MBB: NEWMAC

[Hugenerd]

MIT holds on for the win, 54-44, against UMB.  MIT started out the game in complete control, only giving up 11 points the first 21 minutes of the game, holding a 21 point lead at that point.  However, the wheels came off a bit from there, as UMB picked up the tempo and got back in the game.  Over the next 8 minutes, UMB went on a 20-5 run to cut the lead to 6, 37-31.  They would get it to as few as 5 over the last 10 minutes of the game, but strong rebounding by Tashman (18 on the day), good interior play by Matt Redfield, and some opportune shots by Kaitz, kept the visitors at arms length.  Kates lead the team again with 19 points (7-14 FGs), he has been the game high scorer in 7 of MIT's 8 games this season.

[GoTech73]

MIT holds on for the win, 54-44, against UMB.  MIT started out the game in complete control, only giving up 11 points the first 21 minutes of the game, holding a 21 point lead at that point.  However, the wheels came off a bit from there, as UMB picked up the tempo and got back in the game.  Over the next 8 minutes, UMB went on a 20-5 run to cut the lead to 6, 37-31.  They would get it to as few as 5 over the last 10 minutes of the game, but strong rebounding by Tashman (18 on the day), good interior play by Matt Redfield, and some opportune shots by Kaitz, kept the visitors at arms length.  Kates lead the team again with 19 points (7-14 FGs), he has been the game high scorer in 7 of MIT's 8 games this season.

Rough shooting night from the field again for the Engineers (Just under 40% from the field just under 20% from 3) - HN, from the sound of your recap sounds like you watched the game - was this more a factor of good UMB defense or are we struggling to hit shots?

[BBallers]

MIT holds on for the win, 54-44, against UMB.  MIT started out the game in complete control, only giving up 11 points the first 21 minutes of the game, holding a 21 point lead at that point.  However, the wheels came off a bit from there, as UMB picked up the tempo and got back in the game.  Over the next 8 minutes, UMB went on a 20-5 run to cut the lead to 6, 37-31.  They would get it to as few as 5 over the last 10 minutes of the game, but strong rebounding by Tashman (18 on the day), good interior play by Matt Redfield, and some opportune shots by Kaitz, kept the visitors at arms length.  Kates lead the team again with 19 points (7-14 FGs), he has been the game high scorer in 7 of MIT's 8 games this season.

Rough shooting night from the field again for the Engineers (Just under 40% from the field just under 20% from 3) - HN, from the sound of your recap sounds like you watched the game - was this more a factor of good UMB defense or are we struggling to hit shots?

I did not see the first half of the game, but the second half it appeared that MIT was struggling in their offensive sets with turnovers, offensive fouls, etc.  It did not seem like anyone from MIT (except Kates) could take RIC off the dribble and the only offense was to rely on Kates after the shot clock ran down to either score or drive and dish.  It is still early in the season and this is not the first time that the offense struggles, but Coach Anderson has it working by the conference games or the end of the season when it really counts.  MIT is really depending on Mitch and I was worried when he took a hard foul and was on the bench from about the 3 and a half minute mark until the last minute when MIT only had ~6 point lead.  MIT let RIC have some transition baskets and some layups.  As with many teams this season the opposing guards are able to penetrate too easily.  Luckily, RIC's guards did not appear to be very good shooters because they certainly had open looks.  Tashman and Redfield had good defense rebounding games with RIC bending the rims on their shots.  Redfield used his height and jumping ability to finish layups at a good rate.  Tashman played his usual good defensive game that is often not shown in the stats.  Kates (only MIT player in double figures in scoring this game) is really a difference maker for this team and is playing at a high level.  Hopefully, Mitch will get more help from his teammates so he can pick and choose when he scores or when big buckets are needed.  Salem State up next in another road game tomorrow.  Go Engineers!

[Hugenerd]

MIT holds on for the win, 54-44, against UMB.  MIT started out the game in complete control, only giving up 11 points the first 21 minutes of the game, holding a 21 point lead at that point.  However, the wheels came off a bit from there, as UMB picked up the tempo and got back in the game.  Over the next 8 minutes, UMB went on a 20-5 run to cut the lead to 6, 37-31.  They would get it to as few as 5 over the last 10 minutes of the game, but strong rebounding by Tashman (18 on the day), good interior play by Matt Redfield, and some opportune shots by Kaitz, kept the visitors at arms length.  Kates lead the team again with 19 points (7-14 FGs), he has been the game high scorer in 7 of MIT's 8 games this season.

