And then there were four. NESCAC playoff baseball is here with a few surprises. Bates came out of nowhere to claim yet another playoff appearance. Tufts remained the top team in the East. Wesleyan and Amherst can no longer claim dominance in the West. Williams and Middlebury took their spots. Colby didn’t win a conference game all year. On a positive note, there’s nowhere to go but up for the Mules! NESCAC playoff baseball promises close games, great pitching, and clutch hitting. Let’s take a look at my stock report:
Long: Whatever’s going on in Lewiston, ME
Brace yourself, Bobcats fans, you’re not going to appreciate what I am about to say: Lewiston has to be the worst location of all NESCAC schools. And yes, I am writing that in my dorm room in Middletown, CT. Regardless of their location, the Bobcats have been a model of consistency for the past few years. When Coach Leonard left for Middlebury three years ago, the growth could’ve ended for Bates. Jon Martin, a former Vassar College coach, was named head coach shortly after. Vassar, a school who boasts alumni such as Meryl Streep and Phoebe from Friends (Lisa Kudrow), isn’t known for its athletics. Martin has led Bates to three consecutive playoff appearances in a division with Trinity and Tufts. Bates has always relied on their strong pitching and clutch hitting to win some ball games. The Bobcats have never been able to get over the hump. Is this their year? It certainly looks like the Bobcats have improved on the hitting side with Christian Beal ’21 and Jack Arend ’20 hitting in the high .300’s. Nolan Collins ’20 has been an absolute force yet again with a team high in innings and a 2.44 ERA. Of all the teams in the playoffs, Bates has the best matchup in game one against Williams. If the Bobcats take game one, they will be in the driver’s seat for the rest of the tournament. I am excited to see if Bates can finally get over the hump this year – it would be tough to have three straight playoff appearances coupled with three straight early exits. Arend, Beal, Collins, and co. may have the swagger to get them over the top, though. It will be fun to watch.
Short: Amherst and Wesleyan
If you were to ask me before the season began who would represent the West in the playoffs, I would say Wesleyan and Amherst. Wes made the playoffs a year ago, and their only real impact player who graduated was Matt Jeye. I would’ve expected Mike McCaffrey ’19 and Kelvin Sosa ’21 to have dominant seasons again. McCaffrey only appeared in three conference games, which was a dramatic decrease from last year. Wesleyan didn’t seem to have the same clutch factor they did a year ago. Alex Cappitelli ’20 had an off year for his high standards, and the weakness in the lineup game from middle to bottom. Clutch hitting was a real issue for the Cardinals. Amherst was fresh off a NESCAC championship the year before. One could speculate that a fall was possible for Amherst. The losses of Coach Hamm, Harry Roberson, and Max Steinhorn proved to be too much to overcome. Amherst has always been a very resilient bunch, so I was surprised they couldn’t get a playoff bid in a so-so conference. Middlebury taking a playoff spot wasn’t all that surprising to me. I truly believe getting swept by Wes to start the 2018 season just crushed the Panthers the rest of the way. It was a sophomore slump for Midd. The likes of Colby Morris ’19 and Justin Han ’20 drove the Panthers this year to a playoff appearance. Amherst and Wesleyan are the usual suspects representing the West based on previous years, so I am quite shocked that neither of them made it in this year. I am curious to see how they bounce back next year especially with Wesleyan graduating many key players.
This weekend of NESCAC baseball has a lot in store for us. The East division will be settled this weekend – Tufts and Trinity face off in Hartford to help determine if Bates still has a shot at the postseason, while the Bobcats will battle to stave off elimination. The West is still wide open. Every team is still in it. Wes will play Midd in a big series this weekend. Williams will play Hamilton, too. There’s a lot still up in the air, which makes it an exciting weekend of baseball. Given these conditions, I believe there are a few undervalued and overvalued teams and players. Here’s my stock report for 4/26.
Long: John Casey
Warren Buffett has always been into value investments. He would invest in companies like Coca Cola and Geico early on because he believed these were quality, undervalued blue chip companies that would outperform expectations. It’s easy to jump on an equity when it has already shown immense growth, but hard to invest when it has hit rock bottom, and every investor says it will always go down. Well, I want to long Coach John Casey of Tufts. If I were Buffett, I would’ve invested in Casey in the early ‘90’s before his reign of terror on the NESCAC. I believe that Tufts, directly based off of the way they’re playing now, will continue to grow and dominate. Walking around their facility, I can see why they win so much: their culture is different. Baseball isn’t really just a sport for them. It’s not academics 1, baseball 2 at Tufts. It’s academics 1 and baseball 1. It’s almost like they’re running a D1 program among the NESCACs. Casey has implemented a system that produces game changing players like Ed Bernstein (check out his senior ERA) and Malcolm Nachmanoff just to name a few. These guys dominate the game, and make baseball really fun to watch. Tufts is playing Trin this weekend, which will be a good preview of a playoff series for sure. I have full faith that Casey will find a way to get it done. Trinity is talented, but Tufts has been there and done that multiple times. Trinity hasn’t been on the big stage as much. Let’s see who comes out on top.
Short: Wesleyan
It pains me to say this because Wesleyan is my team; however, I must stay impartial and follow my fundamental analysis. Middlebury will win the series against West this weekend. I am not saying this because I believe Wes is weak. The Cardinals still boast a powerful lineup with Danny Rose ’19, Andrew Keith ’19, and Andrew Kauf ’20. Leadoff man Alex Capitelli ’20 is hitting below .300 this year, which makes it seem like the world is blowing up. Capitelli is one of the most consistent players in the league. The man is still playing solid baseball, but not quite up to par with his season last year. My problem with Wes isn’t necessarily their lineup (albeit they miss a guy like Matt Jeye dearly in the middle). The Cardinals pitching has been pretty brutal this year. Forget about starting pitching for a second, Wesleyan’s main problem from last year was finding a guy to share the burden of a late inning with Pat Clare ’19. Clare is great for one or two innings. Like any reliever, he gets figured out when he stays later in games. I don’t think Coach Woodworth has found that really reliable number two reliever yet, which is crucial in the late innings further on in the season. The starting pitching has been mediocre as well. Sosa and McCaffrey don’t look the same as last year. Sosa’s funky delivery and solid repertoire of pitches still makes him a force. I am not entirely sure what’s going on with Mike McCaffrey ’19. He hasn’t pitched nearly as well as last season. Wesleyan’s talent has to be up there with any NESCAC team, but I feel like it’s not being utilized to its full potential yet. This weekend against Midd is really make or break for the Cardinals. I had high hopes coming into the season for Joe Mescall ’21 and David Redfield ’21, who are two quality relievers. Redfield had an unbelievable summer season, and Mescall has brought his usual swagger to the mound. These are two guys who I believe, if utilized correctly, will help the pen enormously. Redfield has been sidelined by injury, so his health has a direct effect on Wesleyan’s season. Going on the road to Midd won’t be easy. If the Cardinals can string together at least two wins, I see them having a playoff shot. Pitching may hamper them, though.
