Tag: Mark Lutz

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

Hamilton College Continentals

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

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

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

Projected Starting Lineup:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everything Else

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

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

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

Looking for a Pacesetter: Game of the Week 1/25

Game of the Week Preview

This is an interesting weekend in NESCAC basketball because if you look at the slate of games, you have a feeling that you could confidently pick anywhere from 7 to 9 of the 9 games correctly this weekend. Nearly all of the games feature a team towards the top of the standings against a team towards the bottom of the standings. The great thing about this conference is that we’re likely to be surprised by more than one result this weekend. Tufts is a total wild card, and you really don’t know what you’re going to get out of the Maine schools because a lot of times they’ll randomly shock you. We’ve put out previews for 8 of the 9 games so far, but Friday’s game between Hamilton and Bowdoin was big enough in our minds to earn Game of the Week honors. Now we can present a closer look at the huge matchup in upstate New York:

Overview

Mark Lutz has been a valuable contributor off the bench for Hamilton

Hamilton comes into the game on a mini two-game winning streak after suffering their first loss of the season to Wesleyan. They’ve looked every bit the team they were at the start of the year in these past two games so it appears that their trip to Middletown was a mere hiccup. The Continentals currently lead the NESCAC averaging 89.1 points per game while shooting 49.2% from the field, second to only Williams. In the loss to Wesleyan they shot a season-low 35.9%, so it’s easy to see why they finally had to put one in the loss column. None of their starters are below 6’4” so they do a good job rebounding on both ends of the floor. The key for Hamilton is to keep the pace of the game at the speed they want it. They’re a team that scores a lot of points and shoot at a very high rate, so a faster pace certainly tips the balance their way. They also have a bit more depth than Bowdoin, with talented players like Spencer Kendall ’21, Mark Lutz ’20, and Sayo Denloye ’20 coming off the bench. If they can keep the points coming and make this one a shootout I don’t see Bowdoin being able to keep up with their firepower.

David Reynolds is going to have to have one of his classic big games if they want to compete with the Continentals

The Polar Bears travel to Clinton having won three in a row since their consecutive conference losses to Tufts and Trinity. They were just able to snag a crucial win at Colby to keep their postseason hopes still very alive. It’s no secret that Bowdoin is very much a two-headed monster with David Reynolds ’20 and Jack Simonds ’19 who are 2nd and 7th in the NESCAC, respectively. They either take turns in the spotlight or simply share it instead – they’ve accounted for 12 combined 20-point games and 4 combined 30-point games. It’s clear who’s doing the shooting, but stopping them is easier said than done. The nice thing for opponents is that if you are able to stop the two of them, you’ve pretty much won the game. The Polar Bears rely so heavily on their dynamic duo that they really don’t have many other viable scoring options. Zavier Rucker ’21 and Hugh O’Neil ’19 have each had their moments, but haven’t showed much consistency. Bowdoin isn’t a low-scoring team per se, but their scoring numbers have been relatively pedestrian to date so it is certainly in their best interest to keep the game at a pace they can keep up with. If this game gets into the upper-80s or 90s then they won’t stand a chance.

Hamilton X-Factor

Peter Hoffmann ’19

If the Continentals want to stay competitive with the top teams in the NESCAC, they’ll need strong efforts from guys in supporting roles. They can’t ask Kena Gilmour to go out there every night and single-handedly keep them in the game, and I think Hoffmann is a guy who has all the right tools to step up as we move forward. He was on a tear at the start of the season, scoring 18 points in the first game of the season and consistently putting up 12-16 points per game. However, his scoring output took a hit once conference play started, and he netted just 4 and 8 points against Trinity and Wesleyan, respectively. Luckily he was able to get in on the blowout victory over Conn College, dropping 15 points in just 21 minutes of action. As they progress Hoffmann will have to be able to do a little bit of scoring, with Gilmour and Michael Grassey doing the majority of the work. He’s also got a big frame at 6’6” and 210 pounds so he can help contribute to Hamilton’s dominance on the glass as well as block the occasional shot. If Hoffmann can get going again then the Continentals will be a lot to handle with all the other weapons they have in their lineup.

Bowdoin X-Factor

Zavier Rucker ’21

Rucker has been doing a fine job as facilitator for the Polar Bears, turning the ball over at a low rate and coming in at 3rd in the conference with 4.1 assists per game. He’s also got a bit of size for a point guard and combined with his athletic ability he has given a good effort to help rebound since Bowdoin places 3rd to last in rebounds per game. Rucker finds himself in a similar role to Hoffmann: he is clearly the team’s third scoring option so he’ll have to be selective with his shots and efficient when he does shoot. He isn’t a guy who is often going to be in isolation or taking contested fade aways, but because he’s on a team with Jack Simonds and David Reynolds (who require a lot of attention), he’s going to find himself a decent amount of good looks. It’s almost as if Rucker is forced to be the smartest guy on the team – he can’t just take shots at will because they already have two guys that do that, and do it well. Rucker has to have the discipline to know that really the only shots he should be taking are high percentage ones, and that those shots will come if he continues to help set up his teammates the way he has been. There’s no question that a lot is being asked of him, but if Rucker can be the smartest guy on the court, Bowdoin always has a great chance to win.

