MBB: NEWMAC

[rlk]

I am stunned that kid is not going D-1.  I imagine he either really wanted the MIT education, or just was missed because he is a foreign recruit from a place that isn't really a hoops mecca.  He looks like a decent enough athlete for his size, with plus touch and coordination for a nearly-seven footer still in high school.  You just don't see big guys like that arriving in D-3 very often (sometimes you see them leaving, but usually they take a big leap forward in coordination while in college).  Putting him behind Tashman and Hollingsworth will make for a scary group of bigs next year for MIT.

Hopefully this actually pans out.  It sounds like just what we could have used against Chris Davis, and would help big time with Tashman's foul situation.  Sometimes I think Hollingsworth prefers to be on the wing or even at the top of the key rather than down low, and the kid looks like he thrives inside.  Imagine someone trying to double team Kates or Karraker, and this guy cuts back door, Kates throws an absolute bullet of a pass, and he flushes it.  Or Kates drives the lane; somebody's defender sags off, and Kates dishes to his choice of weapon.  But we should be careful about counting our chickens...

"Really wanted the MIT education" is key.  MIT offers educational and networking opportunities that he isn't going to get at a scholarship D1 school, if he's bright and has a strong technical set of mind.  On the flight home Saturday morning I was with the cheerleaders (and AD Julie Soriero) on the first leg -- nothing planned, that just happened to be the flight my wife was able to get me.  Those cheerleaders were just plain great kids.  I had a great time for a few hours chatting with them about 'Tute life (and with one of the freshmen, the son of a fellow Senior House alum, how a turboprop like what we were on can decelerate hard on landing), and over lunch they were very interested in my perspective on life 25 years on the other side.  They were peppering me with questions and asking my advice on things also.  They were also sneaking in whatever tooling they could; it's impressive how they can find a few minutes here and there to get some work done (but that also made me glad I'm out ).  It's a given that Bartolotta (who is a really good guy, having had a chance to chat with him a bit) or someone else would take him under his wing.

Anyway, if we do make it back next year I'm getting my ticket Sunday morning if not Saturday night and pushing on all of my MIT friends to make the trip.  It was just such a tremendous experience.

[Hugenerd]

Final poll out, MIT finishes 4th, their highest end of season ranking ever:

http://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2011-12/final

[Mr. Ypsi]

Final poll out, MIT finishes 4th, their highest end of season ranking ever:

http://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2011-12/final

Congratulations on a great season!  As an IWU fan, I was pleasantly surprised we finished #3 (I fully expected MIT 3, IWU 4) - I guess winning AT Hope, AT Wooster, and clobbering Witt by 21 must have really impressed the voters.

[ECSUalum]

Ypsi,

IWU likes to surprise by coming out of nowhere to finish in top 1-2-3, ie Baseball team in 2010 Nat. Championship!!!!!

Well Done

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ypsi,

IWU likes to surprise by coming out of nowhere to finish in top 1-2-3, ie Baseball team in 2010 Nat. Championship!!!!!

Well Done

Yes, that WS title was SWEET!!

Alas, we seem to go both ways - in 2006, we were the odds-on favorite for the men's bb title, and finished third.

But this year's women's bb tourney makes up for it - the lowest ranked team in the FF and we get the Walnut-and-Bronze!

[BBallers]

Bender may not be willing to play in a game that doesn't mean anything because of his orbital fracture. He will have surgery on it next week.

Definitely a great year for MIT, Hollingsworth and Karraker are the seniors coming back for their last year of eligibility, along with juniors Kates and Tashman.

I believe all of the team left early Saturday morning.  Tashman was not there for the All-Tournament recognition.

MIT didn't play their best game last night. Some of it was UWW, but they also missed a ton of open shots they were making most of the tourney. If some of those shots fall, we could have seen a completely different game. As it was, though, UWW played better and deserved to win last night. Davis was obviously a difference maker. I thought Tashman played him really tough, but he made some open outside shots which opened up some other options for him. Looked like MIT might get something going early in the 2nd, when they led 32-30, but too many missed open outside shots. Game seemed pretty much over after that big drought for MIT and corresponding UWW run.

Agreed that MIT did not play their best game as they had too many turnovers and got out-rebounded by 10.  MIT had some open look 3-pointers, but unfortunately made only 3 of 20.  In hindsight on the defense side, Davis probably should have been doubled as he was in the final, but he is a tremendous player.  UWW played much better against MIT than they did in the final, but that happens and UWW is a well derserved champion.  The game is still online at NCAA, so I may look at it again.  F&M may have played better against Amherst than they did against MIT earlier.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

FYI - the team did leave early on Saturday morning... but no one would have played in that All-Star game anyway... extenuating circumstances and class work were some of the reasons I heard.

