MBB: NEWMAC

[WPI89]

Congrats NEWMAC on 3 in the dance.  Not thrilled with WPI's pod - but happy to be hosting.

[BaboNation]

While the NEWMAC had their best-ever men's total (4) in 2020, that was an outlier, with Coast Guard coming from nowhere to win the AQ.  And of the 4, only Springfield got out of the first round.

This year, with 3 on the men's side and 3 on the women's side helps build on a sustained record of achievement for the conference.  And having a host on both sides (WPI and Smith) is also a good sign.

Taking this only a round at a time, WPI should advance.  On paper it looks like they may have been dealt a bad hand to face a potential tougher than one might expect opponent  (St. Joseph's) in round 2.  But it looks like the committee might have figured it this way ... you can host the first 2 rounds and face a tough 2nd round opponent;  or, you can travel and face a more mid-level round 2 opponent.  WPI appears to fall into the former category.

Emerson got a real tough 1st round matchup in UM-D, but when you are one of the last 4 in that's the way things go.  Hopefully they get Davis and Martin back.  Both missed the NEWMAC tourney and that's a lot of production (25 ppg) to be without.

Babson, like Emerson is one of the last 4 in no doubt.  They should be happy to still be playing.  On paper DeSales should be a toss up game.  The winner gets Randolph-Macon.  Fair.

[BaboNation]

Postseason awards are out.

https://www.newmacsports.com/sports/mbkb/2021-22/releases/20220301fmrmtw


Team   Name   Institution
First Team All-Conference   Jarred Houston   Emerson College
First Team All-Conference   John Lowther   WPI
First Team All-Conference   Ian Hinkley   MIT
First Team All-Conference   Colin Bradanese   Babson College
First Team All-Conference   John Adams   WPI
       
Second Team All-Conference   Zach Waterhouse   Emerson College
Second Team All-Conference   Colin McNamara   WPI
Second Team All-Conference   Alex Carlisle   Wheaton College
Second Team All-Conference   Isaiah Taylor   Clark University
Second Team All-Conference   Mitchell Kirsch   Babson College

Houston was voted POY and DPOY as I thought would be appropriate.  They definitely weighted the non-conference stats more than I would.  As much as I love Bradanese I gave the nod to Dorney who had better conference stats and was left out entirely.  And as many awards go, when you have 2 players from the same team the upperclassman wins out.
Carlisle also dropped off quite a bit from his non-conference stats.

[WPI89]

Oof - from Ryan's lips to God's ears. He has WPI going to the final 4.  I truly believe that is possible.  I also believe Lowther and Adams will not disappoint!  We will need somebody (or somebodies) to knock down 3's as well!  My bet is Downing - but I will take it from McNamara or a group effort (Callahan/Lufkin/etc).

Get me to 70 each game and I love our chances.  Be efficient - maybe 11-26 from 3 and LETS GO.  Get the other teams in foul trouble.  Will likely need to win ugly as we move on.........................

Very exciting.

[BaboNation]

Emerson suffers a haunting defeat to UM-Dartmouth after leading by 18 in the 2nd half and up 6 with under a minute to go.  But Waterhouse, who had a monster game (28/5) missed both FTs, Houston (16/25 and 5 blocks) fouled out with 23s left up 2, and the miss on the ensuing FT led to an offensive rebound and 3 pointer to give UM-D the first lead of the game since 4-2.  Azor had a quiet 1st half, but you knew that wouldn't last, finishing with 27/10.  UM-D had 55 2nd half points.  Relentless.

[BaboNation]

Babson enjoys rare size advantages in a 1st round win one DeSales.  MAC POY Kachelries had difficulty getting clean looks, but Tim Edwards had 23 of their 1st half points, doing damage way too low to keep DeSales in the game.

Edwards finished with a season high 34 and 11 boards but Babson had an answer for every run.  All the starters had strong games with Dorney 19/8, Bradanese 18/10, and Amado 16/7 leading the way.

So, now it's on to Randolph-Macon.  Time to shock the D3 world.  I'm sure the pregame pep talk will include something along the lines of  "we gave Harvard a strong showing ... "

[WPI89]

WHOOOOOHOOOOO!  That's it for now.

[BaboNation]

Babson keeps it close for a half but Randolph-Macon with too much skill, versatility, and talent to overcome.  Congrats to R-M.

Good job by the R-M broadcast crew.  One of the best I've heard all year.

It's up to WPI now (big winners again) to carry the NEWMAC forward.  Represent!

[WPI89]

RPI just prevented a Wesleyan revenge game. WPI v RPI.

Seems a decent chance WPI could host again?  You guys that are dialed in, what say you?

[WPI89]

Although looking at the brackets, might we have to go to Randolph-Macon?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Although looking at the brackets, might we have to go to Randolph-Macon?

Almost certainly.

[BaboNation]

Springfield will be looking for a new HC with Brock's retirement.

https://springfieldcollegepride.com/sports/mbkb/2021-22/releases/20220228u8cg0u

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Springfield will be looking for a new HC with Brock's retirement.

https://springfieldcollegepride.com/sports/mbkb/2021-22/releases/20220228u8cg0u

Seems like a good fit for Ryan Cain, if he wants it.

[BaboNation]

Springfield will be looking for a new HC with Brock's retirement.

https://springfieldcollegepride.com/sports/mbkb/2021-22/releases/20220228u8cg0u

Seems like a good fit for Ryan Cain, if he wants it.

I'd be surprised with that move.  He has a pretty good situation at Keene and may not be able to draw from the same pool of recruits.
Just a guess but I imagine Springfield looks at the ascendancy of Clark, the logjam of D1 assistants who can recruit but have a potentially long wait for a HC job at that level, and pick someone from those ranks like Clark did.

[SpringSt7]

If I'm Cain, aren't I just content racking up wins in the LEC until whenever Bartley retires? That might not be for awhile but seems like an obvious plan.