Believe it or not, we only have a few weekends left of NESCAC baseball. It feels like just yesterday when we were finishing up our last mid term before Spring break. Spring was upon us with the glowing prospect of a fresh start for many NESCAC teams. The East division vs West division couldn’t be more different right now. The East is headlined by Tufts and Trinity (and sort of Bates). It’s fair to say that Bowdoin and especially Colby are out of the playoff hunt. In the West, it’s really anyone’s ballgame. Amherst leads the conference at 5-4, but with Midd, Williams, and Wesleyan tied for second at 3-3, a positive weekend can swing the standings. Let’s take a look at my stock report from this past weekend.
My longs:
Hamilton
That’s right. I said it. I think Hamilton has a serious shot at earning a playoff spot this year. If I were a true investor, Hamilton would be considered a growth investment. Not an investment like Lyft where profitability is unlikely and the increased vetting process of drivers may seriously hurt the industry. I categorize Hamilton like a Pinterest or Slack. Hamilton has been largely flying under the radar for years in a division that includes the likes of Wesleyan, Amherst, and Midd. Hamilton could always hit without question – their Achilles heel for years has been defense and so-so pitching. I watched Wesleyan’s weekend series two weeks ago against Hamilton. Not only did Hamilton outplay Wes, but they did so in a way that stuck out to me: they were ultra-confident. The infield made clutch plays. Pitchers got outs in critical situations. Everyone did their job to perfection. Hamilton may be sitting in last right now in the conference, but I think that’s only temporary. Wesleyan isn’t the Wesleyan it used to be. Midd is streaky. Williams won’t make it until the end. Amherst graduated so many guys, it’s hard to tell if they’re still dominant. Let’s see.
Matt Koperniak
Koperniak is my value investment. When I analyze the fundamentals of his game, I understand why he’s a leader in many of the main statistical hitting categories. He has the most ABs of many in the league, while still hitting .376. All NESCAC pitchers are definitely throwing the kitchen sink at Koperniak, but he has had an answer for everything and everyone. He’s an all-around player that is exciting to watch. Trinity goes against Hamilton in a non-conference affiar this weekend. I’m really excited to see how Hamilton deals with Koperniak. Like I said before, there’s no question he is the best hitter in the league right now. Will Hamilton still have the same swagger they’ve shown all season by going right after him? Or will they stay away, and nibble the corners. You can’t miss against Koperniak. He’ll make you pay for the smallest of mistakes. We’ll see how that turns out.
My shorts:
Colby
I shorted Bowdoin in my last stock report because they were winless in league play. Now, it’s time to short their local rival. It’s tough for me to do this to Colby because a number of their current players and former players have helped me with pieces throughout the years. The Mules haven’t won a conference game all year. They suprisingly got swept by Bowdoin, and unsuprisingly were swept by Trinity. This weekend doesn’t get any better. The Mules will face Trinity for a three game conference set. The biggest problem for the Mules right now is hitting. The team only has scored fifteen runs in conference play. The pitching hasn’t been terrible, but only scoring fifteen runs in compared to Tufts’ forty-three tells the story. A high point for the Mules is William Wessman. He has played well throughout the year, hitting .316. It is unfortunate that the team hasn’t picked him up. If Colby can somehow beat Tufts, that would help a miserable season.
The West
The West has been stronger than the East in the past few years. Obviously you have Tufts dominating the East under Casey’s tenure, but beyond that, Trinity has been up and down. The Maine schools haven’t been great either. Wesleyan, Amherst, and Middlebury have been putting up competitive teams year in and year out. The West is good this year don’t get me wrong, but they’re not dominant like in years past. Tufts and Trinity are dominant. I don’t see any West team beating those two. The depth in hitting that both teams have outweigh any team from the West. This will be a big weekend for the West as conference games will differentiate teams from one another. We shall see.
Well NESCAC baseball fans, the conference season is upon us. That means it is unlikely to see a 22-3 game with six homers that go over four hundred feet. The warmth of Florida and Arizona aren’t felt anymore. The only thing that these players feel is the biting cold of New England’s early spring. The conference season kicked off with a bang. Defending league champs Amherst lost two out of three games to Little Three rival Wesleyan. Trin looks confident after taking a three game set against Bowdoin. A lot has transpired this past weekend. Let’s take a closer look at what/who I believe is up or down.
Stock up
Trinity pitching
Andrew DeRoche seems to have taken over as the Friday starter for the Bantams
Like in any sports conference, there is a traditional hierarchy. That being said, the NESCAC is one of the most competitive conferences in all of college athletics. Sweeps occur, but they are rare, in my opinion, due to the general parity in the league. Bowdoin hasn’t been strong in years. They have been a middle to lower tiered team in the East division. They have traditionally had trouble swinging the bad even with some solid pitching. This past weekend proved no different. Picking up three wins for Trin is huge. Even if the wins are against Bowdoin, a win is a win. In a league with not very many conference games, each one could be the difference between a playoff appearance or simply only studying for finals. Trinity was lead by their stellar pitching this past weekend. Andrew DeRoche ’20 went 7.1 innings allowing no earned while giving up three hits. Will Simeone ’22 went game two with an almost identical stat line. All hands were on deck for game three with Max Barsamian ’21 going four solid innings with Eric Mohl ’19 going another four innings unearned to pick up the win. Obviously Trin’s largest adversary in the East is Tufts. Tufts had a slow start last year, but ended up going all the way to the end with Amherst. After graduating a few big bats; however, I think it may be time for Trinity to take the reigns of dominance in the East.
