MBB: NEWMAC

[7express]

Congrats to MIT Hugenerd!  Best of luck to them next weekend against Whitewater.

[diehardfan]

Had fun watching MIT play tonight (minus the free throw shooting competition at the end). MIT may have the shortest bench I've ever seen, but their starters are great. I'd say this game was over just after the start of the second half when McCue and Karraker sunk three in a row from behind the arc in as many trips down the floor. Those shots just epic suck the life out of that gym FULL of fans, though F&M kept right on bravely fighting till the end.

Did anyone else think the game was called super weirdly? It was a super physical game with lots of tough defense, and then they just started randomly calling everything in the second half.

Being both a nerd and a lover of basketball, I've gotta root for you in the Final Four. Hope you can bring it home!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Just got back from the games.  I sat in the MIT section this evening because those F&M fans are mean and scary.  Yikes!  Not a friendly atmosphere.

Anyway, the MIT was not as athletic as I expected, but they were smarter and played much better defense than I expected.  It was amazing to watch those guards nail 11 threes without missing (especially since Karraker is on my fantasy team).  Kates and Tashman were extremely impressive to me.  I'm not sure Hollingsworth got to show off all his skills.  He only had one opportunity to use a real post move and it was both complicated and smooth - easy bucket.

If they do indeed all return next year, it will be quite a force to be reckoned with.  I also appreciated how well they all played with fouls.  It's cliche, but MIT has a very, very intelligent basketball team.  They were disciplined and took care of the ball.

That being said, I don't see them winning tomorrow.  Both Amherst and F&M looked just a cut above.  They're both championship level teams and I'm not sure MIT has the depth to stick with F&M.  Their interior scoring was tremendous and the referees in Lancaster seem to be making random calls in the post, which could get MIT's short bench into foul trouble.

Still a good run.  I think they're clearly a top 10 team; they've overcome the relatively weak schedule with flying colors.

I held myself from responding to your comments yesterday, but needless to say I strongly disagree with them.

I hope you enjoy eating your words, because tonight it looked like MIT was in another class than F&M. 

All I can say is that, just as he did against Tibbs the night before, Kates won the battle against Milligan on both ends of the court.  I know that Milligan ended up with 23 points, but 9 or 11 of those were in the last 3 minutes when the game was pretty much decided, and even then, it took him 18 shots to get those points.  Kates disrupted his rhythm the whole night, especially with regard to Milligan being able setting up his teammates, as he finished with only 2 assists and 4 TOs (Kates had 8 asissts and 4 TOs).  If Milligan is a 2nd team All-American (as he was in the preseason), Mitch Kates has got to be at least on that same team because if you polled anyone who watched tonight's game, I think it was clear who the better PG is.

Karraker was again huge, hitting 5 big 3s, and McCue even got in the act with a couple.  Hollingsworth wasn't at 100% effectivity for the 2nd night in a row, but still finished with a respectable 14 and 9.  Tash didn't have a huge night, but he made his presence known on the defensive end (this is his first game of the tourney not having a double-double).

It will be interesting to see how MIT prepares for UWW, as the engineers will have a pretty dramatic size advantage inside.  Looking at tonight's box score, UWW starts players that are 6'1", 6'2", 6'3", 6'5", and 6'6", with only 2 main subs that are 6'0" and 6'4".  I know they have some tremendous athletes, like Davis, but I wonder if MIT will try to exploit that advantage more than they could this past weekend.  MIT starts 6'9" Hollingsworth, 6'8" Tashman (who I would guess would guard Davis), 6'5" Billy Bender (if he is back next weekend, if not it will be 6'3" Dan McCue), 6'4" Jamie Karraker, and 6'1" Mitch Kates.  MITs two main inside subs are also taller than anyone UWW has, in 6'8" Andrew Acker and 6'7" Dennis Levene.  Should be interesting to see how both teams prepare/adjust in the national semifinal.

Hey, as I've said in several places - I'm not underestimating them anymore.  MIT really was able to adjust well and force F&M out of their game plan.  They got a break with the early injury, but that really just made the game easier; I have no doubt they could have executed down the stretch were it close.

