MBB: NEWMAC

[Hugenerd]

HN - that is suprising.  I really only know Kates from his numbers and your reports.  Seems deserving - they should not have,  but maybe they considered that he has more years to come?  

Curious - who would you bump off the first team if they went with him as the second guard?

Probably Vayda. Then again, he is a returning first teamer who put up good numbers. I guess sometimes there are just more 1st team caliber players than spots.

[mass_d3fan]

Congrats to those honored on both first & second team as well as POY, COY & ROY.

HN - I would say it is just the way the vote turns out.  They make no effort from what I can tell (historically speaking I mean) to to this by position.  I looked back at the previous years.  In '05 they must have a tie, because they had 6 first teamers and only 4 on second team.  The First team had 5 guards of the 6 named and of the 10 spots overall, 8 were guards.

The following year had 4 guards on first team and 7 out of 10 overall.

[Bombers798891]

With regards to MIT, I think they are peaking at the right time.  They just won two games away from home this past weekend, so they know what they need to do this weekend at Ithaca.

Looking at Ithaca's stats, they look pretty balanced, 5 players scoring double-digits per game and another scoring about 8-9 ppg.  They play only one guy over 6'3" more than 6 minutes per game (the other is 6'6" and their leading scorer at 17 ppg) and average 28 3s a game.  So they seem to really like to heave it from deep.  However, they also dont seem to be a really high-pressure team, as they only turn opponents over about 10 times a game (they also only turn it over themselves about 10 times a game).  

I like Tashman's chances guarding their leading scorer, although I have never seen him play.  Therefore, it is going to come down to: a) Kates limiting their point guard, who has a 4:1 A/TO ratio (253 vs. 74); if he can limit him setting up the rest of the team for 3s, that will clearly limit what they like to do, 2) guarding perimeter shooting, if MIT can close out and force Ithaca into guarded 3s, they will greatly increase their chances of winning, 3) rebounding, plain and simple, with that many 3s, guards and everyone else needs to hit the boards; MIT should have the advantage with size so no excuses on boxing out, 4) dominating the interior, I would go right at their one big man with Tashman and Dickson, see if he is used to guarding big, physical post men (maybe get him in foul trouble), and 5) limiting turnovers, they cant hand the ball over like they did yesterday and expect to shoot 70% in the second half to win every game.  I think MIT is fully capable of winning this pod, they just need to play their game.  I fully expect two NEWMAC teams in the sweet 16.

One correction: The Bombers play two players over 6'3' significantly, Oztemel and Barera.

And if you think MIT can't expect to shoot 70% from the floor, well, clearly, you haven't seen our defense.

I was curious, what kind of style do they play? It doesn't seem like they take a lot of shots, but that seems like it's partly a result of turnovers and some more trips to the line. Defensively, seems like they get a lot of steals. Do they press? Gamble? Are they athletic enough to get back on defense and run with a fast-paced team?

[T990]

Bombers798891,

MIT has not pushed the ball up on offense in the last 2 years.  They are half court offense and generally use a lot of the shot clock.

They can field a big, strong, power frontcourt (Tashman and Dickson) or a quicker more athletic defensive-oriented line up (rotation of McCue, Bender, Zuk, Watkins) which they used to defeat WPI & Springfield.  Kates, Tashman, and Karraker generally play no matter what.

As for covering quick teams, if Ithaca has 1 or 2 rockets, MIT can cover them.  If IC has 5 or more rockets, then that will be trouble.  MIT has used more zone this year than in the past.  If IC is really good at pressing, that might give MIT trouble, but they've also been relying more on their experienced players in tournament time..

[Hugenerd]

My bad on failing to mention Oztemel, from what I hear he is more of an outside scorer anyway (scored 76% of his points from behind the arc this year, most 3 FGA on team, shoots only about 2 FTs per game in 26+ minutes).

I wouldnt say MIT is a running team, but they will run when its there, and they are also very comfortable controlling the tempo of the game and going into their sets in the half-court. As T990 stated, MIT can go about 10-deep (They have 9 guys who average 10+ mpg, plus Watkins recently came back from injury, and has been starting lately despite his overall low minute averages), so depending on which lineup they put in, they can be a very different team. 

Should be interesting to see what happens.

[Bombers798891]

Bombers798891,

MIT has not pushed the ball up on offense in the last 2 years.  They are half court offense and generally use a lot of the shot clock.

They can field a big, strong, power frontcourt (Tashman and Dickson) or a quicker more athletic defensive-oriented line up (rotation of McCue, Bender, Zuk, Watkins) which they used to defeat WPI & Springfield.  Kates, Tashman, and Karraker generally play no matter what.

As for covering quick teams, if Ithaca has 1 or 2 rockets, MIT can cover them.  If IC has 5 or more rockets, then that will be trouble.  MIT has used more zone this year than in the past.  If IC is really good at pressing, that might give MIT trouble, but they've also been relying more on their experienced players in tournament time..

Very interesting. IC has a number of guys who can run. I would count four guys as "Rockets" and three will start (Cruz-Rivas, Grier and Rossi--although Grier will spit time with Oztemel) But Barera and Marcus can get up and down the floor too. Turnovers will hurt because IC will immediately turn on the jets. An assistant told me once they run their kids in practice like they're training for track.

IC doesn't press often--they have the players to do it, but a seven-man rotation means fouls can be an issue.