Rough shooting night from the field again for the Engineers (Just under 40% from the field just under 20% from 3) - HN, from the sound of your recap sounds like you watched the game - was this more a factor of good UMB defense or are we struggling to hit shots?

It didn't seem a lot of the younger guys were comfortable most of the night.  As BBallers stated, a lot of turnovers didnt help.  UMB has a bunch of athletic guys, especially around the basket, so some shots seemed rushed, and there were also some forced shots near the end of the shot clock.  Outside of Kates and Tashman, this is an inexperienced team and hopefully they will get more comfortable as the season progresses. It also didnt help that they shot uncharacteristically poor from the FT line (16-24).  Dennis Levene is still out also, and he is a consistent roation player who provides some help on both ends of the court.  More than anything, though, I think they are missing offensive balance.  They need to get some consistent inside scoring to balance the floor and get some of their perimeter players more open shots.

[WPI89]

Congrats to WPI on a real solid road win as well last night at Salem State.  Jumped out early and help on for dear life.

One more big test home against RIC tomorrow!

[GoTech73]

It didn't seem a lot of the younger guys were comfortable most of the night.  As BBallers stated, a lot of turnovers didnt help.  UMB has a bunch of athletic guys, especially around the basket, so some shots seemed rushed, and there were also some forced shots near the end of the shot clock.  Outside of Kates and Tashman, this is an inexperienced team and hopefully they will get more comfortable as the season progresses. It also didnt help that they shot uncharacteristically poor from the FT line (16-24).  Dennis Levene is still out also, and he is a consistent roation player who provides some help on both ends of the court.  More than anything, though, I think they are missing offensive balance.  They need to get some consistent inside scoring to balance the floor and get some of their perimeter players more open shots.

Who's got the best chance of providing that missing balance? Something that might improve once Levene returns? I need to watch a game or two here soon to get a feel for how some of these younger players play. Frustrating that MIT seems to be one of the few schools that charges to watch their home games online.

[amh63]

Agree on the charge for a video feed.....one of last few schools in NE.  MIT had a relative "good" year on its investments....so a free website feed should be well within their budget.  Maybe I will make a remark on the matter when I make my annual gift!

[Hugenerd]

Agree on the charge for a video feed.....one of last few schools in NE.  MIT had a relative "good" year on its investments....so a free website feed should be well within their budget.  Maybe I will make a remark on the matter when I make my annual gift!

I dont think the athletics department budget is directly proportional to the growth of the Institute's endowment.  Don't forget MIT had to cut 8 sports not so long ago for budgeting reasons, so it may be a case where the service would not be offered at all if it was not self-sustaining.

It didn't seem a lot of the younger guys were comfortable most of the night.  As BBallers stated, a lot of turnovers didnt help.  UMB has a bunch of athletic guys, especially around the basket, so some shots seemed rushed, and there were also some forced shots near the end of the shot clock.  Outside of Kates and Tashman, this is an inexperienced team and hopefully they will get more comfortable as the season progresses. It also didnt help that they shot uncharacteristically poor from the FT line (16-24).  Dennis Levene is still out also, and he is a consistent roation player who provides some help on both ends of the court.  More than anything, though, I think they are missing offensive balance.  They need to get some consistent inside scoring to balance the floor and get some of their perimeter players more open shots.

Who's got the best chance of providing that missing balance? Something that might improve once Levene returns? I need to watch a game or two here soon to get a feel for how some of these younger players play. Frustrating that MIT seems to be one of the few schools that charges to watch their home games online.

I had hopes for the kid from Greece, but he seems to be further away from being a regular contributor than I had originally thought.  Levene is a big kid, but his natural position is the wing, so he won't help as much with balance.  At this point, the guy has to be Tashman (until Hollingsworth can return).  He doesn't have to be the main scoring option, but if they ran a few plays for him where he could just make a strong drop step, pump fake, and score/get fouled, then the other team would have to respect that.  It seems Tash has recently been getting the majority of his scoring off secondary opportunities or when he has a gross mismatch.  He needs to be aggressive and assertive even when he is being guarded by an athletic big, because he will have the strength advantage against pretty much anyone he sees this season.  He can't settle for shots where he is falling away from the basket either.  Redfield and Acker aren't really guys you would run a post play for at their current stage of development, unless it were on a lob for a dunk.

[7express]

That's the reason I like LEC.tv.  It's free, the announcing is good, video quality is good, and the archives date back to like 2006.

[mass_d3fan]

WPI89

I'm not counting it as a "solid" win, it was indeed a win and that part is good.

