Game Preview: MIT vs. #12 WPI

MIT vs. #12 WPI
Wednesday, Rockwell Cage - Cambridge, MA, 6pm

Live Stats | Video

Probable Starters:

MIT (15-6, 6-4)	Ht.	PPG	RPG		WPI (18-3, 8-2)	Ht.	PPG	RPG
Matt Redfield	6'8"	13.7	9.3		Ryan Kolb	6'5"	14.3	5.3
Andrew Acker	6'8"	11.7	9.8		Domenick Mastacusa	6'5"	10.2	4.1
Dennis Levene	6'8"	4.2	4.3		Sean Doncaster	6'3"	4.8	1.7
Justin Pedley	6'6"	12.9	1.5		Sam Longwell	6'3"	17.1	6.2
Dakota Pierce	6'3"	4.4	1.6		Aaron Davis	5'10"	6.9	4.1 apg

A Look at WPI:

Recent Performance
WPI is currently ranked #12 overall in Division III and are 8-2 in conference play and 18-3 overall.

Last Time Out
WPI took the 59-47 decision on their home court last time after hitting 8 of their first 13 threes while MIT shot just 8% from three themselves with 19 turnovers.

X's & O's
WPI runs a motion offense with many flares and handoffs for their shooters Sam Longwell and Zach Karalis. WPI will utilize the pick-and-roll, will look to spread the floor, and look to penetrate off the dribble (especially with Aaron Davis in late shot clock situations).

WPI will push the ball hard up the floor in transition. In the half-court, they do not run a strict offense; primarily 3-out-2-in and 4-round-1 motion with block to block screening.  The objective of their offense is to get someone who they feel has a favorable match-up in 1-on-1 situations, have Longwell or Karalis create, and the rest of the shooters spotting up.

WPI defensively will play straight man help and recover. They will overplay at every position, with heavy pressure on the wings. WPI plays very hard, and will dive after every ball and every rebound.

MIT's Defense Takes Care of Coast Guard

Box Score

MIT held Coast Guard to just 14 first-half points and 23% shooting for the game, eventually taking home the 45-37 victory. Although things weren't the prettiest for the Engineers on offense (38% shooting, 16 turnovers), MIT converted at the free-throw line (18 total free-throws made) and clamped down on defense and the boards (+10 for the game).

MIT had three players score 10 points in a balanced offensive outing, with 6'8" Matt Redfield registering a double-double with 13 rebounds, Justin Pedley reaching his 10 with a handful of threes, and Sophomore point guard Ryan Frankel adding 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

MIT moves to 15-6 on the season and 6-4 in the NEWMAC. MIT currently sits 1 game out of 2nd place behind Springfield and Babson. MIT faces WPI in Rockwell Cage on Wednesday.

Game Preview: MIT vs. Coast Guard

MIT vs. Coast Guard
Saturday, US Coast Guard Academy - New London, CT, 1pm

Live Stats | Video

Probable Starters:

MIT (14-6, 5-4)	Ht.	PPG	RPG		Coast Guard (5-15, 2-7)	Ht.	PPG	RPG
Matt Redfield	6'8"	12.7	9.5		David Anderson	6'6"	11.2	4.9
Andrew Acker	6'8"	10.8	9.8		Ryan McNeil	6'4"	6.3	2.3
Dennis Levene	6'8"	5.4	4.6		John Benedict	6'4"	7.5	3.2
Justin Pedley	6'6"	15.5	1.5		Ricky Rodriguez	6'2"	9.0	3.6
Dakota Pierce	6'3"	4.3	1.6		Devonte Weems	5'11"	6.9	3.3 apg

A Look at Coast Guard:

Recent Performance
Coast Guard is fighting for a playoff spot and have shown this fight in recent games, beginning with a close contest with #4 WPI. Coast Guard went on to beat Wheaton College 73-55 the following game, and most recently fell to Clark in another hard-fought NEWMAC contest.

Last Time Out
MIT and Coast Guard battled it out in Rockwell Cage last outing, with MIT prevailing with the close 53-49 win. Andrew Acker led the Engineers with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

X's & O's
Coast Guard's offense is ran by Devonte Weems, who will look to push the ball in transition off of rebounds and turnovers. The Bears will play 4 guards at time, and will take the first shot that presents itself (they shoot 20 3's per game).

In the half-court CGA will run a 4-around-1 motion (with Anderson as the focal point down low) or a 5-out offense. This is a completely new offense for the Bears, who primarily ran the Flex offense in the past (a continuos and structured offense with lots of screens).

Defensively the Bears will look to mix some defenses (half-court man, 2-3 zone, 1-3-1, 2-2-1 3/4 press) to deal with the Engineers' height.

MIT Falls to Springfield on Road

Box Score

A poor 2nd-half performance by the Engineers cost them the game Thursday evening in a battle for second place with Springfield College. MIT shot just 36% from the field, 20% from three, and were out-rebounded 17-15 in final half, leading to the 59-51 loss.

6'8" Matt Redfield paced the Engineers with 14 points and 4 rebounds despite getting double-and triple-teamed throughout the contest. 6'8" Freshman Tim Butala stepped up big again after a career-game versus Clark, posting 12 points and 5 rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting. 6'8" Andrew Acker added 12 points and 7 rebounds.

MIT moves to 14-6 on the season and 5-4 in the very competitive NEWMAC. They travel to Connecticut on Saturday to face the US Coast Guard Academy.