Sports
Hamilton men’s basketball thirsty for Amherst in NESCAC playoff debut
By Steve LaRochelle '14, Sports Staff Writer
February 16, 2012
It’s not every day that the New York Knicks starting point guard walks into Hamilton’s own Margaret Bundy Scott Field House.
It’s not every day that one of the most accomplished basketball players in Hamilton history plays his last game there, either.
Needless to say, Sunday, Feb. 12 was a day of excitement, celebration and triumph for the Hamilton men’s basketball family. After having officially clinched a berth to their first ever NESCAC tournament with a Trinity College loss to Williams on Saturday, the Continentals honored their graduating seniors by handily defeating Bates College in front of an atypically large and energized crowd which included emerging NBA superstar Jeremy Lin.
Word of Lin’s presence spread like wildfire across the campus community, awakening scores of students (and more noticeably, administrators) from their typically sleepy Sunday afternoons. A few aggressive Hamiltonians approached Lin for photos and autographs before Director of Campus Safety Fran Manfredo swooped in to provide some much needed privacy to the Lin family. Still, President Joan Hinde Stewart, Dean of Admissions Monica Inzer, Vice President of Communication and Development Dick Tantillo and Athletic Director Jon Hind managed to swarm the Lins, hoping to capitalize on the College’s fleeting moment in the national athletic spotlight.
Contrary to what the hectic atmosphere may have suggested, though, Hamilton still had a basketball game to play.
The matchup had no real significance in the NESCAC standings—Bates was locked in at fifth place and Hamilton was stuck in eighth no matter the game’s result—but the Continentals still had plenty to play for. It was the final home game for Pat Sullivan ’12, who finished his regular season career tenth on Hamilton’s all-time scoring list, and Ephraim McDowell ’12, who hit two clutch three-pointers to move up to fourth on Hamilton’s all-time three point field goals list.
Sullivan scored a game high 23 points to lead the Continentals to their thrilling, must-win victory over the Tufts Jumbos on Friday, Feb. 10. Had Hamilton lost to Tufts, their playoff hopes would have been dashed and the atmosphere for Sunday’s festivities would have been much less jovial.
Nevertheless, the Bates game was an opportunity for Hamilton to continue to build momentum heading into their rematch with fourth nationally-ranked Amherst (22-2), who they will meet in the quarterfinals of the 2012 NESCAC Championship.
There were two moments in the Bates game that elevated the decibel level in the Bundy Scott Field House to louder than I have ever heard it before. An emphatic blocked shot from the 5’10” Hans Schulte ’13 induced roaring applause from the crowd early in the second half. Only a couple minutes later, though, Joseph Lin ’15 one-upped Schulte with a steal in the defensive backcourt that led to a stylish and highly difficult fast break lay-up. The entire crowd, including Lin’s big brother Jeremy, rose to its feet. The New York Knicks point guard and former Harvard standout cheered for his little brother with great pride only two days after he had dropped 38 points on Kobe Bryant’s Lakers.
“I watch his games, he watches mine,” the older Lin told Spectator Sports Editor Kendall Weir ’12, who courageously broke through the great wall of Campus Safety, if only briefly, at halftime. “If we have time, we talk about them and catch up.”
“Our dad really likes basketball, so he introduced us,” Lin added. “[Joe and I] have played together ever since we were little kids.”
It’s fair to say that the recent emergence of “Linsanity” has inspired and motivated Hamilton’s basketball team. First-year forward Peter Kazickas explained that ever since Lin got signed by the Knicks, the Hamilton squad has gathered together to watch his games.
“Everyone goes wild when he does something good,” Kazickas explained. “It’s a lot of fun.”
The results speak for themselves. Only two weeks ago, the Continentals were 1-5 in NESCAC play and had bleak postseason prospects. Ever since Jeremy Lin started to get a lot of playing time, however, the Continentals have won three out of four conference games. They are now 4-6 and as confident as ever heading into their matchup with the Lord Jeffs of Amherst College.
With each passing day, the Continentals seem to be getting more comfortable in NESCAC play. Will Hamilton’s young roster peak just in time for postseason success?
Make the trip with me to Amherst, Massachusetts at 4 p.m. on Saturday to find out.