[BBallers]

FYI - the team did leave early on Saturday morning... but no one would have played in that All-Star game anyway... extenuating circumstances and class work were some of the reasons I heard.

I'm sure the players have some serious catchup work.  They met at around 4:30 AM Thursday for their flight to Roanoke, so maybe it was best for them to get back.  It would be nice to play in an All-Star game or be recognized as an All-Final4-Tournament Player, but not at the risk of dropping a class or getting low grades.  Overall it was a fun weekend and all the teams should be congratulated for their performances.

[Hugenerd]

ECAC All-Star Teams announced:

http://www.ecacsports.com/sports/winter/mbkb/AllStars/2011-12/Division_III_New_England_Mens_Basketball.pdf

WPI's Coppola named Rookie of the Year for the region

MIT has 3 players representing, Kates and Hollingsworth on the 1st Team, with Tashman on the 2nd Team.  Pretty nice showing for the NEWMAC.  In most years, I would say the D3hoops All-Region team gets it right, but this year, I agree a lot more with the ECAC teams, and not just because of the MIT selections (although, admittedly, that has a lot to do with it). 7/10 players overall are the same between the two top teams from each respective outlet (3/5 on the first team), but putting Kates on the first team over Toomey makes sense to me (similar to what D3hoops did with the AA teams) and Hollingsworth over Berthauime on the first team also makes a lot of sense (Berthauime did not make either ECAC team).  As for the 2nd team, 2 are the same, plus Toomey, while the ECAC's have Tashman and Akinrola over Brian Clark and Lamonte Thomas (Berthauime, Clark, and Thomas are the 3 players not on the ECAC teams that made the top two D3hoops teams.  Kates and Akinrola were 3rd team D3hoops selections, with Tashman was not on any of the 4 D3hoops NE all-region teams, which was a glaring omission in my opinion).

[BBallers]

ECAC All-Star Teams announced:

http://www.ecacsports.com/sports/winter/mbkb/AllStars/2011-12/Division_III_New_England_Mens_Basketball.pdf

WPI's Coppola named Rookie of the Year for the region

MIT has 3 players representing, Kates and Hollingsworth on the 1st Team, with Tashman on the 2nd Team.  Pretty nice showing for the NEWMAC.  In most years, I would say the D3hoops All-Region team gets it right, but this year, I agree a lot more with the ECAC teams, and not just because of the MIT selections (although, admittedly, that has a lot to do with it). 7/10 players overall are the same between the two top teams from each respective outlet (3/5 on the first team), but putting Kates on the first team over Toomey makes sense to me (similar to what D3hoops did with the AA teams) and Hollingsworth over Berthauime on the first team also makes a lot of sense (Berthauime did not make either ECAC team).  As for the 2nd team, 2 are the same, plus Toomey, while the ECAC's have Tashman and Akinrola over Brian Clark and Lamonte Thomas (Berthauime, Clark, and Thomas are the 3 players not on the ECAC teams that made the top two D3hoops teams.  Kates and Akinrola were 3rd team D3hoops selections, with Tashman was not on any of the 4 D3hoops NE all-region teams, which was a glaring omission in my opinion).

LOL, that is the first time that I've ever seen Tashman referred to as a guard.  There should probably have been a third team so other deserving players such as Berthauime and others could be recognized.  Except for the last game, MIT played its best basketball during the NCAA tournament.  Look forward to hearing about different recruits and watching them play next season.

[rlk]

Next year's D3 (and D2) men's final will be played in Atlanta, sandwiched between the D1 semis and final.  But there are a lot of other details to be worked out.

http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2012/05/mens-championship-game-takes-big-stage

[mass_d3fan]

Congratulations & Good Luck to WPI's Matt Carr and Amherst's Willy Workman as they play for the D3Hoops.com All-Star team in Europe.

[Hugenerd]

Ohio Northern names MIT Associate Head Coach Kevin Byrne to lead their program:

http://onusports.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/releases/2012052114e7gw

[BBallers]

Ohio Northern names MIT Associate Head Coach Kevin Byrne to lead their program:
http://onusports.com/sports/mbkb/2012-13/releases/2012052114e7gw

Congratulations to Coach Byrne.  Best of luck to him as he did a great job assisting Larry Anderson at MIT.  MIT will miss him.  Thanks for the info.

[remsleep]

Ohio Northern names MIT Associate Head Coach Kevin Byrne to lead their program

Congrats to Kevin Byrne...you'll be missed at MIT....best of luck in the OAC!