowdoin cancelled.

[Hugenerd]

WPI held Clark to only 5 points in the first ~17 minutes of the game.  They are up 26-10 at the half.

MIT up on Springfield 45-34 with 12 to play. Karraker going off from deep, 5-7 so far.

[Hugenerd]

MIT picks up a solid conference win at Springfield, 60-50.  Jamie Karraker led MIT in scoring with 18 points.

[jabnike23]

Springfield played a very poor game offensively vs. MIT tonight.  MIT did an excellent job of maintaining long possessions and executing offensively.  Both MIT and Springfield's most productive players all had poor games.  Cavalieri went 3-12 from the field and only had 8 pts., however he did have 9 rebs.  Mitch Kates went 1-9 from the floor for 4 pts. 2 rebs. 5 asts. 2 to's.  Tashman also shot poorly going 1-7, and finished with 6 pts. an 4 rebs.  As for players that played well, for MIT, Karraker torched the pride putting up 18 pts. on 6-9 shooting and 5-7 from range.  For SC, Coburn had a decent game with 10 pts. 8 rebs. and 6 blocks.  The game got close at 54-50 with two minutes left, until a intentional foul really put the dagger in the Pride.  Springfield travels to WPI on Saturday, while MIT travels to Wheaton.

[toooldtoplay]

Tough shooting night for some. Good to see others step up. MIT freshman Donegan had a solid night with 6-10 shooting, 6 boards and 3 blocks. With experience he will become a big factor moving forward. After WPI the NEWMAC looks wide open.

[mass_d3fan]

Good Morning Fellow Posters

I went to Clark last night to watch the Cougars play WPI.  This was not a pretty game, if you are in love with offensive execution.  If you are a defensive enthusiast then you would have loved this one.

WPI was led by Jeff Robinson's 27 points/7 rebounds and Matt Carr's double-double of 15 points & 15 rebounds to go with 3 assists. Jamie Shannon chipped in with 7 points and Kyle Nadaeu added 4 assists.

Brian Vayda was the only Cougar to hit double-digits with 12 points/7rebounds, but he was defended very well all evening by the combo of Carr & Joe Wesoloski.  His first points did not come until under 2 minutes in the first half.  Drew Billington contributed 9 points and 3 assists.  Jeff Tagger came off the bench with 5 points/4 rebounds.

To give you an idea of how this one went the first points of the game were scored by Jonathan Phillips of Clark at 14:44.  Jerome Stewart scored on a pass from Carr at 11:50 to put WPI up 6-5 and triggered a 17-0 run.  Robinson had 6 during the run.  The half ended at 26-10, with according to this morning's paper, the worst half of basketball played by Clark during Paul Phillips time as coach. Clark shot 12% from the field and 44% from line in the first 20 minutes.  Each team committed 11 turnovers in the first half.

The second half saw Clark cut the lead to 12 with a couple of quick buckets, but a technical foul and a nice lay-up by Stewart and the Engineers were up by 15.  Clark would get as close as 13 a few times, but WPI answered each time.  Robinson & Carr combined for 25 of the Engineers' 34 2nd-half points on 9 of 14 from the field and 5 for 5 from the line.

WPI out rebounded Clark 48-35 and outscored the Cougars 24-9 in 2nd chance points & 20-13 in points off turnovers.

[mass_d3fan]

The other games in the conference last night:

MIT-Springfield

Seems Hugenerd,Jabnike23 & toooldtoplay have already gone over this one.  Gentleme, anyone know why Tashman only played 20 minutes?  I hope it was not injury related.

Coast Guard-Wheaton

The Bears handled the Lyons 90-77.  Jevon James had big night with a double-double of 25 points, 15 boards and he added 6 blocks.  Coast Guard also got big performances from Devonte Weems (21 points/6 rebounds/5 assists), Kevin Sowers(18 points/4 boards/6 assists), Adam Radtke(14points/4 rebounds), and Jimmy Knudsen(8points/7 boards).  The bears shot 52.5% from the field.  Anyone have any insight onto the status of Greg Marshall?  He has not played since playing 9 minutes against Babson.

Wheaton was led by Anthony Coppola's 22 points.  Freshman guard Will Bayliss put up 19 points and dished out 5 assists. Brendan Degnan posted 15 points, 7 boards and 4 assists.

[Hugenerd]

Seems Hugenerd,Jabnike23 & toooldtoplay have already gone over this one.  Gentleme, anyone know why Tashman only played 20 minutes?  I hope it was not injury related.

Probably a combination of Donegan playing well and the fact that Clark doesnt play anyone too significantly thats taller than 6'5", so they could go small.

[mass_d3fan]

Seems Hugenerd,Jabnike23 & toooldtoplay have already gone over this one.  Gentleme, anyone know why Tashman only played 20 minutes?  I hope it was not injury related.

Probably a combination of Donegan playing well and the fact that Clark doesnt play anyone too significantly thats taller than 6'5", so they could go small.

While I agree with your assessment of Clark, MIT was playing Springfield with Coburn & Cavalieri.  Just seemed strange to see a box score where Tashman was playing only 20 minutes and not in foul trouble. (He actually did play 38 min. against Clark.)

[T990]

MIT-Springfield...anyone know why Tashman only played 20 minutes? 

After opening the game in their usual Man defense for almost 10 minutes, MIT went to a smaller, quicker line up up front, a long backcourt, and played a 2-3 zone.  They had Karraker and McCue up top, and Zuk, Donegan and Bender up front.  It got them into the lead.  They played about 10:00 of the second half the same way.  Not sure why they made Tashman and the zone mutually exclusive, but it was an effective change up that Springfield never solved.