Final Thoughts

There are obviously some themes presenting themselves here, but I’ll try to lay things out as overtly as possible. Hamilton is the deeper and (slightly) more talented team, but Bowdoin has two guys who are capable of putting up huge numbers on any given night, so they’ll surely be able to compete. If you haven’t figured out that pace is going to be the key to the game then you should probably make your way back to the beginning of the article because I don’t think I can harp on it enough. Bowdoin has talent and if they can keep this game close then they’ve got a real shot at winning, but if they try and play at Hamilton’s pace then they won’t be able to keep up. I think they’ll hang around for a little while, but I think the Continentals will be able to speed things up just enough to run away with this one.

Writer’s Pick: Hamilton 95 – Bowdoin 83

Revenge Tour: Hamilton Continentals’ Men’s Basketball Season Preview

2017-2018 Record: 24-5 (7-3); lost to Williams in NESCAC Semifinals, lost in NCAA Sweet 16

2018-2019 Projected Record: 28-4 (8-2), Win NESCAC Championship, Lose in NCAA Final Four

Key Losses: None

Continentals Starting Lineup:

G  Tim Doyle ‘19 (10.0 PPG, 3.3 AST/G, 36.5% 3PFG)

Doyle’s game isn’t very flashy, but the 6’5’’ guard is an integral part of this Hamilton squad. A pesky defender with a knack for causing turnovers, Doyle tallied a career-high six steals against Amherst last season, and averaged more than steal a game in the 2017-2018 season. While his offensive numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page, the Nuskayuna native certainly has the capability to put up points. Doyle recorded at least fifteen points in eight games, including a season-high 26 against Utica. He’s off to a great start in 2018-2019, shooting 57.8% from the field and dishing out a team-best four assists/game.

G  Kena Gilmour ‘20: (18.5 PPG, 7.2 REB/G, 1.8 STL/G, 47.0% FG)

Gilmour’s transition from freshman to sophomore included a spot in the starting five, and boy did he deliver. The former NESCAC Rookie of the Year finished second in the NESCAC in scoring and led the league in steals, garnering All-NESCAC First Team honors and a spot on the All-Northeast Region Second Team. He dropped 40 points in Hamilton’s Sweet Sixteen defeat to Springfield, and the junior looks ready to lead his squad to their first ever NESCAC Championship. His 2018-2019 MVP campaign is off to a blazing start, averaging 19.5 PPG on 51.2% shooting to go along with 6.9 REB/G and 1.3 STL/G. The one knock on his game thus far, however, has got to be the poor 3PFG%; Gilmour is just 7-25 from beyond the arc, and he’ll need to find a rhythm from downtown before the conference slate begins.

G/F  Michael Grassey ‘19: (12.8 PPG, 7.1 REB/G, 38% 3PFG)

Grassey is a pure shooter and only needs the slightest bit of separation to get off a shot. His eighteen threes made were good for 10th in the ‘CAC, and connected on 40% of them in conference play. He essentially finished tied with Gilmour as leading team rebounders (despite   the shortest members of Hamilton’s starting five) and recorded four double-doubles. Through the first eight games of this young season, Grassey has upped his scoring average to 15.9 PPG, including a 26 point showing against Transylvania in late November. One thing’s for sure about Grassey: this kid hasn’t forgotten how to shoot. The senior from Winchester is torching opponents from downtown at an astounding 53.2% clip. A word of advice to NESCAC coaches: don’t play zone against this kid.

G/F  Peter Hoffmann ‘19: (13.9 PPG, 5.0 REB/G, 1.4 STL/G, 56.1% FG)

Hoffmann was the team’s second-leading scorer last year and ranked fifth in the NESCAC in field goal percentage (56.1%). His numbers earned him a Second-Team All NESCAC selection, and captains this year’s squad with fellow teammate Michael Grassey. The 6’6’’ senior does most of his damage from inside the arc, and he should probably abandon the three ball all together (8-38 last season, 3-13 this season). Although his scoring has dipped since his sophomore season, the senior can still shoot the rock; Hoffmann tallied 18 points in Hamilton’s season-opening win against Centenary University, and poured in 16 a few games later against Carnegie Mellon. He might not be the player opposing defenses are entirely focused on, but lose sight of him and Hoffmann can and will make you pay.

