Saturday, February 27, 2010

Poor Outside Shooting Too Much to Overcome, MIT Falls in NEWMAC Semi

A season low 17.4% shooting from outside (4-23) was too much for MIT overcome, as they fell in the NEWMAC semifinals to Clark this afternoon at Rockwell Cage, 71-59. Clark, on the other hand, shot well all night, going 51% from the field and 48% from deep. MIT was led by Noel Hollingsworth who scored 30 points and added 9 rebounds. MIT missed the presence of Billy Bender, who was out for the second consecutive game with injury. In his absence, the MIT guards shot a combined 0-10 from 3.

MIT came out of the gates on fire, taking a 17-4 lead 4.5 minutes into the contest. Undeterred, Clark mounted a 15-2 run to knot the game at 19 by the 9 minute mark of the first half. MIT thought they had weathered the storm, scoring 3 points to take the lead back 22-19, but Clark had other ideas as they went on a 15-0 run to take a 12 point lead with 2.5 minutes remaining in the half. MIT would not go away, as they went on a 9-0 run of their own, making the halftime margin 34-31 Clark.

The first 10 minutes of the second half were highly-contested, as there were 5 lead changes and 3 ties. However, with MIT up 49-47 with just under 13 minutes to play in the game, Clark went on a 13-2 run over a 6 minute stretch that MIT would not be able to recoup from. Clark would push the lead to double digits in the final 2.5 minutes of the contest, and were able to hold the lead for a 71-59 win.

Official MIT Release

MIT will now have to hope for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. NCAA selections will be made tomorrow, Sunday, February 28, and will be released via webcast on Sunday morning starting at 10:00 AM. The webcast link can be found on the NCAA website. Clark will play the winner of the WPI/Springfield matchup, slated for later this afternoon.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Engineers Begin Quest for Second Consecutive NEWMAC Title Against Clark

On Saturday, nationally-ranked No. 13 MIT (22-3) hopes to take advantage of its first bye in the history of the NEWMAC postseason tournament in propelling to its third finals appearance in five seasons. The test will be stiff for the Engineers, who are 3-1 at home in the NEWMAC playoffs, and 2-1 all-time against Clark in the postseason. The Cougars enter the tilt full of confidence after dispatching Wheaton College on the road. The Lyons had proved to be MIT's nemesis this season after defeating the Engineers twice (the only Division III team to upend MIT this year), but they lost to Clark on Wednesday, 58-55.

Clark held MIT to its lowest scoring total of the season in the team's first meeting and its fourth-lowest scoring total of the year in the second encounter. The Engineers escaped with victories in both contests, although both games required a significant rally by the Cardinal and Gray.

On January 16, MIT erased a 14-point first half deficit en route to a 54-51 win in Worcester. The Cougars led 35-21 with two minutes remaining in the opening period before Mitchell Kates ran off six straight points to cut the lead to eight at the break. In the second half, MIT shot 55% from the floor while holding the Cougars to 29% shooting. Mark Alexander had a chance to tie the game at the end, but his attempt from three fell short.

In the second meeting of the season, MIT shrugged off a seven-point second half deficit to defeat Clark, 59-52. The Cougars led 38-31 with 14 minutes left to play, but four three's by rookie Jimmy Burke and a commanding 31-17 advantage for MIT on the glass proved to be the difference.

MIT and Clark rank first and second in the league in scoring defense and have slugged it out in the previous matchups, making it wise to take the under. The Engineers' battles against the Cougars have resulted in their two worst games of the year in terms of field goals made. On the other hand, MIT held Clark to a season-low 43 field goal attempts in their first trip to Rockwell Cage. Noel Hollingsworth has been the leading scorer in both meetings, totaling 20 points and 11 rebounds at Clark and 17 points in the re-match.

The keys for MIT include controlling the boards (+20 in two games), taking care of the basketball (-9 turnover margin), and keeping the Cougars off the free-throw line (22-of-26 against MIT). The Cougars offensive figures to go through Mark Alexander, who is third in the NEWMAC in scoring at 17.5 points per game and is second in the league in free-throw attempts. Alexander has totaled 29 points in two games versus the Engineers this season, while Brian Vayda has added 28. Both teams will look to shoot the open three, although few are expected to be had as the team's also rank first and second in the conference in three-point field goal percentage defense.

Video Interviews: Eric Zuk and Noel Hollingsworth

We are back for this week's final installment of player video interviews. Today we have interviews with junior captain Eric Zuk and sophomore center Noel Hollingsworth.

Eric discusses the atmosphere in last weekend's NEWMAC clinching win over Springfield, about his expectations for the season, and how differently teams have been preparing for MIT this year than in years past.

Noel discusses his transition from the Ivy League to MIT, advice he would give to other players in his sitatuion, and how it has been working with formner NBA center Paul Grant on the coaching staff here at MIT.



Thursday, February 25, 2010

Video Interviews: Mitchell Kates and Jimmy Burke

We are back for another installment of MIT player video interviews. Tonight we shift our focus to the Garden State, as we profile two freshman guards from New Jersey.

Mitch Kates, from Colts Neck, NJ, discusses how it has been stepping into a void left at the point guard position after last year's graduating class, how it has been adjusting to his role as the floor leader for this team, and his expectations before the season.

Jimmy Burke, from Scotch Plains, NJ, talks about his success in high school and how it compares to this season, his role on the team, and when he realized this year's team was pretty good.

Check back tomorrow as we profile junior captain Eric Zuk and sophomore center Noel Hollingsworth.



Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Video Interviews: Patrick Sissman and Ben Montgomery

In our second installment of the player video interviews, we focus on the two players on the squad from Maryland: senior captain Patrick Sissman and freshman forward Ben Montgomery. The guys discuss keys to the team's success and Patrick reflects on his career at MIT.



MIT to Face Clark; WPI, Springfield Advance in NEWMAC Tourney

Top-seeded MIT (22-3) will host No. 5-seeded Clark University (14-12) on Saturday, February 27 at 1 p.m. after the Cougars defeated No. 4 Wheaton (10-15), 58-55, at the Lyons' Emerson Gymnasium. As expected, the game was virtually even across every statistical category, but the Cougars held on despite leading by nine with three minutes to play and a poor performance at the charity stripe in the game's final minutes. The Lyons had a chance to tie the game, but Brendan Degnan's buzzer-beating three missed.

In earlier action, No. 3 WPI (19-6) jumped out to an 18-2 start before prevailing, 76-71, against No. 6 Coast Guard. Kyle Nadeau paced four players in double figures with 16 points and seven assists. Fernando Perez added 14 points and 14 rebounds. Coast Guard climbed back into contention behind a phenomenal performance by Greg Marshall, who dropped in a game-best 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting. The Bears finish the season at 7-16.