Dominance of the West Division
Williams is 12-1 right now without having played a league game. They swept Colby this past weekend with big hitting numbers. Amherst dropped two against Wesleyan, playing sloppy defense for most of the weekend. The result would have easily been flipped if Amherst took care of the baseball. I am certain that a program like Amherst will clean up the defense, and be a force in the division like so many years prior. Middlebury looked strong too and has two perennial POY and Cy Young candidates like Han and Morris, making it no wonder why they’re off to a strong start. Coach Leonard has made the program strong again and it is clear that last year was an anomaly for the Panthers. They lost some close games due to a lack of clutch hitting and some bad breaks. Hamilton had a tough weekend against Midd but the Conts still play a style of baseball where they can absolutely rake and just need to find a way to close out games against strong teams. They have the talent, there’s no question about that, but what remains to be seen is if they can convert that talent to consistent winning. Wesleyan had a dismal spring trip. Hitting, like always, was strong, though their pitching was inconsistent at best. They certainly turned it around this weekend winning two against a strong foe in Amherst. The emergence after a season off for Andrew Keith ’19 is huge. He and freshman Adam Geibel ’22 are strong additions to the team. I can honestly see all these teams make a strong push for the division title. All West division games will be fun to watch.
Stock down
Maine Baseball
Brandon Lopez has been one of the only bright spots for Bowdoin so far
It has been a tough start for every Maine NESCAC team. Bowdoin has yet to win a game; Colby couldn’t contain Williams; Bates lost two out of three to Tufts. After making the playoffs a year ago, I thought Bates was on the rise. The Bobcat pitching has always been its bread and butter. Like everyone knows, you have to score runs to win ball games. Bates has always had trouble putting the ball in play. With Tufts and Trinity playing as well as they are, it is hard to envision Bates making the playoffs*. Bowdoin has yet to win a game. I repeat: Bowdoin has yet to win a game. Not only are they are shooting 0% in conference games, they haven’t beat a non-conference opponent either. A major reason why that’s the case is playing in California for spring training. The teams in California are much better than in Arizona or Florida. I understand wanting to play the top talent, but if you’re unable to pick up even one win, why go? Don’t you want to gain confidence? The addition of Coach Jesse Woods has certainly helped in the early-going, but it’s hard to envision them sustaining this come conference play. The Mules haven’t faced a team from the East division yet, but the games against Williams don’t show much hope. Colby has some talent and maybe even be able to steal a win or two, but the strength of Tufts and Trin makes it unlikely for a Maine team to make the playoffs.
*Editor’s note: Bates has had a mysterious way of performing just well enough to sneak into the playoffs over the last few years despite being one of the worst statistical teams. Tufts and Trinity look like the clear 1 and 2 in the east, but we’ve learned by now that you can never really count out the Bobcats.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
I have always liked this quote. It makes sense to me that the dominant teams will stay dominant no matter the changing circumstances. The Patriots, under Belichick, have been able to adapt and beat teams in a variety of ways. The San Antonio Spurs have been able to remain a dominant team even if they don’t have many ‘superstars’. Tufts lost a huge portion of their lineup, but here they are just as good as ever. Bates and Trinity are right there in the mix just like always. That’s the East, though. In the West, I think it’s a toss up. I think Midd will make the playoffs, but after that, it’s a crapshoot. Will Williams be dominant for the first time in a while? They have the pieces, and have played well so far. Will Wesleyan’s pitching come around? It showed up for the most part against Amherst. Will the departure of Brian Hamm from Amherst kill the intimidation the team radiated? We’ll see. It will be an exciting spring season without a doubt.
As we do before all NESCAC seasons get under way, we are predicting the 2019 Baseball awards winners. At NbN, we try to keep things light so we added in a few extra awards that aren’t on the traditional lists at the end of the year such as comeback player of the year and best power hitter. No, we aren’t always right, but these are supposed to be hot takes, so take ’em or leave ’em.
West Player of the Year: Alex Cappitelli ’20, OF (Wesleyan)
Many of you probably think I am picking a Wesleyan guy to win player of the year just because I go to Wesleyan. There is no question, however, that Cappitelli deserves this preseason award. Capp showed last year that he is one of the best hitters in the NESCAC. He seemed to always reach base last Spring. His approach is simple. His quick hands and short bat path made it nearly impossible to pitch effectively to him last season. He hit a preposterous .367 last season, leading Wesleyan in average and ranking second in runs batted in. The NESCAC is a solid pitching conference, and playing in a division with Williams, Amherst, and Middlebury forces each team to face a quality starter every conference game. As the lead off guy for a team that was a game shy of the conference championship last season, Capp was one of the most respected hitters in the NESCAC last year. He defense is solid, but not as outstanding as fellow Wes outfielder Andrew Keith. Capp’s bat sets him apart from the rest of the league. With a team as potent as the Cardinals, Capp will be relied upon again to have some clutch at bats. He is my clear choice for West player of the year.
East Player of the Year: Matt Koperniak ’20, OF (Trinity)
It is quite the coincidence that my pick for East Player of the Year comes from a school only thirty minutes away from my choice for West Player of the Year. It is also a coincidence that they are both junior outfielders. Koperniak can flat out rake. His 2018 campaign was stellar: second in the league in slugging, third in homers, second in average, and many more flashy statistics. The lefty hitter can attack good pitching in a multitude of ways. Similar to Cappitelli, Koperniak has a patient approach matched with great bat speed. He is a solid fastball hitter, but has shown in years past to react nicely to off speed junk. Voted NESCAC first team and All-New England Region third team, Koperniak has already proved that he is one of the best hitters in New England. I am curious to see how pitchers and coaches will attack him because I certainly wouldn’t want to let Trin’s best hitter beat me.
West Cy Young: Colby Morris ’19, RHP (Middlebury)
The senior Panther always seems to have his chin up and neck out (see roster photo) when he steps on the mound. I am not picking Morris because it will strengthen my relationship with the editor of this blog (the editor is in fact Morris). Morris has proven every single year that he is one of the best pitchers in the league. As a number one in the NESCAC, your hitters will be facing the opponent’s number one as well. Like I said earlier, starting pitching in the West is significantly stronger than in the East. Run support has been an issue in years past when Morris took the hill. His win-loss record is deceptive, but his IP, ERA, and any other significant pitching statistic shows why he is one of the best pitchers in the league. He had an incredible 1.68 ERA last year with 64.1 IP, 7.41 K/9, and a staggering four complete games. The win-loss record is highly deceptive at 5-4. Let us see if Morris can complete his unbelievable Midd career with a deep playoff run and strong season, or if the league has finally figured him out. I assume the former, but in a league so strong, you never know.
