MIT cycling team on top after first race weekend
This past weekend, MIT Cycling opened its Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference (ECCC) season in New Jersey at the Rutgers Frozen-Toed Season Opener. In just two days of racing, the team has already shown great promise for the season to come. 21 MIT cyclists competed in an individual time trial (ITT), a criterium, and a circuit race over the weekend and drove MIT to the top of the Team Omnium standing with 206 points.
SPORTS SHORT
No. 24 ranked MIT men’s basketball fell in the first round of the NCAA tournament to No. 14 St. Mary’s College last Saturday night, 85-76. In his final game as an Engineer, William Tashman ’13 scored 23 points, leading the team in scoring. After an incredibly competitive first half, MIT went into the break with a 36-35 lead. They continued to hold the lead for the majority of the second half, and they held a 63-56 lead with 8:48 remaining in the game. St. Mary’s went on a 12-0 run afterwards, however, and never relinquished the lead. Although the Engineers finished with a higher shooting percentage, turnovers proved to be their demise, as they gave up the ball 11 times compared to St. Mary’s 6.
Anterior cruciate ligament
“Uh-oh uh-oh, Rose came down bad on his left foot. See him? Holding on to his knee … holding on to his knee… and DOWN.” This was the voice of play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan on TNT during game 1 of the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs as Chicago Bulls all-star point guard Derrick Rose, arguably the most explosive player in the NBA, suffered an injury that would keep him out of basketball for over six months. At this point in the game, the Bulls were up by twelve with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter, and many Bulls fans were wondering why Rose was still on the floor. After watching Rose land awkwardly and tear his left knee’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on a meaningless play, Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau must have regretted his decision to keep Rose in the game after the Bulls had already sealed the victory. Although the Bulls won this game, they lost the best-of-seven series to the lower-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in six games. More importantly, the Bulls were going to miss their leader and superstar, Derrick Rose.
SPORTS SHORT
At its second match of the 2013 portion of the season, the MIT men’s tennis team had a convincing 9-0 victory over Eastern Nazarene College inside the Carr Tennis Bubble at home on Tuesday afternoon. The Engineers improved to 4-0 on the season, while the Lions fell to 0-2.
Basketball to play for DIII title
It was good news for the MIT men’s basketball team on Monday when the Engineers heard their name called as the recipient of an at large bid to the 2013 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament. It will be the fifth consecutive season that MIT has played in the tournament, which includes a memorable run to the NCAA Final Four a year ago. The Engineers, ranked No. 24 in the final regular season poll by D3hoops.com, will play a first round game on Saturday, March 2 at No. 12 ranked St. Mary’s College in Maryland.
West wins ASG; Irving takes 3-Point Shootout
The NBA reached its unofficial halfway point last Friday with the beginning of All-Star Weekend. Unlike other professional sports, there are multiple events that the players participate in, namely the 3-Point Shootout, the “Shooting Stars” competition, the Skills Challenge, the All-Star game itself, and everyone’s favorite, the Slam Dunk Contest. Some of the biggest names in the league were on full display and there were definitely some surprise winners and losers.
SPORTS SHORT
No. 2 ranked MIT fell in the semifinals round of the NEWMAC tournament to No. 3 Springfield College. William Tashman ’13 led MIT with 19 points and 11 rebounds. After a hard-fought first half with many runs by both teams, the Engineers went into the locker room up 34-30 at halftime. Springfield managed to remain close for the majority of the second half until 6:48 remaining when they tied the game. After regaining the lead, MIT struggled to score for the last five minutes of the game, which would prove to be their undoing. Springfield went on a 12-0 run and beat MIT, 68-60. After losing in the NEWMAC tournament, the Engineers must wait for the NCAA’s selection to see if they earned an at-large bid in the 2013 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
MIT Cheer brings it
For the first time in school history, MIT will be represented at the National Cheerleading Association Cheer Championship against 100 other schools, which will be on national television when it takes place in April. They will be judged based on the difficulty of the routine, perfection of the routine, the technique and stability of the various stunts and maneuvers they will perform, and finally the overall impression of the routine. To be able to compete at the NCA Cheer Championship, a squad must have received a bid from the NCA by either attending an NCA sanctioned Cheer camp and wowing the judges, or submitting a video of a routine and being selected that way.
SPORTS SHORT
After averaging 22.3 points and 16.3 rebounds in three games last week, William Tashman ’13 was named the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for a third time this season. Tashman, who recorded two double-doubles, helped lead MIT to three wins and a share of the NEWMAC regular season title.
Engineers take 6 events out of 7
With day two of the 2013 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Swimming and Diving championships completed, the MIT men’s team held on to the lead that they had established the day before. The Engineers won six of the seven events, bringing their point total to 750. Springfield College took over the second place spot with 438 points.
SPORTS SHORT
MIT Men’s Basketball defeated Clark University comfortably Monday, 69-44. The Engineers’ last game was postponed due to the snowstorm, and the week off seemed to do them wonders. In a dominant performance, MIT never trailed. Will Tashman ’13 tied a career high for points in a game with 26, and set a new career high for rebounds with 20. He also set an MIT record for most rebounds in a career. The Engineers’ defense was outstanding all game, holding Clark to a lowly shooting percentage of 19 in the first half and 29.5 percent overall. MIT upset nationally ranked #5 WPI 69-60 Wednesday night to pull into a tie for the NEWMAC lead.
NBA All-Star snubs and surprises
This Sunday is the NBA All-Star game, and while most selections were pretty agreed upon, a few were a bit puzzling. Here are the players who, in my opinion, do not deserve spots:
Men’s basketball team wins
With the end of the regular season in sight, the No. 23 MIT men’s basketball team took to the road for the final time in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference play tonight, taking on a determined Babson College squad. The Engineers started quickly and held a 26-point advantage in the second half before holding off a charge by the Beavers to win their fifth straight game. William Tashman ’13 continued his strong play of late, leading MIT with 17 points.