MBB: NEWMAC

[onetinsoldier]

1)  F&M vs. West Conn  (My nephew played at Dickinson the last 4 years and I have seen F&M a couple of times - Westconn will have the far superior athletes if they match up in a second round game.............)

I'm not sure what you mean by "far superior." Looking at my matrices, as well as watching parts their title game the other day i'm not sure any d3 team has athletes that are "far" superior to F&M.  Basketball isnt about 40 times or long jumps, its about how ones athletic ability translates to a team game.  A potential F&M/Westconn second round game would be fun, two teams that both showed their stuff against regionally ranked competition.  But if you really think westconn has far superior athletes, then i'd love to know how you'd compare F&M's athletes to Dickinson!

[Hugenerd]

WPI gets a bye and will host the semifinal and final rounds of the ECAC NE tournament.

http://www.ecacsports.com/championships/2011-2012_Winter_Championships/2012_Men-s_Basketball_Championships/2012_Men-s_Basketball_Championship_Central

[BBallers]

It was a 2 pronged comment. One even when I was playing Springfield conducted themselves in a less than classy way- they are simply staying true to their roots. That being said...

Agreed.  At least from one Springfield fan/former player.

I just don't much care for MIT's act. People act like it's a shock that good basketball players would want to come to probably 2nd best academic school in the entire country. That coupled with their ridiculously weak schedule makes me less than willing to jump on their bandwagon. They should win a game or two in this year's NCAA tournament (particularly if the projected bracket holds up- they will POUND Endicott) but overall I'm not impressed with their whole act. People are trying to make Larry Anderson out to be Dean Smith.

Hmmm, not sure what MIT's act is.  Maybe its act is winning and I don't blame a Springfield fan/former player for not caring much for that.  There are a lot of good players who want to go to MIT, but unfortunately, they do not have a high enough level of academic strength to get in.  MIT does not bend the admission rules for athletes.  Other D3 schools provide "academic" scholarships for their basketball players.  I'm not familiar with Springfield's admission policy, but MIT's is extremely tough at around 10% admission rate.  IMHO, it is a shock that MIT players can dedicate so much time to basketball with all of their coursework.  I'm sure HN can provide a list of MIT players who dropped out of the basketball program that could be starting for any NEWMAC team.  I actually agree with your comments about weak schedule and how it may not prepare MIT as well as a harder schedule.  Some of these reasons may be that teams don't want to play MIT.  I have been told that MIT has tried several times to schedule Williams without success.  Other reasons are that they try to limit time away from their academics, so they schedule a lot of teams reasonably close.  Another cause could be their budget.  Traveling takes time and money.  It is my understanding that MIT doesn't even supply shoes for the players.  My glance at the brackets depicted that Salem State (another MIT win) made it.  A lot of MIT road games in the conference were at the end of the season, so their current SOS is better than what was initially reported.  I'm hopeful they will go far in the tournament and believe they are well prepared by playing strong teams like WPI, Springfield, Clark (who made a late season run), Babson, etc. from the NEWMAC.  I really believe that Springfield and WPI are better than a lot of teams that made the NCAA.  Springfield should be commended for playing such a tough schedule, going 2-1 against WPI and playing MIT tough for all 3 games that could have gone either way.  The farther MIT goes in the tournament, the more recognition for the NEWMAC and that benefits all of the teams.

They have been pretty awful for most of his tenure and he's just recently gotten a decent group of players together and won some games. I think in a league where you have schools like Coast Guard who have been to an elite 8 and turn out honesty to god american heroes and WPI who has had as good a 10 year run as anyone, the love for MIT seems a little over the top- they also do more whining than any other fan base in the league, complaining about rankings, complaining about their guys getting fouled too hard, etc.

I know Hugenerd will surely have some sort of equation that disproves everything I'm saying as I'm pretty sure he has an alarm hooked up for whenever anyone says anything less than complimentary about MIT Basketball. All I know is they played TWO teams all year that will make the tournament (if WPI gets in) which is a joke. Have some pride and schedule someone.

