Holiday Greetings from President Hockfield

Watch the animated video here: http://alum.mit.edu/holiday2011/

Karraker Earns COOP Student-Athlete of the Week

Karraker is 2nd in the nation in three-point field goals made per game (Pic: Tom Gearty)

After an historic last couple of weeks on the court, Junior Jamie Karraker earned the MIT COOP's Athlete of the Week award. Jamie netted a record 9 three-pointers in the win vs. UMass-Boston, and became MIT's all-time leading three-point shooter in the win over Wheelock.

Read more here: http://mitathletics.com/genrel/COOP_AOTW/2011-12/CoopAOTW

Bartolotta Continues Dominance Overseas

Jimmy Bartolotta, MIT Basketball's most decorated player and first professional player, finished the first half of his new season in Iceland in fine fashion today. Bartolotta, considered one of the premiere players in the Iceland Express League, is currently averaging 23 points per game while shooting 56% from three-point land and 94% from the free-throw line (Iceland Express League Stats). The former Division III National Player of the Year was highly sought after to return to Iceland after his memorable season last year.

Bartolotta (middle) and Johnson (right) led MIT to its first conference championship in program history

Bartolotta was joined earlier in the season by current MIT assistant coach and former player Willard "Bill" Johnson, who played professionally in Costa Rica for one season before playing with his former MIT teammate in Iceland (read more here: The Mukilteo Beacon). The two suited up and lived together before Johnson's season in Iceland was cut short by an injury, when he returned to the MIT bench for his second season.



Johnson, Bartolotta, and Abby Waner in Iceland. Waner is a former WNBA player and Duke star, and was voted High School National Player of the Year.

Johnson chronicled his experiences in Costa Rica as well as Iceland with Bartolotta on his blog "Ballin' on a Budget" (http://www.bobnation.com/). Bartolotta returns to action after the holiday break.

Statistically Speaking

This is is how MIT Hoops stacks up with the over 400 teams in Division III. Only categories where the team is ranked in the top 25 in the nation are listed. Statistics are through Dec. 11 (does not include Wheelock game). 

MIT

Statistic	Value	Nation
Wins	11	1
Scoring Margin	26.8	1
Reb. Margin	15.9	2
FG%	52.5	2
Scoring Defense	55.6	10
FG% Defense	36.9	14
Assists	18.4	14
Blocks	4.9	25

MIT Hoops Featured on NCAA.com

"MIT Off to Best Start in Program History"

http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2011-12-14/mit-best-start-program-history

Women's Team Off to Hot Start

The MIT Women's Team will go for 4-in-a-row on Dec. 30th (Pic: Tom Gearty)

The MIT Women's Basketball squad has also started the season in strong fashion. The Engineers are currently 6-3 overall and 3-1 in conference, including two dramatic wins over WPI and Coast Guard Academy, as well as a dominating victory over academic rival CalTech 100-26. Led by Head Coach Sonia Raman, Tech looks to extend their 3-game win streak against Simmons College on December 30th at Rockwell Cage.

Senior Arni Lehto Wins Design Competition

An overflowing crowd of over 1,200 packed Kresge for the popular competition (Pic: 2.009 Website)

Senior Arni Lehto and his mechanical engineering design team recently participated in and were crowned winners in MIT's 2.009 Competition. This competition, the culmination of semester-long work in 2.009, MIT's Product Engineering Processes class, involves teams that "design and build working alpha prototypes of new products."

Lehto's team, who created a bicycle helmet "vending machine" in HelmetHub, beat out seven other teams' designs, which included a sonar-operated faucet, a heating and cooling unit for paraplegics, and an electric power boost for mechanical wheelchairs. Lehto's presentation in front of a packed Kresge Auditorium can be watched below (Lehto speaks from 2:12-6:18).

Lehto has been part of all three MIT conference championships (Pic: Tom Gearty)

Lehto, a native of Finland, is a four-year member of the men's hoops squad and a two-time Academic All-Conference selection. He and senior Billy Bender will graduate as MIT Basketball's all-time winningest class, and currently hold a record of 75-23 (.765).

#4 MIT, Karraker Make History

The nationally-ranked #4 Engineers took down Wheelock College 71-47 last night for their 12th win in a row and the best start in the 111-year history of the program. Also setting the history mark was Jamie "Cakes" Karraker. On his seventh trifecta of the night, "Cakes" notched his 232nd career three-pointer, surpassing the great Jimmy Bartolotta (2009) on the all-time three-point list. Through Dec. 11, Karraker is second in the nation in 3FG made per game (4.4).

