Mike Boornazian – Page 4 – Nothing But NESCAC

Ho Ho Hoops

Bates and Middlebury meet one year after Bates stunned the Panthers (Courtesy of Middlebury Campus)

First of all, I want to wish everyone a merry Christmas 2.0, known to sane people as the first day of NESCAC play. May NESCAC Claus bless your families with many gifts.

Although there are several great games to watch today and throughout the weekend, the one that carries the most weight in the league is the Middlebury-Bates match up in Lewiston.

At 9-0, the Panthers sit at the top of the league, and are one of five remaining unbeaten teams in the country. However, entering Tuesday’s road game with 6-2 Plattsburgh, the Panthers had yet to even play a team with a record over .500 (although Skidmore’s three one-point losses make their record a tad unfair.) This led to impressive team stats for Middlebury (they lead the league in points per game, assists per game, and opponents shooting percentage.) However, the low quality of competition had garnered Middlebury little respect, both in NESCAC and nationally as the Panthers remain unranked in the D3Hoops poll.

In Plattsburgh, however, the Panthers made a loud statement regarding the legitimacy of their hot start. In a 63-53 win, Middlebury showed the defensive prowess and toughness that characterized the great teams of the Ryan Sharry-Andrew Locke-Nolan Thompson era, holding Plattsburgh to 31 percent shooting, and withstanding several runs. As has been the case for much of the season, Dylan Sinnickson ’15 keyed the win with 13 points and 13 rebounds, but it was Jake Brown ’17 who won the game for Middlebury. He had a nice stat line, with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals, but it was his absurd ability to keep his intensity up on both ends for the entire game that led the Panthers to their biggest win thus far.

The game at Bates promises to take over from the Plattsburgh game as the Panther’s biggest test of the young season. Bates has made a leap this season to challenge the “Big Three” (Middlebury, Williams, and Amherst for the unitiated) for NESCAC supremacy, led by point guard Graham Safford ’15, all-around small forward Mike Boornazian ’16, and the impressive sophomore Delpeche twins. This game is ripe with matchups and storylines to watch that are key to Middlebury’s chances in the game.

The Battle of the Guards: In his recent (positively treasonous) NESCAC fantasy basketball league column, my esteemed colleague, worthy fantasy football adversary and unresponsive Snapchat friend Adam Lamont put Bates’ Safford as the “best all around guard in NESCAC.” And, from a fantasy perspective, that’s probably true. But his 4.3 turnovers per game scream that, in reality (where games are played, Adam,) Safford can be inconsistent. Watching what Jake Brown did to Plattsburgh was an experience I have never seen before. If he’d stolen the ball one more time from starting point guard Mikey Mitchell, there would have been a lawsuit coming his way. Brown took the Panthers’ biggest game of the year by the throat and led it around like a misbehaving dog, and that’s what I want from my point guard. This game should be a day of reckoning for the two best point guards in NESCAC, and the (possibly) two best teams that follow them.

The Supporting Cast: With Jake Brown and Graham Safford presumably locked onto each other like glue, and Sinnickson battling inside with the comparably athletic Delpeche brothers (by the way, if you haven’t seen Marcus Delpche ’17 ABSOLUTELY MURDER an Emory player with a dunk, look it up. Unbelievable) it is imperative that Hunter Merryman ’15 and Matt St. Amour ’17 snap out of their recent shooting slumps. The two combined to go 1-10 from three against Plattsburgh, and St Amour in particular has been struggling in the last few games. If they are hitting from outside, Bates’ athletic defense will be less able to clamp down on Brown and Sinnickson, opening up the inside of the floor for the easy baskets that Middlebury loves.

Keeping Cool: In a crowded home game at Bates, you don’t really feel like the game is taking place in the 21^st century. Everything is constrained to fit the minuscule parameters of Alumni Gym. Everything each fan says is magnified in your ears, and the brick coloring gives the game something of a sepia filter. You half expect Dennis Hopper to stumble drunkenly onto the court and harass the referee. This will be unquestionably the toughest road test that the Panthers have faced, and one of the toughest of the year. Mental toughness, something that last year’s Middlebury team struggled with, will be vital to Middlebury earning this huge road win.