Worcester's version of the Engineers will face No. 2 Springfield College (14-12) in the second semi-final hosted by MIT on Saturday. It took all 40 minutes for the Pride to shake last-place Babson (10-16). Matt Zoia hit two three's in providing the Beavers with a late push, but led by Ryan Coburn's 9-for-10 effort at the line and game-high 15 points, Springfield advanced, 71-65.

MIT Drops A Spot in Final Regular-Season NCAA NE Region Rankings

The final of four in-season regional rankings were released today by the NCAA, and MIT fell to the #3 ranking in the Northeast region, only trailing Williams and Middlebury.


Full rankings can be found here: NCAA Release.

Statistically Speaking

This is how MIT stacks up statistically in the NEWMAC and against other NCAA DIII teams across the country. Stats are for games through 2/21/2010. Only statistics in which MIT is top 2 in the NEWMAC as a team and top 10 in individual categories are listed. Note that the NCAA does not rank all categories that the NEWMAC ranks.

Team Stats
Statistic Value NEWMAC NCAA
Scoring Defense58.818
Rebounding Margin+7.0118
Scoring Margin+12.2119
3FGM7.56156
FG%46.3189
Assists14.481104
A/TO0.901170
Rebounding Defense30.61
Scoring Offense71.02201
FG% Defense/td> 39.8227
3FG% Defense21.52


Individual Stats
Player Statistic Value NEWMAC NCAA
Noel HollingsworthScoring20.2142
FG%56.9158
Rebounds9.1165
Blocks1.44393
Mitchell KatesSteals2.20162
Assists4.24192
A/TO1.256
FG%49.67
Scoring13.38485
FT%69.39
Jimmy Burke3FGM2.46191
3FG%41.34
Will TashmanRebounds7.04216
FG%55.42
Billy Johnson3FGM1.645387
Billy BenderRebounds5.39
3FGM1.2110

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Video Interviews: Billy Johnson and Will Tashman

This is the inaugural edition of our player video interviews. Every day this week, leading up to the NEWMAC tournament hosted by MIT on February 27-28, we will be posting two new player interviews. We will include more video interviews in the coming weeks, and we hope to have every player and coach interviewed at least once before the season is over.

For today's episode, we have senior captain Billy Johnson and freshman forward Will Tashman profiled. Billy talks about the team this year, how the team compares to last year, and why he grew a beard. Will talks about his first year at MIT, why his recruiting class has been so productive so quickly, and reminisces about high school.





Thanks to fellow NEWMAC supporter Mark S. for his input that motivated us to actually get these interviews done!

Monday, February 22, 2010

MIT #13 in the Country in D3Hoops.com Poll

MIT drops to #13 in this week's D3hoops.com poll, after finishing the week 1-1. MIT fell early last week at Wheaton, in a game that was decided in the last minute, followed by an impressive win at Springfield to clinch the outright NEWMAC regular season championship. MIT is now 22-3 overall, 21-2 in DIII, and 10-2 in the NEWMAC, all MIT single-season records.

Full D3hoops.com Rankings Here

MIT will host the semifinal and final rounds of the NEWMAC tournament next weekend, February 27-28. They will host the winner of the Wheaton/Clark matchup at 1:00 PM next Saturday. Check back to MIT Hoops for game previews and additional coverage.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Engineers Stand Alone Atop NEWMAC, Break Single-Season Wins Mark

MIT gritted out their 10th NEWMAC victory of the season, beating Springfield College on the road this afternoon, 66-62. Pacing MIT today was fifth-year senior Billy Johnson, who had a season high 20 points, including a clutch 5-6 at the FT line in the final minute. Johnson said after the game, "Personally, I haven't been in a good shooting rhythm the past couple of games, so hitting those free throws at the end was something I owed to the team." Also playing solid games for MIT were Noel Hollingsworth, who had 15 points, a career-high 15 rebounds, and 3 assists, and Mitchell Kates with 7 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Jimmy Burke also chipped in with 15 points, while Will Tashman added 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

The first half was highly contested. MIT jumped out to an early 8-2 lead, but that was the biggest lead they would have the rest of the half, as the game turned into a defensive slugfest at both ends of the floor. MIT never trailed in the half, but only took a 2 point lead into the break, 28-26.

The beginning of the second half was all Springfield, as they came out of the gates with an 8-0 run over the first 2 minutes of play. The six-point advantage would be the largest lead they would hold, as MIT eliminatged it quickly and regained the lead with more than 15 minutes remaining in the game. MIT would maintain at least a two posession lead over the next 11 minutes, until a Springfield 3 with just over 4 minutes to play cut the lead to 3. MIT answered, though, mainly behind its strong defense. Springfield would score only 1 point over the next 3 minutes as MIT grew its lead to 9 at 58-49, with 1:23 to play. MIT would increase the lead to 10, but Springfield refused to quit, making a flurry of 3s in the final minute to bring the game to within 3 points with 10 seconds to play. However, a free throw by Billy Johnson, followed by a steal by Mitchell Kates sealed the win for MIT.

After the game, Johnson commented on the win and this year's team:

"Most importantly, I realized today that our basketball program is at a different level. It isn't the 22 wins or the regular season championship, but our team's reaction to everything. There was no jumping up and down, no huge celebration; being successful has become the baseline for our program. We set our goals at the beginning of the season, and until we accomplish those goals, and until we play the way we know we can, we will be grateful for what we've already accomplished, but we won't be satisfied."


MIT finishes the regular season at 22-3, 21-2 in Division III, and 10-2 in the NEWMAC. The 22 wins overall and the 10 wins in the NEWMAC are both records for any MIT team in the 110-year history of the program. With the win, MIT earns itself a first-round bye in the NEWMAC tournament and hosting rights for the semifinal and final rounds. They will host the winner of the #4/#5 matchup next Saturday in Rockwell Cage.

Official MIT Release

Friday, February 19, 2010

MIT Controls Own Destiny in Finale at Springfield

No. 11 nationally-ranked MIT can clinch its first regular-season NEWMAC title and hosting rights as the top seed in the conference tournament with a victory over Springfield College on Saturday. The Pride, meanwhile, can force a tie by holding home court. Springfield would need other additional scenarios in the other league games to earn the NEWMAC's top seed, but the picture is less messy if MIT can take out the Pride and collect a program-record 22nd win.

Springfield (13-11, 8-3 NEWMAC) has won six of seven and has lost only once at home since the beginning of December. Leading scorer Matt Cavalieri was out of action in the Pride's loss at Clark last Saturday, but he returned to lead a dominating win at WPI on Wednesday. Cavalieri scored 20 points, including 4-of-4 from three, to pace a 70-50 victory over the defending regular-season champs. Ryan Coburn added 15 points, and Pat Crean filled the stat sheet with 11 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four steals for a Springfield team that has shrugged off a miserable 2-8 start and now appears to be running on all cylinders.