6'8" Will Tashman snags a board. He is averaging 10.3 rebounds a game this season (Pic: Tom Gearty)

Behind Karraker's 23 points was All-American Noel Hollingsworth's 18 points and 8 rebounds. Hollingsworth is averaging 19.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg on the year. Senior Billy Bender filled the stat sheet again with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals to end his incredible first semester. All-Region performer and last year's NEWMAC Tournament MVP Will Tashman grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds in 22 minutes, and two-time All-Conference point guard Mitchell Kates dished out a game-high 6 assists.

Will "Big Country" Dickson gets a feed from Freshman Paul Dawson (Pic: Tom Gearty)

The Engineers also saw valuable contributions from the bench, including three blocks and a dunk from high-flying freshman Matt Redfield, as well as 4 assists from veteran "Lieutenant" Dan Mccue. Tech out-rebounded the visiting Wildcats 35-23, dished out 22 assists on 29 makes, and shot 42% from three.

Freshman Matt Redfield throws one down. Redfield is averaging a block every 6 minutes (Pic: Tom Gearty)

The team takes a break for finals and the holidays, and returns to action in the new year on January 4th versus NEWMAC opponent Springfield College.

NYTimes: MIT Scientists Capture Speed of Light

MIT's Media Lab

Scientists in MIT's world-renowned Media Lab have created an imaging system that captures light moving at the nanosecond level. The Media Lab has been a popular choice among undergraduates for UROPs, MIT's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. This allows students to work alongside Nobel-Prize winning professors and researchers who are working on projects like the one mentioned above. 

Many of the MIT basketball players have taken advantage of "UROPs". For instance senior Dan Mccue worked with Professor Stephen Ansolabehere on a political science research project that analyzed campaign financing, while senior Arni Lehto spent time at the Hatsopoulos Microfluids Lab. "UROPs are an incredible opportunity," Mccue notes. "You get the chance to get your hands on ground-breaking research, all while getting funding and/or academic credit."

Read more on the Media Lab work in the New York Times:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/science/speed-of-light-lingers-in-face-of-mit-media-lab-camera.html

MIT #4 in Nation

MIT Basketball moved up to #4 in this week's D3Hoops.com Top 25 poll. The Engineers, with a nation's-best record of 11-0, have beaten their opponents by an average margin of victory of 27 points. They are shooting 52.5% from the field, 40.2% from three, and have a +11.5 rebounding margin. This is the program's highest national ranking ever.

NEWMAC foe WPI is currenly ranked 20th in the country, while other Northeast Region teams Williams (#7), Amherst (#6), and Middlebury (#1) were ranked as well.

Read more about the Top 25 poll here: http://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2011-12/week3

Karraker Earns POW

Sharp shooter Jamie Karraker was honored for his career performances last week by earning NEWMAC Player of the Week. MIT has now owned the award for three of the four weeks. Karraker, a senior with another year of eligibility left, shot the lights out for the undefeated Engineers, connecting on 17 three-pointers in the three games, while posting a career-high of 27 points versus UMass-Boston, and then topping that with 28 points against Salem State. Karraker is averaging 15.7 points per game this year while shooting a red-hot 44.4% from three, and is seven three-pointers away from becoming MIT's all-time three-point leader.

Karraker is a computer science whiz who spent last summer in California interning with Facebook and training with teammate Will Tashman and Stanford players.

Read more here: http://newmacsports.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/POTW/mbkbPOTW121211

MIT Blurb in the Herald

"No. 7 MIT better Kates than Never" 

http://bostonherald.com/sports/college/basketball/view.bg?articleid=1387535&srvc=sports&position=2

#7 MIT Wins Thriller at Tufts

The nationally-ranked MIT Engineers took down Tufts University in dramatic fashion in front of a bustling crowd at Cousens Gynasium yesterday afternoon. Down six with four minutes left, Tech scored on timely possessions to grab their 11th victory in a row, and solidify a nation-best 11-0 record.

The hero of the game was none other than All-Conference point guard Mitchell Kates. Kates scored on several key possessions, and stole two key balls on defense, one of which sealed the game. The captain finished the night with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists.

All-American Noel Hollingsworth dominated throughout, scoring 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting along with 11 rebounds. All-Region performer Will Tashman grabbed 6 caroms off the glass, including a block that saved the Engineers, while Billy Bender and Jamie Karraker pitched in 8 points and 7 points, respectively. 6'7" Freshman Dennis Levene played 15 valuable minutes for MIT, grabbing timely rebounds and two momentum-changing charges.

MIT finishes off the semester with Wheelock College on Wednesday at 7PM in Rockwell Cage.