If MIT can execute in the half-court, they will frustrate the Bombers. I think the size will be an advantage for you guys, especially on the offensive end. Oztemel is not especially adept at defense.

But I think IC can get some transition points with their guys. Do MIT's bigger guys play out on defense or do they stay near the basket?

This game looks really interesting to me: Two contrasting styles. Any of you guys going to make the trip?

[Hugenerd]

Tashman (6'8") is very athletic, he often guards 3s when its the opposing teams best player (such as the case with Springfield's Cavalieri), but also the main interior defender when the other team has a strong big man (like on Carr for WPI).  MIT also have five 6'5" - 6'6" forwards that are all mobile and all are in the 10 man rotation.

[mass_d3fan]

Here are the Men's Post-Season awards for the NEWMAC – Congratulations to All !

2011 NEWMAC Men's Basketball Awards

NEWMAC Athlete of the Year
Jeffrey Robinson, WPI

NEWMAC Rookie of the Year
Kevin Sowers, Coast Guard

NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Will Tashman, MIT

NEWMAC Coach of the Year
Chris Bartley, WPI

NEWMAC Sportsmanship Award
Coast Guard

First Team All-Conference
Brian Vayda, Clark
Will Tashman, MIT
Matt Cavalieri, Springfield
Matt Carr, WPI
Jeffrey Robinson, WPI

Second Team All-Conference
Russell Braithwaite, Babson
Jevon James, Coast Guard
Mitchell Kates, MIT
Billy Harkins, Springfield
Anthony Coppola, Wheaton

The 2010-11 NEWMAC Men's Basketball Academic All-Conference Team

Jon Karas               2013   Clark
David Opp              2011   Clark
Billy Bender            2012   MIT
Jamie Karraker        2012   MIT
Arni Lehto              2012   MIT
Nick Sather            2013   MIT
George Adams         2013   Springfield
Ben Etten               2011   WPI
Jeffrey Robinson      2011   WPI
Matt Carr               2012   WPI
Craig Melillo            2013   WPI
Joe Wesoloski         2013   WPI

[amh63]

In a morning chat with my married daughter, an Amherst grad., who lives near Ithaca and works in Ithaca, I mentioned the upcoming MBB battle between MIT and Ithaca on Friday.  Thought it may interest her and her family who all are sports fans.  She "attended" MIT's day care center for several years when we were in Cambridge...and may have some passing loyalties..just kidding here.  I did mention that I still make donations to MIT and that she did make a wooden outline of the school that I proudly display.  If the weather is OK, she will think about it.    
Oh yes, the weather in the Ithaca area can be tricky, so be careful.. all who are making the trip.  NY does take care of their roads, but the city of Ithaca often does not.  Ithaca College is high on a hill.

[remsleep]

Good luck to Coach Anderson and MIT at Ithaca.  I believe MIT may surprise a few along the road in the NCAA's...they seem to have learned to play without a couple of key guys who were lost for the season...so even if they are eliminated early this year the near term future looks very bright with the return of Hollingsworth, Burke and whomever they have recruited...growth of Tashman as a player has been fun to watch...and finally, how the hell was Kates not included on 1st Team All-Conference....that is ridiculous

[WPI89]

OK - Prediction Time.................

Bridgewater at WPI?
MIT at Ithica?

I like WPI to struggle early but pick it up and win by 9ish.
The Ithaca posters have scared me but I also think a hot MIT team controls the boards and the paint enough to win on the road in a very close one.

Go NEWMAC!

[Hugenerd]

OK - Prediction Time.................

Bridgewater at WPI?
MIT at Ithica?

I like WPI to struggle early but pick it up and win by 9ish.
The Ithaca posters have scared me but I also think a hot MIT team controls the boards and the paint enough to win on the road in a very close one.

Go NEWMAC!

If you go to the multi-regional boards and look at the "Fantasy team" page, you will see that I too am rooting for the NEWMAC schools (I picked Kates, Tashman, Robinson, and Carr as 4 of my 6 players).

Unfortunately, there is apparently no video for tonight's MIT game, but there will be audio and live stats.

[mass_d3fan]

No Video  Sorry but if a school is not going to provide video, they should not be allowed to host.  At least thier conference should be made to help out in that regard.  There is no excuse to not have internet video nowadays for the NCAAs!

You have any insight on Carr's ankle ?  Guessing you might if your taking him in the fantasy league.  If he is good to go, I'm confident WPI wins.  I have a feeling the seniors will step it up tonight.

I also believe MIT will prevail.  I think Tashman has a big night.

[7express]

WPI should beat Bridgewater with or without Carr, its Saturday they may need worry about but they should be fine this evening.

I'll take Ithaca over MIT, either way I have Rochester winning the pod regardless of who wins this game.

[Pat Coleman]

No Video  Sorry but if a school is not going to provide video, they should not be allowed to host.  At least thier conference should be made to help out in that regard.  There is no excuse to not have internet video nowadays for the NCAAs!

It might not be the school's fault. Turner took over the broadcast rights from CBS this year and they have made the process much more difficult than in the past to secure video rights. I know we are working with a couple of schools to help them provide video and what used to be a two-paragraph email with a link is now a long form, the broadcast must have multiple cameras and they will only approve single-camera or non-HD broadcasts on a case-by-case basis.