For the full release, visit the MIT Official Athletics Site.
After a successful 2009-2010 season, MIT returns to the hardcourts this week at the Kainan Invitational tournament in Taiwan. The Engineers will spend nine days on the northeast coast of Taiwan while competing in the eight-team tournament, which will be held from May 24-27. Tech first made the trip to Taiwan in 2006 as it captured the inaugural championship title.
Behind the stellar play of Jimmy Bartolotta '09 and Mike D'Auria '06, the Engineers won four straight games en route the 2006 Kainan Invitational crown. Tech defeated Taiwan's SBL pro team, Yo Ming, 80-68, in the championship game. Leading the way for MIT this time around will be All-America selection, Noel Hollingsworth, as well as D3Hoops Northeast Rookie of the Year, Mitchell Kates. Tech is hoping to build on the success of its record-setting 2009-10 campaign, in which the team eclipsed the program record for wins in a season (22), made it back to the NCAA tournament for the second straight season, and rose to as high as #8 in the national D3hoops.com rankings.
For the 2010 tournament, the eight team field is divided into two groups for the preliminary rounds. The second-place teams in each group will face off in the Consolation Final on May 27 while the group winners will play for the Tournament Championship later on the same day.
Fans can follow MIT's progress in the tournament, including updates by some of the players, on MIT's official Twitter and Facebook pages. Follow along at http://twitter.com/MITengineers and http://www.facebook.com/MITengineers.
On Wednesday evening, the team will experience more special local hospitality from the MIT Club of Taiwan, who invited the team to a dinner in downtown Taipei. There are over 500 MIT alums in the Taiwan area. The MIT Club of Taiwan will also be welcoming MIT President Susan Hockfield on her upcoming Asian trip.