#7 MIT Downs Salem State

The #7 MIT Engineers led by as much as 28 points over visiting Salem State, and eventually cruised to a 78-66 victory tonight at Rockwell Cage. Tech accumulated 9 steals and 6 blocks on defense, while dishing out 17 assists offensively. Salem State, who boasts 18 league championships and 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, could not handle MIT's inside and outside game, as the Engineers shot 40% from three and scored 46 points in the paint.

Mitchell Kates drives past Salem State's Andrew White. Kates is majoring in Computer Science (Pic: Tom Gearty)

After scoring a career-high 27 points on Tuesday, Jamie Karraker decided to one-up that with a 28-point performance tonight versus the Vikings. Karraker connected on 7 three-pointers, now just 8 three-pointers away from becoming MIT's all-time three-point field goal leader.

Senior Billy Bender swarms Salem State's Apollos Wade. Bender currently has a 73-23 record while playing at MIT (Pic: Tom Gearty)

All-American Noel Hollingsworth poured in 20 points along with 6 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 2 steals. This is Hollingsworth's ninth game in double-digits and fifth time scoring 20 or more points. Fellow big-man Will Tashman produced his sixth double-double of the season with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists.

6'9" Noel Hollingsworth keeps Salem State's Hamed Akanni at bay. Hollingsworth, who has another year of eligibility, has 835 career points (Pic: Tom Gearty)

Mitchell Kates showed why he is one of the best point guards in the nation, finishing the night with 14 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Senior Billy Bender added 6 points and 10 rebounds.

Freshman Paul Dawson runs the show. Dawson, a biological engineering major, led his high school team to two state championships in Georgia (Pic: Tom Gearty)

Tech travels to Tufts University on Saturday at 3pm. The Tufts Jumbos are 6-2 on the season, with their only two losses coming in overtime.

#7 MIT Goes to 9-0

#7 MIT continued their winning ways with another dominating performance over University of Massachusetts - Boston. Tech soared to a 51-19 first half to eventually earn their ninth straight win 90-47. The Engineers continued to distribute the ball efficiently on offense, dishing out 27 assists on 32 makes. Defensively they held UMass to 32.7% shooting.

Point Guard Mitch Kates leads the league in assists and ranks second in steals (Pic: Tom Gearty)

Dan Mccue, a senior with another year left of eligibility, nails the jumper. Mccue is 5th in the conference in assist-to-turnover ration (Pic: Shri Ganeshram)

Leading the way was sharp-shooter Jamie Karraker who connected on a program record 9 three-pointers. Karraker, who scored a career-high 27 points on the night, is currently sitting at 40 three-pointers on the season while shooting an incredible 47.1%. Karraker, a junior eligibility-wise, is 15 three-pointers shy of being MIT's all-time three-point leader (former Engineer great and teammate of Karraker's Jimmy Bartolotta has 231 career three-pointers).

6'7" freshman Dennis Levene throws one down during warmups. Levene was also a member of U-20 Danish National Team (Pic: Shri Ganeshram)

Jamie Karraker scorched the nets with an Institute record 9 three-pointers, while dropping a career-high 27 points (Pic: Tom Gearty)

All-American Noel Hollingsworth, NEWMAC's Player of the Week, added 20 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks, while big-man Will Tashman owned the boards with 11 rebounds. Billy Bender filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals as he continues his stellar senior campaign. Point guard Mitchell Kates ran the show again with 5 assists and 4 steals.

High-flyin' 6'8" freshman Matt Redfield gives the Engineers a great future (Pic: Tom Gearty)

The Engineers moved to #7 in the national rankings this week, the program's highest ranking ever (Pic: Shri Ganeshram)

Tech next faces Salem State, who has received Top 25 votes and recently defeated then-#3 Williams College, this Thursday at 7pm in Rockwell Cage.

MIT vs. UMass-Boston Highlights

MIT Moves Up to #7 in Polls

The MIT Engineers moved up two spots to #7 in the D3Hoops.com Top 25 Poll. This is the highest national ranking the Engineers have received in the 111-year history of the program.

Fellow NEWMAC rival WPI moved up to #15 in the polls, while Northeast region teams Williams (#8), Amherst (#2), and Middlebury (#1) were all ranked.

Read more about the rankings here: http://d3hoops.com/top25/men/2011-12/week2

Two teams that Tech will be playing this week, Salem State and Tufts, received Top 25 votes as well.

MIT travels to UMass-Boston tonight for 7PM EST. Live video of the game can be found on Little East TV: http://www.littleeast.tv/play/index.cfm?fuseaction=embstay&id=2622B694CD

Statistically Speaking

This is how MIT stacks up statistically in the NEWMAC. Stats are for games through 12/04/2011. Only statistics in which MIT is top 2 in the NEWMAC as a team and top 15 in individual categories are listed.