East Cy Young: Nolan Collins ’20, RHP (Bates)
Emerging as the ace for the Bobcat squad, Collins had a terrific sophomore campaign. He started the year off a bit slow, but once they got to conference play it seemed that he got better every single start. He earned a no-decision in his first conference start (a loss against Bowdoin), then proceeded to allow just 4 earned runs over his next 3 conference starts including a 3-hit shutout in a playoff-clinching win over Tufts. Collins tossed 7 outstanding innings in a wild conference tournament game against Amherst and carried that momentum into the summer when he was a member of the Brockton Rox in the Futures League. Against some very good competition over the summer, Collins finished with a 2.67 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched. Plus he’s already on a hot start this year – 1.50 ERA and 13 strikeouts (and 3 walks) over 12 innings in two starts. This guy is undoubtedly one of the top arms in the league and he’s our leading candidate out of the east.
Reliever of the Year: Ian Nish ’20, RHP (Hamilton)
Nish broke out onto the scene last season as the best stopper in the conference and there’s no reason to think that 2019 will be any different. The All-NESCAC and All-region closer should be the best weapon on the Hamilton staff and his funky delivery and aggressive attack on hitters should make everybody uncomfortable in the box. He tallied six saves on the season and should be challenged in that category by Amherst’s Mike Dow, but Nish had much more dominant and consistent performances than Dow. While he played first base his first two years as a Continental, he showed that he can power his fastball by hitters with the best of them, collecting one strikeout for each inning (20) that he threw last year and already has seven K’s in just 3.1 innings thus far. B
DeMarini CF3 Slugger Award: Kellen Hatheway ’19, IF (Williams)
Hatheway has had a very interesting career arc, to say the least. He broke onto the scene in his freshman year, batting .331 with 42 hits and taking home NESCAC Rookie of the Year Honors. His sophomore year he only made 9 errors as the starting shortstop for the Ephs, winning the NESCAC’s Defensive Player of the Year Award; he also batted .362 with 42 more hits. His junior year was a bit of a down year for Hatheway and the team as a whole, and while his power numbers stayed the same (2 HR, 10 2B), his batting average took a dive to .228 by the end of the year. The interesting thing, however, is that Hatheway also played in the Futures League last summer as a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks and he batted .311 while launching 6 home runs (the league leaders had 7) and clubbing 6 doubles. These numbers make me believe that his junior season was an anomaly and that Hatheway isn’t going anywhere. Consider him a dark horse candidate for the DeMarini CF3 Slugger Award.
Rookie of the Year: Christian Beal ’21, OF (Bates)
I have to say, this guy kind of came out of nowhere for the Bobcats. The Miami of Ohio transfer was a bit of a mystery when he set foot on campus in the fall, but he has really been producing so far out of the lead off spot this year. Beal is slashing .333/.415/.500 so far on the season and he’s already got a home run and three doubles in just 36 at bats. Bates certainly hasn’t been known for their offense in recent years, but perhaps Beal is the spark that this lineup needed. In fact, their numbers through 8 games this year already look like a significant improvement from years past. Guys often tend to struggle once they start facing other teams’ best pitchers come conference play, so we’ll have to keep an eye on Beal to see if he can maintain this impressive level of play.
Rick Ankiel Comeback Player of the Year Award: Johnny Lamont ’20, LHP (Williams)
While I wrote that Lamont is in the class of 2020, he is really just entering his redshirt sophomore campaign after missing the entirety of 2018 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. While there are other candidates for this award (Spencer Shores ’20 at Midd), Lamont was the most dominant before his injury and is the most removed from his surgery (summer 2017). Now, it’s been over a year and a half since he has seen live action, so there may be some rust to knock off for the hard-throwing lefty, but eventually he should settle in as the sure-fire Eph ace. He had a fantastic freshman season, landing him on the First-Team All-NESCAC squad with a 1.80 ERA in 40 innings with 38 K’s. He did have a dominant pitching performance that season against Wesleyan, striking out a whopping 15 hitters in a 9 inning CG performance, so if he is anything like his former self, he will be a force to be reckoned with in the NESCAC west this season.
Tufts pulled off what some consider the impossible last weekend. The Jumbos made the tumultuous trek up to Vermont and defeated top seeded Middlebury. The Jumbos were led by freshman guard, who went to my high school, Tyler Aronson. Aronson played an all around complete game, proving to the conference why he will be an elite player for years to come. Similar to what happened to UVA last year during March Madness, Tufts was not intimidated by playing the top seed. The Jumbos looked poised and cruised to a nine point victory. Tufts’ opponent this weekend, Hamilton, should be weary about playing Tufts. It was about three weeks ago when Hamilton squeaked out a four point win against the Jumbos. I consider three weeks an eternity ago. Like Jim Mora famously muttered, “Playoffs?!” the playoffs in any sport have proved to be a different beast. Considering how competitive the league is, which Tufts displayed this past weekend, Hamilton needs to come out of the gates hot. The Continentals need to prove why they’re hosting the game— boasting an earned cockiness and swagger. Hamilton beat Williams and lost by a point to Midd this month. Kena Gilmour continues to dominate the scoring sheet. Gilmour has proven to be the league’s elite scorer this year. Even though basketball is a team game, I am excited to see the individual match up of Aronson versus Gilmour this weekend. Let’s take an in depth preview of the game.
Eric Savage needs to move a mountain to bring the Jumbos some rings.
Overview
Tufts is one of those teams no one wants to play in the playoffs. They’re simply a team with momentum. You know those teams. The ‘07 Giants, who barely earned a wildcard, went on to defeat the 18-0 Patriots. The Blackhawks when Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews were in their primes. And most famously, the 1980 Men’s Olympic hockey team. Their run was quite a ‘miracle.’ Tufts, based on their regular season performance, doesn’t deserve to be in this spot. Their 4-6 conference record barely squeaked them into the playoffs. Then they go and beat a one seed. That’s sports. Every game starts 0-0. Previous games don’t matter; it’s what about what you give today. Although at first glance it’s a shock for Tufts to have defeated Midd, it’s terribly surprising. Tufts has a young squad led by veteran coach Bob Sheldon. Coach Sheldon has been around the block a few times. He has experience in big games and knows how to create a game plan that once featured big man Tom Palleschi and now is centered around guard Tyler Aronson. I will get to Aronson in the next section, but now I want to focus on Tufts as a team. Their general statistics don’t jump out at me. They shoot 43% from the field and around 32% from deep. What is particularly striking is that they have a 66% free throw percentage. I don’t want to jinx anything, but having a number like that may come back to bite them in a big game. The Jumbos on average get outrebounded per game as well. Was their victory against Midd an anomaly? Maybe. I don’t want to say anything further, however, since playoffs are so much about momentum. Frankly, numbers get thrown out the window at this point.