It was more like the old saying "live by the sword die by sword".  WPI may have the best overall guard group in the NEWMAC. When Coppola & Longwell are shooting well, the Engineers are going to be very hard to beat.  Aaron Davis is looking to be true PG in that he is looing to run the offense and distribute first.  Matt Harrington looks much more comfortable on the court and Zach Karalis has quietly become the 4th leading scorer.  Last night though, it was the case of 2 halves and WPI shot horribly in the 2nd half (29%).  It is at these times that you see where the lack of a consistent inside presence is a problem.  If the guards are not hitting the shots, they do not at this time have that reliable inside game to break a long scoring drought or get a high percentage shot on a critical possesion. At times, Kolb has given them this, but not consistently.

While Salem forced a couple of turnovers, blocked a couple of shots and rebounded well in that run during the 2nd half. On consectuive possesions, WPI had a turnover, a missed jumper, followed 4 straight missed 3's and another missed jumper before Coppola dished to Wesoloski for an easy 2. In that span, the lead went from 15 to 6 before Wesloski's bucket.  WPI has a number of slasher typpes who can get into the paint, they need to do a better job of getting the bigs involved when the help D comes at them.

8-0 is much better than I believed they would be at this point, but this is the 2nd game in a row they have had an 18 pt lead halfway through the 2nd half and let it get away.  RIC will indeed provide another test and the Engineers should be up for it.  The game at RIC last year was perhaps the team's worst performance of the year.

I am thinking that we may see no team with less than 3 losses in conference this year.  MIT, WPI, Babson, Clark & Springfield each have the ability to knock off any of the others this season. First place may come down to who can win out at home and go .500 on the road! 

[WPI89]

I love your standards MASSD3 and we may be splitting hairs on word usage but Salem has always been a very tough place to go into and come out with a win - they basically lose about 1 home game a year - it was over a year ago that they lost their last home game (to Tufts).

So while I get that WPI almost coughed away another huge lead - the fact is that they didn't - so I still call it a big win.  It will be even bigger when Salem State is 18-5 instead of 4-4.

[GoTech73]

Agree on the charge for a video feed.....one of last few schools in NE.  MIT had a relative "good" year on its investments....so a free website feed should be well within their budget.  Maybe I will make a remark on the matter when I make my annual gift!

I dont think the athletics department budget is directly proportional to the growth of the Institute's endowment.  Don't forget MIT had to cut 8 sports not so long ago for budgeting reasons, so it may be a case where the service would not be offered at all if it was not self-sustaining.

I definitely remember the cuts (was actually on the undergrad gov't athletics committee when they happened), but it's not like streaming video is on that scale in terms of cost. A couple students or a sports info staffer per game + an mediocre HD Camera + Ustream simply doesnt add up to a whole lot. With AmericaOne it's $7/game (more than the price of physical admission, i believe), and at least when I've used it for football it hasn't been HD, and has had problems cutting out as well.

There is the possibility of course that they are locked into some form of long term contract with AmericaOne, and they don't have the freedom to improve upon any of this.

Anyway, sorry about the rant, but it's been a pet peeve of mine for a couple years now... Thanks for the rundown of the big men, HN.

[GoTech73]

I love your standards MASSD3 and we may be splitting hairs on word usage but Salem has always been a very tough place to go into and come out with a win - they basically lose about 1 home game a year - it was over a year ago that they lost their last home game (to Tufts).

Here's to hoping it's nerd power week and the other Engineers make it 2 in a row tomorrow!

[rlk]

Agree on the charge for a video feed.....one of last few schools in NE.  MIT had a relative "good" year on its investments....so a free website feed should be well within their budget.  Maybe I will make a remark on the matter when I make my annual gift!

I dont think the athletics department budget is directly proportional to the growth of the Institute's endowment.  Don't forget MIT had to cut 8 sports not so long ago for budgeting reasons, so it may be a case where the service would not be offered at all if it was not self-sustaining.

I definitely remember the cuts (was actually on the undergrad gov't athletics committee when they happened), but it's not like streaming video is on that scale in terms of cost. A couple students or a sports info staffer per game + an mediocre HD Camera + Ustream simply doesnt add up to a whole lot. With AmericaOne it's $7/game (more than the price of physical admission, i believe), and at least when I've used it for football it hasn't been HD, and has had problems cutting out as well.

Game admission is free.

[GoTech73]

Game admission is free.

Interesting. I based that statement off the fact that football games are $5 for non students, surprised they differ, but cool!