HN has already responded to this.  I agree he is not Dean Smith and do not always agree with every move, but that is why we are fans.  MIT has been in the NCAA's for the last 4 years consecutively.  Does he not get any credit for that?  Please list the other coaches who have a similar 4-year record and are criticized.  All-time MIT winningest coach and endowed and criticized.  Recruiting is difficult for players who could actually get admitted into MIT.  Do you believe that MIT deserved to be ranked 7th in the NE Region when D3hoops ranked them 3rd in the nation?  I guess I am classified as one of the whinners, but that is my right as a fan.  MIT's schedule was easier than Springfield's, but they also won consistently and usually won big.  BTW, Springfield played a great game (both against WPI and MIT) and I truly wish both WPI and Springfield were in the NCAA's, in spite of the opinions of its fan/former player.

[T990]

MIT used to play Amherst, but for some reason the series abruptly ended after MIT nearly won at Amherst in the 2007-08 season.  Prior to Jimmy Bartolotta winning the national player of the year award, MIT typically had rosters with half the number of players of everyone else.  The rosters were always talented, there just were very few guys who stuck it out for 4 years.  An injury here or there and the team was devastated.  That is why they carry a schedule with teams like Newbury and Leslie.  With their academic requirements, they also only travel within a 2 hour bus ride of Cambridge.   

One thing that is questionable is why the schedule was so light this year, when MIT has their "big 4" for this season and next; they could have scheduled a home and away against some tough competition knowing they'll still be very strong next year.  Ironically, the MIT schedule got weaker this year than what it has been over the recent years (no Bridgewater State, no ConnCollege, no Western Conn, no Endicott).  I heard they had some kind of falling out in the past with Brandeis and so won't schedule them, which would be a great match up w/ this current roster.  Still, I would have liked to see them play some team like a RIC, Eastern Conn, UMass Dartmouth, Elms, or another NESCAC school which are do-able bus trips for MIT and hold off on the Wheelock's for another 2 years. 

[ECSUalum]

All I can say, and I have stated it before, is that you really have to respect the vast majority of, not just basketball student athletes, but SA in all intercollegiate sports.  With the pressures these kids face with course work, with their teams practice and schedules and many times, these days, with parents financially trying to keep them in school, we should all admire their efforts.  As to MIT guys.....it is hard to imagine how they do it, and do everything soo well.  My hat is off to all these guys.  I have to believe Coach Geitner, Campbell, Colbert or Walsh would love to schedule games with MIT!!!!!

[WPI89]

1)  F&M vs. West Conn  (My nephew played at Dickinson the last 4 years and I have seen F&M a couple of times - Westconn will have the far superior athletes if they match up in a second round game.............)

I'm not sure what you mean by "far superior." Looking at my matrices, as well as watching parts their title game the other day i'm not sure any d3 team has athletes that are "far" superior to F&M.  Basketball isnt about 40 times or long jumps, its about how ones athletic ability translates to a team game.  A potential F&M/Westconn second round game would be fun, two teams that both showed their stuff against regionally ranked competition.  But if you really think westconn has far superior athletes, then i'd love to know how you'd compare F&M's athletes to Dickinson!

Tin Soldier - don't get me wrong - I still think F&M would be favored to win that game at home - I was just pointing out that WestConn can play with them.  WestConn plays in the 80s, 90s, 100s - F&M usually in the 60s.  F&M is big, well coached and all they do is win - just pointing out WestConn's potential speed (quickness) advantage..............should be fun either way - I just hope they both take care of the first round.

[WPI89]

WPI gets a bye and will host the semifinal and final rounds of the ECAC NE tournament.

http://www.ecacsports.com/championships/2011-2012_Winter_Championships/2012_Men-s_Basketball_Championships/2012_Men-s_Basketball_Championship_Central

Thanks Nerd - means something and if they win their 2 games, they can get to 20 wins!

[BBallers]

MIT used to play Amherst, but for some reason the series abruptly ended after MIT nearly won at Amherst in the 2007-08 season.  Prior to Jimmy Bartolotta winning the national player of the year award, MIT typically had rosters with half the number of players of everyone else.  The rosters were always talented, there just were very few guys who stuck it out for 4 years.  An injury here or there and the team was devastated.  That is why they carry a schedule with teams like Newbury and Leslie.  With their academic requirements, they also only travel within a 2 hour bus ride of Cambridge.   

I believe MIT was close to a .500 season in 2007-08 and played Amherst close.  The next season had them losing their athletic center along with McCue, but the key freshman additions of Karraker & Bender provided Jimmy with enough help to win the NEWMAC tournament, although many of those games were really close.  You are correct about the limited rosters because they often didn't have enough players to practice efficiently.  I also heard that Amherst did not want to risk losing to MIT after that close game and that MIT coaches will only play a home and home series with teams, i.e., they will not schedule an away-only game with a team.