Hamilton has five legitimate weapons in their starting lineup.
Hamilton has been a powerhouse all year long. They’re that team who you know is very good, but for some reason, they don’t garner the same respect as a Williams or Midd. One reason is that Hamilton is so far away. In the NEW ENGLAND Small College Athletic Conference, an upstate New York school outside of Utica is out of the picture. The Continentals have proven year in and year that they’re a very good basketball team. This year is no different. Hamilton posted a solid 7-3 conference record—finishing nearly undefeated at home (11-1). I am going to take one more shot at upstate New York here. Tufts playing Hamilton is like the Florida Gators traveling to play the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. That ride is far even if you’re not playing the day of travel. Regardless of home court advantage, Hamilton has proven that defense wins games. They allow on average 70 points per game, one of the best in the league. They’re tough inside too with a six rebound advantage per game. Hamilton plays a tough brand of basketball with a potent inside force and strong scoring led by Kena Gilmour.
Tufts X-Factor
G Tyler Aronson
Tyler Aronson ’22
Aronson, a Holliston, Mass, native and my former classmate at Rivers, has been the guy for Tufts all season. He has averaged 9.4 points this season and posted solid assists and turnover numbers. I do not think Aronson’s stats jump off the page. He is not the guy that will get you twenty-five, ten, and five on a daily basis. He is, however, one of the smartest basketball players I have seen. I want the ball in his hand with the game on the line. His handle is one of the best in the league and is a smart player. He will not throw away the game with a stupid turnover. I am excited to watch him develop into one of the league’s best these next few years. He is not huge like Wesleyan’s Austin Hutcherson, but he’s quick and bouncy. He can seriously fly. If Tufts wins the game, I guarantee Aronson will have a breakout game.
Hamilton X-Factor
G Kena Gilmour
Kena Gilmour ’20
In life people overcomplicate things. They think in order to sound smart they have to sometimes evade a logical answers. Think back to all those multiple choice exams. What if instead you picked the answer that was a bit more wordy and complex, you picked the one that simply answered the question in a well-constructed sentence? Makes you wonder. Kena Gilmour is the obvious choice for Hamilton’s x-factor. Sure he has great teammates, but he has proven that he is one of the best in the league scoring wise. Aronson can use Gilmour as a model for his own progression. Gilmour needs to start off hot to show that he is the alpha right now in the league. He needs to assert himself right away. He and Hamilton can’t let Tufts have a glimmer of hope. He needs to crush any hopes of a Tufts’ miracle from the jump.
Final thoughts
Aronson has come out of nowhere to put Tufts in the Semis.
This game is definitely an interesting matchup. Every single statistic I look at points in Hamilton’s favor. The Continentals have a better offense, defense, home court advantage, etc. You get the general picture. Something doesn’t sit right by writing Tufts off immediately. Aronson is a young, confident player. He has young guys around him looking to make a difference. There’s no reason to pick Tufts except for the fact that they’re coming off a huge win at Midd. It’s like I am sitting in that multiple choice exam where the right answer is in front of me, but there is another option that mentions something from a textbook reading from the first week of the semester. I am split; however, I cannot go against the simple answer. Hamilton will win this game.
A week changes a lot in college basketball. Prior to last Friday, both Amherst and Hamilton were riding high with undefeated conference records. Hamilton was ranked top ten in the nation. Both teams, however, got “Hutcherson’ed”. Wesleyan’s sophomore superstar Austin Hutcherson unleashed himself at the expense of Hamilton and Amherst. Hutcherson put up thirty-two against Hamilton, and beat Amherst the next day on a game winner. Sound familiar, Amherst fans? If not, refer back to Nathan Krill’s, of Wesleyan, shot against you guys last season to send you guys home. Wesleyan, therefore, has shot up the power rankings—showing the league that it’s Williams and Wesleyan at one and two. As of right now, the third position in the conference is up for grabs.
Michael Grassey needs to step up this weekend as a reliable second option to Gilmour
Amherst and Hamilton are led by veteran coaches, who know how to make critical decisions down the stretch. Who will step up in the clutch? Hamilton star Kena Gilmour only put up fifteen against the Cardinals. In a big game like that, I predicted that he would match Hutcherson bucket for bucket. As the game progressed, though, Hutcherson showed that he and the big man from Williams are the two prime contenders for league MVP. As for Amherst, Grant Robinson’s must be getting close to a herniated disk in his lower back. He has carried Amherst all season long in the scoring department. The early season loss for is beneficial for both teams in my opinion. These are talented teams, but in order to be the best in an ultra competitive conference, they must address their weaknesses no matter how small they are. If a team’s winning, it’s easy to sweep under the rug a weakness that may not be visible. Getting hit in the mouth, in contrast, will always force you to look yourself in the mirror, and immediately address areas to improve.
X-Factors:
Hamilton: Kena Gilmour
Gilmour is one of the most talented, creative scorers in the league. While Hutcherson may have shown up Gilmour last Friday, I don’t doubt that the game was an anomaly for him. Gilmour can flat out score whether it be on the perimeter, slashing, or in transition. He still leads the league in points per game, albeit only by 0.1 over Hutcherson. What I believed bothered Gilmour last Friday was Wesleyan’s defense. Wesleyan’s Coach Reilly has always been known to put an extremely athletic team on the floor. Switching on all screens is something that Wesleyan can do because one through five can guard the opponent’s one through five. I still remember the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals where it seemed like 5’ 9” Isaiah Thomas would switch onto Kevin Love in the post, or concrete-footed Kelly Olynyk would get switched onto Kyrie Irving at the point. Brad Stevens, no matter how smart he looked, seemed to get played by Ty Lue (ironic, right)? Nevertheless, Amherst couldn’t exploit the switch-happy Cardinals. Gilmour had to deal with a longer Hutcherson or the wingspan of Jordan James. That game was the first test of the season for Hamilton. They lost to a very comparable Wesleyan team. Amherst will be no less talented than Wesleyan. Amherst has great coaching and talented players; they may not have Wesleyan’s athleticism, but they play great individual defense. Gilmour has to explode for at least twenty to win it for Hamilton.
