MBB: NEWMAC

[rlk]

With the win today, I believe its 6 years in a row that MIT has either won the NEWMAC tourney or regular-season crown (at least shared the title) and made the NCAA tourney.  Congrats to MIT.


As for the game, I was able to watch online today, and the tempo was controlled almost throughout by MIT.  The score was close at times, but the game was played at MIT's pace.  To this end, I think Springfield's decision to go to zone about 8 minutes into the game was critical.  At that point, MIT was up 19-14, but the game was more up tempo, which is Springfield's style (if you translate the score from the first 8 minutes to a 40 minute game, your looking at scoring in the 70s, 80s, or 90s).  However, once Springfield went to the zone, even though it curbed some of MITs interior scoring, MIT was able to milk the clock (as they love to do) and Springfield was never really in their offense flow the rest of the game.  I don't know if the result would have been different either way, but that stuck out to me.

Hopefully MIT gets shipped out of the region and can have a nice run in the tourney. Congrats again to everyone on the MIT squad.

Also the 6th straight 20 win season, dating back to Jimmy Bartolotta's senior year.  Guess there's no such thing as too much D or too many bigs.  Redfield's in foul trouble, Acker takes control of the situation.  MIT really picked the right time to catch fire.

[BBallers]

Better be rooting for some conference leaders to win their conferences.

MIT just controlled the pace, very methodical and converted everything it felt like.  61% vs 20% will do it every time.  Even with 10 mins left if felt like it was over because MIT was milking the clock so well.

I think MIT played its best game of the year (by far) against WPI in the NEWMAC tournament and hope they can continue.  MIT also played well against Springfield, but not as good as against WPI.  I am listening to Hoopsville online now and asked why there couldn't be 3 at large NEWMAC teams because Babson, WPI and Springfield were in the top 6 in the Northeast.  I mentioned that the NEWMAC should be one of the top conferences this year, but they thought top 10.  Besides the Northeast Region rankings, if MIT can now be ranked (with their tournament wins and win against Rhode Island College), then those 3 schools 5-1 record against MIT in the regular season should help them.  Our #5 team (Emerson) beat Amherst and Tufts.  Bottom line is that they opined that 3 NEWMAC teams would make it, MIT and

[Hugenerd]

D3hoops projecting 4 NEWMAC teams in the tourney...with Springfield getting the final spot.

http://d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/2014/projected-mens-bracket

[WPI89]

Wow - everybody in the pool!

[GnacBballFan]

Guess we jinxed not wanting to see one another wpi lol

[WPI89]

GNAC - just posted over on your page.  Holy cow.  Happy to be in, but brutal match-up for WPI.

[GnacBballFan]

Lol I will go check it out. Are you guys banged up with injuries? Thought I may have read that somewhere

[WPI89]

Yes to injuries.  Point Guard Davis played 10 minutes Saturday (first game back in 3 weeks) but lacked his usual quickness and was in and out getting treatment on the knee.  The second leading scorer Ryan Kolb is also hurt (to be honest I do not know with what).  He hit 3 3's against MIT to keep WPI tied in the first half and then barely played the second half on Saturday.

Going to need all hands to match-up with Magnus at all from an athletic standpoint.

[mass_d3fan]

Congratulations to MIT, Babson, Springfield & WPI for getting into the tournament.  Great for the NEWMAC.

NCAA Matchups :

MIT vs Plattsburgh St
Babson vs Gordon
Springfield vs Mary Washington
WPI vs Albertus Magnus

This looks to be a bad matchup for WPI, especially with the injury issues.  They have not scored 70 or more points since Feb. 1 and AM's lowest ouput in that same time frame has been 84 points.  AM was beating up on the weakers teams they play, WPI was struggling to handle the teams at the bottom of the NEWMAC.  You have to believe that (besides the obvious importance of this being an NCAA tourney game)AM is looking to make a statement in this one about where they feel they belong in the Northeast pecking order.  I seem to remember someone saying that these two scrimmaged at the beginning of the season.  Anyone lend some insight on how that went?  I know neither team is what they were way back then, but it’s still nice fodder for the forum. 

The Engineers must tighten up their interior defense.  In the team’s 4 losses, they have lost the PIP battle each time. 3 times being doubled up on.  They have to contend with a very potent inside outside combo in Watson( 21.9ppg/4.9rpg) & Ljulidjuraj(16 ppg/10.7 rpg/3.7 bpg).

Babson/Gordon could be a very good game with some talented big men matching up.  This will be a big game for Flannery and Kenny Ross MUST stay out of foul trouble.  The Beavers struggled after he fouled out of the NEWMAC semis, even on simple inbound plays down the stretch of regulation play.

MIT/Plattsburgh St – I do not know much about Plattsburgh, but MIT is currently playing its best ball of the season.  If Redfield and crew can stay out of foul trouble, MIT stands a good chance.