MIT (21-3, 9-2) dropped its second league date to Wheaton on Wednesday, snapping a five-game winning streak and putting intrigue back into the conference race. The Engineers trailed by 13 with 6:30 left in regulation, but cut the deficit to two with 36 seconds left following a brilliant three-point play by Noel Hollingsworth. Unfortunately, the Lyons were nearly perfect at the charity stripe as they held on for their fourth win of the year over a regionally-ranked opponent.

In the season's previous meeting between MIT and Springfield, the Engineers used a 13-3 run midway through the second half to pull away en route to a 67-56 victory at Rockwell Cage. Hollingsworth registered a game-best 25 points and 10 rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting to pace the MIT attack, while Will Tashman (12 pts, 9 reb) also delivered a strong game. MIT led by as many as 12 points in the first half, while Springfield stormed back to take the lead six minutes into the second frame.

Cavalieri, who is fifth in the NEWMAC in scoring, has been the Pride's leading scorer in their past four home games while averaging 21.5 ppg. Senior Pat Crean has been just as effective and will be a difficult match-up for the Cardinal and Gray. In the teams' first meeting Crean had a team-best 17 points with most of his damage coming at the foul line.

The keys for MIT on Saturday include keeping the Pride out of the lane (dribble penetration cost the Engineers against Wheaton and Springfield was 15-of-23 from the line in the first meeting) while forcing Springfield to take tough shots from the outside where they are a league-low 27% on the season. The battle for the regular-season crown will feature the top two defensive teams in the NEWMAC, although MIT also leads the conference in field goal percentage (47%) and will look to be efficient in its offensive sets to keep the Pride at bay.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

The Mitchell Kates Factor

It's been a remarkable year for the MIT men's basketball program. Little was expected of the team entering the 2009-10 campaign. Although the team celebrated its first conference title and NCAA appearance, the loss of starting point guard Bradley Gampel and D3Hoops National Player of the Year Jimmy Bartolotta chased away any thoughts that MIT could come anywhere near replicating last season's success. However, as the Engineers prepare for their final game of the regular season, MIT has managed to assemble the winningest season in 109 years, and is gunning for its first regular-season conference title when it travels to Springfield on Saturday. Four new faces have paved the way for the Engineers' success. Will Tashman, who may have the best long-term potential, has been solid at both ends, Jimmy Burke has been one of the league's top threats on the perimiter, and Noel Hollingsworth's incredible work ethic and deft touch around the basket have been instrumental in guiding MIT through unchartered waters. But make no mistake, MIT has been one of the best teams in Division III all season primarily because there has never been another Mitchell Kates.

Point guard is the most important position in basketball. Not because the best players always play at that spot, but because the position is so specialized. The PG is responsible for running a team's offense, controlling the ball, and making sure the right players get the right touches at the right time. Across every level of play, championship teams nearly always benefit from great play at the point. Such has been the case for an overachieving MIT squad.

"I feel that I thrive in transition and in the open court," said Kates. "As a point guard, I understand the strengths and weaknesses of my teammates and try to put them in positions where they can be successful. I try to be the link between the coaching staff and my team on the floor."

It's highly unusual for a young player to understand their role so early into their college career, especially when considering the difficult transition high school players need to make in terms of physicality and speed of the game. But Mitch's proven ability is also why head coach Larry Anderson has remarked that Mitch may be the most college-ready freshman the coach has ever had.

"It's hard to describe what Mitch means to our basketball team," noted Anderson. "He keeps us under control. He is completely unselfish with the basketball, and he has unique athletic gifts that make him a very special player for us."

Although Mitch is averaging over 13 points per game and is leading the NEWMAC in assists and steals, his numbers don't necessarily relay his value. He began his career by picking up MVP honors at the Resselaer Tip-Off Tournament (he scored a game-best 22 in a one-point win over RPI); scored a career-high 28 and added an Institute record eight steals in a win against Curry; clinched an overtime win against Gordon with a driving lay-up; scored on three straight possessions in overtime to lift MIT past Salem State; and added a team-best 14 as he comfortably held his own against Harvard. Earlier in the season at Clark, with the team trailing by 14 late in the first half, Kates scored the last six points of the period, before MIT finished the rally after intermission. Even in Wednesday's loss at Wheaton, Kates was arguably the best player on the floor as he dished out eight assists, while adding six rebounds, two steals, and a game-high 24 points to lead a ferocious comeback that unfortunately fell just short. His confidence in his teammates as well as his own abilities is palpable, but what may be even more impressive is his understanding of the game and what it will take to lead MIT to heights never before achieved.

"Our team is capable of accomplishing anything," added Kates. "I see no reason why we can’t set our goals at a national championship, but we need to make big strides between now and then to even consider such a lofty goal. Our team struggles to bring great intensity to every play, every game. In order to win big games in the playoffs, we will need to bring more energy throughout the course of the game and execute better in the half court both offensively and defensively as well as in transition."

Kates is a basketball player mature beyond his years, but he's also quick to point out the luxury of having a dominant big man like Hollingsworth, and shooters like Burke and Billy Johnson who can fill it up. And beyond the talent, he recognizes the benefit of having teammates that all enjoy playing together.

"I am lucky to be part of a great recruiting class, so I will get to develop a great relationship with my teammates over the next couple of years. I feel that the closer you grow with your teammates outside of basketball, the easier it becomes to communicate with them on the court."

If nothing else, Kates understands his role, and that much of the team's success hinges on him doing the right things. MIT will experience success and defeat as a team, but if MIT is still playing basketball in March, don't be surprised if Kates is the factor that propels this group over the top.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Tiebreaking Scenarios for NEWMAC Championship Hosting

With Spingfield (8-3 NEWMAC) winning tonight and MIT (9-2 NEWMAC) losing, the game between the two teams in Springfield this Saturday will be for a share of the regular season NEWMAC crown. However, if there is a tie, there are several tiebreaking scenarios that could lead to MIT or Springfield being awarded the right to host the NEWMAC tourney February 28-29. Below is the list of scenarios that could play out next weekend, and who would host in each case. In general, MIT controls their own destiny, but Springfield needs help from other teams to host.

Scenario 1:

MIT beats Springfield

Result: MIT is 10-2 and Springfield is 8-4. MIT hosts.

Scenario 2:

Springfield beats MIT
WPI beats Clark


Result: MIT and Springfield are tied at 9-3. The head-to-head between the two is also tied at 1-1. The next tiebreaker is record against the 3rd ranked team in the conference, which in this case would be WPI at 7-5. Since MIT is 2-0 against WPI and Springfield split with them (1-1), MIT would hold this tiebreaker. MIT hosts.

Scenario 3:

Springfield beats MIT
Clark beats WPI
Wheaton beats CGA


Result: MIT and Springfield are tied at 9-3. The head-to-head between the two is also tied at 1-1. The next tiebreaker is record against the 3rd ranked team in the conference. However, in this case, Wheaton and WPI would be 6-6 in conference, tied for 3rd place. Since ties are broken top to bottom, the tiebreaker would go to the team with the best combined record against WPI and Wheaton. MIT would be 2-0 vs. WPI and 0-2 vs. Wheaton, while Springfield would be 1-1 against WPI and 2-0 against Wheaton. Therefore, in this case, Springfield would win the tiebreaker 3-1, vs. 2-2 for MIT. Springfield hosts.