I’ll be one of those crowded folks in Alumni Gym tonight, cheering loudly and proudly for the Panthers. But I’ll also be keeping an eye on the rest of the NESCAC, because there’s more than one present under the annual NESCAC tree this year. And remember, it’s the moooooost, wonderful time, of the yeeeeeeaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrr.

Amateur Hour is Over, Conference Play is Here: The Weekend Preview 1/9

The Bates bench is excited about the conference season beginning. So should you. (Courtesy of Bates College)

We only get five weekends of NESCAC conference basketball. Heck, I am only in session to watch my beloved Bowdoin Polar Bears for three home conference games, and the first one of those is not until February 8! Unlike most other conference schedules that see teams play each other twice, the NESCAC only gives you one shot at every team meaning every game takes on extra importance.

When all five games tip off at 7 PM tonight, it will usher in one of the most open conference seasons in years. Though we lack any official Las Vegas odds in the NESCAC, nobody should feel very confident about their chances right now. Which also means that almost everybody should feel at least a little bit confident about their chances right now.

This is going to be fun. Here is your weekend preview.

Three Players to Watch

1. Point Guard Mike Greenman ’17 (Williams): The sophomore has a knack for finding his way into the biggest moments on the court. Against Trinity and Amherst Greenman will have to initiate the offense and pressure the defense by getting into the lane. Often Greenman is not the person who ends up finishing plays but rather intends to attract defenders for others. When he drives to pass, he opens up space and driving lanes for star seniors Hayden Rooke-Ley ’15 and Dan Wohl ’15. The downside to Greenman’s ability to get into the lane is that he turns the ball over at the third highest rate in the NESCAC at 3.7 turnovers per game. Defensively, Greenman will likely not guard Jaquann Starks ’16 on Friday but rather match up with the other guard on the floor.

2. Center Zuri Pavlin ’17 (Conn College): The Camels are one of the youngest teams in the NESCAC so it will be interesting to see how they fare in the first weekend of NESCAC play. Pavlin is a double-double machine and the best player for Conn. This weekend he gets to play two of the premier centers in the NESCAC in John Swords ’15 from Bowdoin and Chris Hudnut ’16 from Colby. Last season against those two teams Pavlin scored only 12 points combined. He will need to score way more points than that if there is any way for Conn to spring an early upset on two teams that have had some significant struggles so far.

3. Shooting Guard Lucas Hausman ’16 (Bowdoin): The Polar Bear offense often goes through long droughts within games. Hausman is the best player on Bowdoin at creating his own shot. While the 6’3″ guard is barely 170 pounds dripping wet, he can get to the basket because of his athleticism. He scored 28 points Tuesday at Bridgewater State and is now the leading scorer for Bowdoin with 15.6 points per game. That game Tuesday saw Bowdoin blow an 18 point first half lead and then a nine point lead in the final 4:59 of regulation. The Polar Bears are very thin after their starting five so they need their stars to come through every game. Hausman has taken up the mantle of the leading scorer, and he will need to score often and efficiently.

Top Three Games to Watch

There is not enough time or space for us to preview every single game that is going on this weekend. So while the depth of the league means almost every game is worth tuning into, every week we will go in-depth on the three most important games.

3. Friday 7:00 PM: Colby (7-5) at Wesleyan (10-2)

The NESCAC opener for these teams will tell us a lot about two teams that are part of that upwardly mobile NESCAC middle-class. Do not let Colby’s 7-5 record make you think that this is not a good team. All but one of their losses is a “good” one, if there is such a thing, and they have quality victories over Bowdoin and Husson. Wesleyan is coming in on a six game winning streak, and one of their two losses was in overtime to Williams.

The Colby offense revolves around Chris Hudnut ’16, the talented big man who has taken his game to yet another level this season. For Wesleyan the emergence of Joseph Kuo ’17 means that the Cardinals now have a player capable of matching up with Hudnut while Rashid Epps ’16 can shift to the power forward position. Epps could be primed for a big game one year after having Hudnut shut him down. He will have Sam Willson ’16 on him in what could be a mismatch for Colby because of Epps physicality.