Amherst: Grant Robinson
As stated in the introduction, Grant Robinson has been carrying Amherst offensively all season long. Robinson averages about fifteen points per game. None of his teammates are close to him in scoring. Robinson also shoots the ball at an efficient percentage, shooting at almost fifty percent per game. Robinson’s efficient not only in the field, but at the line as well. He shoots at 93% from the line, which is Steve Nash like numbers. He also leads the league in steals. Robinson can’t do it alone, but I picked him over his other teammates because he must score to give his team a shot at winning. Sure Eric Sellew or Fru Che could go off for fifteen or twenty points a piece. A counterpoint to that argument is the following: as seen in the Wesleyan game, all the attention has to be on Robinson to get those guys going. If Robinson’s having an off night, the defensive scheme against Amherst could be switched to giving Sellew or Che more attention. There’s no way these guys have the offense, even combined, to carry Amherst to victory without a strong showing from Robinson. As seen all year, Grant Robinson has to be the guy in order for Amherst to come away with a win.
Final thoughts:
Both teams are at critical junctures of their seasons. Winning the league title is not over by any means. Wesleyan simply woke them up. Stars didn’t perform down the stretch for Hamilton; Amherst has relied too heavily on one player. I give the edge to Hamilton here because your best player having an off night against one of the best defenses in the country is more easily treated than relying on one guy to score every possession. I’m going Hamilton in this one.
Overview: The undefeated Hamilton College Continentals will travel to Middletown, CT, this Friday to face off with the 9-4 Wesleyan Cardinals. Hamilton comes into this game ranked sixth in the country, while the Cardinals are outside looking in. The Cardinals are 1-1 in conference play with a win against a tough Middlebury team, but a big loss against the undefeated Williams College Ephs. Like I said in my preview a month ago, Wesleyan is big, tough, and athletic. Losing a guy like Jordan Sears was a heavy blow for the Cardinals, but Wesleyan still maintains its strong defensive identity. Allowing on average 68.5 points per game, Wesleyan ranks fourth in the NESCAC. Wesleyan’s field goal percentage has plagued them thus far. The Cardinals have one of the worst shooting percentages in the league at 43.9%. Wesleyan is led offensively by sophomore superstar Austin Hutcherson. Hutcherson has followed up his Rookie of the Year campaign with a stellar sophomore season so far. His 20.1 points per game ranks third in the league, while trailing Hamilton’s Kena Gilmour who averages 20.6 points per game. The matchup between Hutcherson and Gilmour will be fun to watch.
Hamilton needs to look out for Jordan Bonner on Friday night.
Both players seem to score at will in a variety of methods whether it be in transition or in a half-court set. These guys bring length to the guard position: Hutcherson stands about 6’ 6”, and Gilmour is 6’ 4”. Gilmour’s game is well-rounded because he not only scores well, but he’s tough on opposing ball handlers and rebounds well. Senior Michael Grassey of Hamilton will be another tough matchup for the Cardinals. Grassey is one of the best rebounders on the squad average around seven boards per game. He plays a Draymond Green style of play with strength inside, but also shooting to stretch the floor.
Don’t be surprised if Coach Riley puts Jordan James on him. James is having a breakout season as well. The long 6’ 7” forward will contest every shot, and is strong on the boards. He has the athleticism to run the floor with Hutcherson to dish to. This game will be Wesleyan’s third tough challenge in as many weeks. Starting off the season against Williams, Middlebury, and Hamilton is a daunting start of the season. The team can’t be so unhappy with the results so far, but picking up a win against Hamilton would be huge. Hamilton barely squeaked past Trinity, who doesn’t have nearly the team Wesleyan does. Like last year, this matchup is sure to be a thriller.
We expect to see some athletic and high-flying plays in this game.
X-Factors: This one’s pretty easy. How could I not pick Hutcherson and Gilmour? Hutcherson affects the game in so many ways. Coming in as a freshman and making the incredible impact he did right away, you come to realize the quality of player he is. It doesn’t appear that he gets rattled over the moment. Even though he’s one of the most electrifying players coming down the court in transition, I like his maturity in the half-court offense even more. He’s a smart player who knows how to run an efficient offense.
Kena Gilmour ’20
To cap it off, Hutcherson is a ninety percent free throw shooter. With the game on the line, you trust Hutcherson with the ball. You can’t say that about many college players especially underclassmen. Kena Gilmour has made his case to be regarded as one of the best players in the country. He statistics tell the whole story with his prolific scoring and steals. He’s very similar to Hutcherson in that he’s a young guard whom you trust to run the offense efficiently. I’m excited to see the plans Coach Reilly and Coach Stockwell devise to stop the opponent’s superstar guards.
Austin Hutcherson ’21
Final Thoughts:
This game is Hamilton’s biggest test so far in the season, while it’s one of the final really tough opponents Wesleyan will face for a while. Hutcherson has picked up some of the slack that Krill’s graduation left, but I’m not entirely sure that’ll be enough to dethrone Hamilton. Hamilton is playing great basketball right now, and I’m not sure that Wesleyan has played to their potential yet. My heart will always be with Wesleyan, but for this game, Hamilton is too good to pick against.
Losing on a buzzer beater is never easy; losing to a Little Three rival in the playoffs on a buzz beater is even more devastating. It is a new year, however. The pain from last year may still be present in some of the veteran players, but each Mammoth comes into the season with a mindset that they’re going to win the league. Amherst, a perennial NESCAC powerhouse, is reloaded and ready to take revenge on Wesleyan and other rivals.
Amherst has already demonstrated that they have the fire power to compete with anyone thus far. Three wins, and two of those in triple digits, illustrate the ease in which Amherst scores. These wins are impressive, but they’re against non-league foes. With official NESCAC basketball conference games starting in January, Amherst will have confidence going into January if they continue their strong November run into December.
The Mammoths are off to a hot start in their 2019 preseason.
Key losses:
G/F Johnny McCarthy
GP: 26
PTS/G: 11.9
FG %: 43.4
3PT %: 30.3
FT %: 65.1
REB/G: 7.7
A/G: 3.0
The 6’ 5” Nobles product capped off his Amherst career with a historic 2017-2018 season. McCarthy was a solid all around player, who was as active on the glass as he was scoring buckets. Even though the three point and free throw percentage don’t necessarily show such a significant impact, McCarthy’s willingness to scrap with big boys such as Wesleyan’s Nathan Krill and Jordan Sears shows how much he will be missed. The twelve points a game, second highest on the team, will be a void that will need to be filled by the squad this season.
