Shooters Shoot: Colby Men’s Basketball Preview 2019-2020

Colby College Mules

2018-2019 Record: 17-8 (5-5 NESCAC), lost in quarterfinals of NESCAC Tournament

2019-2020 Projected Record: 20-4 (6-4 NESCAC)

Key Losses: G Ronan Schwarz

Projected Starting Lineup:

G: Wallace Tucker ’21 (11.3 PPG, 3.2 REB/G, 2.5 AST/G, 40.3% 3PT)

Tucker isn’t a big guy, but his presence on the court is certainly felt. His impressive ball-handling ability and shooting efficiency make him a perfect member of this Colby backcourt. He also rebounds surprisingly well given his size, but with the Mules’ lack of big guys and his impressive athleticism it actually does make sense. With all of the scoring options that Colby has it would be nice to see an increase in Tucker’s assist numbers, but there isn’t much else to ask from him because he is definitely a role player on this team. If he continues to take high percentage shots, minimize turnovers, and play solid defense then that’s just about all Coach Strahorn will need him to do.

G: Matt Hanna ’21 (14.7 PPG, 4.4 REB/G, 2.6 AST/G, 40.8% 3PT)

Matt Hanna is one of the most entertaining players to watch in the NESCAC. This guy plays with his heart on his sleeve and leaves everything out on the court. It’s also clear that he thinks very highly of himself, as evidenced by his transfer to Louisville in 2018 where he planned to walk on for his sophomore season. Fortunately for the Mules he decided to transfer back to Colby after a short week in Kentucky to continue his run in the NESCAC. Hanna is an exceptional shooter and pure scorer and he’ll look to continue his upward trend for the third straight year. Like Wallace Tucker, Hanna is not even 6 feet tall, so he’ll have to rely on his larger frame to successfully defend the bigger guys that he goes up against. This guy is a true leader for the Mules and opposing teams should be on notice all year long.

G: Noah Tyson ’22 (10.9 PPG, 8.2 REB/G, 2.6 AST/G, 37.1% 3PT)

Last year’s NESCAC Rookie of the Year has picked up right where he left off at the conclusion of the 2018-2019 season. Tyson isn’t a huge guard, but he’s a monster on the boards and actually finished top-10 in the league in rebounding last year. This is crucial for the Mules because they don’t start a single player over 6’5” and only have one on their roster. Tyson has excellent court vision and shoots the ball well – to be honest it’s hard to know where he can improve aside from his scoring totals, which are already pretty good. The bar is high for the former Vermont Mr. Basketball, so we’ll have to wait to find out how much better this guy can get. 

G: Will King ’23 (DNP)

It’s never easy to know what to say about a freshman, but King is off to a tremendous start to his rookie campaign in Waterville. He brings a bit more size to the starting lineup and is already averaging 6 (!) assists per game through 11 contests. It’s essential to know your role as a freshman and it seems as though King is doing exactly that. He is shooting a high percentage, but only shoots when he knows it’s right. He has identified that this team is loaded with scorers and he clearly has a knack for finding the open guy. King is also a crafty finisher and can spread the floor, so he will be very dangerous once he starts to find his rhythm offensively. It’s still early, but this guy looks to be quite a find for Coach Strahorn.

G: Sam Jefferson ’20 (18.2 PPG, 4.1 REB/G, 1.8 AST/G, 42.5% 3PT)

Jefferson has been the best player on this team for a few years now, but he’s off to one of the hottest starts in recent NESCAC history. 11 games into the season Jefferson is averaging 24.7 points per game, while shooting a jaw dropping 63.3% from the floor and 52.9% from 3-point land. Might as well throw in the fact that he’s also shooting 90% from the charity stripe. This is absolutely ridiculous efficiency. It’ll be hard (impossible?) to sustain these numbers, but it’s clear that Jefferson is one of the best scorers in the league and should be taken very seriously. He’s the biggest player in this starting lineup and will need to provide more than the 3 rebounds per game that he’s currently chipping in once NESCAC play starts, but realistically he’s on track to secure another spot on the all-NESCAC team and possibly even an all-American team if the Mules stay hot.

Everything Else:

To be honest if I had written this preview at the very beginning of the season I absolutely would not have envisioned the Mules getting off to the start that they have. They had a successful year last year but this is not what anyone could have expected. At #12 in the country, Colby has already reached the highest national ranking in program history and they don’t seem to be slowing down. This team led the league in 3-point percentage and assists last year (and so far this year) and they score A LOT. This team employs 4/5 guards on the court at a time and their game plan is to run the floor and shoot you out of the gym. The fact that they don’t really have any big men means that this is essentially the only style that they can play, but they’re executing it to a T.

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons for the drastic improvement by the Mules is the fact that they have so much experience in their lineup. They only start one senior, but 7 of the 8 guys that they play in their regular rotation have played countless minutes and have spent years developing relationships with each other. Senior guards Alex Dorion ’20 and Ty Williams ’20 are two important pieces of the puzzle, as they know the system that Coach Strahorn has in place and they can be subbed in and out for the starters without the team skipping a beat. One of the most important players on the team is 5th year senior Dean Weiner ’20 who – aside from having a name straight out of a school-themed adult film – is the only big man on the roster and has a wealth of experience playing in the NESCAC. The Mules love to run up and down the court, but they’ll need an experienced big man to matchup with some of the best centers in the league such as Matt Karpowicz and Luke Rogers. That seems to be an area where Colby is most likely to get hurt, so Weiner will certainly have his work cut out for him.

There’s no question that this run-and-gun style offense is incredibly fun to watch, but it seems like the Mules’ lack of size could potentially hurt them once they start playing tougher, bigger teams. It also feels like there will come a game when the shots just aren’t falling and it’s hard to know what the recipe is in that instance, but right now we’re still just waiting for that to happen. Colby was a streaky team last year so the challenge this season is finding a bit more consistency. An 11-0 start looks great, but they have played an exceptionally easy schedule so far so it’s tough to know exactly where they stand. They have a stretch at the end of January and into February where they have 6 consecutive road games, 5 of which are NESCAC affairs. If they can get through that part of the season without more than a loss or two, this could be the year for the Colby Mules. 

What Happens Now?: Wesleyan Men’s Basketball Preview 2019-2020

Wesleyan University Cardinals

2018-2019 Record: 16-9 (6-4 NESCAC), lost in quarterfinals of NESCAC Tournament

2019-2020 Projected Record: 14-10 (3-7 NESCAC)

Key Losses: G Austin Hutcherson, G Jordan Bonner, F JR Bascom

Projected Starting Lineup:

G: Antone Walker ’21 (13.1 PPG, 3.3 REB/G, 2.2 AST/G)

Walker is going to be an important piece of the equation for the Cardinals this year as the loss of Austin Hutcherson ’21 leaves quite a large scoring void. Walker has been an effective member of the backcourt for three years now, but this season he’ll be asked to take a leap given that he’s one of the most experienced players on the roster. He’s also one of just two players on the team under 6’4”, so he’s almost always going to matched up with a bigger guard. This means that he’ll rely heavily on his lightning quickness and physicality in order to compete. If he continues to produce at the level he has been then he’ll see success, but Wesleyan won’t reach the same heights that they were able to last season. The Cardinals will go as Walker goes.

G: Sam Peek ’22 (3.8 PPG, 2.0 REB/G, 11.2 MPG)

Peek is in the classic position of having to go from being a marginal role player to a consistent starter because of the losses of a few key members of last year’s team. The good news for Cardinal fans is that he seems to be more than ready for this new challenge. Peek is already averaging over 12 points and 8 rebounds per game, while dishing out nearly 3 assists as well. He hasn’t shot the ball incredibly well – especially from 3-point range – but his 82.1% mark from the free throw line indicates that he’s got a good stroke; the shots just haven’t been falling. Peek also plays one of the most loaded positions league-wide, so his defensive abilities will immediately be put to the test. He seems to have things figured out pretty well so far, but we’ll keep an eye on this guy to see how things go come conference play. 