MIT

Statistic	Value	NEWMAC
3FG%	40.7	1
3FGM	7.6	1
Steals	10.1	1
Points	84.9	2
Assists	18.5	2
Blocks	4.6	2
D. Reb.	29.4	2
FG%	50.4	2
FT%	74.0	2
FTM	16.8	2

Billy Bender

Statistic	Value	NEWMAC
3FG%	54.2	1
FG%	63.3	3
O. Reb.	4.5	6
3FGM	1.6	8
Points	12.1	10
FT%	78.6	11
Reb.	5.6	11
A/TO	1.4	11
Steals	1.4	12
Assists	2.6	14

Will Tashman

Statistic	Value	NEWMAC
Reb.	10.9	1
D. Reb.	8.0	1
O. Reb.	2.9	5
Blocks	1.1	6
Points	12.8	7
FG%	58.2	8
Assists	3.5	8
Steals	1.6	10
A/TO	1.2	14

Noel Hollingsworth

Statistic	Value	NEWMAC
Points	18.5	1
O. Reb.	3.25	1
Blocks	2.0	2
FG%	61.9	4
Reb.	7.4	5
D. Reb.	4.1	8

Mitchell Kates

Statistic	Value	NEWMAC
Assists	5.5	1
A/TO	2.75	1
Steals	2.4	2
FT%	82.1	6
Points	11.4	13
FG%	50.8	14

Jamie Karraker

Statistic	Value	NEWMAC
3FGM	3.9	1
Points	13.9	5
3FG%	44.3	5
Steals	1.4	12

Dan Mccue

Statistic	Value	NEWMAC
A/TO	2.0	5
Steals	1.3	15

MIT vs. Newbury Highlights

Hollingsworth Named POW Again

All-American Noel Hollingsworth earned his second Conference Player of the Week honors out of the three that have been awarded this season. The 6'9" Salt Lake City native averaged 22.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game this week while shooting 61.7% from the field. He has led the Engineers to a perfect 8-0 record and a #9 national ranking.

Read more here: http://newmacsports.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/POTW/mbkbPOTW120511

NEWMAC Ranked 2nd Best Conference in Nation

The NEWMAC is currently ranked as the 2nd best conference in the nation, according to this week's D3BasketballIndex report. The conference currently holds a record of 40-10.

Read more here: https://sites.google.com/site/d3basketballindex/conference-ratings

#9 MIT Downs Lesley 92-52

The #9 MIT Engineers took down Lesley University 92-52 on a Saturday afternoon game at Rockwell Cage. The win puts the undefeated squad at 8-0, as Tech out-rebounded the Lynx 50-19, dished out 22 assists, and shot 56% from three.

 Mitchell Kates is averaging 11.4 points, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game (Pic: Tom Gearty)

MIT was led by co-captain Mitchell Kates, who essentially had a perfect game going 10-of-10 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line for 28 points. Kates, arguably one of the top point guards in the nation, also added 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals.

6'8" Will "Big Country" Dickson (Pic: Tom Gearty)

All-American Noel Hollingsworth pitched in 17 points, while senior Billy Bender posted a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds. Jamie Karraker scorched the nets again for 14 points, going 4-of-6 from three, and Will Tashman snagged a game-high 15 rebounds and dished out 5 assists.

Freshman Paul Dawson D's up as 6'8" Andrew Acker gets in position (Pic: Tom Gearty)

MIT heads to University of Massachusetts - Boston on Tuesday for 7pm tip-off.

#9 MIT Blows By Newbury

The nationally-ranked #9 MIT Engineers outscored the Newbury Nighthawks 59-22 in the second half to cruise to a 93-50 victory tonight in a non-conference match-up. Tech held Newbury, who came off of a two-game win streak, to just 33% shooting, while the Engineers shot 56% from the field, 39% from three, and out-rebounded their opponents 48-22.

Freshman Yeremia Nakhaima pulls down the board (Pic: Tom Gearty)

6'9" All-American Noel Hollingsworth dominated the game with 33 points and 14 rebounds in just 26 minutes. Fellow 6'8" big-man Will Tashman, who garnered All-Region honors last season, snagged his fourth double-double in a row with 12 points and 10 rebounds, along with 3 steals, 2 blocks, and an assist.

Senior Arni Lehto is looking for his fourth 20+ win season to cap off his career (Pic: Tom Gearty)

Jamie Karraker, one of the best three-point shooters in the nation, continued his hot shooting with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. All-Conference point guard Mitchell Kates once again controlled the offense with 8 assists while swarming the Nighthawks on defense.

Tech is on a 7-game win streak (Pic: Tom Gearty)

The Engineers move to 7-0 with an average margin of victory of 28 points. They play host to Lesley University this Saturday at 3pm in Rockwell Cage.