G Michael Riopel
GP: 26
PTS/G:12.7
FG %:46.2
3PT %:43.0
FT %:74.2
REB/G: 5.3
A/G: 2.1
Similar to McCarthy, Riopel brought great length to the Amherst lineup. The 6’ 5” guard, sitting two hundred pounds of lean muscle, was the top Amherst scorer. The numbers, especially the field goal percentage from two and three, standout. Riopel was an efficient scorer who made tough shots in his phenomenal Amherst career. The veteran guard had a solid handle, and didn’t have a huge turnover problem. His leadership ability on and off the court will be sorely missed.
Projected starting five:
Grant Robinson:
Grant Robinson ’21
GP: 24
PTS/G: 9.4
FG %3: 6.2
3PT %: 33.7
FT %: 69.6
REB/G: 3.4
A/G: 3.4
Grant Robinson came onto the scene last season as a young guard who was poised to lead a championship contending team. Sound familiar Austin Hutcherson fans? It’s tough to compare Hutcherson and Robinson beyond that, though. Robinson stands about three inches shorter, which makes him less of a threat guarding bigger guys. Hutcherson is definitely a better fit in Wesleyan’s switch happy pick and roll defense because of this. Robinson, however, obviously isn’t a Wesleyan Cardinal. He plays in an Amherst system that was led by Riopel and McCarthy last year. Robinson put up stats that makes you think he could be one of the NESCAC’s next elite guards. Amherst will always be one of the top dogs in the conference, and Robinson will be one of the reasons why
Josh Chery:
Josh Chery ’20
GP: 21
PTS/G: 4.8
FG %: 37.5
3PT %: 30.0
FT %: 51.5
REB/G: 3.6
A/G: 0.9
I feel like the following statement is the antithesis to everything I believe in (and the teachings of Michael Lewis’s Moneyball): Josh Chery’s stats don’t tell the whole story. Allow me to elaborate. His points per game, mediocre assists, rebounds, and poor free throw percentage don’t make you think he would be an impact player on an Amherst team. He averaged only fourteen minutes a game last year. He isn’t one of those guys that will wow you with his shot, but he physical presence will scare a lot of scorers. Chery, at two hundred and fifteen pounds, can defend any position. He’s got the athleticism to stay with guards, and has the strength to compete with any big man. I’m interested to see how this plays out.
Che, a Brooks School product, is another athletic forward that will help Amherst defensively this season. As a side note, Brooks seemed to always defeat Rivers, my high school, in league championship games during my time at Rivers. There is still salt in the wound. Che is an efficient scorer, as seen by his numbers from last season. His free throw shooting was a liability. Late in games, without McCarthy and Riopel, Amherst needs to have confidence in guys who will step the the line and make big buckets. Let’s see if Che is up to the challenge.
Eric Sellew:
Eric Sellew ’20
GP: 21
PTS/G: 8.5
FG %: 48.6
3PT %: 21.4
FT %: 73.3
REB/G: 5.9
A/G: 1.4
Standing at 6’ 7,” Sellew is one of the tallest guy in the starting lineup for Amherst. He’s a solid big man. He has the strength to go one on one with Wesleyan’s JR Bascom or Jordan James, a highly anticipated matchup that we’re sure to see this year. With a league and a game that has transitioned from a half court set to more of transition offense, I’m interested to see how Sellew will fit this. He’s a positive player for Amherst without a question, and has good footwork both up top and in the paint. If Amherst wins the league crown this year, it’s because Sellew became one of the best rebounders in the conference, averaging around nine to ten.
C Joe Schneider:
Joe Schneider ’19
GP:26
PTS/G:6.5
FG %:52.1
3PT %-
FT %: 61.3
REB/G:5.2
A/G: 1.2
I’m a rower, so I’m used to being around guys in the six-five to six-eight range. Joe Schneider is a giant compared to most of my teammates. Standing at six-ten Schneider is one of the biggest guys in the entire league. This length not only affects shots and shot selection, but can disrupt entire offenses who rely on half court pick and roll sets. Schneider can definitely move his feet at his size, but anyone that size will have difficulty staying in front of elite athletes. Schneider is a proven commodity in the Amherst system; he knows how to play and win effectively. Those long arms and blocking ability instill fear in some guards, but I’m not entirely confident that he will be able to stay in front of the quickest. We shall see.
Everything else:
Schneider and the Mammoths have a lot to prove without McCarthy and Riopel.
There are teams, in any sport, that will put a quality product on the field or the court any year regardless of talent level. Coach David Hixon has been coaching the Amherst squad for forty-one years. He’s been a champion in more ways than one both in the league and on the national level. Is this one of the most talented Amherst teams to be assembled? No, not even lose I don’t think. They have talented players, yes, but I don’t believe they have a starting five that will wow you, or bench players that will make you think this is one of the great Amherst teams. Remember me saying, though, that Amherst will never be blown out. That’ll never happen. The program is too rich and seasoned to lose any game by double digits. Robinson will lead them, and they will be very solid. I personally can’t wait for the Amherst vs Wesleyan or Amherst vs Williams matchups this year. Those games are special to watch as a sports fan.
A conversation with Grant Robinson:
Andrew Martin: Which losses from the senior class last year will be felt the most, and what additions from this year’s freshman class will offset those losses?
Grant Robinson: Having lost Johnny McCarthy and Michael Riopel, we lose our two leading scorers from last year. Because of this, we need guys to step up and take initiative to score the ball more so than they may have last year. I think Will Phelan and Devonn Allen are two freshmen that can have an immediate impact for us this year and help offset our losses. They’ve already shown great improvement and ability early in the season.
AM: How will Amherst reclaim its spot as the best in the league?
GB: I think to reclaim our spot as #1 in the conference we have to continue to have a chip on our shoulder throughout the entire season. A lot of people don’t have high expectations from us this year, but as a team, we will use this to our advantage and push each other to prove that we can be even better than we were last year.
With a healthy mix of veteran experience and talented underclassmen, Wesleyan basketball proved to the rest of the NESCAC why they’re a top three team in the conference. Winning all three games against rival Amherst, including a game-winner in the playoffs against them, illustrates the Cardinals’ ability to make plays in big games. Two losses, including a playoff loss, to the other purple rival, Williams, is one of the many motivating factors for Coach Reilly and the rest of the Birds to win it all this year.
Wesleyan is set to play this week in the Herb Kenny Tip-Off Tournament and will embark its revenge tour early against Williams this season on December 1st in a non-conference game. Any NESCAC game is normally ultra competitive, so there’s not necessarily a roll over opponent for the Cards.