One thing that is questionable is why the schedule was so light this year, when MIT has their "big 4" for this season and next; they could have scheduled a home and away against some tough competition knowing they'll still be very strong next year.  Ironically, the MIT schedule got weaker this year than what it has been over the recent years (no Bridgewater State, no ConnCollege, no Western Conn, no Endicott).  I heard they had some kind of falling out in the past with Brandeis and so won't schedule them, which would be a great match up w/ this current roster.  Still, I would have liked to see them play some team like a RIC, Eastern Conn, UMass Dartmouth, Elms, or another NESCAC school which are do-able bus trips for MIT and hold off on the Wheelock's for another 2 years.

Not sure what you are referring to as the "big 4", but I assume you mean the post-Jimmy class of Tashman & Kates, along with Hollingsworth & Karraker who have an extra year of eligibility because of injuries.  They will miss Bender who can boast to have never lost a NEWMAC tournament game that he played (he was injured the year they lost) and all of the non-statistical value he adds to the team.  That being said, I wouldn't trade MIT's roster for any in the country for next year and I believe they will be highly ranked and a true national contender next year.  Although there are not a lot of minutes available, this year's MIT freshman class is also very talented, so they should continue to have good years.  I agree with you that MIT should schedule some more competitive teams (for next season and future seasons) to help prepare them for conference play, NCAA play (now 4 consecutive years) and to help their SOS in the heavily SOS-weighted NCAA ranking system.  Although admittedly weak, I don't believe their non-conference opponents have changed much.  I could be wrong, but I don't recall MIT playing Bridgewater State, ConnCollege, Western Conn, or Endicott in the last 4 seasons including this season.  I agree that seeing MIT play RIC, Eastern Conn, UMass Dartmouth, Elms, or another NESCAC school, while eliminating Wheelock, et al, would be great.  MIT successfully played an athletic RIC team in their gym in the 2008-09 NCAA's.  Hopefully, these coaches/athletic directors can communicate their scheduling interest to each other.  I believe that MIT now has what many would consider an elite program that justifies playing better non-conference competition.

[BBallers]

I have to believe Coach Geitner, Campbell, Colbert or Walsh would love to schedule games with MIT!!!!!

I agree.  Hopefully the coaches/athletic directors can communicate their scheduling interest to each other.  I'm with you.

[WPI89]

Emerson to join the NEWMAC - have not looked up their hoops team yet - anybody know anything about them?

[pjunito]

Emerson did not have a lot of talent on the team. However, a lot of their younger players got minutes. They had a ROY in the GNAC and their coach is Jim O'Brien; yes, that O'Brien, former Ohio State coach. He should be able to get some players in over the next few years.

[WPI89]

Emerson did not have a lot of talent on the team. However, a lot of their younger players got minutes. They had a ROY in the GNAC and their coach is Jim O'Brien; yes, that O'Brien, former Ohio State coach. He should be able to get some players in over the next few years.

Thanks.  REALLY - was there some tie to Emerson for O'Brien?  He played HS basketball at my archrical in NYC and I know he went to BC but I am stunned that he is coaching there and also stunned that I didn't know it.  Thanks pjunito!

[toooldtoplay]

Is that true about Emerson?  I had not heard. They did not have a good team this year losing to MIT by around 30.  I remember Bender going off from deep hitting 6-7 from 3 point range on his way to 24 points and one of his highest scoring games of his career. I would love the boys to go to 8 teams and have a 3 round tourney. Getting eliminated early in the year and playing out the string is the pits as well as having 10 days off like MIT did this year.

[toooldtoplay]

OK, it is fact. Joining in 2012 as the 11th member and 8th coed school.

http://newmacsports.com/landing/2011-12_News/expansion/2012_Emerson

[Hugenerd]

Emerson did not have a lot of talent on the team. However, a lot of their younger players got minutes. They had a ROY in the GNAC and their coach is Jim O'Brien; yes, that O'Brien, former Ohio State coach. He should be able to get some players in over the next few years.

No guarantee.  When I played at CMU, Chris Ford was the coach at Brandeis for a couple of years, and they were still awful. You also don't know how long he well stick around.

Interesting news about Emerson.