In summary, MIT will host if they beat Springfield on Saturday, or if WPI or CGA win. Springfield needs all three games to go their way on Saturday to host the NEWMAC tourney.

MIT Again Drops Close Decision to Wheaton

For the second time this season, MIT lost a close game in the final minute to Wheaton in NEWMAC conference action tonight. The loss drops MIT to 21-3 overall, and 9-2 in the NEWMAC. Wheaton won behind a blistering shooting performance, as they were 10-16 on the game from 3, as well as 24-27 from the FT line. MIT was only 8-31 from 3 and attempted just 8 FTs, making 5.

The game starting out with Wheaton in control, storming out to a 14-6 lead in the first 5 minutes of the game. MIT would respond, going on a 23-3 run over an 8 minute span, to take over the lead and push it to 12 with 7 minutes remaining in the first half. Wheaton would end the half on a short spurt to cut the halftime lead to 6, with MIT leading 34-28.

The second half started much like the first, as MIT came out slumbering. They would not score in the first 4 minutes, as Wheaton mounted a 13-0 run to start the half to go up 41-34. Wheaton would never relinquish that lead, building it to as many as 11 points with 5 minutes remaining in the half. MIT made one last push, going on a 19-10 run over the next 4.5 minutes to cut the lead to 2 with 36 seconds remainig. Wheaton would shut the door, however, making their FTs to close out the game. The final score was 84-77.

MIT endured one of their worst shooting games of the season, going 32-82 from the field (39%) and 8-31 from 3 (26%). Noel Hollingsworth and Eric Zuk both fouled out for MIT. Mitchel Kates paced MIT with 24 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Noel Hollingsworth had his 12th double-double of the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds, also adding 3 steals. Jimmy Burke chipped in with 15 points.

MIT next travels to Springfield on Saturday to play a game that could be for the NEWMAC regular-season championship. More to come later on tie-breaking scenarios on Tech Hoops, so check back.

Official MIT Release

MIT Again #2 in Northeast NCAA Rankings

The third of four in-season regional rankings were released today by the NCAA, and MIT again held onto its #2 ranking in the Northeast region, only trailing regionally undefeated Williams. MIT is still undefeated against regionally ranked opponents, defeating WPI (#10) twice and Gordon (#9) earlier in the season. Full rankings can be found here: NCAA Release.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Engineers Eye Historic Win Against Wheaton

Nationally-ranked No. 11 MIT will be in an unfamiliar place when it travels to Wheaton on Wednesday, and not because most the team has never visited Norton. The Engineers will be seeking retribution against the only opponent that has derailed its otherwise perfect ledger against Division III competition. On Jan. 23, the Cardinal and Gray suffered its only home loss as the Lyons rode a blistering perimiter attack, and a clutch finish, to a 60-57 victory. MIT has won five straight games since the setback, and can clinch its first outright regular-season league crown with a payback win in Emerson Gymnasium.

Statistically, the game is a mismatch, as MIT leads the NEWMAC in scoring defense while Wheaton has been the most generous defensive unit in the league by a wide margin (72.6 ppg). The Lyons also pace the league in turnovers and are saddled with the conference's worst assist-turnover ratio. While the Engineers have been the top rebounding team in the NEWMAC, Wheaton is also at the conference basement in offensive rebounds, and only Ben Stehle (6.6) averages more than four boards per game.

Despite the obvious discrepencies on paper, most insiders understand that Wheaton has the talent to play with anyone. A sexy pick in the offseason to be one of the NEWMAC's strongest teams, the Lyons have been riddled with injuries and inconsistent play. Although Wheaton is 8-14 on the season, it has three victories over regionally-ranked teams (MIT, WPI, and Bridgewater State). Anthony Copolla is the team's top offensive threat, although his offensive production has dropped every season since a blistering rookie year. Copolla is still fourth in the league in scoring (17.3 ppg), while he and teammate Jaxon Leo are viable threats from beyond the arc.

The key match-up in Wednesday's game will be the point guard battle between MIT's sensational rookie Mitchell Kates and Wheaton sophomore Brendan Degnan. Although Kates' explosiveness had been slowed by an injury a few games prior, Degnan delivered the superior game in the teams' first meeting by routinely breaking down the Engineers' defense with outstanding penetration. Degnan, who isn't much of a threat from the outside (28% on the year), also managed to knock down all three of his outside attempts, and scored eight straight points in the final two minutes to clinch the surprising win in Rockwell Cage.

To secure their first regular-season sweep over MIT since 2003-04, the Lyons will need another hot performance from the floor. They will also need to replicate their success in keeping MIT's offense off balance. Tech sophomore Noel Hollingsworth, who is incredibly proficient in the post, endured his worst game of the season and finished 3-of-13 from the field. In addition, the Engineers had their worst three-point shooting performance of the season, hitting just 4-of-20 attempts. With Hollingsworth averaging 20.8 ppg since, and MIT averaging a league-best 7.5 three's per game, MIT should feel confident in its quest for the single-season program record for wins.

Statistically Speaking

This is how MIT stacks up statistically in the NEWMAC and against other NCAA DIII teams across the country. Stats are for games through 2/14/2010. Only statistics in which MIT is top 2 in the NEWMAC as a team and top 10 in individual categories are listed.

Team Stats
Statistic Value NEWMAC NCAA
Scoring Defense57.616
Rebounding Margin+7.8113
Scoring Margin+13.4114
3FG% Defense29.7134
FG%47.2150
3FGM7.43163
Assists14.65186
FG% Defense39.7225
3FG%35.32114
Scoring Offense71.02202

Individual Stats
Player Statistic Value NEWMAC NCAA
Noel HollingsworthScoring20.3142
FG%58.7143
Rebounds8.7178
Blocks1.57369
Mitchell KatesSteals2.17171
Assists4.001110
FG%50.76
A/TO1.158244
Scoring13.18
FT%69.68
Jimmy Burke3FGM2.361107
3FG%41.62
Will TashmanFG%55.82
Rebounds7.05217
Billy Johnson3FGM1.576420
Blockss0.619483
Billy BenderRebounds5.49

Monday, February 15, 2010

MIT Remains at #11 in D3hoops.com Rankings

In the new D3hoops.com poll released today, MIT held onto to its #11 ranking after a 2-0 week. Although MIT's record was unblemished this week, a lack of upsets in the top 10 gave them no chance to move up. MIT is now 21-2 overall, 20-1 in DIII, and 9-1 in the NEWMAC.