After Friday I still thought Amherst was the best team in the pod.  MIT got closer, I'll have to think about it a lot of the final rankings.  Their discipline and court-sense make up for the lack of depth and natural athleticism of those big guys really well.  Amherst has a ton of talent, but they really struggled to adjust to the opponents.  I could see Kates having a field day with Toomey one on one.

Hopefully we can see that match-up next year.

I think Whitewater will be the prohibitive favorite in Salem, but I don't doubt MIT's ability to beat them, especially given a week to prepare.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Did anyone else think the game was called super weirdly? It was a super physical game with lots of tough defense, and then they just started randomly calling everything in the second half.

Same thing happened in both games Friday night.  It's like there's something in the water they put in the ref's room at F&M.

[Hugenerd]

Did anyone else think the game was called super weirdly? It was a super physical game with lots of tough defense, and then they just started randomly calling everything in the second half.

Same thing happened in both games Friday night.  It's like there's something in the water they put in the ref's room at F&M.

Yeah, I remember thinking that right around the 8 minute mark whent they hadn't called a moving screen all game, and then they called 2 in a row on Will Tashman in less than a minute, something weird was happening.  Then, down the stretch, F&M got several calls on shots that were forced and there didnt appear to have a lot of contact (including on 3s).  Luckily it had no bearing on the game.

[r.w. mcnickels]

All I can say is that, just as he did against Tibbs the night before, Kates won the battle against Milligan on both ends of the court.  I know that Milligan ended up with 23 points, but 9 or 11 of those were in the last 3 minutes when the game was pretty much decided, and even then, it took him 18 shots to get those points.  Kates disrupted his rhythm the whole night, especially with regard to Milligan being able setting up his teammates, as he finished with only 2 assists and 4 TOs (Kates had 8 asissts and 4 TOs).  If Milligan is a 2nd team All-American (as he was in the preseason), Mitch Kates has got to be at least on that same team because if you polled anyone who watched tonight's game, I think it was clear who the better PG is.

I think Kates is the best point guard the Dips have played all year. And I think Georgio Milligan did an admirable job, considering he suffered a foot injury against Amherst and wasn't anywhere near 100 percent. It hurt him to even walk before yesterday's game.

[WPI89]

Congrats NERD!

Hoops Fan - now might be the time to stay a little quiet.  Literally my 3rd grade neice on Friday night said that MIT looked so much better than any of the teams we were watching (we watched both games from F&M).

Not even saying MIT is better than Amherst.  What I am saying is that NOBODY (from coach K to my 3rd grade niece) would say Amherst looked better on that night!

Makes the rest of your paragraph (which was well written) hard to even get through.

[ronk]

Did anyone else think the game was called super weirdly? It was a super physical game with lots of tough defense, and then they just started randomly calling everything in the second half.

Same thing happened in both games Friday night.  It's like there's something in the water they put in the ref's room at F&M.

Yeah, I remember thinking that right around the 8 minute mark whent they hadn't called a moving screen all game, and then they called 2 in a row on Will Tashman in less than a minute, something weird was happening.  Then, down the stretch, F&M got several calls on shots that were forced and there didnt appear to have a lot of contact (including on 3s).  Luckily it had no bearing on the game.

  A friend of mine reffed the F&M-MIT game last night and I'm acquainted with 1 of the other 2 since the pair did our Scranton@Catholic game a month ago. However, I only tuned in with 2 mins to go(after watching Scranton-Cabrini and your game had already been decided) so I don't know how the refs did earlier.

[WPI89]

Ronk

I didn't think it was that bad.  They definitely tightened up the last 10 minutes.  Sometimes refs have a tendency to do that because they know there are going to be tons of fouls given the situation.  I thought they let allot go early but were consistent about it.

I am usually the first one to complain/talk about refs or coaching decisions - I never really noticed the refs - which I think is the whole point.

[Hugenerd]

Ronk

I didn't think it was that bad.  They definitely tightened up the last 10 minutes.  Sometimes refs have a tendency to do that because they know there are going to be tons of fouls given the situation.  I thought they let allot go early but were consistent about it.

I am usually the first one to complain/talk about refs or coaching decisions - I never really noticed the refs - which I think is the whole point.