G: Preston Maccoux ’23 (DNP)

It’s always hard to know what to expect from a freshman, but Maccoux is almost exactly the same size as Sam Peek so I have to assume that he’ll play a similar role. He hasn’t had a huge impact so far, but cracking the starting lineup as a freshman tells you something and he has certainly held his own – particularly in the rebounding department. The Wisconsin native doesn’t appear to be a huge scoring threat, but if he can help the Cardinals spread the floor and open up opportunities for other guys then that will be exceedingly valuable for the rest of the offense. As I said for Peek, it’ll be important to focus on what Maccoux brings to the table defensively because he’ll be forced to defend some of the most talented players in the NESCAC at times. It’s shaping up to be a big year for the rookie.

G: Kevin McDonald ’20 (1.3 PPG, 52.4% FG, 5.2 MPG)

McDonald represents the third member of this starting lineup that falls within the 6’6”, 190lb range and will also play a similar role to Peek and Maccoux. The senior is a role player if there ever was one, really only appearing in the box score because he’s listed as a starter. I don’t want to beat a dead horse so I won’t say much about McDonald because of his similarities to the two prior guards, but being the only senior in this starting lineup should not go unnoticed. He’s also one of two team captains and the only senior on the team that plays significant minutes. This guy may not be the most lethal player on the team, but leadership goes a very long way. McDonald has played with some of the most talented players in recent Wesleyan memory and he knows what it takes to make it through the ebbs and flows of a NESCAC basketball season.

F: Jordan James ’21 (7.0 PPG, 4.6 REB/G, 64.1% FG)

Jordan James is the X-factor for this team. He is by far the most talented big man on the roster and he has the ability to change games in the post. James shoots a very high percentage from the floor and hauls in rebounds like it’s his job*. He has rightfully started shouldering more of the scoring load this season and (impressively) hasn’t seen much of a dip in his shooting percentage. One area of focus for him is his ability from the charity stripe, because the junior has barely broken 50% from the line over the course of his career. If he can improve his free-throw percentage then he will be nearly impossible to stop on the offensive end. His offensive efficiency combined with his defensive prowess make James one of the best big men in the NESCAC. If he can continue trending upward then it’ll put Wesleyan in an excellent position to make yet another postseason run.

*If anyone from the NCAA is reading this I would like to go on record and say that rebounding is not James’ job as that would be a violation of the association’s rules.

Everything Else:

Much like several other teams across the league, Wesleyan is tasked with replacing several of their key performers from last season. Losing star guard Austin Hutcherson ’21 (transfer to D1 Illinois) is an obvious hit, but it’s hard to understate the graduation of Jordan Bonner and JR Bascom as well. These were easily the three best players from the 2018-2019 squad and that’s never easy to replace. With that being said, I’ve always been a huge fan of Coach Reilly and have the utmost confidence in his ability to figure out the identity of his team and get the most out of his players. In fact, they’re already off to a 7-2 start and are doing a nice job developing some of their younger guys.

Freshman Gabe Millstein ’23 adds some depth to the Cardinal backcourt as a solid ball handler and an excellent three-point shooter. He provides a solid complement for Antone Walker ’21 in the backcourt and will hopefully ease the point guard burden a bit. Shackylle Dezonie ’22 is a large wing who can finish around the rim and will likely spend some time defending in the post despite being just 6’5”. He, too, will add another deep ball threat and forces opposing defenders to close out on the perimeter. Sophomore big man Joe DeLollo ’22 will also have to step up quite a bit this year since he’s really the only big that plays any real time besides Jordan James ’21. The southpaw’s soft touch around the rim and ability to step out and knock down a three from time to time will be huge for the Cardinals to bring off the bench. I see DeLollo having a breakout season in 2019-2020.

All told, this will be an interesting year in Middletown. Lots of player turnover means guys will be thrust into roles that they haven’t been in during their careers to this point. There isn’t a ton of depth on the roster, but they have a lot of talent in their current 8-man rotation and if the pieces fall into place they will be very difficult to stop. They haven’t really shown us much so far in the young season given that they’ve beaten everyone they should and took two blowout losses at the hands of Williams and Eastern Connecticut. This team will make the NESCAC Tournament and will be a very tough matchup for whomever they face, but they’ve got a long way to go. It appears as though they will get better and better as the season progresses, so you’d better hope that your team is playing them early in the year. Don’t let the Cardinals get hot.

Big Shoes to Fill: Bowdoin Men’s Basketball Preview 2019-2020

Bowdoin College Polar Bears

2018-2019 Record: 15-9 (4-6 NESCAC), did not qualify for NESCAC Tournament

2019-2020 Projected Record: 9-15 (1-9 NESCAC)

Key Losses: G Jack Bors, F Jack Simonds, F Hugh O’Neil

Projected Starting Lineup:

G: Zavier Rucker ’21 (12.3 PPG, 3.4 REB/G, 3.4 AST/G, 50% FG)

Easily the most efficient player on the roster, Rucker returns for his third season as the point guard of this team. Given that he has the ball more than anyone else, Rucker has done a nice job in his career of minimizing turnovers and only taking high-percentage shots. This helped him shoot over 50% from the field over the first two years of his career…but there is a catch. First his first two seasons in Brunswick, Rucker was surrounded by Jack Simonds, David Reynolds, and Hugh O’Neil – the team’s top three scorers. Reynolds is still there, but losing O’Neil and Simonds means that Rucker is going to be asked to score a bit more this season. It seems as though scoring is not his first instinct, but he does have the ability when he needs it so he’ll have to improve at creating shots for himself if Bowdoin is going to keep up with some of the higher scoring teams in the conference.

G: Taiga Kagitomi ’22 (1.7 PPG, 1.8 REB/G, 12.3 MPG)

This is an interesting year for Kagitomi because he is being thrust into a starting role after seeing very little action as a freshman. The southpaw has good size for a guard and is very skilled at finishing around the rim, however his jump shot is still a bit of a work in progress as he is 3-17 in his career from beyond the arc. This is going to be an important point of emphasis because the Polar Bears could use all the scoring they can get. He’s also going to be tasked with defending some of the most physical players in the NESCAC, so we’ll have to keep an eye on his wear and tear throughout the course of the season. Kagitomi has the size, athleticism, and skillset to be successful in this league, he just needs to see the minutes in order to reach his full potential.

G: David Reynolds ’20 (17.6 PPG, 4.7 REB/G, 1.5 AST/G)

Reynolds is the most prolific scorer on this team and one of the most elite scorers in the league. He has been top-10 in the NESCAC in scoring since his sophomore year and he continues to prove why he’s a force to be reckoned with. The most glaring issue with Reynolds is that all he really does is shoot. His assist numbers have been largely unimpressive and his rebounding totals are nothing to write home about given his size and athleticism. He needs to realize that he doesn’t need to be the one taking the shot every time down the court because that makes their offense insanely predictable. Bowdoin could really benefit from Reynolds looking more for open teammates and hitting the glass hard, because losing Simonds and O’Neil is a huge hit for this team and they need production anywhere they can get it. Reynolds has the talent to be one of the best players in the conference, but to this point in his career he has been very one-dimensional. If he can diversify his skillset a bit more this season that will directly translate into more wins for the Polar Bears.

F: Sam Grad ’21 (6.1 PPG, 2.2 REB/G, 49% FG)

Grad has a chance to be one of the most impactful players for Bowdoin this season. At 6’7”, 222lbs, he has as much size as anyone in this league, but he’s not even a true center for this team. Admittedly he’s not the fastest guy up and down the court, but Grad is a terrific rebounder and his shooting ability allows the Polar Bears to spread the court and force opponents to respect the 3-ball. With the graduation of Hugh O’Neil, Grad will be asked to spend a bit more time defending opposing bigs and playing in the post, so we’ll find out how comfortable he is playing on the inside. There really isn’t much else to say about Grad other than the fact that much like the rest of the roster, he’s going to really have to step up in order to keep Bowdoin competitive. Their lineup this year isn’t particularly deep, so Grad is going to have to increase productivity while simultaneously playing more minutes – is it even possible to ask more of someone?

F: Xander Werkman ’23 (DNP)

Clearly the biggest mystery in this starting lineup is Werkman given that he’s a freshman. That said, Coach Gilbride clearly sees something in him because he has already made his way into the starting lineup early in the season. Werkman is a very interesting case because he’s listed at 6’7”, 195lbs, but his high school recruiting profiles list him as being between 230 and 240, so this guy has clearly whipped himself into shape in preparation for his rookie season. This means that Werkman likely has experience playing in the post, which will be crucial for a team that lacks a true inside presence. So far he has been very efficient shooting-wise, shooting 50% from the field and 50% from deep (albeit with just 4 attempts). This type of efficiency will have to continue and it seems as though Werkman has the ability to do this, but it’s still very early in the season. He doesn’t seem like too much of a threat at this point, but things can change very quickly as he starts to find a comfort level with NESCAC basketball.

