Sports
Men’s basketball has high playoff hopes
By Kendall Weir '12, Sports Editor
February 2, 2012
Unfortunately for Hamilton men’s basketball this time, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. However, redemption might not be far away.
Despite persistent stretches of illness and injuries throughout the middle of their season, Hamilton played 40 minutes of basketball against Middlebury, the top- ranked team in all of Division III, on Jan. 20.
“We were playing the number one team in the nation…This is why you play college basketball,” said Eric Benvenuti ’13 of the team’s pregame mindset. “That notion alone got everyone fired up and ready, so all we needed to do was execute.”
The Continentals did just that, holding seven leads throughout the game and leading a majority of the first half. Greg Newton ’14 scored ten of his 21 points in the first half and Pat Sullivan ’12, who ranks third in the NESCAC in scoring, paced Hamilton with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The back and forth nature of the game continued well into the second half; Middlebury led by as many as nine points early in the half, but Benvenuti helped lead a 9-0 run to match the Panthers.
The Continentals found themselves down by only four with less than two minutes left, but the Panthers’ free throws down the stretch iced what was certainly a nail-biter for the number one team in the country. Middlebury has yet to drop a game this season.
“We feel like we can compete against anyone in the country,” said Sullivan. This game proved that, as Hamilton’s solid fundamental play kept them in the game down to the final few minutes.
“The NESCAC as a whole is very strong,” noted Ken Click ’13, who is one of several players who has stepped up this year, logging four blocks against the Panthers. “It is one of the best conferences in the country.” Click is not exaggerating; the NESCAC boasts three teams in the nation’s top 25, including two in the top ten, one of which is top-ranked Middlebury.
In another conference matchup against another nationally-ranked squad, Hamilton fell to Williams by a score of 82-61 to fall to 1-5 in NESCAC play. Sullivan and Click scored early and often as the Continentals jumped out to a quick lead, but Williams’ ball security and flawless shooting at the free throw line helped the Ephs prevail. Sullivan totaled 26 in the game, moving into 13th on Hamilton’s all-time scoring list.
“The NESCAC teams can really prepare us for tournament play and hopefully we can make it there,” remarked Sullivan.
In a non-conference game against Elmira College on Jan. 31, Hamilton notched their twelfth win of the season, despite being without leading scorer Sullivan. After adjusting to Sullivan’s absence and Elmira’s attack from beyond the arc, the Continentals took the lead early in the second half and held on to it the rest of the game, eventually beating the Soaring Eagles 53-48. Newton shined yet again, scoring 18, and Peter Kazickas ’15 impressively dropped 16 points and added 11 rebounds.
Sitting one spot out of the playoff picture as it stands today, the Continentals are optimistic about their chances of qualifying for the NESCAC tournament. With matchups against Conn College and Wesleyan on the docket this weekend, followed by home games against Tufts and Bates next weekend, Hamilton is poised to make a strong playoff push.
If the Continentals find their way into the playoff picture, they’ll like what they will most likely see: a rematch with Middlebury.
“They are a team that we can match up well with,” said Click. “If we come out as aggressive as we did the first time, we can most certainly come out with the win.”
So despite the expanded, unfortunate and unexpected role injuries have played in their season thus far, the Hamilton men’s basketball team is eager and in position to qualify for the NESCAC tournament.
If they can do so in their first year in the conference, and Middlebury continues to win games, they know what to expect and are ready for the rematch.
“Are we going to be the favorites against them? No.” said Benvenuti. “Can we beat them one day in the playoffs if we play well? I certainly think so, but regardless, it’s going to be a hell of a battle.”