WPI, Longwell survive stress

More news about: WPI
Mar 06, 2014
Sam Longwell and the rest of the Engineers have picked up after missing a key starter all season.
WPI athletics photo

By Rob Knox
D3sports.com

WPI junior guard Sam Longwell had trouble focusing on his classwork on Monday morning.

He had a good reason because the Engineers were a bubble team. This despite winning the NEWMAC regular season conference championship for the ninth time in the last 11 years and winning 20 games for an 11th consecutive year, the second longest streak in Division III.

It turns out that Longwell had nothing to really worry about as the Engineers were safely in the tournament as one of four NEWMAC teams selected for the NCAA Division III tournament. The Engineers (22-4 overall) will take on Albertus Magnus (26-2) Friday night at 5:30 p.m. at SUNY-Purchase. The host Panthers (25-2) will meet Hartwick (18-9) in the nightcap with the winners colliding Saturday night for a spot in the Sweet 16.

“Monday was stressful,” Longwell said. “Even though I was pretty confident that we would get in, it still was hard until your name actually appeared on the screen. We’re really happy to be in the tournament.”

Longwell’s performance this season in which he was named first-team All-NEWMAC is a big reason why the Engineers are enjoying a full plate of activities this week. In addition to preparing for their eighth appearance in the last 10 years in the NCAA tournament, the Engineers are in the middle of final exams. Unlike most schools, which are on a traditional semester calendar, WPI has four seven-week terms.

Majoring in management engineering, Longwell spent part of the week putting the finishing touches on his Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) that he delivered Thursday. It’s a full-term interdisciplinary requirement involving applied research that connects science or technology with social issues and human needs. Every WPI junior is required to do one on a topic outside of their major.

“I am working with three other kids and we’re working on a marketing plan to get more students at the Worcester Art Museum and we’re also helping redesign the café so that will also help attract more students,” Longwell said. “The presentation is about 30 minutes. It’s been a lot to juggle between preparing for this presentation and getting ready for our game.”

The Engineers have already conquered major adversity this year. Longwell led the way by raising the level of his performance this season after his roommate, Marco Coppola, was lost for the season with an ankle injury. Coppola was one of the more dynamic players in the conference and WPI’s leading scorer last year.

“Fortunately we had some time to adjust to life without him before start playing games,” coach Chris Bartley said. “He was a scorer and playmaker. Now we had to manufacture our points differently this year and become a better screening and cutting team. We don’t get as many easy baskets as we did last year. Sam took on a lot of leadership on and the off court.”

Longwell emerged this season as WPI's go-to person both offensively and defensively. The team leader in scoring with 16.3 points per game and rebounding with 5.9 boards per game, the swingman is second in the conference in scoring.  Longwell is frequently asked to guard the opposition's best player and set the tone defensively.  

The junior has improved each season at WPI, posting career highs this winter in scoring, rebounding, blocks, minutes played, field goal percentage, 3-pointers made and 3-point percentage.  He is the only WPI player to start all 55 games the last two years, as the Engineers have gone an eye-popping 47-8 over that span. 

“It was a tough blow losing him at the start of the season,” Longwell said. “It was hard to imagine playing without him. Fortunately everybody on our team was ready to step up into new roles.”

A huge Boston Celtic fan, Longwell became hooked on basketball ever since he received a Little Tykes basketball set when he was 3 years old. He had two uncles who played the sport and learned pieces of the game from each of them. Longwell received the harshest education when the bigger and older kids in his North Anton, Mass., neighborhood knocked him around on the court. Instead of sulking, Longwell got stronger, better and more confident.

Longwell also dedicated himself to becoming an elite player by spending lots of time in the gym and working diligently improving areas of perceived weakness. He does everything for the Engineers except write post-game stories for the website. Longwell rebounds, posts up, and more importantly plays very good defense. Offensively, Longwell drives to the basket well and has made 44 3-pointers.

“He’s a gym rat and you know what you’re going to get with him,” Bartley said. “He comes from a good high school program so I always like to find good horses from good stables because it makes the transition to the college a lot quicker. Mentally he was here. He’s a tough guard for any team.”

Longwell has enjoyed some scoring performances that would have made his favorite players, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry, blush. He has scored 30 or more points twice and hit for at least 20 points in a single game nine times. Longwell scored a season-high 31 points against Clark and dropped 30 on the road against Becker. Overall, Longwell has scored in double figures 23 times this season for the Engineers.

Longwell is just one of four WPI players averaging double figures. Also creating headaches for opponents are 6-5 senior forward Ryan Kolb (13.0 points per game), 6- 5 junior forward Domenick Mastascusa (11.0) and 6-3 sophomore guard Zach Karalis (10.5). Aaron Davis, a 5-9 sophomore guard, leads WPI with 86 assists.

Ironically, the Engineers scrimmaged Albertus Magnus this season. The Engineers are pumped to begin the new season and make a deep run through the tournament. Even if it means that Longwell has some extra work to do aside from studying video and scouting reports.

Now that the stress of selection Monday is over, Longwell can finally focus on his IQP and the challenge at hand for his Engineers.