Everything Else:

At 4-4, the Polar Bears are not off to quite the start they would’ve hoped for, but there is still a very long way to go. They’ve shown what they’re capable of by battling down the stretch against no. 12 nationally ranked Babson. Losing Simonds, O’Neil, and Jack Bors is going to be very difficult to overcome, but they still return Zavier Rucker ’21 and David Reynolds ’20, two of the most talented players in the NESCAC. This year will really depend on what the rest of the team brings to the table. In recent years they’ve had the firepower to compete with the class of the league, but lacked a considerable amount of depth. Now they find themselves searching for the next generation of talent in Brunswick.

One of the only returning players that saw substantial time last season is Stephen Ferraro ’20. Ferraro is a 5’10” guard who can handle the ball and sees the court very well, so they’ll need his steady hand in the backcourt to help ease a bit of the burden off of Rucker. At this point his biggest flaw is that he hasn’t been able to prove that he can knock down the deep ball, which is a problem when you’re less than 6 feet. He’s going to have to expand his range to have improved success this year on the offensive end. Drew Gagnon ’20 is another senior who hasn’t played a ton over the course of his career, but he’s a lanky wing who can certainly provide value, especially with his ability to shoot. Rookie Jack Shea ’23 is really the only other guy who has seen consistent time this year, so they’ll depend on his defensive ability and skills around the rim to add a bit more depth to their lineup.

Right now it’s hard to envision where Bowdoin will end up, but the trend has not been positive so far. They are noticeably suffering the losses of their key seniors from 2018-2019 and haven’t yet found guys who are ready to step into these roles. If Reynolds and Rucker continue to be the only guys who can produce, it will be a very long season. 8 games is a small sample size and I anticipate that the Polar Bears will surprise us once or twice, but I don’t see them making a run and they’ll likely have to battle just to qualify for the NESCAC Tournament. They only have 2 more games before conference play begins, so hopefully they’ll be able to fine-tune a few things to at least have a chance to be competitive with the most challenging portion of their schedule.

Age is Just a Number: Tufts Men’s Basketball Preview 2019-2020

Tufts University Jumbos

2018-2019 Record: 12-14 (4-6 NESCAC), lost in semifinals of NESCAC Tournament

2019-2020 Projected Record: 17-9 (5-5 NESCAC)

Key Losses: None

Projected Starting Lineup:

G: Carson Cohen ’22 (7.9 PPG, 2.1 REB/G, 3.1 AST/G)

Cohen broke onto the NESCAC scene last year with a very fine season for a freshman. He posted solid numbers and displayed some truly impressive quickness and court vision, making him the Jumbos de facto point guard. Cohen has a very high basketball IQ and did a nice job minimizing turnovers last year, but there is definitely room to grow…literally. There were times last season when Cohen looked a bit undersized, making it difficult for him to matchup with bigger guards and making it difficult for him to be physical inside. It appears as though Cohen addressed this problem in the offseason because he looks noticeably more filled out this year and even grew an inch (according to the roster). Tufts might need to start looking out for those notorious random drug tests that the NESCAC is so well known for…

G: Tyler Aronson ’22 (10.1 PPG, 3.2 REB/G, 2.8 AST/G)

This guy is the X-Factor for Tufts this year, no doubt about it. Aronson is one of the most sneaky-athletic players in the league and it’ll really surprise you when he throws down a dunk in the lane despite being only 6’2”. He can also shoot the lights out, but didn’t really display that in his freshman campaign. This season Aronson is off to a blazing hot start, shooting nearly 50% from 3-point land and averaging almost 13 points per game. He has the potential to be one of the most talented guards in the NESCAC if he can harness his athleticism and stay under control because he does have a tendency to get a little ahead of himself and try to rush things. If Aronson can play within the system and stay under control he will be very difficult to stop given all the other weapons that the Jumbos have.

G: Eric Savage ’20 (16.0 PPG, 6.4 REB/G, 3.5 AST/G)

Aside from having the best last name in the league, Savage brings a lot to the table. He has been a leader for the Jumbos from the first day he set foot on campus and now he finds himself as the leading scorer and captain of this team. At this point there isn’t much left to ask of Savage besides putting up star-caliber numbers and that’s no small task. His numbers have steadily improved over the course of his career, but so far this year it seems like he has reached a plateau. As I said before it’s very challenging for a player of Savage’s stature to improve in any particular area, but that’s what Tufts is going to need him to do if they’re going to get to the next level. The Jumbos took a step back last year and seemed to descend into relative mediocrity, so the lone senior on the roster will have to get his back ready for one last chance to carry this team to the top.

F: Brennan Morris ’21 (13.9 PPG, 4.6 REB/G, 44.2% 3PT)

Here’s a guy you really have to watch out for. Morris is a physical, 6’6” wing who is an absolute sniper. His 44.2% clip from downtown last season was good for 2nd in the league and this season he’s picking up right where he left off. Morris plays a unique role on this team because he’s really their only true wing so he has to spend a lot of time defending the NESCAC’s premier 3’s and 4’s. This can really take a toll on guys, so it’s essential that Morris gets enough rest to be able to play the most important minutes every game. He has also proven that he is someone who needs to be on the floor in crucial moments, as evidenced by his game winner with seconds remaining to take down the first place Middlebury Panthers a year ago. Morris may not be the flashiest or most explosive player on the team, but without him the Jumbos would be in a very different place.

C: Luke Rogers ’21 (14.0 PPG, 9.1 REB/G, 55.6% FG)

Rogers is one of the few centers in this league that has an enormous impact on every game he plays in. He’s a double double machine, with 15 in his career and 4 already this season – in fact he’s averaging 14 points and 12 rebounds per game through 9 games this year. Throw in his career 55.8% from the field and you can start to see how much of a threat he really is. This type of production will be very hard to sustain, but Rogers’ career arc seems to indicate that he’s up for the challenge. One thing I find very interesting is that Tufts lists each player’s major on their online roster and I couldn’t help but notice that Rogers majors in History and Entrepreneurship. I’m not sure if that’s the name of one joint major or if Rogers is a double major, but I certainly hope it’s the former. I’ve never been a particular fan of the Jumbos, but entrepreneurship as a legit major?? Come on, guys. If nothing else we’ll just have to watch and see how Rogers’ entrepreneurial skills manifest themselves in his on-court performance.

Everything Else:

Last year was a bit of a wakeup call for Tufts as they were faced with the loss of an enormous group of seniors who were all important contributors to their national powerhouse teams from years prior. In fact, they didn’t have a single senior on their roster last season and Eric Savage ’20 is the only senior this season, so it appears that the Jumbos are on an upward trend once again. That said, it’s hard to judge exactly where they’re at right now. They’re off to a solid 7-2 start including an impressive win over MIT, but for the most part it’s the same cast of characters that finished 12-14 last year.

Coach Sheldon is building a classic NESCAC basketball team in Medford, anchoring a true center in Luke Rogers ’21 in the paint and surrounding him with playmaking guards who can shoot you out of the gym. Will Brady ’21, for example, is a guy who frankly doesn’t offer much except for the fact that he’s lethal from downtown. At 6’1”, 190lbs he lacks the foot speed to keep up with guards and the size to matchup with wings. This means that they pretty much have to stick him in the corner and tell him to shoot when he catches the ball. Another guy like this is Justin Kouyoumdjian ’21 who takes care of the ball, but really doesn’t do anything besides hit a shot once in a while and give the starters some rest. Coach Sheldon also brought in Casey McLaren ’23 and Dylan Thoerner ’23, two freshman wings that he hopes will play a similar to Brennan Morris ’21, while bringing some much-needed size to their backcourt (and maybe bringing back some faint memories of Vinny Pace). The Jumbos also employ big Max Oppenheim ’21 off the bench who is essentially a slower Luke Rogers ’21 with a less refined skillset – he’ll basically only set foot on the court when Rogers needs a break.

