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 Jan. 5th (does not include Wheaton game). 

MIT

Statistic	Value	Nation
Wins	13	1
Scoring Margin	25.8	1
Reb. Margin	14.8	2
Scoring Defense	55.2	5
FG%	51.5	6
FG% Defense	37.0	6
Assists	18.2	11
3FG%	40.5	20

#4 MIT Wins 14th Straight

The #4 ranked Engineers took care of business in their second NEWMAC contest, downing visiting Wheaton College 87-54 Saturday afternoon for their 10th victory of over 20 or more points. MIT is tops in the nation with an average margin of victory of 25.8 points.

The MIT 6th Man Club has a lot to cheer about with the success of their men's and women's teams (Pic: Tom Gearty)

Leading the way was sharp-shooter Jamie Karraker who connected on 8 three-pointers for a game-high 24 points. Karraker is currently tops in the nation in total three-pointers made this season (66) and is third in the conference in scoring at 16.5 points per game. Two-time All-Conference point guard Mitchell Kates pitched in 15 points with 3 assists and 2 steals.

Karraker is 33 three-pointers shy of the single-season three-point record (Pic: Tom Gearty)

MIT also saw many contributions from its bench against the Lyons, including dominating performances from the underclassmen big-men. Freshmen Dennis Levene, Matt Redfield, Andrew Acker, and Sophomore Will Dickson, who all stand 6'7" or taller, combined for 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists.

6'8" Freshman Andrew Acker is a reason why the Engineers have an extremely bright future (Pic: Tom Gearty) 

The Engineers travel to New London, CT on Wednesday to take on the Coast Guard Academy and go for their 15th victory in a row, which would tie the program record.

Tashman Interview by Noontime Sports

Tashman registered 16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks versus Harvard. Harvard is currently #22 in Division I (Pic: Tom Gearty)

Click on the link below for a recap of last night's game as well as a post-game interview with 6'8" Junior Will Tashman by Noontime Sports. This publication extensively covers New England sports: http://noontimesports.com/2012/01/04/recap-no-4-mit-67-springfield-college-59/

Noontime Sports also listed MIT as the #1 team in Massachusetts in Division III:

http://noontimesports.com/2012/01/04/massachusetts-college-basketball-mens-top-5-poll-updated/

#4 MIT Starts NEWMAC with Win

After 20 days of no competition over the holiday season, the #4 MIT Engineers grinded out a 67-59 win over Springfield College in the conference home-opener last night. The statistics for the game between the Beavers and Pride were essentially even across all categories, but Tech's execution at the end of the contest landed them their 13th win in a row. 

Tashman is a Materials Science and Engineering major with a minor in Physics

All-Region big-man Will Tashman's dominance was certainly felt as he led the way with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. All-American Noel Hollingsworth followed suit with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks, and sharp-shooter Jamie Karraker connected on three three's for 11 points. 

Bender is majoring in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Energy and concentration in Economics

The heroics of the night, however, came from "Big Shot" Billy Bender, who connected on a three with less than a minute remaining to seal the Engineer's victory. Bender, who received the nickname after nailing a last-second shot his freshman year in the NEWMAC tourney as well as crucial free-throws the same year in the NCAAs, finished the night with 7 points and 8 boards. The pass to Bender came from none other than All-Conference point guard Mitchell Kates, who dished out 5 assists on the night with 3 steals. 

Tech plays host to Wheaton College on Saturday at 2pm in Rockwell Cage. 

MIT Hoops Highlighted in San Francisco Chronicle

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

"Academic Top Half-Dozen

Several schools rated high in U.S. News and World Report's 2012 rankings of American universities and liberal arts colleges also have outstanding basketball teams. Here's our all-academic basketball rankings:

1. Harvard (12-1) - No. 1-ranked university is No. 22 in AP poll.

2. Middlebury (9-0) - No. 5-ranked liberal arts college, located in Middlebury, Vt., is No. 1-ranked Division III team.

3. Williams (8-1) - No. 1 liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Mass., is No. 6 in Division III poll.

4. Amherst (10-1) - No. 2 liberal arts college, located in Amherst, Mass., is ranked No. 7 in Division III.

5. MIT (12-0) - No. 5-ranked university is No. 4 in Division III rankings.

6. Stanford (12-2) - No. 5-ranked university (tied with MIT) is 2-0 in Pac-12."

Read more here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/03/SPF11MKER7.DTL

MIT Basketball Receives #1 Vote

MIT Basketball remained at the #4 spot in this week's D3Hoops.com Top 25 poll, but gained 14 points and received a #1 vote for the first time in program history.

Other northeast region schools in the Top 25 include Middlebury (#1), Amherst (#6), Williams (#7), and Rhode Island College (#24). NEWMAC rival WPI (#26) is just outside the Top 25.

#4 MIT takes on Springfield College tonight at 7pm EST.

#4 MIT Returns to Action

Head Coach Larry Anderson leads Tech versus Harvard; Harvard is currently ranked #24 in Division I (Pic: Tom Gearty)

The nationally-ranked and undefeated MIT Engineers returned to practice early last week ready for the upcoming semester. Tech takes on Springfield College to kick off the conference slate this Wednesday at 7PM in Rockwell Cage. Springfield comes into the game with a record of 8-4.

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.