I agree, I didnt notice them at all the first 30+ minutes, and even remember thinking at half time how well the refs were doing letting the players decide the game.  However, I started noticing a few things the last 8 minutes or so minutes, as I previously stated, but, again, it had little affect on the game.

[amh63]

Congrats to MIT on its first Final 4 trip!.  Hope you bring a title back to the NE area.  Maybe the trophy can be put on the Dome!
Walzy and I posted on the 'CAC board that we hoped for a MIT vs. Amherst match-up in Lancaster.  Partly to see the #2 vs #3 teams battle.  Also, I believe it was also to see teams from two schools we both have/are attended/attending..  Anyway, I watched the 2nd half of the MIT vs. F&M game last night.  The way MIT was playing, I thought Amherst would be hard pressed to win.....but often games develop because of match-ups of players.  The 3's put up by MIT were huge and I wished Amherst had put up more and early.  F&M could not match-up with MIT inside and MIT's guards played great.
I too started to wonder if the game in the 2nd half would repeat itself...with respect to the calls by the refs...the moving picks, etc. 
WPI....in tough match-ups with good teams, the refs should NOT be a factor!...that is the point.  When neutral fans watch and see calls that are questionable, inconsistent, etc....then they post it.
On the 'CAC board, there are a number of posts that brought up the refs.  Sour grapes?....maybe.  When HOOP Fan post it, and even a D3 hoops person...then something was going on wrt the quality of the refs...non partisan posts.
The perceived "weakness" of MIT were its short bench and possible quickness.  In its win last night....MIT did not show the need to be quicker or to have a deep bench.   Again, Congrats to MIT!

[Hugenerd]

Congrats NERD!

Hoops Fan - now might be the time to stay a little quiet.  Literally my 3rd grade neice on Friday night said that MIT looked so much better than any of the teams we were watching (we watched both games from F&M).

Not even saying MIT is better than Amherst.  What I am saying is that NOBODY (from coach K to my 3rd grade niece) would say Amherst looked better on that night!

Makes the rest of your paragraph (which was well written) hard to even get through.

All the congrats to the players and coaching staff.  At this point, I am just a fan of the team and friends with some of those in the program.

I hope that MIT brings the same game they did this weekend to Salem.  My keys to the semifinal game for MIT: 1) Kates controlling the game tempo, as he did in both games this weekend, 2) Tashman defensively on Davis in the post, and 3) MIT continuing to knock down their open looks.

Should be a fun one!

[Hugenerd]

Coverage of last nights game by the Boston Herald:

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/college/basketball/view/20220311mit_at_four-front_of_division_3/

[oftdip]

Thought the MIT fans would appreciate a great Lancasterian perspective on what D3 sports are all about...
Congrates to MIT... we are pulling for you in Amish Country!!!
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/602360_Division-III-and-college-sports-at-its-best.html

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Congrats NERD!

Hoops Fan - now might be the time to stay a little quiet.  Literally my 3rd grade neice on Friday night said that MIT looked so much better than any of the teams we were watching (we watched both games from F&M).

Not even saying MIT is better than Amherst.  What I am saying is that NOBODY (from coach K to my 3rd grade niece) would say Amherst looked better on that night!

Makes the rest of your paragraph (which was well written) hard to even get through.

I'm not sure how I'm becoming the bad guy here?  I'm rooting for MIT - I've been more and more impressed every game.  I posted a longer reply on the "Ranking" board so I'll keep it short here:

Something I didn't factor in from Friday, which became amazingly apparent Saturday was the respective team's ability to adjust.  Amherst showed none and MIT has been amazing at it.  When watching the teams play Friday I had no real basis of comparison - and when you put together physical attributes, talent, depth, etc, Amherst still comes out on top for me, talent wise they are a better team.  MIT has talented guys, but less of them; what they do possess is incredible intelligence (I hate how cliched that sounds, but it's true) and ability to control the floor.

As I said before, in one pressure game, I'll pick MIT; over the course of 100, I think Amherst's depth and talent have more impact and makes the decision more difficult.  At this point, they're 1 and 1a and I wouldn't argue with anyone over the order.