Springfield/Mary Washington – Another team I know little to nothing about at the moment.  The pride are a streaky team and will battle the entire 40 minutes.  If their opponent offers up a chance for them to take the game, they usually capitalize on it.

[toooldtoplay]

NEWMAC - Congratulations to the league getting half their teams to NCAA's.  Unprecedented, I believe but well deserved.  Early season perceived upsets by teams in the NEWMAC don't look so weird now.  I believe this league mixing great academics and athletics will rival the NESCAC in recruiting as time goes on.   

Special shout out to MIT who came back from a difficult year and the graduation of 3 All Americans to make a run through the tournament and qualify for the 6th straight year.  Seems crazy after a long history of futility. 

Nice run by Babson and point guard Kenny Ross who is unquestionably one of the leagues MVP's for his team. Over 5/1 assist to TO ratio is legit considering how many assists scorekeepers miss vs. the number of turnovers they always get. 

WPI just seems to be there every year.  Needs to get healthier? 

Springfield seems to be in the mix every season and in the league finals regularly.  Tribute to their athletes. 

Looking forward to a nice run in tournament.  Lets get two to the Sweet Sixteen!!

[pjunito]

Great job NEWMAC! 4 teams into the NCAAs, that is a great achievement. Best wishes to all of the players and coaches and supporter of the 4 teams. Sucks, we have to play WPI.

[WPI89]

NEWMAC all conference:  http://www.newmacsports.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/releases/20140304pvsgxl

2014 Men's Basketball All-Conference Team and Award Winners

NEWMAC Athlete of the Year:
Joey Flannery, Babson 

NEWMAC Rookie of the Year:
Joey Flannery, Babson 

NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player:
Andrew Acker, MIT

NEWMAC Coach of the Year:
Stephen Brennan, Babson

NEWMAC Sportsmanship Award:
Wheaton College

First Team All-Conference
Joey Flannery, Babson
John Wickey, Babson
Jon Goldberg, Emerson
Robbie Burke, Springfield
Sam Longwell, WPI

Second Team All-Conference
Kenny Ross, Babson
Michael Thorpe, Emerson
Andrew Acker, MIT
Matt Redfield, MIT
Sean Martin, Springfield

[GnacBballFan]

Gonna be a good one WPI. I hope everyone is healthy, and may the nest team win. I'll be in attendance. I have a bad feeling about Friday, wpi I think is flying under the radar bc of their late season woes. Should be a great game

[BBallers]

Congratulations to MIT, Babson, Springfield & WPI for getting into the tournament.  Great for the NEWMAC.

NCAA Matchups :

MIT vs Plattsburgh St
Babson vs Gordon
Springfield vs Mary Washington
WPI vs Albertus Magnus

This looks to be a bad matchup for WPI, especially with the injury issues.  They have not scored 70 or more points since Feb. 1 and AM's lowest ouput in that same time frame has been 84 points.  AM was beating up on the weakers teams they play, WPI was struggling to handle the teams at the bottom of the NEWMAC.  You have to believe that (besides the obvious importance of this being an NCAA tourney game)AM is looking to make a statement in this one about where they feel they belong in the Northeast pecking order.  I seem to remember someone saying that these two scrimmaged at the beginning of the season.  Anyone lend some insight on how that went?  I know neither team is what they were way back then, but it's still nice fodder for the forum. 

The Engineers must tighten up their interior defense.  In the team's 4 losses, they have lost the PIP battle each time. 3 times being doubled up on.  They have to contend with a very potent inside outside combo in Watson( 21.9ppg/4.9rpg) & Ljulidjuraj(16 ppg/10.7 rpg/3.7 bpg).

Babson/Gordon could be a very good game with some talented big men matching up.  This will be a big game for Flannery and Kenny Ross MUST stay out of foul trouble.  The Beavers struggled after he fouled out of the NEWMAC semis, even on simple inbound plays down the stretch of regulation play.

MIT/Plattsburgh St – I do not know much about Plattsburgh, but MIT is currently playing its best ball of the season.  If Redfield and crew can stay out of foul trouble, MIT stands a good chance.

Springfield/Mary Washington – Another team I know little to nothing about at the moment.  The pride are a streaky team and will battle the entire 40 minutes.  If their opponent offers up a chance for them to take the game, they usually capitalize on it.

Has there ever been another conference where half of the teams (4/8) made the NCAA tournament?  I just completed my d3hoops brackets where I was definitely very biased towards MIT, WPI, Babson, and Springfield and predicted them to win out until they play each other.  So if the NE Region (and NEWMAC in particular) do well and there aren't too many upsets in the remainder of the brackets, then my bracket should do very well.  If all the NEWMAC teams loose, then I generally don't pay much attention to the remaining bracket play anyway.

[amh63]

Hugenerd......welcome back!  This board needs you.....WPI89 needs you!
Hope things are going well.  Does it take MIT to win the conference to get your attention?
Anyway, hope your team advances as in 2012.