Poor Shooting Plagues MIT in Preseason Tuneup

The Engineers shot just 28% from the field to go along with 29 turnovers in their preseason exhibition tuneup versus Division I Harvard University tonight, falling to the Crimson 79-37.

Point guard Paul Dawson drives against Siyani Chambers (Photo: Tom Gearty) 

Harvard, last year's Ivy League champions, brought back nearly their entire squad from their 2012-2013 NCAA Tourney team, and added seniors Kyle Casey and Brandyn Curry, who were sidelined last season, to the mix. Harvard shot 46% from the field and won the rebounding battle 37-33.

Junior captain Matt Redfield was one rebound away from a double-double (Photo: Tom Gearty)

Although MIT certainly found the areas they need to improve on, the young Engineers got a glimpse of some of the weapons they have in store. High-flying 6'8" junior captain Matt Redfield, an All-Conference selection last year, led the Engineers with 14 points and 9 rebounds. Redfield comes into the season coming off a standout Sophomore campaign, posting a 59.5% FG% (3rd all-time in MIT history), 49 blocks (3rd all-time), and 26 dunks (unofficially 1st all-time).

MIT also showed how bright the future might be, with solid play from the freshman trio of 6'10" Tim Higgins, 6'8" Tim Butala, and 6'3" guard Dakota Pierce. Pierce showed his sweet stroke and his ability to get to the basket, while the "Big Tims" were a presence in the paint on both the offensive and defensive ends.

Freshman Dakota Pierce takes it to the hoop over Harvard's Jonah Travis

"We played a really good and well-coached team," Head Coach Larry Anderson said after the exhibition. "It provided us with the opportunity to measure where we are as individuals and, more importantly, where we are as a team."

"I like where we are at right now even though we understand that we have a lot to do."

The Engineers tip off the 2013-2014 season on Friday vs. Lesley University at Rockwell Cage.

Box Score

Game Preview (Exhibition): MIT vs. Harvard

MIT vs. Harvard (Exhibition Game*)
Tuesday, Lavieties Pavilion, 7pm

Video | Live Stats | Tickets
Radio: WHRB 95.3 - Cambridge

*This game counts as a regular season game for Harvard and an exhibition game for MIT due to the differences in start dates between Divisions

Junior Captain Dennis Levene drives against Harvard in last year's preseason exhibition

Possible Starters:

MIT (0-0)	Harvard (1-0)
Matt Redfield, Jr, 6'8"	Kyle Casey, Sr, 6'7"
Andrew Acker, Jr, 6'8"	Steve Moundou-Missi, Jr, 6'7"
Dennis Levene, Jr, 6'8"	Wesley Saunders, Jr, 6'5"
Justin Pedley, So, 6'6"	Brandyn Curry, Sr, 6'1"
Paul Dawson, Jr, 5'10"	Siyani Chambers, So, 6'0"

A Look at Harvard:
The Harvard Crimson were the Ivy League Champions last season, posting a 20-10 record and advancing to the 3rd Round of the Division I NCAA Tournament before falling to the University of Arizona.

Harvard started the 2013-2014 campaign off with a 82-72 win over Holy Cross at TD BankNorth Garden on Sunday. Jonah Travis scored 20 points with 10 rebounds and Wesley Saunders added 18.

Last Week at MIT...(11/10)

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Visits MIT

MIT Battery Startup, Funded by Bill Gates, Aims to Invent "Colossal Yet Cheap Battery"

MIT Professor and Historian Granted Major "Lifetime Achievement" Award 

MIT Researchers Selected for NASA Institute

Men's & Women's Cross-Country Win NEWMAC Championship

Fall Championship Week

Fall Championship Week is underway for the NEWMAC in various sports, with MIT in the heart of it.

Last week MIT took home the NEWMAC championship in Women's Tennis, Women's Cross Country, as well as Men's Cross Country. The women's tennis team finished the Fall slate undefeated and ranked #17 in the country. The women's cross-country team, who was ranked as high as #3 in the nation this season, captured their 7th consecutive NEWMAC title, while the men's team, ranked as high as #4 nationally, continued its reign with its 16th consecutive championship.

