MBB: NEWMAC

[WPI89]

NO FANS AT HOPKINS TOMORROW!!!!  Holy cow! 

[magicman]

It's sad that the fans of the teams at the Johns Hopkins site won't be able to watch their teams play in person. Yeshiva, is making only their 2nd appearance in the NCAA tournament and would have had a large contingent of fans on hand. I'm sure the WPI, Penn State-Harrisburg, and Johns Hopkins fans also are extremely disappointed.

What I find strange is that these 2 DIII games would have drawn around 1000-1300 fans for each game, at the most. (Johns Hopkins' gym only holds 1200 people) So no one is allowed to watch these games in person, because there have been some recently confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Maryland.

Yet tonight, Sunday and Tuesday, approximately 40 miles from Johns Hopkins, when 12,000 to 20,000 people show up to watch the Washington Wizards play 3 home games, well that's OK, they don't need to worry about the coronavirus.

This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.       

[WPI89]

Agree completely Magicman. 

There is one more factor (though I still think this is a way overblown reaction).  A Yeshiva student (non-basketball) contracted the virus this week.  All associated with the team have been medically cleared to travel and play though!

[magicman]

Agree completely Magicman. 

There is one more factor (though I still think this is a way overblown reaction).  A Yeshiva student (non-basketball) contracted the virus this week.  All associated with the team have been medically cleared to travel and play though!

Yes, I read about that. There is a big discussion on the NCAA Tournament board in the multi regional topics page. They are allowing people with media credentials to attend the game. Apparently the hotel that Yeshiva had made reservations at, canceled their reservations because of the virus case discovered on the Yeshiva campus. They were able to find another hotel tht gave them reservations, though.   

Johns Hopkins is allowing spectators at a lacrosse match taking place on campus, which doesn't seem consistant with what they are doing with the basketball games.  Someone suggested because the lacrosse game is outdoors there is less risk.

 

[BaboNation]

Has there been any explanation given as to why the tip-off has shifted from 1pm to 2pm?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Has there been any explanation given as to why the tip-off has shifted from 1pm to 2pm?

"Paperwork."

[rlk]

Has there been any explanation given as to why the tip-off has shifted from 1pm to 2pm?

"Paperwork."

That's going to make things somewhat tight for the Yeshiva team, particularly if it goes into OT.  Sunset is apparently around 6:05 PM, and they have to be back at their lodgings 30 minutes or so prior.

[rlk]

And speaking of the game...it looks like WPI has a mountain to climb in the second half (51-30 YU).

[WPI89]

Yikes - I think Yeshiva might be able to leave well before sunset and still hold on!

[BaboNation]

Ithaca  94  Babson  88  (OT)

Another game where Babson was one stop away from closing it out, but it was not meant to be.

I'll see that dagger 3 from Skylar Sinon in my sleep.  It was well-defended, and was the second he hit in a row to put Ithaca ahead for good, 86-80.

Two evenly matched teams, similar sizes and styles.

Gutsy, gutsy games from the starting 5 for Babson, with productive bench help from Gao, but not enough to overcome a strong 2nd half comeback from Ithaca.

Congrats to Ithaca & Babson's  graduating seniors;  and Thank You for a most enjoyable season!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Got to see WPI and Babson tonight.  WPI just got steamrolled by a great team on a great night.  Babson seemed pretty shocked they couldn't close it out. Obviously a tough season for them and they performed very well this evening, even if it wasn't quite good enough.

[jmcozenlaw]

Got to see WPI and Babson tonight.  WPI just got steamrolled by a great team on a great night.  Babson seemed pretty shocked they couldn't close it out. Obviously a tough season for them and they performed very well this evening, even if it wasn't quite good enough.

I could not believe that Babson had no answer for Thompson in the first half. He got to or near the rim at will.

[BaboNation]

Got to see WPI and Babson tonight.  WPI just got steamrolled by a great team on a great night.  Babson seemed pretty shocked they couldn't close it out. Obviously a tough season for them and they performed very well this evening, even if it wasn't quite good enough.

I could not believe that Babson had no answer for Thompson in the first half. He got to or near the rim at will.

That was a tough matchup.  Ideally, Ainge would cover him, but Ainge has been battling leg injuries the 2nd half of the season and does not have the same burst he had at the start of the season.  The last few games he's only played for 4-5 minute stretches.  In December you'd never see him give the ball up to a teammate in the backcourt to start the offense.  The last few games it's been common.  And he only played 10 minutes in the 1st half yesterday.

While Babson had backup guards on the bench, what you might gain in defensive quickness you'd lose in all the other ways Ainge helps the team, even at 60%, or whatever.

This is in no way intended to make excuses.  Every team has injuries to deal with.  And yes, between Thompson in the 1st half and Sinon in OT, Ithaca was able to get the looks they wanted for much of the game, though their 3-point game didn't click til the end.

The only player move I'd have preferred would have been Gao over Pattyson, for better athleticism, size, and rebounding.  2nd half rebounding was again a factor (wearing down?).  But I think Brennan went with experience over the freshman.

[jmcozenlaw]

Got to see WPI and Babson tonight.  WPI just got steamrolled by a great team on a great night.  Babson seemed pretty shocked they couldn't close it out. Obviously a tough season for them and they performed very well this evening, even if it wasn't quite good enough.

I could not believe that Babson had no answer for Thompson in the first half. He got to or near the rim at will.

That was a tough matchup.  Ideally, Ainge would cover him, but Ainge has been battling leg injuries the 2nd half of the season and does not have the same burst he had at the start of the season.  The last few games he's only played for 4-5 minute stretches.  In December you'd never see him give the ball up to a teammate in the backcourt to start the offense.  The last few games it's been common.  And he only played 10 minutes in the 1st half yesterday.

While Babson had backup guards on the bench, what you might gain in defensive quickness you'd lose in all the other ways Ainge helps the team, even at 60%, or whatever.

This is in no way intended to make excuses.  Every team has injuries to deal with.  And yes, between Thompson in the 1st half and Sinon in OT, Ithaca was able to get the looks they wanted for much of the game, though their 3-point game didn't click til the end.

The only player move I'd have preferred would have been Gao over Pattyson, for better athleticism, size, and rebounding.  2nd half rebounding was again a factor (wearing down?).  But I think Brennan went with experience over the freshman.

Do you know the back story behind Ainge's tranfser from Utah State?

[SpringSt7]

Wanted to be closer to home---Babson is in Wellesley, MA, his home town. Without trying to assume too much, I don't think the Mormon mission makes life as a college basketball player any easier, taking all of that time off and then trying to come back and compete at a pretty high level.