Colby has had to battle injuries that has robbed them of much of their depth. Wesleyan has seen their roles sort themselves out into a clear starting five.

Matchup to Watch: Wesleyan Points in the Paint vs. Colby Defense

Let’s be clear that Colby’s weakness is their defense. They are allowing the second most points per game in the NESCAC. The weird thing about their defensive struggles is that they have occurred despite teams shooting only 26.7 percent from three. Overall teams are shooting 41.5 percent against Colby, the third highest percentage in the league. Opponents have been getting in the paint and scoring with way too much ease. Wesleyan has changed this season from a three point heavy team to a more inside-out oriented team around Epps and Kuo. They are going to look to get the ball into the paint early and often until Colby proves that they can keep Wesleyan off the boards.

2. Friday 7:00 PM Middlebury (9-0) at Bates (9-2)

These were the last two remaining undefeated teams in the NESCAC before Bates lost two games right before New Year’s. Bates is possibly the best team that Middlebury will have faced all year, and the Bobcats are lucky to get Middlebury at home. Last year Bates beat Middlebury at Pepin Gym in what turned out to be their only NESCAC victory. The loss came back to haunt Middlebury as it was a major strike against them for an NCAA at-large bid.

The point guard match-up between Graham Safford ’15 and Jake Brown ’17 will be fun to watch. Brown is difficult to stay in front of, and Safford will have to be careful not to get into foul trouble. Bates coach Jon Furbush is likely to ask Mike Boornazian ’16 to matchup with Dylan Sinnickson ’15. Boornazian has the size and quickness to give Sinnickson problems. Bates also likes to occasionally go to a 1-3-1 zone, but given the shooters that Middlebury has, it might be difficult to defend them with a zone. On the other end the trio of Safford, Boornazian, and Billy Selmon ’15 on the perimeter is dangerous. All three are capable of getting to the basket or spotting up for three.

Do not sleep on the impact that both benches could have. Adam Philpott ’15 and Mike Newton ’16 can be a steadying force off the bench for Bates. Philpott in particular was the difference Tuesday against Brandeis with 12 big points. No one player on the Middlebury bench has jumped out for most the season, but Nick Tarantino ’18 might be emerging at just the right time. He has averaged 9.5 PPG in the two games since break and could be a crucial big body for Middlebury (see below).

One crucial thing that benefits Middlebury is that Bates begins classes on Monday so not many students will be back for the game. A lot of Lewiston community members will likely be there, but the Panthers are not walking into the fearsome Alumni Gym we usually see.

Matchup to Watch: Delpeche Brothers vs. Middlebury Frontcourt

The clear weakness of Middlebury is their front-court. Connor Huff ’16 has done a wonderful job filling in at center. However, expecting the 6’4″ Huff to stop one of the Delpeches is foolish. Six-foot eight Matt Daley ’16 is back after missing Middlebury’s first seven games. Yet he only played five minutes Tuesday night so it would be surprising if he played extensive minutes tonight. Sinnickson will be crucial in keeping Bates off of the offensive boards, a place where the Bobcats have feasted on opponents. Malcolm Delpeche ’17 enjoyed his best game of the year against Middlebury last season with 17 points and nine rebounds. Now both he and his brother Marcus are in the starting lineup. Unless they get into foul trouble, Middlebury might have a hard time keeping the Delpeches from making plays like this dunk Marcus had against Emory.

1. Amherst (8-2) at Williams (9-3)

We already went in-depth on this game in our look at preview so go take a look there for our analysis.

Power Rankings 12/12

First and foremost, I want to thank all of our readers who followed us so faithfully during the fall and early on here in the winter. We know that most of you are just like us, NESCAC students with a love of sports and a desire to see their classmates, peers and friends compete and succeed on the field. If you’ve been reading the blog closely these last couple months, you will know that I had the pleasure of spending this past semester in Sydney, Australia.

Yours truly crushing some surf down under. (Courtesy of Surf Camp Australia)

As a consequence, I could only follow the football and basketball action from afar and only contribute sporadically to the blog’s content. But I’m back now, ready to bring you even more analysis and opinion right here on Nothing but NESCAC, as the dramatic ‘CAC basketball season unfolds. Again, thank you for reading, and we hope you continue to do so.

