Sorry if this is a bit slow getting to you all, especially since I was so (over)excited about the Ivy season tip off in my last post. I’ve been grumpy about the Lions’ losses to the Quakers on Friday and the Tigers on Saturday. Spent or rather wasted a number of drafts feeling sorry for myself and regretting various opportunities missed by the Light Blue Five in the two contests. The Ivy season is short and the opportunity for victories precious. Close losses to other good squads are always tough to swallow.
Importantly, the weekend’s games revealed the Lions’ offensive Achilles’ heel. Facing tough defensive pressure both nights, admittedly, they shot a horrible 3-19 from beyond the three point line versus Penn and a merely lousy 3-11 against Princeton. That rounds out exactly to an abysmal .200 shooting percentage outside the arc. And it is not just the misses that are burned into memory. It’s the extraordinary hideousness of some of them that can’t be shaken. On Friday, about mid-way through the first half, improving frosh center Cory Osetkowski launched a stinker so ripe that Coach Smith promptly sat him down for the rest of the game to consider his sin from the bench. Saturday’s beaut came from senior steve egee (who brought a ton of defensive and rebounding energy to both games). Steve chucked a second half trey from in front of the Princeton bench that missed so atrociously it might better have been considered an errant pass rather than a missed shot. Without Brian Barbour’s relatively efficient performances from long range (2-4 v Penn and 1-3 v Princeton), the 3 point stats would have been Stygian. What ought not to missed here, however, is what only slight improvement in this territory might yield. One more made three pointer against Penn and Columbia starts the season 1-0. Two more against Princeton and, well you see what I mean. Let’s hope that Meiko Lyles, Alex Rosenberg and Noah Springwater rise to the occasion.
Having beaten this dead horse of poor shooting enough, let’s not forget credit where due. The Blue continues to play consistently rugged defense. The best statistical indicators of this were the mere 10 and 11 points tallied by Princeton’s scoring leaders Doug Davis and Ian Hummer. Besides the team effort there, mention must be made of Brian Barbour’s two 25 point performances – his career highs. Mark Cisco scored 12 points both nights and added 10 rebounds against the Stripers to notch a double double. John Daniels continued his yeoman’s work down low, snagging 8 boards v Princeton. I must, however, encourage Mr. Daniels to start looking a bit for additional scoring opportunities. He clearly seems uncomfortable 15 feet out , but has to start putting up the shorter shots he prefers more often if only to occupy opposing defenses a bit. Steve Egee made the most of his time both nights and emerged the team leader in rebounds for the weekend snagging a total of 13 and thereby outdoing his front court mates Cisco (11) and Daniels (12). Senior swingman Blaise Staab also boarded admirably on Saturday, grabbing 7 rebounds in the Princeton match while simultaneously playing ferocious, physical defense against Striper star Ian Hummer. It was primarily Blaise who limited the Tiger forward to a mere 11 points, most of those in the last 10 minutes of the game. Mr. Staab made sure he used all five of his personal fouls before leaving the floor and drew a nice round of applause from the 1,700 plus assembled to witness the evening’s entertainment.
Losing close games to the two squads that have won the bulk of the league’s titles since the mid-seventies made me want to spit. Fortunately, and unlike Princeton or Pennsylvania graduates, i am possessed of the intellectual balance and moral vision that comes only from immersion in the core curriculum. In retrospect, the Light Blue was edged twice, but hardly whipped. Having shaken off my post weekend dismay and looked at the realities of the (v tight) games, i await the return to Ivy action this Saturday reinvigorated. Cornell visits Levien on the 21st and I expect Coach Smith will have his Lions poised for a bounce back. The squad faces a steep but not insurmountable climb. As for Penn and Princeton – we’ll see you boys down the road.
Peace out and D up, paulie b
Love the blog format. Its good to be able to go back and compare notes across games. Of course the writing is a treat as are the insights as to what is happenning on the court. Sitting just a few seats from our esteemed blogger on Saturday night I could have used the oracle’s notes in real time as he sees what goes unseen by me.
I must echo his lament about Lions’ scoring percentage. However, having also seen the Lafayette game where Columbia gave up what seemed like a constant stream of threes in the first half, I was concerned that the Quackers were left open time and again to shoot beyond the arc, though with less efficiency. To win we will have to play defense the length of the court.
rick,
appreciate your comment but have to nit pick your analysis. for sure princeton shot 7-14 from three point land – an admirable 50 %. i’m not sure that was because lions weren’t playing end to end d. quakers were a poor 4-13 or .308 from outside the arc but that was enough to trump the blue’s more miserable 3-19. indeed, that one three pointer was the difference in win. columbia needs to find 5 more points in its offensive sets. the d will continue to keep ’em in games. keep reading and commenting! thanks, paulie b
Unfair. You are using facts to support your argument.
When do we get a report on the victory over Cornell or a preview of upcoming games?