Full D3hoops.com Rankings Here

MIT wraps up the regular season this week as they travel to Wheaton on Wednesday with the hopes of avenging their only DIII loss of the season. Then on Saturday, MIT makes the trip to Springfield to take on the Pride in a game that could have serious NEWMAC implications. Check back to Tech Hoops for game previews and additional coverage.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

MIT Races Past CGA on Senior Day

Playing for the two seniors on this year's squad, MIT played inspired basketball out of the gate this afternoon. The Engineers jumped out to a 25-4 lead in the first 10 minutes of the contest, behind strong play from 5th-year senior Billy Johnson. Coast Guard would not give up, continuing to battle for the whole game, but the MIT lead never dwindled below double-figures as MIT secured their 9th conference win of the season. The win marks the most MIT has ever had in one season in regular-season NEWMAC play and also ties the Institute record of 21 wins in a season, set in the 2005-2006 season and equalled last year. MIT improves to 21-2 overall and 19-1 in DIII action.

There were many strong individual performances for MIT, as center Noel Hollingsworth scored 17 points, including 4-6 from three-point land, and had 8 rebounds. Will Tashman was also exceptional for MIT today, scoring 13 points, hauling in 11 boards, and dishing out 4 assists. The day, however, belonged to the seniors. Patrick Sissman continued his solid season as back-up point guard, securing two boards and dishing out an assist, while Billy Johnson went for 13 points and three rebounds. With today's effort, Johnson is now 21st on the all-time MIT scoring list. Johnson now has 88 wins for his career, the most for any player in school history (counting the medical red-shirt season in which he played only 6 games).

The official release for today's game can be found here: MIT Release.

MIT continues league action next Wednesday as they travel to Wheaton to try to avenge their only DIII loss of the season. The tip is set for 5:30 PM. Vist back to Tech Hoops next week for the game preview.

Senior Day Profile: Patrick Sissman

Patrick Sissman enters his final regular-season game at Rockwell Cage as the epitomy of the true MIT student-athlete. A relentless worker both on and off the court, Sissman has worked hard through his four years helping to bring the program to where it is now. His contributions to the team go far beyond the stats he has put up, as he can regularly be found sharing his knowledge of the game with the younger guards on the team, and has been instrumental in the team's success in recent years.

Patrick Sissman hails from the Baltimore, Maryland area and entered MIT in the 2006 season. In that year, MIT was in rebuilding mode after losing seven seniors the previous season and Sissman was one of the players that stepped up to carry the team. In his freshman year, he averaged 24 minutes per game, including six starts. He would have one of the best games of his career against WPI on February 24, 2007, scoring 10 points (a career-high) on 4-7 shooting, with 4 assists and 3 steals. He had several big games statistically for the Engineers that season. In his sophomore season, Sissman played exceptionally in his role as back-up point guard, giving MIT strong minutes with great defensive intensity. As a junior, Sissman would set a career high with 7 assists on November 25, 2008 versus Curry. He followed that up later in the season with a 6 assist and 0 turnover performance against UMass-Boston on February 2, 2009. Entering his senior season, Sissman has been elected captain for the Engineers. He has been instrumental in tutoring the crop of talented young guards on the squad and getting them up to speed with the college game. To date, he has scored 120 career points, has 154 assists, and has grabbed 138 rebounds in 96 career appearances.

Coach Larry Anderson on Sissman:
“Patrick represents the true MIT student-athlete. Patrick, who has lettered all four years he has played, is one of true leaders of this team and has been one of the most dedicated and intelligent players I have ever coached. We appreciate the service he has given this basketball program on the court, classroom, and in the community. People don’t understand how great a person he is and that he will really be missed by our team and the MIT community as a whole. Patrick has been unwavering in his commitment to the MIT basketball program. Without his leadership we would not be where we are right now.”

Senior Day Profile: Billy Johnson

In coming back for his final year of eligibility, 5th-year senior Billy Johnson has secured his position in the history of MIT basketball. Johnson will leave the program as the all-time wins leader as a player in MIT basketball history. Including this season, Johnson has been a part of three 20 win seasons.

As a freshman out of Kamiak High School in Everett, Washington, Willard "Billy" Johnson entered as a part of the prized 2005 MIT recruiting class that included other future stars such as Bradley Gampel and Jimmy Bartolotta. Although the team that year was heavily senior dominated, Johnson still managed 13 starts in 23 appearances. The future looked bright for Johnson, but an injury six games into his sophomore season kept him out the rest of the year. As a junior, Johnson started all 24 games he appeared in, averaging 10 points per game and 5 rebounds per game. He had one of his biggest performances on opening day of that season, scoring 26 points and hauling in 7 rebounds against Western Connecticut. Entering his true senior season, Johnson entered a completely different player than three years prior, having added many pounds in muscle and polishing his all-around game. This paid off on the court as he would set career marks in every category, starting all 26 games he appeared in, averaging 17 ppg and 6 rpg. That season, he set career highs in points, scoring 40 in last year's senior day against Clark, and rebounds, with 14 against Springfield on February 4, 2009. He was named 2nd-team All-NEWMAC last season for his efforts. Now returning for his second senior season, Johnson has played an instrumental role in shaping the young group of talented newcomers this year. He currently sits at 1000 career points and 460 career rebounds.

Coach Larry Anderson on Johnson:
“Bill, as a 5th senior, has been the ultimate champion for this team. Whether it is hosting recruits or scoring 40 points on the court. He has been a consummate leader for this team for five years and really leads by example. From day one when Bill stepped on this campus at 6’8” you knew he was a basketball player, but his commitment to changing the stereotype of MIT basketball players and MIT athletes as a whole has been relentless. I can’t put into words what Bill has meant to this program. Coming back for a 5th year has really helped the continuity of our program and you can really see the results on the court in how the young players are responding to his, and the other captains’, leadership.“

Friday, February 12, 2010

80 Battles and Counting for MIT-Coast Guard

Navigating through the most successful regular season in team history has been anything but easy for nationally-ranked No. 11 MIT. After staving off an inspired upset bid by Clark University on Thursday, the Engineers (20-2, 8-1 NEWMAC) have become fully aware that the burden of being in first place means having to take the opposition's best punch every time out. Things aren't expected to be decidedly easier when MIT wraps up the home portion of its regular-season slate on Saturday against Coast Guard.

The Bears (7-13, 4-6) have lost three consecutive games, and have struggled since opening conference play with a surprising 2-1 start. Coast Guard has been hampered by an inconsistent offense (league-low 62.2 ppg), but has the ability to pull off the road win behind a consistently strong commitment on the defensive end and big games from its key players. The play of Jevon James usually figures prominently into the success of the Bears. Averaging 12.3 points and eight rebounds per game, James ranks fourth in the league in field goal percentage (53%). Other players to watch include defensive stalwart and floor general Eric Hudson, long-range shooters Stefan Lewis and Adam Radtke, and rookie forward Greg Marshall.