Let’s get on to this week’s power rankings.

1. Bates (7-0)

It pains me to slot the Bobcats ahead of my very own Panthers, but Bates has simply been the most impressive team so far. They took down a Babson team early in the season that just dismantled the suddenly reeling (is that too strong a word?) Amherst Lord Jeffs and has wins over Bowdoin and Tufts as well. They’ve already shown that they are the team to beat in the CBB with two wins by a combined 26 points. And both Delpeche brothers have taken steps forward and become solid compliments to the likes of Graham Safford ’15, Mike Boornazian ’16 and guard Billy Selmon ’15. What’s more, the ghost of that Safford three to win the game at Middlebury last season still haunts my dreams. This team has it all. Experience, height, three point shooting (though Safford and Boornazian have started off slow in that regard), and something to prove after going 1-9 in the NESCAC last season.

2. Middlebury (7-0)

Middlebury has had some close calls already against questionable opponents (UNE and Skidmore), but they’ve found a way to win and that’s all that matters. This is a team that I believe will get better as the year progresses, as Jake Brown ’17 becomes even more comfortable as the point man, Matt St. Amour ’17 gets further removed from his knee surgery, Jack Daly ’18 gains more experience and, fingers crossed, Matt Daley ’16 gets healthy and realizes the potential that he has flashed the past two seasons. Dylan Sinnickson ’15 and Hunter Merryman ’15 are doing their part, but the team is lacking an inside presence on both ends, something we knew would be a question mark before the season started.

3. Bowdoin (5-3)

This might surprise some, as there are two teams with only two losses, but there is a method to the madness. Two of the Polar Bear’s losses came to very strong teams in Bates and Babson, which are a combined 15-1, and as we know the only loss between them came when the Bobcats topped the Beavers. The loss to Colby isn’t a great one, but I believe it was just a hiccup. Remember, this was an NCAA tourney team last year that brought back an MVP candidate in the seven footer John Swords ’15. The health concerns we had now look foolish, as Swords is playing upwards of 29 minutes per game. With him on the floor, Bowdoin has a chance against anyone.

4. Williams (7-2)

Seven straight wins is a good way to start turning heads. With all the departures and two losses to open the season, this team could have gone into panic mode quickly. But then the Ephs proceeded to launch an offensive assault, scoring at least 82 points in the next six games. However, they allowed 69+ in five of those six games. I think it’s clear that this team is going to be fine offensively, but like Middlebury the biggest question is an inside presence on defense that can discourage shooters in the lane. That’s something that all the teams above the Ephs (with the exception of Middlebury until Daley gets healthy) all have.

5. Amherst (5-2)

Three days ago, Amherst might have had a claim to the top spot on this list, but I’m not here to talk about the past. The Lord Jeffs are still among the most talented squads in the NESCAC, but they are struggling to put it all together right now. Against Brandeis their perimeter defense was mediocre. The Judges were able to run a simple three-man weave at the three-point line until one of their guards was able to catch a defender napping and drive the lane (they also shot nearly 60 percent from deep, but a lot of those were way too wide open). Coach David Hixon will likely make sure that doesn’t become a trend, but for now it’s a concern. What’s more, defensive star David George ’17 barely saw the floor down the stretch of that game as Amherst needed to score points quick. George is a great rim protector, but he can’t be a liability on the offensive end if this team is going to be next-level.

6. Wesleyan (6-2)

The Cardinals have won handily in most of their victories, and competed in both losses, losing in OT to Williams and by eight to Curry. This team’s strength is a defense that ranks third in the NESCAC, but Wesleyan suffers from a lack of depth. Six players are averaging over 20 minutes per game, and after that no one tops 11 minutes. On the flip side they do have great balance in that group with four players in double digits scoring and a fifth, Jack Mackey ’16, averaging 9.9 points per game. Besides that OT loss against Wesleyan, we do not have much to go off of for this team.