Key losses:
G Jordan Sears
PTS/G: 5.8
FG %: 53.8
FT %: 60.2
REB/G: 5.2
Sears’ general stats don’t wow you, but earning the 2017-2018 NESCAC Defensive player of the year award shows how much of an impact player he was. As an avid Dirty Bird fan, I watched the six foot five guard seemingly come out of nowhere and fly to make ridiculous blocks. He will be missed in the Cardinal defense and transitional game.
F Nathan Krill
PTS/G: 12.2
FG %: 42.2
3PT %: 38.2
FT %: 73.3
REB/G: 8.6
A/G: 1.3
In an offense that possessed a venerated transition offense, Krill’s ability to dominate in the half court was fun to watch. His 12.2 point per game will surely be missed as the season goes on, but I know Coach Rielly will figure out ways to compensate for that loss.
Projected Starting Lineup:
G Austin Hutcherson ’21
Austin Hutcherson ’21
PTS/G: 12.0
FG %: 41.8
3PT %: 44.3
FT %: 82.6
REB/G: 3.7
A/G: 2.7
The 6’ 6” guard took the NESCAC by storm last year, winning Rookie of the Year honors. Hutcherson never looked like a freshman on the court last year: he looked live a seasoned veteran. His rare combination of towering height, athleticism, talent, and IQ for a guard makes him a candidate for even more league honors this year. He will dominate smaller guards on both offense and defense. Look for his assists to go up as he becomes more comfortable in the offense in his second year. Simply put, he’s a fun player to watch, and will be one of the center pieces of Wesleyan basketball for years to come.
G Jordan Bonner ’19
Jordan Bonner ’19
PTS/G: 15.5
FG %: 40.6
3PT %: 34.8
FT %: 84.9
REB/G: 4.7
A/G: 1.4
Bonner had another tremendous 2017-2018 campaign as he was named to second team all-NESCAC. He’s a creative, athletic scorer with a variety of moves to get to the basket. The confidence his teammates and coaches have in him to seal the game at the free throw line shows how talented he is in more than simply scoring. I expect him to shoot a little better from three than he did last year, but like Paul Pierce, he doesn’t rely on the three since he’s a talented scorer is so many ways.
F JR Bascom ’19
JR Bascom ’19
PTS/G:8.4
FG %:61.4
3PT %: 0.0
FT %: 69.5
REB/G: 5.6
A/G: 1.0
Bascom is one of those guys you love to have on your team. He communication on defense, calling out screens, switches, or rebounds, is infectious. Wesleyan has been known as one of the league’s best defenses primarily because of forces like Sears, but Bascom should be put in that conversation as well. He’s lengthy and thick, but there’s no question that he can move his feet well to reasonably stay in front on any guard on a switch. With Krill’s departure, look for Bascom to feel the burden of every big man in the NESCAC. It may physically take a toll on him banging with the biggest of the big boys every play, but he has the intensity to do so.
F Jordan James ’21
Jordan James ’21
PTS/G: 3.8
FG %:68.2
3PT :%-
FT %:58.8
REB/G:2.9
A/G: 0.1
Filling the shoes of Sears and Krill will be a tough task, but the two gentlemen replacing them already have a year under their belts in the Rielly system. Jordan James, with limited playing time in freshman year, will be called upon to step up in the starting line up. Standing at six foot seven with a massive wingspan, Jordan has the potential to be one of the most versatile defenders in the NESCAC. He’s very good defensively in transition, similar to Sears, and has very good basketball IQ. As a forward, however, he may have trouble hanging down low with opponents who are more filled out than he is. Krill definitely has the advantage in offensive skill and strength, but like I’ve said above, James is a different player in a good way. His wingspan will help him corral rebounds, and make it tough on smaller guards or big men to get a clean look. He’s poised to be a positive contributor in the lineup.
G Antone Walker ’21
Antone Walker ’21
PTS/G:7.6
FG %:34.0
3PT %:31.1
FT %:65.6
REB/G:1.2
A/G:1.3
Antone Walker is likely to be the other new addition to the starting lineup this season. The sophomore guard showed flashes of greatness last season with prolific scoring at times. The 7.6 points per game doesn’t do Walker justice with limited playing time from last season. He averaged about nineteen points per forty minutes last year. He’s a solid on ball defender as well with quick hands looking for steals. Wesleyan in recent years always put five guys on the floor with great length. Walker is an exception. Standing at six feet, Walker will have to work hard on switches, and avoid a much taller, thicker opponent utilizing the size mismatch on him.
Everything else:
Wesleyan showed last season that they’re far more than a defensive team. Even though they struggled in the half court at times, the combination of Hutcherson and Bonner provided enough scoring on the outside. That was last year, however, and the inside presence of Krill is gone. Will David Dixon be the guy to step up off the bench, and fill Krill’s shoes? It’s tough to say given the limited minutes Dixon played the past few seasons. Communication on defense has always been a strength of the Cardinals, so switches have always favored the length and IQ of the Birds. It’s going to be interesting to see how Coach Reilly will use the newcomers. The defense for Wesleyan is never really a question mark. Sears’ departure will be felt, but I believe that Wesleyan will figure out a way to make up for it.
Jordan Bonner and the Cardinals are maybe the most athletic group in the conference.
A conversation with Jordan Bonner:
Andrew Martin: Which losses from the senior class last year will be felt the most, and what additions from this year’s freshman class will offset those losses? Jordan Bonner: Both the loss of Jordan Sears and Nathan Krill will be felt the most this year. Their defensive presence and intensity were a huge part of our identity and they will be missed this season. With that said, I think the freshman and rest of the team have stepped up tremendously in the pre-season and know that we have big shoes to fill. This does not mean that we are trying to replicate our success or players from last year because that will guarantee that we are not successful but we do understand that we all need to step up. The freshman are extremely talented and I think that they all can help us win. AM: Is there one particular game that you guys have circled on your calendar? JB: Nope. Our preparation will be the same regardless of who we play. I’m excited to play whoever steps on the other side of the court. AM: How will Wesleyan go from one of the best teams in the conference to the best one in the NESCAC? JB: The best teams treat every game the same. While it is true that some games are perceived as being bigger than others, at the end of the day we have 40 minutes every night to get a W against a really good team. The elite teams approach every game the same and focus solely on dominating and so I believe that this will take Wesleyan to the next level in being the best team in the NESCAC. AM: Any message to the Cards in the crowd who will be rooting for you guys all year long? JB: I think that we will be really fun to watch. We have size, athleticism, quickness and grittiness and I think that that will make watching our games entertaining. I think that it will be a great and successful season. I know that we play better when we have a large crowd cheering us on and so we want to thank everyone for their support in advance.