Below are more MIT teams that will be competing in the NEWMAC championships this weekend:

Women's Soccer
Record: 13-2
NEWMAC Semifinals Saturday

Men's Soccer
Record: 13-3
NEWMAC Semifinals Saturday

Women's Volleyball
Record: 22-10
NEWMAC Semifinals Saturday

Field Hockey
Record: 14-4
NEWMAC Semifinals Saturday

MIT Voted Best College in America by Business Insider

Business Insider's annual list of the Best Colleges in America was released this morning, with MIT earning the top spot for the 4th year in a row.

Business Insider surveyed 1,000 professionals to determine the rankings, "based on how much those schools help graduates succeed in life." As for the top spot, according to the publication, "the answer was loud and clear: MIT."

"When it comes to hiring, you can be assured that all students who graduate from MIT have been through a rigorous college curriculum" wrote one of the voters.

MIT was also ranked first by finance professionals: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-colleges-for-finance-industry-2013-10

Business Insider also noted that MIT has "one of the coolest college campuses in the country": http://www.businessinsider.com/these-two-buildings-show-why-mit-is-one-of-the-coolest-college-campuses-in-the-country-2013-11

Read more about the rankings here: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-colleges-in-america-2013-10

Last Week at MIT...(11/3)

Read up on some of the things that happened around the MIT campus last week:


Hungarian President visits MIT Media Lab...


Boston Red Sox Win World Series...


MIT Professor Has the Answer to Eliminating Mysterious Traffic Jams...


MIT Wristband Could Make Air Conditioning Obsolete...


MIT Arts Professor Wins Prestigious McDermott Award...


Women's Tennis Wins NEWMAC Championship...

MIT Basketball Lab: Day 6

MIT Basketball Lab: Day 6 from MIT Hoops

2013-2014 Season Preview

13,232. 

That is the total number of combined career minutes MIT has lost to graduation from last season ("lost" specifically to Apple - Will Tashman, Facebook - Jamie Karraker, Morgan Stanley - Jimmy Burke, and MIT's graduate school program - Noel Hollingsworth and Mitchell Kates). 

5,794 points. 91 wins. 4 NCAA Tournament appearances. A #1 National Ranking. 

With some of the best players in MIT history moving on to their new careers, the 2013-2014 Engineers will have to adhere to the principal that their predecessors so effectively utilized: 

Process. 

The Engineers wear white t-shirts instead of their practice jerseys until they feel they have truly become a "team"

Throughout the offseason and into the first eight practices of this season, the somewhat inexperienced Engineers have taken what they have learned from their older counterparts - process, attention to detail, a tenacious precision - and are attempting to take it a step further. 

As Coach Anderson has engraved into the minds of his players throughout the years, every play must be a "masterpiece." Every cut, every screen, every rebound, every loose ball must be approached with one's complete mental and physical attention. Just as a scientist breaks down their experiments into painstakingly meticulous components, or a financial analyst understands where every penny comes and goes, the MIT basketball team must break down the game like it never has before. 

Again in 2013-2014 the Engineers will be faced with a challenging schedule. They will be pitted against some of the top teams in the region during the non-conference slate, and beginning January 8th will jump right into the always-challenging NEWMAC play. 

The 2013-2014 MIT Engineers end another practice in Rockwell Cage

It has been 113 years in the making; since the day MIT Basketball shot its first basket in 1900, the team has been building upon the success of those before them. Last season's stars brought the program to new heights, and have passed on the tools to keep building. It is now in the hands of the 2013-2014 MIT Engineers to make every play, and this season, a "masterpiece."

MIT Basketball Lab: Day 1

The MIT Basketball team donned white t-shirts with individual names scribbled on by markers in the program's first practice of this season last night, their practice jerseys still sitting in a box untouched in MIT Athletic's equipment room.

"We are not a team yet," Head Coach Larry Anderson said as the reason for not wearing the jerseys. "We are working towards that."

And working towards "that" they did.

On the first official day of practice for NCAA Division III teams, October 15th, the MIT Basketball team conditioned, drilled, and conditioned some more for 120 grueling minutes. After a cool-down and yoga-inspired stretch, the players decided to stay longer to put in extra work.

"I'm pretty pleased with the first day, but we have a long way to go."

The squad is coming off five straight NCAA Tournament appearances, and five straight seasons of winning either the Regular Season or Conference Tournament Championship, or both.

But for the 2013-2014 season, the group knows they haven't earned anything yet, including their practice jerseys.

So when can you find MIT Basketball wearing these jerseys?