7. Trinity (7-2)

The Bantams have a defense that has been just slightly more successful than the Cardinals, and because of their stinginess last season there’s reason to believe that the D will once again be very legit. On offense, the Bantams feature a lot of solid but unspectacular pieces. Their best strategy will be to milk clock and trust that they can shut opponents down. But will that be enough against the high-powered attacks of Middlebury, Williams and Amherst?

8. Colby (6-3)

As expected, Chris Hudnut ’16 is playing at an All-NESCAC First Team level, averaging a double-double thus far. What is surprising is how far teammate Luke Westman ’16 has raised his game. Last year, Westman was quiet but deadly, averaging 9.5 points per game on 65 percent shooting while tallying a 1.75 assist-to-turnover ratio. The junior point guard has upped the ante, however, becoming more efficient and taking better control of the ball, averaging 12.2 points per game (second on the team) on 68.2 percent shooting (incredible for a guard) and posting a 2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio. This team is loaded with offensive weapons, but are sort of the anti-Trinity, as they are allowing the second-most points in the league. Defense wins championships, fellas, and as fun as the Mules are to watch, they haven’t yet figured that out.

9. Conn College (5-3)

It’s been a bumpy start for the Camels, but the St. Joseph’s win was a good one and with three straight W’s, hopefully the team can get on track. Bo McKinley ’16 is doing a good job running the point and shooting the three, and Zuri Pavlin ’17 is a beast, as expected, averaging a double-double. But two exciting freshmen have come on and made this team dangerous. Six-foot-five Isaiah Robinson ’18 tops the teams in minutes and provides another big body in the Conn frontcourt, while Lee Messier ’18 has proven to be a sharpshooter from deep and leads the team in scoring. This young duo should only get better, making the Camels a candidate to play spoiler either late in the season or possibly in the first round of the NESCAC tourney.

10. Hamilton (7-2)

Hart who? The Continentals are 7-2! Hope abounds in Clinton. But wait, not so fast. Not only is Hamilton on a two-game skid, but only one of those seven wins came against a team that currently has a winning record, and the competition doesn’t get much better before the Continentals open up conference play against Amherst. As I predicted before the season started, Ajani Santos ’16 has really elevated his game, leading the team in scoring and and shooting almost 57 percent from the floor, but Zander Wear ’18 has not mad the immediate impact that we hoped he would, and overall there’s just a gap between Hamilton and the top tier of the NESCAC.

11. Tufts (3-6)

Despite all the optimism with the return of Tom Palleschi ’17 and the promise of a healthy starting five that couldn’t get on the court at the same time last year for very long, we were skeptical before the season started about whether this team would be as good on the court as it was on paper. Unfortunately, in the past few seasons the Jumbos have just been one of those teams that can’t match its talent with its performance. As the only team in the NESCAC with a losing record right now, Tufts was a default choice for the bottom spot in these rankings. They still have the talent to rise quickly through the ranks, and two former NESCAC Rookie of the Years, as well as one of the league’s most dynamic big men in Hunter Sabety ’17, but for right now they look doomed to another disappointing season.

Getting Into the Groove: Stock Report 11/24

Hayden Rooke-Ley '15 talking to Coach Kevin App (courtesy of Williams Athletics) — Hayden Rooke-Ley ’15 talking to Coach Kevin App (courtesy of Williams Athletics)

Now that a full week of games is in the books, we can step back a little bit and dive into some of the early trends emerging. The first game between NESCAC teams happened over the weekend. If Williams’ overtime victory over Wesleyan was any indication, then the NESCAC regular season should be as wide-open as we are hoping.

A major theme is how the sophomore class is asserting themselves as the major playmakers around the league. From players like Zuri Pavlin ’17 and Harry Rafferty ’17 who were already starters from day one to others like Mike Greenman ’17 and Joseph Kuo ’17 who are delivering with increased playing time, sophomores are difference-makers on almost every team in the NESCAC.