Tufts is still a very young team that has a long way to go, but it’ll be interesting to see how competitive they are this year now that they’ve got a few years of experience under their belts. An interesting note about their schedule is that they have a brutal stretch of four road games at the end of the year in the final two NESCAC weekends – at Trinity, at Conn College, at Middlebury, and at Williams. This will be a very intriguing stretch for the Tufts because at that point in the season they could be going in any direction. If they get hot at the right time and gain momentum heading into the conference tournament, this will be a very dangerous team come postseason play. If they hit a few bumps in the road and decide to roll over, the end of the season will not be very kind to the Jumbos.

Not as Easy as It Looks: Williams Men’s Basketball Preview 2019-2020

Williams College Ephs

2018-2019 Record: 23-7 (6-4 NESCAC), lost in semifinals of NESCAC Tournament; lost in Elite 8 of NCAA Tournament

2019-2020 Projected Record: 19-9 (6-4 NESCAC)

Key Losses: G Bobby Casey, F James Heskett, F Kyle Scadlock, F Marcus Soto, C Michael Kempton

Projected Starting Lineup:

G: Mickey Babek ’20 (3.2 PPG, 1.8 REB/G, 1.2 AST/G, 45% FG)

The Southern California native finds a spot in the starting lineup after pretty minimal action in his first three years. However, Babek did see time in all 30 games last season and got to play alongside some of the most talented Eph players in recent memory. Thrust into the starting point guard role this season, a lot more will be asked of him as a senior. Babek has the height and length to overmatch a good portion of opposing point guards, but his defense is a huge area of focus. The NESCAC has some of the most explosive guards in all of Division III and Babek will be asked to defend many of them for extended periods of time. He isn’t the type of guy who will be putting up 25 points every night but if he can minimize turnovers and play solid defense against some of the opposing team’s best players, it will keep Williams in just about every game this season.

G: Spencer Spivy ’22 (2.3 PPG, 0.8 REB/G, 45% FG, 4.2 MPG)

Spivy is the perfect example of a guy that likely would have played much more significant minutes last year if he was on any other team (besides maybe Hamilton). Unfortunately he was stuck behind Casey, Heskett, and Scadlock, so Spivy didn’t get quite as much action as he would have liked. Now he’s jumping right into the starting lineup where he’ll have quite a bit more asked of him. Spivy is a versatile scorer who can really knock it down from deep, but he can also surprise you with his court vision as well. Realistically, the Ephs are going to need Spivy to start scoring a lot. They lost a ton of production from last year and they don’t have an obvious scoring threat left in the backcourt, so it’s Spivy’s year to step up. The sophomore had a decorated high school career so we know he has it in him, but it remains to be seen if he’s ready to take a step up to the next level in Williamstown.

F: Henry Feinberg ’20 (6.5 PPG, 3.2 REB/G, 1.2 AST/G, 49% FG)

Feinberg is a role player if there ever was one. This guy’s stats have been alarmingly consistent from year to year, but never jaw-dropping. He was a starter last year on their stacked Elite 8 team so he clearly brings something to the table, but to the untrained eye it’s hard to tell exactly what. Feinberg is a big hustle guy and will surely be the first to dive on the floor for a loose ball, but not a lot of what he does will show up in the box score. He has a big frame and is asked to defend a wide range of different players, so it’s very beneficial for Coach App to have a guy that he can task with defending anyone from point guards to big men. With that being said, it’s hard to say what more Feinberg can do this year given that he doesn’t show up much on the offensive end. With the amount of experience Feinberg has, it seems as though his most positive contributions will be helping groom some of the younger guys and teach them the Williams basketball way.

F: Jovan Jones ’22 (1.4 PPG, 1.4 REB/G, 5.7 MPG)

Much like Spivy, Jones would have likely seen significant time on any other team last season, but he was playing behind a slew of star caliber players. Now it’s his time to shine because this guy has talent, size, and athleticism that is very hard to come by in the NESCAC. At 6’5”, 210, Jones could have found himself a spot on a low-Division I roster, but he opted for Williams and it should pay dividends. He has the strength to muscle past a lot of the guards that will be defending him, but the quickness to beat a bigger guy if that’s the way that teams go. Working on his jump shot will be key because Jones hasn’t proven that he can consistently knock down the 3-ball and he has been an absolute liability at the charity stripe through one and a half seasons thus far. Jones has the athletic ability to be one of the most impactful players in the league so keep an eye on his progression this year.

C: Matt Karpowicz ’20 (11.8 PPG, 6.1 REB/G, 1.7 AST/G, 1.4 BLK/G, 61% FG)

Death, taxes, and Matt Karpowicz. It really just seems like we can’t get rid of this guy. When he’s not spending his time writing some terrific NbN articles, Karp is busy hauling down rebounds and posterizing opposing players. The 12th-year senior has played in literally every single game since his freshman campaign and this guy has been dominant. Karpowicz is shooting a career 61.6% from the field and has steadily increased his scoring numbers each season. He stands at 6’8” and 250lbs, and his impressive footwork and low-post ability make him one of the best true centers in the NESCAC. Williams has always had a very tall roster so Karp hasn’t needed to rebound as much as he’s capable of, but this year he’ll have to take a small step up in that area. The good news is it appears that he’s already doing that, as he posted a 29-point, 20-rebound double double in their most recent game against Springfield. The Ephs haven’t needed him to play up to his potential so far in his career, but this year he’s the star. This year the Ephs will only be able to go as high as Karpowicz can take them.

Everything Else:

Given their history, a 4-3 start isn’t exactly where Williams wanted to be at this point in the season. The reason for the slow start, however, is because the Ephs lost by far more production from last year than anyone else in the league. Graduating Casey, Heskett, Scadlock, Kempton, and Soto means losing 55.7 points per game (out of 82.1), 22.9 rebounds per game (out of 40.5), 10.6 assists per game (out of 15.4), and 126.7 minutes per game (out of 200). That is insanity. Losing over 50% of your team’s production usually results in what is colloquially referred to as a “building year” but we all know that those don’t exist in Williamstown. As usual, Coach App has a hoard of capable recruits and underclassmen that are ready to go.

There’s no doubt that Cole Prowitt-Smith ’23 will have the biggest impact of any freshman this season. Prowitt-Smith gained the attention of an array of Ivy League and Patriot League schools, but ultimately chose Williams and has made an immediate impact. Already averaging 12 points and 4 rebounds per game, Prowitt-Smith has a surprising level of athleticism and can knock down shots from anywhere on the court. His ability to get to the rim and defend at a high level are already more developed than most guards in the league and he’s only a freshman. This guy is the NESCAC’s next superstar.

Nate Karren ’23 will provide some support for Matt Karpowicz ’20 down low, but he is still in the progress of refining his skill set. Fellow rookie Alex Stoddard ’23 is a dynamic scorer and has already found himself scoring in double figures on a few occasions so far this year. The backcourt duo of Michael Myers ’21 and Ryan Moon ’22 will see an increase in minutes as well, but they, too, are relatively unproven and Coach App will look for them to develop mightily over the course of the season. The Ephs will also largely benefit from the return of Marc Taylor ’21 who missed the end of last year and the start of this year with injury. Taylor is a 6’8”, 200lb wing who can score and defend with the best of them. He will add a huge boost in size and depth for Williams who could really use help with both at this point.

This year will be a very telling one for the Eph squad and Coach Kevin App who, for the first time in his tenure, lost 5 seniors to graduation, all of whom played significant minutes. During App’s first 5 years at the helm, he never graduated more than 3 players in a single year and usually only 1 or 2 was playing meaningful time. We know he’s a capable recruiter, but we’re going to learn a lot about App’s ability to develop players in a much shorter time span if he wants the Ephs to be as competitive as they typically are. I don’t see them falling to the bottom half of the conference, but the NESCAC is very competitive and Williams has had a target on their back for quite some time now. They have to be very careful because it’s easy to get hurt when you fall all the way from the top.