The keys for MIT begin with its tremendous half-court defense and unselfish play on the attack. The Engineers pass the ball well, and demonstrate remarkable patience staying in its offense. Earlier this season in New London, Conn., Noel Hollingsworth proved to be a match-up nightmare for Coast Guard, as did 6'8" senior wing Billy Johnson.

On Saturday, the team's will meet for the 80th time since 1947 and a victory by MIT would knot the all-time series at 40 a piece. The 39 victories against the Bears already stands as the most wins by MIT over a single opponent.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

MIT Rallies, Anderson Picks-Up 200th Win

Much like in their first meeting of the season, MIT used a late charge to comeback to beat Clark tonight in NEWMAC action at Rockwell Cage. Clark led for much of the game, but MIT made their shots down the stretch, including some big 3s by freshman guard Jimmy Burke, who scored 14 points including four 3s.

Clark came out of the gates playing good defense and limiting MIT's opportunities. They led by as many as 8 in the first half, including a 6 point lead at halftime. MIT continued their sluggish play coming out in the second half, trading baskets with Clark for the first five minutes. The Engineers would come to life, however going on a 6-0 spurt to draw within one with 13 minutes to play. Clark would cling to their lead for the next 6 minutes, until a huge three by Burke gave MIT their first lead since the opening minutes of the game. MIT would not relinquish the lead, although the game would remain tight, and made their FTs down the stretch to account for the final score of 59-52.

Sophomore Noel Hollingsworth was solid as usual for the Engineers, scoring 20 points on 8-10 shooting, while also picking up 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals, and 2 assists. Freshman point guard Mitchell Kates had a very efficient evening, scoring 13 points on 4-4 shooting. Will Tashman, another freshman, added 8 points and 8 rebounds for the Engineers. Coach Larry Anderson picked up his 200th career win (all at MIT) and is the first coach to do so in the programs 110 year history. On the season, MIT improves to 20-2, 19-1 in DIII, and 8-1 in the NEWMAC.

Official MIT Release

MIT hosts the US Coast Guard Academy at 2:00 PM this Saturday, February 13.

MIT Shoots for 20 Wins; Anderson Aims for 200

The nationally-ranked No. 11 MIT Engineers will seek to reach 20 wins for the third time in five seasons as it continues its best start in school history at home tonight against Clark. A victory against the Cougars (12-9, 3-5 NEWMAC) would also match the Engineers (19-2, 7-1) highest single-season win total in conference play and mark the 200th career victory for head coach Larry Anderson.

Clark is coming off an impressive 67-50 victory at Coast Guard, but is just 2-3 since its narrow loss to MIT on Jan. 16. Undefeated against Division III competition at the time, the Engineers erased a 14-point first half deficit and fought a raucous home crowd before hanging on for a 54-51 win at the Kneller Athletic Center. Mark Alexander had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but his good look from three fell short from the right wing. Noel Hollingsworth led all scorers with 17 points, while Brian Vayda paced the Cougars with 13. After trailing by eight at halftime, the Engineers surrendered just 16 points in the second half while holding Clark to 29% shooting from the floor.

Tonight's contest is expected to be a low-scoring affair as MIT (58.1 ppg) and Clark (64.3) rank first and second in the NEWMAC in scoring defense. Both squads are holding the opposition to a league-low 29% from beyond the arc. Alexander ranks third in the conference in scoring at 17.7 ppg, while Vayda, who is also the team's top rebounder, is sixth at 15.5.

MIT is 27-34 all-time against Clark, but has won the last three games and four out of the last five.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

MIT Retains #2 Ranking in NCAA Northeast Poll

The second of four in-season regional rankings were released today by the NCAA, and MIT retained its #2 ranking in the Northeast region, only trailing regionally undefeated Williams. An interesting development in this week's poll is that both Gordon and WPI are also ranked in the poll (#10 and #11, respectively), giving MIT three wins against regionally-ranked opponents. Wins against regionally-ranked opponents is a primary NCAA selection criteria in Division III. Full rankings can be found here: NCAA Release.

Tonight's Game Against Clark Postponed

Tonight's NEWMAC double-header at Rockwell Cage has been postponed due to impending inclement weather. Full details can be found here: MIT Release.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Statistically Speaking

This is a new weekly column we will be running that summarizes how MIT is doing in terms of statistical rankings on both the National (NCAA) level and in the NEWMAC.

MIT leads the NEWMAC in 8 statistical categories and is top 16 in the nation in three of those categories (Scoring Defense, Scoring Margin, and Rebounding Margin). Individually, Mitchell Kates is ranked in the top 10 in seven seperate statistical categories, and he leads the conference in steals and assists. Noel Hollingsworth has been a force for MIT in the paint, leading the league in rebounding and FG%, while trailing the league leader in scoring by just 0.1 points per game. Jimmy Burke, Will Tashmen, Billy Bender, and Billy Johnson also are currently in the top 10 in multiple statistical categories. A full summary can be found below.

Team Stats (Rankings in the Top 2 in NEWMAC)


Statistic Value NEWMAC NCAA
Scoring Defense58.116
Scoring Margin+13.8113
FG%47.3153
3FG%35.9188
3FGM7.43163
3FG% Defense29.4134
Rebounding Margin+7.4116
Assists14.81179
Scoring Offense71.42174
FG% Defense40.2240


Individual Stats (Rankings in the Top 10 in NEWMAC)


Player Statistic Value NEWMAC NCAA
Noel HollingsworthRebounds8.7177
FG%58.2147
Scoring20.5233
Blocks1.62365
Mitchell KatesAssists4.14199
Steals2.29158
A/TO1.182233
FG%50.26
3FG%38.27
Scoring13.38474
FT%68.510
Jimmy Burke3FGM2.301114
3FG%41.82
Will TashmanFG%56.92
Rebounds6.86250
Billy Johnson3FGM1.65378
Blocks0.679418
Billy Bender3FG%37.39
3FGM1.339
Rebounds5.410

MIT Moves up to #11 in New National Poll

MIT was again ranked in the Top 25 this week by D3hoops.com, moving up one spot from last week's ranking to #11. MIT currently sits at 19-2 overall, 18-1 in Division III, and 7-1 in the NEWMAC.