F  Andrew Groll ‘19: (7.4 PPG, 6.1 REB/G)

Groll is another one of those prototypical centers who does the dirty work on both ends of the floor. A starter his freshman and sophomore seasons, Groll came off the bench in 2017-2018, but regained his starting role for his senior year. Despite averaging 7.4 PPG, Groll was very effective from the field, shooting an even 50%. He’s also a threat on the offensive glass, placing 8th in the conference in total offensive rebounds. This season, the numbers are essentially identical.I know the Continentals are a deep squad with talented scorers, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Groll saw some more touches; not only would it establish a low post presence, but he could also attract an additional defenders, opening up the court to allow for a cutting teammate or leave the perimeter exposed.

Breakout Player:

G  Mark Lutz: (11.6 MPG, 4.6 PPG, 0.6 TO/G)

Hamilton has a wide assortment of guards to choose from, so it’s hard for Coach Stockwell to allocate minutes to all his players. Lutz has improved his offensive game to earn those minutes. Just like many of his teammates, Lutz likes the make it rain from three; he’s made at least one three pointer in seven of Hamilton’s eight games, and averages 44.8% from beyond the arc. His most recent performance against SUNY Polytechnic was his best yet, where he scored 13 points and went 3-4 from three. He’s currently averaging close to 8 PPG while shooting 44.8% from long range. Lutz also does a great job at taking care of the ball, sporting a .5 TO/G average. If Hamilton ever finds itself in an offensive spunk, Lutz will most likely be the first guy off the bench to spark a run.

Everything Else:

Last season left a bitter taste in Coach Stockwell’s mouth as the Continentals lost a thrilling NESCAC Semifinal to Williams. Couple that with squandering a three point lead with four seconds to play in the Sweet Sixteen (Hamilton missed two free throws, allowing Springfield to launch a prayer three and send the game to overtime), and you’ve got a team that is angry and motivated to prove they are one of the best teams in the land. Currently ranked #3 in the country, there’s no doubt this Hamilton team is one of the favorites to not only grab its first NESCAC Championship, but also a National Championship; and how could you not love the potential this team possesses? They led the NESCAC in scoring this past season and returned four of their five starters. The one starter they did lose (no offense to alum Joe Pucci ‘18) averaged less than 6.0 PPG and was more of a floor general than anything. This team is an offensive juggernaut, currently averaging 92.1 PPG on 50.9% shooting. They seem to play a more small-ball approach, as their traditional center (Andrew Groll) only averages around 20 MPG. Instead, this team is full of tall, athletic guards that love to shoot.

Defensively, the Continentals were near the bottom of the conference in terms of points  allowed (74.2 PPG), but did lead the NESCAC in turnovers forced by a sizeable margin. So far to date, the averages are trending in the right direction; Hamilton ranks top five in the NESCAC in teams in terms of points allowed (68.8 PPG), turnovers forced (lead the league with 17.3 TO/G) and rebounding (35.6 REB/G). Another major problem the Continentals had last season on the defensive end was fouling; they committed 19.1 PF/G, a number that only Colby and Trinity were able to surpass. Eight games in, and the number is worse, up to 20.3 PF/G (Apparently “keep your hands to yourself” was not preached at the team meeting prior to the season’s beginning). All jokes aside, Hamilton is trending in the right direction on the defensive side of the ball, but conference play will be the telling point as an indication to whether or not the Continentals have turned the page.

#YGTMYFT

I set aside this special acronym for specifically Hamilton. Games are won and lost at the free throw line (just ask Hamilton last season regarding Springfield). I know I’m reopening a wound that hasn’t fully quite healed, but the signs were there: the Continentals shot just 71.4% from the line in 2017-2018, and while that’s good enough for third in the NESCAC, it’s still not a phenomenal average. This season, they’re shooting…..61% from the charity stripe, second worst in the ‘CAC.  Now before Continental faithful freak out, I expect this percentage to increase mainly due to the starting five’s lack of minutes thus far. Coach Stockwell has rotated a majority of his bench players into games for significant periods of time trying to figure out who he can count on for when the conference games come calling. Many of the poor percentages belong to said bench players, with the one exception being Peter Hoffmann (29.6% FT). Nonetheless, I have to say it, because conference games will be tight scoring and there will be times where the Continentals will have to ice the game at the line: Hamilton, YOU’VE GOT TO MAKE YOUR FREE THROWS!!!

After my quick free throw rant, I will say this Hamilton team can be really special. The NESCAC is one of the premier basketball conferences in D3, and there’s a strong possibility the Continentals will come out as the cream of the crop. In fact, I’m going as far as declaring Hamilton as the favorite to secure their first ever NESCAC Championship, and if they clean up the personal fouls on defense/improve their free throw shooting, this team can win a National Championship. This is a squad full of veteran players who got a taste of what they can accomplish during last season’s postseason run, and is one of the best and most consistent offensive team in the country. I expect big things from this Hamilton team, so don’t make me look bad.