Not Just a Football School: Trinity Men’s Basketball Preview 2019-2020

Trinity College Bantams 

2018-19 Record: 17-8 (6-4 NESCAC, lost in NESCAC quarterfinals)

2019-2020 Projected Record: 17-8 (5-5 NESCAC)

Key Losses: F Connor Merinder, F Jared Whitt, G Anthony Kelley 

Projected Starting Lineup:

G: Christian Porydzy ‘20 (8.3 PPG, 2.6 APG, 35.2% 3PT) 

An experienced veteran guard, Porydzy will likely play both point guard and off ball this year. While he has handled the ball more in past years, he is Trinity’s best three point shooting threat in the starting lineup and can knock down the deep ball from NBA range. Despite not being overly tall or athletic, Porydzy can set up teammates for open shots and score in bunches with long range shooting. He finished last season on a high note, with three long balls each against Bates, Tufts, and Williams. Trinity should have more guys who can bring up the ball this year, allowing Porydzy to move without the ball and find himself open looks. If he can create his own shot and continue to knock down the three at a high clip, Trinity’s offense will take a big step forward this season. 

G: Colin Donovan ‘21 (5.9 PPG, 34.8% 3PT, 90% FT) 

Donovan is another guy Coach Cosgrove hopes will increase his scoring output this season as the Bantams try to take that next step in the NESCAC. He has gradually played more and more as his career has gone on and his experience will help greatly when freshmen come into the lineup. Similar to Porydzy, Donovan can play the point or 2 guard with his shooting ability. They are both strong spot up shooters and could both help their team immensely if they can find other ways to score or set up teammates. Donovan was the Bantams’ top scorer on Saturday in a close loss at UMass Dartmouth, but we hope his two late missed free throws were a fluke as he is normally one of the NESCAC’s best FT shooters. If he can give Trinity a consistent 8-10 points every night this season, their offense will make great strides. 

F: Nick Seretta ‘20 (9.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.5 APG)

Not many guys in this conference play harder than Seretta. He can frequently be seen getting in passing lanes, harassing ballhandlers, and getting on the hardwood for loose balls. At 6’3” and 207 lbs, he is the type of tough, athletic wing Coach Cosgrove loves to recruit. Seretta can look like an All-NESCAC player some nights, and the Bantams will need this to happen frequently if they want to make a deep run in this year’s tournament. He had 20 points against Hamilton and 16 points against Conn last season. He is again a workhorse again for Trinity this season, averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds a game. Similar to many of his teammates, however, Seretta will need to shoot more efficiently and pick up the scoring a little bit to take some pressure off the perennially strong defense. Expect him to get a bulk of the minutes this year (he played in every game last season) and be all over the stat sheet while also doing the dirty work on defense. 

F: Kyle Padmore ‘20 (9.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.0 APG) 

A captain and three year starter, Padmore is going to be a big factor this year in determining how Trinity’s season will go. Similar to Seretta, he is a long and athletic wing defender and will usually be matched up with the opponent’s top scorer in Cosgrove’s intense man to man defense. The same can be said here as for any of the other starters: a small jump in scoring production will go a long way towards the team’s success. Padmore has been one of the team’s top scorers for a few years now, but he needs to improve at the line (54.8% FT last season, 53.8% in 7 games this season) and avoid getting in foul trouble- he has been a constant piece in Coach Cosgrove’s rotation for a few years now. As one of three senior starters, Padmore and his classmates need to be more efficient on the offensive end if Trinity is going to take the next step and be more competitive with the NESCAC’s top teams.  

C: Donald Jorden, Jr ‘21 (11.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 61.1% FG) 

Jorden will likely draw a lot more attention in the post this season, as teams started to realize last year what he was capable of. At 6’6” and 200 pounds, Jorden used his athleticism and strong footwork to maneuver around defenders and dominate almost every one-on-one matchup under the basket. He is one of the league’s best rebounders and shot-blockers and became the Bantams’ best scoring option last season- he scored in double digits 18 times and started every game. This year, though, it will likely be tougher sledding. Jorden does not have 6’9” Jared Whitt to spell him for minutes, and he will likely be scouted much more seriously by NESCAC opponents whose bigs may be pushing 6’10”. He’s been looking good so far this season, averaging 11.1 RPG and shooting a phenomenal 66.1% from the field. Those are all-NESCAC numbers. If Jorden can continue to dominate the boards and get easy baskets and his teammates score at a higher clip, Trinity will overcome their injuries and make a splash in the conference this season. 

Everything Else:

The Bantams have had a decent start to this season, but they have lost a few close games already that may end up coming back to bite them when they are looking for an at-large bid to the tournament late in the season. They have won the games they’re supposed to and their scoring can push triple digits on some nights, but their lack of ability to score in the clutch has hurt them in close games so far this season. We know that any James Cosgrove Trinity team will defend the ball voraciously and constantly be in passing lanes, but each of the starters will need to contribute a few more points per game for this team to compete with the NESCAC’s best. They ended last season on fire in conference play, winning their last four regular season games before losing a competitive battle on the road in the quarterfinals (it seemed almost unfair that they went from out of the playoffs all the way to the 5 seed only to run into Williams).

Being one of many NESCAC teams that have an at-large national tournament bid in their sights, the Bantams would love to go on a similar hot streak at some point this season to separate themselves from the middle of the conference make their case for a bid. Their defense led them to victory against the NESCAC’s weaker offensive teams, but their lack of a consistent top scorer was brutally evident in blowout losses to Amherst and Middlebury. While some of the starters have upped their scoring outputs from last season, Trinity would love to see a guy step up and average 15 a game to take some pressure off the defense. They unfortunately do not return as many of last year’s contributors as we originally thought, as Anthony Kelley ‘22 (buzzer beater to beat Colby last year) is not enrolled at the school this year and 6’9” Jared Whitt ‘22 tore his ACL in the preseason. This means that the non-starters who frequently see minutes in Cosgrove’s rotation- Joe Bell ‘20, Jadakis Brooks ‘20, Steven Lora ‘23 and DJ Smith ‘23- will be important in not only being fresh legs to come in and defend, but also in picking up the scoring.

Despite last season’s losses, this is still a veteran roster that should be excited about its freshman class and the losses its NESCAC foes have suffered. Coach James Cosgrove may be the league’s most intense coach and his players’ defensive energy reflects that attitude every game. While referees may dread games in the Coop due to his frequent disputes over calls, Cosgrove knows how to coach. Trinity has the NESCAC’s second best league record over the last five seasons. This statistic will look a lot better if they can add a deep run in the tournament and gain an at-large bid to the national bracket this winter. To make a bigger dent against the conference’s perennial powerhouses, the Bantams will need to be better at the free throw line and on the offensive end in general.

Size Matters: Bates Men’s Basketball Preview 2019-2020

Bates College Bobcats

2018-2019 Record: 7-17 (3-7 NESCAC), did not qualify for NESCAC Tournament

2019-2020 Projected Record: 12-12 (4-6 NESCAC)

Key Losses: C Nick Lynch, G Max Hummel, F Brandon Galloway

Projected Starting Lineup:

G: Jeff Spellman ’20 (15.4 PPG, 5.0 REB/G, 4.1 AST/G)

Last season Spellman made the leap from good to great. He saw his already solid scoring, rebounding, and assist numbers increase and he established himself as one of the most explosive guards in the league. This guy can beat anyone off the dribble and is able to create his own shot with ease, making him the go-to guy when they need a basket. The only danger for Spellman this year is that he tries to do too much on his own. He’s the best player on the team hands down, but he’s got 14 other guys on the roster who are capable of holding their own at this level, too. If the Bobcats get over-reliant on Spellman’s ability, their offense will get predictable and very easy to stop. If he can do his part to create looks for other guys on the team then opponents will be forced to respect the other options and Spellman, in turn, will benefit.

G: Nick Gilpin ’20 (5.5 PPG, 3.2 REB/G, 2.9 AST/G)

Filling the obligatory “coach’s son” role, Gilpin is the steady hand on the team. The point guard doesn’t always fill out the stat sheet, but he always has an impact on the game. Coming into this season, Gilpin had played in 73 career basketball games at Bates and started 65 of them – this kid has seen it all. His numbers have remained relatively steady over the course of his career, which makes it easy to know what you’re going to get out of him but hard to know what areas he can really improve in. At first glance it sort of seems like he should be scoring more. He definitely is a pass-first point guard, but he’s shot over 40% from the field in his career and over 40% from beyond the arc, as well. With that being said, he has never averaged more than 6.1 points per game in a single season during his career, so it makes you wonder why he’s not shooting more. If he can increase his scoring output just a tad to complement Spellman in the backcourt, then this will be a very challenging team to stop.

