MIT 2011-12 men's basketball preview

2010-11 Season
Record: 20-9 overall; 7-5 NEWMAC
Lost in 2^nd round of NCAA Division III tournament (Univ. of Rochester, 60-52)

2011-12 Preview

If all goes to plan, the MIT men's basketball squad will once again be among the top teams in New England and the nation in 2011-12. The Engineers, coming off their third straight appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship and second tournament win in three years, return their top seven scorers from a year ago. Tech will also be buoyed by the return of All-American big man, Noel Hollingsworth, who missed all but six games a year ago.

Hollingsworth, a 6-9 junior, was selected Second Team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 2009-10 and earned New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Player of the Year honors. In six games last year, Hollingsworth averaged 15.5 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting over 49% from the field. Hollingsworth will be joined up front by All-Region performer, Will Tashman. Tashman had a breakout sophomore campaign, raising his scoring average by over four points per game (14.1) and leading the NEWMAC in rebounding (8.9 RPG) and field goal percentage (49.5%).

Tashman was joined on the NEWMAC All-Conference team last year by point guard Mitchell Kates. Kates led the Cardinal and Gray in scoring (15.6), assists and steals and was among the conference leaders in a number of categories. Kates' backcourt mate, Jamie Karraker has become one of the top long-range shooters in the country, shooting over 43% from behind the arc while connecting on 3.34 trifectas a game. Defensive specialist Billy Bender will also be a key factor for MIT, providing strong perimeter defense, rebounding and senior leadership.

Sophomore big man, Will Dickson earned most of the starts in the middle in Hollingworth's absence. Dickson had averages of over five points per game and nearly three rebounds per contest while starting in 27 of MIT's 29 games as a freshman.

Coach Anderson hopes an impressive recruiting class can help his squad earn a fourth-straight NCAA tournament bid. The Cardinal and Gray have won two of the last three NEWMAC Championships and figure to have a good shot at repeating in 2010-11.

Returning Starters/Key Players