MIT has reached as high as #8 in the national poll this season, and they have now been ranked for 8 consecutive weeks. The full rankings can be found at: www.d3hoops.com/top25

MIT hosts Clark on Wednesday at 8:00 PM, following the women's game versus Wheaton (MA) at 6:00 PM.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Former MIT Star, Jimmy Bartolotta, Talks About His MIT Recruiting Experience


Jimmy Bartolotta (Englewood, CO) is the most decorated basketball player in MIT history. During his career, he scored the most points (2279) in MIT and NEWMAC history. The 800 points he scored as a senior, and his average of 27.6 ppg, are also both Institute records. In all Bartolotta holds, or is tied for, 16 MIT basketball records and is ranked in the top 10 of nearly every single game, season, and career statistical category in MIT history. He was the NEWMAC Newcomer of the Year as freshman in 2006, was a First-Team All-Conference Selection three times, and was the conference Player of the Year as a senior. He was also Academic All-Conference for three seasons (freshmen are not eligible for this honor). He was named Northeast Player of the Year (2009) and Northeast region 1st-Team (2008 and 2009) by d3hoops.com, as well as 1st-team All-American as a senior and National Player of the Year. The National Association of Basketball Coaches also named him a 1st-team All-American and National Player of the Year (2009). For this honor, he participated in the Divison I NABC Senior All-Star game at the site of the Division I Final Four. Additionally, he was named the CoSida/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American of the Year (2009) and to their Academic All-American 1st team for the second consecutive year (2008 and 2009). He capped off his career by winning the most prestigious award in Division III basketball, the Jostens Trophy, given to the top student-athlete in the country.

Jimmy shared with us at mitbasketball.blogspot.com his experience selecting a school out of high school and how his experience was studying and playing basketball at MIT.


mitbasketballblog (MITBBB): How did you hear about MIT when you were first thinking about colleges in high school?

Jimmy Bartolotta (JB): Since my father is an aerospace engineer, I grew up in a household that definitely appreciated scientific intellect. So I guess I first learned about MIT when I was fairly young. Up until my senior year in high school I had only thought about the school as a premier academic institution and not much else.


MITBBB: How seriously were you initially considering MIT? What did you expect from the school?

JB: Whatever is the exact opposite of serious, that's was my mindset towards MIT. My parents essentially forced my to send game tape to the MIT Basketball program. Ivy League schools were requesting game film so I made a few extra copies and sent them to some of the other outstanding academic colleges and universities that I was considering attending. I thought MIT kids would lack social skills, lack extracurricular activities, and be bad at sports, especially basketball. Wow, I couldn't have been more wrong.


MITBBB: What made you decide to come to MIT?

JB: One day I was taking a pre-match nap for my high school tennis match when MIT's head assistant coach, Oliver Eslinger, who is now the head coach at Cal Tech, called and spoke with my mom for over an hour about the program and such. During the two weeks between the end tennis season and the beginning of basketball I made a 3 day trip to MIT. I fell in love with Boston (my trip coincided with the start of the World Series which the Red Sox won), the coaching staff, and I was surprised by just how good the players on the basketball team were. Ultimately, it was the coaching staff, the academic prestige, and the opportunity to play and make an immediate impact that brought me to MIT.


MITBBB: How was your academic experience at MIT?

JB: My first few months at MIT were some of the most demanding that I had ever experienced. I felt like I didn't belong in the school academically. I think this feeling is mutual for about 50% of first year students. Like with anything, you grow, develop, and learn how to handle the academic grind that is MIT. I had a few "all-nighters", I failed a few tests, but I also left the school with confidence and sense of accomplishment that will stay with me forever. By my junior and senior years, I thoroughly enjoyed the classes and felt completely comfortable in my ability as a student.


MITBBB: What was your experience outside of the classroom like (not including sports)?

JB: My experience outside of athletics and academics was typical of most college students. Although MIT doesn't put 100,000 people in a football stadium, 10 of my closest friends and I would drive to all the away football away games to tailgate and cheer on our friends. About 80% of the basketball team lives together and we definitely enjoyed our time in Boston. I went to Red Sox, Celtics, and big time NCAA basketball games. I went to concerts and ate in great restaurants. In the summer we would make trips to the beach, walk around on the Freedom Trail, and try to talk to girls who were out shopping on Newbury Street. And that is all the stuff off of MIT campus. I participated in a UROP which is an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program where I did consulting work for the PGA Tour. My teammates and I went to performances, lectures, and date functions.


MITBBB: Was the basketball team what you expected?

JB: No! My MIT basketball experience is so hard to put into words. Like all programs, and I've recently played with guys from Duke/Pitt/Illinois who say the same, there are going to be some serious ups and downs. The basketball commitment is legitimate and it takes a very strong player to succeed. One of the great things about the program is besides being on the court with all the players, I found myself eating, studying, and living with most of them. I've never been on a team that had the camaraderie and companionship that my teams had at MIT. When I came to MIT in 2005, I was one of five recruits. We had a 5'9" PG, I was a 6'4" SG, we had a 6'5" G/F, a 6'8" G/F, and a 6'10" C. That was definitely not what I was expecting from MIT basketball.


MITBBB: How did you like playing for Coach Larry Anderson?

JB: Coach Larry Anderson is one of those people that truly cares about every person that he is around. Over my four years I had the opportunity to develop a father/son relationship with Coach Anderson that continues to this day. I am from Colorado and it was hard to go away from home and really have no influential adults in my life besides professors and coaches. I went with Coach to watch potential recruits play, to see his son and daughter play basketball or soccer, and to scout opposing teams. I've never met a man who loves his job as much as Coach Anderson. Not many people know this, but Coach Anderson has had the opportunity to "move up" in the coaching/business world but has consistenly refused because he says that he, "has that best job in the whole world."

On the court Coach Larry Anderson is the best skills development coach that I have ever played under. I attribute my growth from a solid freshman player to the DIII Player of the Year to Coach Anderson's guidance and confidence. He would tell me something to work on, how to do it, and I worked hard on that skill. He then gave me his confidence to use that skill in games. Coach Anderson is also an outstanding game coach. He makes adjustments and draws up plays that just work. He appreciates hard work and measures success based on the journey, not the outcome. The point guard my freshman year said, "The one thing about Coach Anderson, no one wants to win more than him." That is the kind of coach I want on to coach me.


MITBBB: Do you feel the expectations and/or atmosphere around the MIT basketball programs has changed since you first arrived on campus?

JB: The simple answer, yes. When I first arrived at MIT the basketball program was another sport that could be good or could be bad. The fan support was mediocre and not many people outside of the athletes and athletic department knew about the team or the team members. During my senior year it all changed. Besides being chronicled in the New York Times, ESPN, the Boston Globe, and many other media outlets, our team began turning heads on campus.
We took pride in our "give back" attitude and attended many other sporting events and extra-curricular activities across MIT as a team in order to show our support for other programs. It got noticed and our gym started to fill up. Students were calling administrators to ask to rent full buses to take students to away games. Professors and students that we didn't know started congratulating us at every lecture and our phones and emails were full from people across the US wishing us luck. The basketball program truly gained the support of the entire MIT community, past and present.


MITBBB: What are you most proud of during your time at MIT (non-athletic)?

JB: My most proud moment at MIT occurred on the day of commencement/graduation. President Susan Hockfield, who had attended a few of our late season basketball games, was handing out degrees to each student when their name was called. When it was my turn to step up, I approached her and before I walked away she stopped me. I was surprised and she said, "Jimmy, congratulations and thank you for all that you've done for the institute." I replied in jest, "Well thank you for all that you've done for the institute" and walked and sat down. In that moment I held my two degrees from MIT and I truly felt like I had accomplished something for myself, my family, and the school.