G/F: James Mortimer ’21 (5.7 PPG, 2.3 REB/G)

Mortimer will play one of the most important roles this season for Bates. At 6’4” and 185lbs, Morty is one of the only guys that can match up physically with some of the bigger wings that they’ll see from teams like Hamilton or Williams. He’s got the quickness to beat guys off the dribble and the strength and athleticism to go strong to the rim and absorb contact through the finish. He’ll also be asked to rebound at a higher level this season given that the Bobcats were dead last in rebounding a year ago. Like Gilpin, Mortimer’s numbers have remained largely the same in the early part of his career so if Bates is going to get better this year it’ll have to start with more production from guys like Morty.

F: Andrew Snoddy ’22 (7.1 PPG, 3.8 REB/G, 50.5% FG)

Unfortunate injury ended Snoddy’s freshman campaign, but he looked very good in his short time. His lanky build distracts from the fact that Snoddy has some pretty legit athleticism and he’ll jump through the roof when you’re least expecting it. It’ll be tough for him to match up physically with some of the bigger wings as well, but he has the athleticism to do it. Shooting over 50% from the field is an excellent sign of production, but it’s a bit deceiving because he was only 3-19 from 3-point land. If he’s able to expand his range this year then teams will have a very difficult time preventing the Bobcats from spreading the floor and shooting them out of the gym. Snoddy will also need to step up on the glass this year because there really isn’t anyone on the roster who has had rebounding success in the past and rebounding was easily their biggest weakness from last season.

C: Kenny Aruwajoye ’22 (2.3 PPG, 2.9 REB/G)

There will likely be no one who is asked to take a bigger step forward this year than Kenny. He played sparingly as a freshman, mostly just filling in when C Nick Lynch needed a break. Now he’s the most experienced center on the roster and he’ll have to match up with the likes of Matt Karpowicz from Williams and Luke Rogers from Tufts. Defense and rebounding will be the focus for Aruwajoye because if he can negate the effects of some of the league’s top centers, the rest of the team will take it from there. His touch around the rim is getting better by the day and if he can prove that he’s capable of knocking down a 10-12 footer when left open then that opens up a world of options for the Bobcat offense. Fortunately Coach Furbush brought in a few freshmen big men so Aruwajoye will get to rest when he needs it, but he’ll still be asked to shoulder the majority of the low-post workload.

Everything Else:

The 2019-2020 season looks to be a very interesting one for the Bobcats. They’ve seen success in the recent past, but struggled last season and failed to qualify for postseason play for the second consecutive year. After the graduation of the Delpeche twins in 2017, Bates has had a hard time finding a solid replacement down low, and have subsequently seen huge dips in their rebounding numbers. It seems that Coach Furbush has finally been able to address this problem by bringing in Jacob Iwowo ’23, Omar Sarr ’23, and Cam Riley ’23, who stand at 6’7”, 6’8”, and 6’9”, respectively. Iwowo is a bit skinnier and isn’t a true center, but Riley has a similar build to Matt Karpowicz of Williams and projects to be a very fine center if he can stay in shape enough to make it up and down the court all game. Sarr is also a big body that can anchor the post, but he possesses a bit more athleticism than Riley, which means that they may even be able to put the two of them on the court together if they want to go with a bigger lineup.

Given that size has been their problem, Bates has a number of experienced guards coming off the bench. Tom Coyne ’20 is one of the deadliest sharpshooters in the league and he usually ends up doing quite a bit of scoring for the Bobcats, playing over 20 minutes per game despite not being in the starting lineup. Kody Greenhalgh ’20 also brings a wealth of experience and athleticism, playing a similar style to Jeff Spellman ’20. He can knock down a three, get to the rim, and defend at a high level, making him an excellent spark of energy off the bench. Freshman Stephon Baxter ’23 also adds a dynamic playmaker to the backcourt, as he has the quickness and basketball IQ to see significant playing time in his rookie season.

This is one of those “off years” for Bates, where they only have 4 home conference games as opposed to 6 road games. Only Amherst, Hamilton, Bowdoin, and Colby will have the pleasure of dealing with the raucous Bobcat crowd that sits within arm’s reach of the players on the court. Speaking of which, I’m going to take a quick moment to discuss the newly labeled student section in Alumni Gym. Bates has added a banner reading, “’Cats Clutter” that hangs directly over the student section behind the far basket in their gym, and it’s actually sort of a bummer for two key reasons. The first reason being that the best spot to sit from a fan’s perspective is not at the end of the court (granted someone has to sit there), but in the corner of the gym adjacent to the student section where if you sit in the front row you have to be careful that you don’t trip a player or referee running down the side line. It’s a lot of fun being so close to the court that no one can hear the chirping going on besides the fans and the players they’re going after. The second (and more important) reason is the fact that “The Litter Box” is clearly a better and more appropriate name for the fan section. It still covers the cat metaphor that they were going for while more aptly describing the array of individuals that chose to attend the basketball games. Would you rather get heckled for 40 minutes by a gathering of felines or by a collection of rowdy fans who openly call themselves pieces of crap? I rest my case.

Either way this is sure to be a fun year for Bates as they look to get back to their winning ways. They’ve got a good mix of seasoned vets and developing youngsters, which should serve them well as the season progresses. The biggest foreseeable issue is the lack of post experience: the Bobcats now have 3 true centers on their roster but 2 of them are freshmen and the other is a sophomore. Division III basketball isn’t known for having dominant big men, but the NESCAC is the exception. Nearly every school in the conference has a guy or two that are 6’8”+ and can bang around down low with the best of them. It will come down to how quickly the freshmen can develop because if they can add productive minutes, even in short stints, then the experienced backcourt should be able to take them where they need to go. However much success they have in grooming their big men will likely define the direction that their season will go.

Kena Returns: Hamilton Men’s Basketball Preview 2019-2020

Hamilton College Continentals

2018-2019 Record: 25-5 (7-3 NESCAC), runner-up in NESCAC Tournament; lost in Sweet 16 of NCAA tournament

2019-2020 Projected Record: 23-6 (7-3 NESCAC)

Key Losses: PG Tim Doyle, F Michael Grassey, F Peter Hoffman, C Andrew Groll

Projected Starting Lineup:

F: Kena Gilmour ’20 (19.0 PPG, 5.8 REB/G, 3.1 AST/G)

Where do you start with Kena? The 6’4” senior is the reigning NESCAC Player of the Year who led the Continentals in minutes, points and assists as a junior. He was an efficient player, shooting 47% from the floor, 34% from three and 88% from the free throw line. Gilmour stuffed the stat sheet, leading the Hamilton offense with 19 points per game, grabbing close to 6 rebounds per game and dishing out 92 assists. On defense, he recorded 37 steals and 20 blocked shots over 30 games. He has been a scorer throughout his time at Hamilton and should graduate with close to 2,000 career points. Not surprisingly, Kena received pre-season second team all-American Division III honors after earning fourth team recognition as a junior. Amherst’s Grant Robinson was the only other NESCAC player to receive pre-season honors, earning a fourth team selection. The lefty Gilmour has a very impressive resume, and he should repeat as league POY. As the only returning starter for Hamilton, look for Kena to continue to be a dominant player for the Continentals. 

G: Mark Lutz ’20 (6.4. PPG, 1.9 REB/G, 49.2% FG)

Last season, Lutz came off the bench for Hamilton and provided deadly three point shooting. Despite playing a shade under 16 minutes per game as a junior, he took the third most threes per game for the team or about one every 5 minutes on the floor. That approach was a good strategy for Coach Adam Stockwell, as Lutz nailed 48.4% of his three point attempts. Lutz’s height (6’3’’) helps him get good looks at the three point line, and his accuracy adds offensive punch for the Continentals. Entering his senior campaign, Hamilton will again look for his three point prowess to provide valuable spacing for their offense. It will be interesting to see in his final season on the Hill whether Lutz will remain in a specialist role or expand his repertoire.

PG: Sayo Denloye ’20 (5.4 PPG,  2.5 AST/G, 46.3% FG)  

Denloye replaces Tim Doyle at the point for Hamilton, and as a junior the California native displayed the consistent ability to breakdown defenses with his quickness. Sano had 24 steals, and he was effective from the three point line hitting just under 43% for the season. As a starting point guard, he will need to improve his free throw shooting, as he shot just 52% from the stripe as a junior. Hamilton will ask Denloye to run the show, which likely means getting the ball to Gilmour in his favorite offensive spots, driving and kicking to Lutz for three, and tossing lobs to Spencer Kendall and Nick Osarenren. If he can do those things, keep up his strong defense, improve at the charity stripe and sprinkle in efficient three point shooting, the Hamilton offense should be in very good shape.