"When the captains, and each player, and the coaching staff decide we have become a team," Coach Anderson said.

"We're going to take the championship approach, we're going to be accountable, we're going to be unselfish, we're going to do what we are supposed to do in the classroom, and become valued members of this community outside of what we do on the basketball court, then we want to put those practice uniforms on."

"We want to earn the right to become ambassadors for MIT."

MITHoops.NET will be visiting their basketball laboratory as MIT Basketball uncovers what it takes to become ambassadors, and a team.

MIT Basketball Lab: Day 1 by MIT Hoops

Kates and Tashman Bring Home Gold Medal

This past summer arguably two of the greatest players ever to put on an MIT uniform, Mitchell Kates and Will Tashman, traveled to Israel to represent the United States in the Maccabiah Games. Kates and Tashman, both All-Americans who led MIT to a 91-22 record, 4 straight NCAA Tournament Appearances, and a Final-Four appearance, were hand-picked to join a handful of other Division I players for the international tournament. After defeating host Israel in the semi-finals, USA went on to defeat Argentina to capture the gold medal.

MITHoops.NET spoke with both Kates and Tashman:

USA defeated Argentina in the Maccabiah Championship

How did it feel winning the gold medal at the Maccabiah Games? 

Kates: "Winning the gold at the Maccabi was an amazing feeling, especially on a stage where you are representing your country. There is also some pressure playing with the expectation that you should win being from the US and winning brought a sense of relief as well."

Tashman: "It was an awesome feeling winning gold. Being able to represent your country on an (albeit limited) international scale was a once in a life time opportunity. And taking home the gold was a great reward for us and the USA delegation."

Former co-captains, teammates, and All-Americans at MIT

What was your favorite experience in Israel?

Kates: "Playing with teammates from all over the country and spending a month together was a pretty unique experience. Opening ceremonies might be the most memorable, walking into a stadium with 50,000 people cheering like crazy."

Tashman: "The whole trip was fascinating. There are so many historically significant sites in Israel it's hard to pick just one. I think my favorite place was the Dead Sea/Masada. It was just an incredible view over the desert and the sea."

Kates and Tashman enjoyed their time off the court in Israel

There were many scouts for Israeli and European teams watching your practices and games, how was your interaction with them? 

Kates: "We had Israeli scouts at most practices and games. Several players on our team are currently playing in Israel now and Coach Greenberg coaches Hapoel Jerusalem. They were heavily recruiting most players on our team."

Tashman: "There were a fair amount of scouts following our team around because being Jewish allows us not to count as foreign players in the national league (given that we get citizenship). It was a new experience for me discussing my 'career options' for basketball. A lot of the scouts were very eager to connect me with head coaches of professional teams."

*Note: Both Tashman and Kates were offered contracts to play professionally in Israel

Kates left as MIT's all-time leader in assists and steals

How has your experience with MIT Basketball prepared you for international play? 

Kates: "In Israel, we had only 10 days of training camp before we started games, and pre-seasons at MIT offered a similar urgency to get ready for the season. I think MIT helped prepare me for this. However, European basketball is a very different style and most of us on the team were shocked by the playing and officiating style overseas."

Tashman: "My MIT Basketball experience definitely helped me excel on the international stage. We were an athletic team with a lot of weapons, and Mitch and I played similar roles on the team as we did during our time at MIT. We were both on the court for during crunch-time of our medal round games, so clearly our experience playing with each other allowed us to succeed in pressure situations."

Tashman became the first player in MIT history to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds

What are you up to now and what are your plans for the future? 

Kates: "I am currently in the Masters of Engineering program at MIT, and I plan on graduating in May. My thesis project works with the SportVu player tracking data that NBA teams have started collecting (under Professor Guttag). After graduation I am looking to either continue playing basketball or join a startup."

Tashman: "Right now I'm working at Apple as a product design engineer. I'm living with six other MIT grads, including [former players] Jamie Karraker and Arni Lehto. I plan on being in California for awhile, and playing in some recreational leagues to get my basketball fix. We have a couple guys in the house who can play so it's easy to get a good game going."

More coverage of Kates' and Tashman's experience can be found below:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/us-dominates-the-maccabiah-team-finals/

http://studentlife.mit.edu/news/2013/07/kates-and-tashman-surge-basketball-s-international-stage