MITBBB: What are you most proud of in your basketball career at MIT?

JB: My most proud moment of my basketball career is two fold. The first was winning our league championship, something that we shared as a team, in front of my parents. That represented all the work that we had put in over the past four years. The other proud moment would be when I sent a text to my parents that said I won the Josten's and the ESPN/Co-SIDA Academic All-American of the Year. Those two awards, even more than DIII Player of the Year, meant the most to me. I've always wanted to make my parents proud and I think those two awards did.


MITBBB: What is your best memory of being at MIT?

JB: My best memory of MIT occurred during the NCAA first round game at nationally ranked Rhode Island College. We played a lackluster first half and were down 8 at halftime. The mood in the locker room was sour and coach was trying to pump us up. When we started to walk back to the court we heard "M-I-T...M-I-T" chanting unbelievably loud. I was the last player to walk back into the gym and I will never forget the emotions that rushed through me at that moment. Our caravan of student buses had arrived and the gym was full of body painted, MIT crazy fans screaming. It was what I had literally dreamed about since going to MIT and to experience that support was life changing. We came into the second half on fire and ended up winning the game. It will always be my favorite memory that I can share with all of my best friends who were in attendance.


MITBBB: How do you feel attending and playing for MIT has improved you as a person?

JB: First, my ability to lead is probably the most improved part of me. At MIT I learned how to deal with many people, from many different backgrounds, and did a lot of self-reflecting. No one at MIT was there to hold my hand to make sure I'm comfortable which led to a lot of personal growth. I sharpened my work ethic and drive. I befriended people who taught me compassion and caring. I am comfortable with who I am and know the type of person I want to be in the future.


MITBBB: How has MIT prepared you for the rest of your career (on or off the court)?

JB: One of the most amazing things about MIT is the networking. I've been offered multiple jobs simply because of MIT and basketball. A friend down the hall from me my freshman year had been a computer programmer for AOL since he was 12. Simply being in class and living with those types of brilliant people builds connections that are hard to find in other ways. MIT basketball helped me become the player that I am now which translates nicely to a career in sports. I hope to play basketball for many years and I know that without my teammates and coaches at MIT, that dream wouldn't be possible.


MITBBB: Do you feel playing basketball for MIT allowed you to achieve all the personal and team goals you set for yourself before picking a college out of high school?

JB: Yes and more so. I wanted to have a good college experience both on the court and off. I never would have imagined I could to get two degrees, share a championship with my teammates and school, and get the individual accolades that I did.


MITBBB: Do you feel you would have the opportunity to do what you are doing now if you had gone to another school?

JB: I'm sure there are other schools that would have been great experiences, however, I honestly believe that MIT was the only school that offered me the academics and athletics to accomplish the things I have.


MITBBB: In your opinion, what is unique to the MIT community and the MIT basketball program?

JB: There really isn't any break for being an athlete at MIT. That means that if you get into MIT, it is because you belong there. If you get good grades, it’s because you've earned those grades. That prepares the student-athletes for the real world like nothing else can. Similarly, if you are a good student and player, people recognize that it is because you are great at both. Sometimes students at other very good academic institutions are viewed only as "athletes who got passes." It definitely isn't viewed like that after you leave MIT.


MITBBB: What would you say to a recruit trying to make a decision about where to play college basketball?

JB: Give it a look. Don't discount the idea before you see if it is a right fit. Also, bring your A game when you visit or you might be sitting on the side for most of the open gym. The basketball players take pride in ripping down the stereo-types so we would make sure to give recruits all they could handle when they came to play.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Johnson Scores 1000th Point, MIT Rolls

MIT opened up a double-digit lead on Babson in less than 10 minutes and never looked backed, cruising to a 67-49 win tonight at Rockwell Cage. MIT was paced again by Noel Hollingsworth, who scored 21 points (7-12 FG), grabbed 8 rebounds, and had 2 blocks. Mitchell Kates added 11 points and 6 assists, while Billy Bender also got into double figures with 10 points. The night, however, belonged to Billy Johnson, who scored his 1000th career point five minutes into the second half. Johnson is the 23rd player in MIT history to score 1000 career points.

The game started out slowly, with Babson leading 4-2 three-and-a-half minutes into the game. However, MIT went on a quick 7 point run to take the lead, which they would never surrender. The game would reamin in single digits over the next 5 minutes of action, but MIT would stretch their lead to 11 just 9.5 minutes into the game. The lead would extend to 18 on multiple occasions, including at the half, as the Engineers headed to the break up 39-21.

The second half started with an MIT run, as they stretched the lead to 27 just 5 minutes into the half, 50-23. The last three points in that run was on a three-pointer by Johnson, which put him exactly at 1000 points for his career. MIT would lead by 20+ points rest of the half, until a 6-0 Babson run to end the game cut the lead to 18, with the final score 67-49.

MIT held Babson to just 35% shooting, with no player scoring in double-figures. MIT shot nearly 60% as a team from the floor and 70% from the three (7-10).

MIT improves to 19-2 overall and 7-1 in NEWMAC play. MIT now has a week off before hosting Clark on February 10 at 8:00 pm.

MIT Ranked #2 in First NCAA Northeast Region Poll

The NCAA released the first of four regular season regional rankings today and MIT was rewarded for their tremendous start to the season. MIT is currently slotted #2 in the northeast, with a regional record of 16-1, and only trail Williams in the rankings, who is undefeated in the region. The full rankings can be found at:

NCAA Week 1 Regional Rankings

Monday, February 1, 2010

MIT Moves up to #12 in D3hoops.com Poll

After picking up two conference road wins this past week, MIT has moved up two spots to #12 in the newest D3hoops.com rankings. This marks the seventh consecutive week that MIT has appeared in the polls.

MIT appeared in the poll for the first time ever in this year's week 3 poll and have remained in the poll ever since. MIT reached their peak position in the poll two week's ago, at #8, before falling to #14 last week after losing their first game to a DIII opponent. They are currently 18-2 overall and 17-1 in DIII, the best start in the program's history.

Hollingsworth Named NEWMAC POW

For the fourth time this season, sophomore Noel Hollingsworth has been named the NEWMAC Player of the Week. He has won the award four out of the eight weeks the award has been given out this year.

Hollingsworth averaged 23 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this week, helping lead MIT to two conference road victories. In their win at Coast Guard last Wednesday, Hollingsworth poured in 25 points on 10-13 shooting, adding 7 rebounds, 3 asssists, and 2 blocks. Then on Sunday at WPI, Hollinsgworth again led all scorers with 21 points on 9-13 shooting, as MIT swept the regular season series with WPI for the first time in seven years.

For the season, Hollingsworth is averaging 20.5 ppg, 8.7 rpg, and 1.6 bpg, while shooing 58.2% from the field.