F: Spencer Kendall ’21 (4.6PPG, 3.3 REB/G, 64.1% FG)

If you watch a Hamilton basketball game, there will invariably be a “wow” play during the game in which the 6’5” Kendall elevates and executes an impressive dunk. Spencer has a serious vertical leap, which the Continentals put to good use on the offensive end with lobs to him off backscreens and back cuts. In a reserve role as a sophomore, finishing lobs was his primary offensive role, and Spencer did it well, evidenced by shooting an impressive 64% from the floor. Entering his junior year, Hamilton will look for Kendall to expand his offensive role, to provide strong rebounding (especially with the loss of three of its top four rebounders), as well as to improve at the free throw line, where he shot only 45%.

C: Mike McEneney ’21 (1.7 PPG, 40% FG)

McEneney is one of only two Continentals on the roster over 6’8” and should replace some of the minutes of departing center Andrew Groll at center. Last season, Groll provided stable, consistent play down low: strong defense, physical play in the post, complimentary offensive skills and stout rebounding against taller NESCAC foes. Hamilton will be very happy if Mike fills a similar role in his junior campaign. McEneney, who is listed at 6’9” and 245 lbs., played less last year than other projected starters Lutz, Denloye and Kendall, only logging a shade under 7 minutes per game as a sophomore, so he has less of a track record in league play. Over the course of a game, Coach Stockwell could fill the center role with traditional big men McEneney and 6’8” freshman Patrick Mogan, or sprinkle in a small ball line-up with Kendall and 6’4” Nick Osarenren upfront.

Everything Else

Hamilton has been very successful over the past 2 years, going 49-10 and 14-6 in the NESCAC, but four of last year’s starters graduated last spring, taking with them 319 career starts on the Hill, roughly half of last year’s scoring and 46% of their rebounding. Scanning the New England landscape, it doesn’t appear that any of the other top NESCAC teams are absorbing such significant losses to their starting line-up. Hamilton will need to replace the production of that impressive ’19 class, but Coach Stockwell has built a strong program in Clinton which employed a deep rotation last season. Projected starters Lutz (16 min/G), Denloye (14 min/G) and Kendall (14 min/G) all played meaningful minutes, as did sophomore Nick Osarenren (13 min/G), who flashed terrific defensive skills with impressive length and athleticism. Sophomores Eric Anderson and Elliott Tirabso return, and the incoming freshman class appears strong, highlighted by point guard Nkosi Cooper and center Patrick Mogan. And of course, one of the top players in all of Division III returns to the Hill.  

A couple things to watch for the Continentals. As great as Kena Gilmour has been, he has struggled in two spots. Last season Tufts appeared to be his kryptonite – holding him to a combined 13 points on 4-19 shooting in two games (regular season and NESCAC tourney). In two high-stakes losses, the NESCAC tournament final and the NCAA tournament third round game, Gilmour shot a combined 8-37 from the floor. All those games were played at Hamilton’s home, Margaret Bundy Scott Field House. As scary as it is to think Gilmour will continue to elevate his game as a senior, those are areas that I am sure he is looking to improve.  

The schedule leans somewhat favorably to Hamilton, as they get league home games against Middlebury, Trinity, Wesleyan and Williams. One key to the season appears to be finding complimentary scoring to Gilmour, as Hoffman and Grassey, who scored close to 1,500 and 1,200 points, respectively over their careers in Clinton, have departed. Two other keys include getting strong post play and finding the right mix on the floor from a deep roster. If Hamilton answers those questions, and odds are they will with an impressive coach Andrew Stockwell at the helm, the Continentals should continue their NESCAC success.

Volatility at its Finest: Middlebury Football Preview 2019

2018 Record: 5-4

Projected 2019 Record: 5-4

Projected Offensive Starters (*6 returning)

QB – Will Jernigan ‘21*

RB – Peter Scibilia ‘21*

WR – Maxim Bochman ‘20*

WR – Maxwell Rye ‘20*

WR – Aidan Power ‘20

TE – Frank Cosolito ‘20*

OL – Kevin Woodring ‘20*

OL – Jack Purcell ‘20

OL – Colin Paskewitz ‘21

OL – Ben Berry ‘21

OL – Charles Ferrell ‘22

Projected Defensive Starters (*6 returning)

CB – Coltrane Marcus ‘20

CB – Jourdon Delerme-Brown ‘20

S – Jonathan Hobart ‘21*

S – Gordon Pollock ‘22*

LB – Wyllis McKissick ‘20

LB – Pete Huggins ‘21*

LB – Jack Pistorius ‘21*

DL – Martin Williams ‘20*

DL – Charles Roselle ‘21*

DL – Elijah Thiam ‘22

DL – Nick Leone ‘22

Projected Specialists (*2 returning) 

PK – Carter Massengill ‘20*

P – Maxwell Rye ‘20*

KR/PR – Greg Livingston ‘22

Offensive MVP: QB Will Jernigan ‘21

I know it’s a cop out to continue selecting the quarterbacks of each respective team, but Middlebury REALLY (emphasis on really) needs Jernigan to take a step forward in 2019. As a sophomore, Jernigan played in all nine games, but did not replace the turnover-prone Jack Meservy ‘19 until the fourth game of the season. The Georgia product did some solid things with both his arm and his legs (1,143 passing yards, 321 rushing yards, 17 all-purpose touchdowns), but turnovers were (and still are) a concern; Jernigan threw an interception in every single one of those starts in addition to a handful of fumbles. The good news is that most of his core weapons return to Middlebury, including workhorse Peter Scibilia and freakish tight end Frank Cosolito. If Jernigan can severely cut down on the turnovers and find a way to get these guys the ball in space, the Panthers could be a dark horse in the NESCAC Championship race. 

Defensive MVP: DL Martin Williams ‘20

Middlebury finished with a mere 11 sacks as a team last season; while this is surprisingly good enough for fifth in the ‘CAC, it’s merely half of the next highest number (Trinity had 22 sacks) on the list. If Middlebury is going to improve upon some disappointing defensive statistics from 2018 (allowed 28.3 ppg, including the third-worst pass defense), it needs to start with creating havoc behind the line of scrimmage. Here is where Martin Williams steps in, ready to improve upon last season’s performance. In 2018, Williams led the defensive line in tackles and finished tied for the lead in sacks, which was good enough for a selection on the 2018 All-Conference Second Team Defense. Williams and his partner-in-crime Charles Roselle ‘21 are more than capable of changing the momentum of a ballgame at any given moment, and the Panthers will undoubtedly need Williams (and the rest of the D-line) to step up in a major way this season in order for the Panthers to have a shot at dethroning the likes of Trinity, Amherst, Williams, etc. 

Team Slogan for 2019: #MiddKickoffCountdown19 #GoMidd #PantherNation

Middlebury might win the award for most generic team slogan of 2019. The supposedly seventh-ranked liberal arts school by US News decided to leave their wits in the classroom and play it way too safely with their selection(s). Do better, Panthers. Rating: -2.36/10

On the bright side (literally), this picture courtesy of Middlebury athletics is absolutely breathtaking and was an absolute must-add to the article. Middlebury photography skills: 1000/10

Everything else:

While I’m on the subject of artistic skills, shoutout to the Middlebury graphic design team. These images of players are absolutely D1 caliber. Exhibit A and B: 

Back to the real football talk: Middlebury’s major concerns come on the defensive side of the ball, but there is room for optimism as they return key contributors at nearly every position. Despite losing All-Conference Second Team linebacker Kevin Maxwell ‘19, the Panthers return Pete Huggins ‘21 (who finished tied for second with Maxwell in tackles) as well as starter Jack Pistorius ‘21 (34 tackles, 5.5 TFL) and key contributor Wyllis McKissick ‘20 (24 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery). Along with Williams and Roselle, sophomores Elijah Thiam ‘22 and Nick Leone ‘22 will most likely round out the defensive line. Both underclassmen contributed greatly as freshmen last season, combining for 33 tackles and 3 TFL. Alex Norton ‘20 (11 tackles 5 TFL) and Emo Schiappa ‘22 (11 tackles) will likely play a significant role as role players, although it would not surprise me if Norton ends up starting based on his high tackle for loss numbers. 