Stock Up

Center David George ’17 (Amherst): The guard play for the Jeffs has been a little uneven, but George has delivered on the promise he showed down the stretch of 2013 to help keep Amherst undefeated. The sophomore’s 7.7 rebounds per game, of which 3.7 are offensive rebounds, are no surprise given his size and athleticism. His offensive game, while still undeniably still somewhat underdeveloped, is unbelievably efficient. He is averaging 13.7 points per game on 75% shooting, the second highest percentage in the NESCAC behind John Swords ’15. Unlike last year when George was often surrounded by shooters on the court, Amherst is playing with two bigs most of the time. He is working with less space to work with but is having no problems scoring with ease. Having two big men in the game at once is also a big reason why Amherst has a rebounding margin of +20 so far.

Guard Jake Brown ’17 (Middlebury): Last year Brown established himself as a dogged defender and player capable of getting into the lane. This year he is going full Rondo as a table-setter for the talented Middlebury wings. He leads the league with 6.5 assists per game despite playing less than 24 minutes a game because Middlebury has been involved in a few blowouts already. He is able to get into the lane with ease and kick it out to Matt St. Amour ’17 or find a cutting Dylan Sinnickson ’15. Though he isn’t scoring much, he showed himself capable of filling Joey Kizel’s role of hitting big shots at the end of games when he hit the go ahead jumper with 30 seconds left against Clark yesterday. Brown will likely play less than 30 minutes a game because of the presence of talented youngster Jack Daly ’18. That should allow him to continue his frenetic pace as he leads the Middlebury fast break game.

Guard Hayden Rooke-Ley ’15 (Williams): The Ephs have struggled out of the gate, but there have been some bright spots so far. The fact that Rooke-Ley has become absolutely locked in as a shooter is one of the brightest. In a blowout of Johnston State, he set a Williams’ record by going 12-15 from beyond the three point line. He did not even attempt another shot from the field or a foul shot. Rumors have it he actually did not go inside of the three point line on offense all game (not actually). What makes the Johnston State game even more impressive is that two days before he went 0-9 from the field, including 0-7 from deep. He was able to fight through a couple of tough games at the beginning of the year before hitting his stride. Yet perhaps the best statistic Rooke-Ley has going so far is his free throw shooting. He is a perfect 28 for 28 from the stripe through four games. No other player has made more than 22 free throws and only one player has even attempted more than 28. That is crazy.

Stock Down

Tufts’ Shooting: The return of Tom Palleschi ’16 made Jumbo fans ecstatic over the idea of him teaming with Hunter Sabety ’17 as an unstoppable duo inside. The early returns for Tufts have been subpar, but that is not actually because of any problems in the interior. The Tufts offense is struggling because there is not enough shooting right now. The Jumbos are shooting 25.8% from three, the second lowest percentage in the conference. Ben Ferris ’15, Ryan Spadaford ’16 and Stephn Haladyna ’16 were supposed to supply most of the outside shooting. And while Spadaford has hit half of his threes through two games, Ferris and Haladyna are both below 25%. It gets even worse when you combine that with the Jumbos hitting less than 60% of their free throws.

Bates’ Depth: The Bobcats have gotten off to a great start beating two NCAA tournament teams from 2013 on their way to a 3-0 start. The reasons for the quick start are pretty simple. Mike Boornazian ’16 and Graham Safford ’15 are the best backcourt in the NESCAC and have played great so far. Yet, Bates might be overly reliant on those two players. They account for 51.6% of the scoring, 36.8% of the rebounding, and 65.8% of the assists overall for Bates. Throw in center Marcus Delpeche ’17, enjoying an uptick of production this season, into that equation and the numbers become even more ridiculous: 65% scoring, 56% rebounding, and 77% assists. A big reason for Bates slumping down the stretch was because Safford could not continue his high level of play down the stretch. Bates needs other players to step up in order to maintain better balance and not be overly reliant on the play of a few players.

Bates Team Preview: A New Hope

Bates Bobcats

2013-2014 Season: 11-13 (1-9 NESCAC), Lost Final 4 Games all to NESCAC Opponents

Head Coach: Jon Furbush, 7^th Season

Starters Returning: 3

G Graham Safford ‘15

G Mike Boornazian ‘16

F/C Malcolm Delpeche ‘17

Breakout Player: Marcus Delpeche ’17

The 6′ 7″, 205 pound forward Delpeche has everything going for him this year. With the graduation of Sean Cunningham ’14, who started 21 out of the 24 games last season, the door is open for Marcus to have a standout year. After the first two games, Delpeche has averaged 31 minutes per game and has shown so far that he has what it takes to be a force under the basket, averaging 8.5 rebounds and points so far. Working in tandem with his brother Malcolm Delpeche, the center for the Bobcats, Marcus is poised to have a great year.