The real question mark for this Panther defense is at defensive back. For a team that had the third-worst pass defense in the NESCAC a season ago, I’m not sure if losing both starting corners is a good or bad thing; nevertheless, Coltrane Marcus ‘20 and Jourdon Delerme-Brown ‘20 will attempt to keep opposing receivers in check, with reserves Nate Stewart ‘22 and Kevin Hartley ‘20 ready to go on a moment’s notice. 

Offensively, the Panthers have weapons all over the field. Cosolito is the best tight end in the league and will be salivating at the opportunity to be matched up with an opposing linebacker. Wide receivers Maxim Bochman ‘20 and Maxwell Rye ‘20 are more than capable of making up for Conrado Banky’s production (26 catches for 376 yards and 4 touchdowns) and Scibilia is one of the top five running backs entering the 2019 season. In my eyes, the Panthers’ season comes down to the offensive line. Losing four starters is absolutely brutal, and although three of the four newly projected starters are upperclassmen, we’ve seen time and time again that offensive linemen need time to gel and work together. Not only are they tasked with creating holes for Scibilia to run through, but they have to protect Jernigan and allow him to get comfortable throwing the ball. If defenders collapse the pocket time and time again, Jernigan will get happy feet and either make errant throws on the run, or not trust his offensive line and look to scramble. If the O-line can neutralize the defensive pass rush, Jernigan should have no excuses getting the ball to his talented playmakers, and the Panthers should be in a position to win 6+ games. If not, this could be a long season.

More Than Just the CBB: Colby Football Preview 2019

2018 Record: 3-6

Projected 2019 Record: 3-6

Projected Offensive Starters: (*8 returning)

QB – Matt Hersch ‘22*

RB – Chris George ‘20

WR – Rory Glavin ‘21

WR – Andrew DeFranco ‘20*

WR – Bernie Sander ‘21*

TE – Ethan Smith ‘21*

LT – Chris Shaffrey ‘20*

RT – Travon Bradford ‘20*

LG – Brandon Leibman ‘21*

RG – Evan Domonkos ‘23

C – Ty Mahar ‘22*

Projected Defensive Starters (*9 returning)

DE – Carson Katen ‘21*

DE – Nick Wilcox ‘22*

DT – Patrick Sopko ‘20*

DT – Harrison Vedrani ‘21*

LB – Sean Godin ‘20*

LB – Marcus Bullard ‘21*

LB – Will Terzi ‘22*

S – Gus Forseth ‘20

S – George Eisenhauer ‘22

CB – CJ Hassan ‘20*

CB – Asher Inman ‘21*

Projected Specialists (*2 returning)

K – Walter Thilly ‘21*

P – Moises Celaya ‘22*

Offensive MVP: QB Matt Hersch ‘22

Hersch, now entering his sophomore campaign, will command the offense from the get-go this season after earning himself the starting job early on in his freshman year. Following his promotion Hersch posted impressive numbers all season that we had not seen from a Mules’ quarterback in years. He threw for 288 yards and added 40 more on the ground in a tight win against Hamilton last season and he was able to find the back of the endzone 3 times against Wesleyan, amassing 277 yards in a tough 8-point loss. Hersch’s flashes of great talent and leadership led him to be named NESCAC Co-Rookie of the Year. He ranked second in the league in completion percentage (60.5%) and with an experienced group of receivers returning (DeFranco, Sander and TE Smith) one would have to think that his efficiency and accuracy would go nowhere but up. Hersch is also helped out by the fact that 4 of the 5 guys on his line are returning and should be ready to get going right where they left off last season. The biggest change for Hersch this year will be that he does not have the safety net of Jake Schwern ‘19 to rely on, so he and the Mules will need RB Chris George ‘20 to fill that void. There are lots of reasons to believe that Hersch will continue to develop and show himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league this season, whether it be the 7 other offensive starts he has returning or whether it is the constant presence of Coach Cos in his ear giving him advice, Hersch has it all lined up to make his name known in the NESCAC.

Defensive MVP: LB Marcus Bullard ‘21

All eyes will be on Junior Marcus Bullard when the Colby defense takes the field this season. Bullard’s season was unfortunately cut short due to injury last year, but when he did play he put up the most impressive numbers on the team and some of the most impressive across the conference. Despite not playing in two games Bullard still lead the Mules with 55 tackles last season (30 solo) as well as recording an interception. These stats were good enough to earn him 5th in the NESCAC in tackles per game (7.9). Some of Bullard’s highlights last year include a 12-tackle game against Tufts as well as 9-tackle game against Bowdoin to end last season in which he also recorded his lone interception. I’m sure Marcus has been itching to get on the field and stay healthy so he can show off his dominance all season long. The Mules are lucky to have a deep roster on the defensive side with lots of returning starters who are hungry for more of the success they were finally able to taste under Coach Cosgrove last season. Bullard will be the focal point of this Colby defense and he will look to lead by example on the field.

Biggest Game: October 26th vs. Bates

The CBB games are obviously the biggest games of the year for us up here in Maine so it is pretty safe to say that Colby’s biggest game of the season will be their lone CBB contest at Harold Alfond Stadium. Last season the Mules were able to take their game against the Bobcats by a decisive score of 21-6 in what was a cold, snowy, sloppy affair. Hopefully this year’s contest has some fairer weather so that all CBB fans alike can get a slightly more interesting contest. After defeating Bowdoin to end the season Colby officially captured their first CBB crown in years and Coach Cosgrove proved his immediate impact on the program. Both Bowdoin and Bates will have targets on Colby’s back from the start of the season, so an opportunity to decrown the champs on their home field will not be something that the Bobcats take lightly. We still have 6 weekend of football before this contest, but I’m sure Colby fans and players alike have this date circled on their calendar.

Best Hair: DB Zacariah Cody ‘23

Cody may only be a freshman but he has the stare of a man who has seen things and a golden mane fit to rule all the light can touch. The freshman defensive back from Port Clyde, ME is on the lighter side at 149lbs, especially considering the flow, mutton chops and stache combo must account for a few pounds. Whatever he lacks in weight he clearly makes up for in confidence and intimidation…I mean, you don’t want anyone with mutton chops trying to tackle you.

Everything Else:

Looking at the number of returning starters that Mules have on offense, defense and special teams, it is safe to say that their experience will be one of their greatest assets this season. Although Hersch is still young, he was able to get nearly a full season under his belt last year and will have the vast majority of his offensive starters for last year returning with him. WR Andrew DeFranco ‘20 is the senior leader for this receiving core, leading the team in receiving touchdowns (2) and coming in second in receptions (19). Another important member of the offense that can’t be looked over is TE Ethan Smith ‘21. Smith had a breakout campaign in his sophomore year, quickly becoming Hersch’s favorite target. He had 8 more receptions than anyone else on the team (27) and far-and-away led the team with 274 receiving yards.

Coach Cosgrove had a successful first season, so we’ll see if he can keep the Mules trending upward in year two

With the departure of RB Jake Schwern ‘19, who accounted for the majority of Colby’s receiving and rushing yards last season, the Mules will need a new go-to guy in the red zone and Smith could be that guy. On the topic of running backs, RB Chris George ‘21 will have the torch passed down to him this year as he is expected to hold the majority of the carries for Colby. George has appeared in the majority of the Mules’ contests since his freshman year, but being in the shadow of Schwern saw his playing time limited. Now he has the opportunity to be a focal point of this offense so it will be very interesting to see how he plays into Coach Cosgrove’s new offensive scheme.

Defense is much of the same story as offense when it comes to returning starters. 9 of the 11 guys lining up on defense for the Mules started last year as well, which should give them the advantage of having developed over at least a full season together already. The Mules D allowed 254 points against last season, putting them at 6th in the NESCAC. It was clear last year that their defense had more than enough to handle teams like Bowdoin and Bates but weren’t quite up to the task against schools like Wesleyan and Amherst. A consistent defense is key for the Mules if they want to beat a school that is not from Maine and start to put Colby football back on the map. With the man, the myth, the legend, Jack Cosgrove at the helm and roster chock full of talent and experience, the Mules should look to compete for a spot in the middle of the conference and defend their CBB title this fall.