Projected Starting Five:

Graham Safford (Courtesy of Bates Athletics)

G Graham Safford ’15 – Safford led his team in scoring and assists last year with 16.3 points per game and 4.4 assists per game. As a captain for the Bobcats this year, the team will look for Safford to lead them both on and off the court. He is arguably the team’s best scorer this year, and has the ability to take control of a game down the stretch. A player that is not afraid of the big moments, Safford is expected to have a successful final season for the Bobcats.

G Mike Boornazian ’16 – As a big, athletic guard, Boornazian compliments Safford’s game well. As the team’s two-guard, he usually guards the opposing team’s best perimeter scorer. Offensively, Boornazian is a threat from beyond the arc, and showed that last year, shooting 39.1 percent from 3-point range. At 6′ 5″ and weighing 205, he is not afraid to go up and get rebounds, as he led Bates last year with 6.1 rebounds per game. After averaging just under 16 points per game in only his sophomore year, Boornazian is developing into a seasoned veteran at his position. Look for him to have a good year.

Billy Selmon (Courtesy of Bates Athletics)

G Billy Selmon ’15 – Selmon looks to solidify his role on the team as their premier defenseman. He led the NESCAC in steals last year as a junior with 2.1 steals per game, while only starting in 12 games. This year, Selmon is expected to be a full time starter, and looks to make his defensive presence known by all teams throughout the league.

Marcus Delpeche (Courtesy of Bates Athletics)

F Marcus Delpeche ’17 – Delpeche is looking to solidify his presence alongside his brother under the basket. While his post game is still developing, Delpeche has the ability to finish at the rim, as well as snag rebounds. With the perimeter threats of Safford and Boornazian, expect Marcus to have an increased role as defenses take away the outside threats and dare Marcus to take over down low.

Malcolm Delpeche (Courtesy of Bates Athletics

C Malcolm Delpeche ’17 – Malcolm Delpeche had a good start to his college career last year as a freshman starting in 19 of the 24 games and averaging 7.1 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game. It’s going to be crucial for Delpeche to continue to rebound the basketball in order to give his sharpshooters more opportunities to score. Similarly to his brother, Malcolm can put points on the board underneath.

Everything Else:

The Bobcats have an opportunity to surprise the league this year after their losing season in 2013-2014. Although they had a 1-9 record against fellow NESCAC teams, their record did not tell the whole story. Beating a good Middlebury team 64-61 last year proved that this team has the potential to move up in the NESCAC rankings.

The Delpeche twins both had solid freshman years, and it’s likely that their games will only improve with more experience. Look for these two sophomores to step into their roles and become even more comfortable with the pace of college basketball. Time will do well for the brothers as they look to develop into a dynamic duo for the Bobcats.

Last season, after losing senior captain Luke Matarazzo to an injury, Bates had a difficult time filling the gap when Matarazzo went down. Losing the final four games of the season was difficult, but it’s a new season and they need to have a short memory going into this year. While the ability to respond to adversity is key for every team, given that injuries are inevitable, last year’s exposure to dealing with such issues will only help Bates this season. With three returning starters, the experience is there. Having already begun the year 2-0 with wins against Nichols and Babson, things are looking positive for the Bates Bobcats so far this season.

Basketball Preseason All-NESCAC Teams

This year appears to be one of the most open races for All-NESCAC in recent years. Only John Swords ’15 (First Team) and Chris Hudnut ’16 (Second Team) return to the NESCAC after Matt Hart and Duncan Robinson transferred and the rest of the players graduated.

Each of us goes through our own individual First and Second Teams. We don’t want to ruin the surprise in order to make you watch the video, but we promise that some of the selections might raise a couple of eyebrows.