Both of last year's NESCAC Rookie of the Year recipients ? Brain Shapiro and Emily Goodman ? are back on the Hill to prove that their freshman seasons were no fluke. And neither one should have a hard time doing it.
Goodman, who lists at 5'10", wasted no time as she burst on the scene last November. The Briar Manor Cliff, NY native scored 24 points in her debut as a Jumbo and never looked back. When all was said and done, Goodman ranked second in the NESCAC with a scoring average of 17.2 points per game, while her season point total of 396 was the fourth best in 28 seasons of Tufts women's basketball. She also led the NESCAC in free throw percentage (76.9) and shot at the third-best clip from the field (53.9).
The NESCAC Rookie of the Year trophy was not the only hardware Goodman took home last year, as she was named New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA) Rookie of the Year and to the All-NESCAC first team. She was also named conference player of the week on Feb. 8, after averaging 25.7 points and 7.7 rebounds over a three-game stretch. Goodman scored 20 or more points on eight different occassions, highlighted by a 36-point performance against at Clark on Feb. 3, the third highest single game total in team history.
"Emily is a presence," coach Janice Savitz said. "She has great footwork. Every time she is balanced, she scores. She is very hard to defend one-on-one in the post. She is the best post player in the NESCAC. She's tough and has a number of moves."
Although she is known primarily as a scorer, Goodman is a force at the other end of the court as well. Last season, the Jumbos center grabbed 160 rebounds, good for a 7.0 average, was second on the team in steals (29), and tied for third in blocks (11).
"I like playing defense almost better than playing offense," she said. "I can't have a good offensive game if I'm not having a good defensive game.
What was perhaps most impressive about Goodman's play during her rookie season, though, was the fact that she did it all in an average of 23.7 minutes per contest. In other words, she was only on the court for just over half the game.
"I definitely was not prepared for the running last year," she said. "I played 23 minutes last year, and that will increase. This summer I worked out, lifting weights and running, and that definitely helped me. I feel like my stamina is better. I'm definitely in better shape... I won't get as tired as easily."
"It will be interesting to see how she responds to being the focal point of other team's attention," point guard Hillary Dunn said. "Teams are going to have to double team her. If teams play her one-on-one, she'll score all day. No one can guard her by them self."
The added pressure doesn't seem to be much of a hindrance so far, with Goodman having already been named NESCAC Player of the Week after scoring 31 points and collecting nine rebounds in the season opener. Her efforts helped the Jumbos to a 70-62 win over Johnson & Wales.
"I like it when there is that pressure," Goodman said. "I always play better when it's there. I don't really mind it. It is going to be harder to have the season I had last year. I'm just going to take it game by game. I just want to play hard in each game, that's my number one priority."
Shapiro's rise to stardom, on the other hand, was a bit more gradual. The Swampscott (Mass.) High School and Phillips Exeter Academy product saw limited minutes in the early part of the season due to an ankle injury, before finally getting his break in a home game against conference rival Wesleyan on Feb. 11.
"I started out real slow and wasn't playing much," Shapiro said. "I felt like I was in over my head, but the older guys on the team made me feel more comfortable. By the middle of the season, I felt normal."
Playing against the Cardinals in a crucial game with postseason implications, Shapiro emerged from his shell, erupting for eight of the Jumbos' 14 points in overtime to lift the team to an 86-84 win. The 6'3" swingman was 2-5 from downtown and finished with 13 points, including a pivotal three-point play that put Tufts up by two with 1:39 to go.
"I think that was the turning point for me as far as my confidence went," Shapiro said about the Wesleyan game. "I felt like I belonged out there. I wasn't second-guessing. Once I knew the coach had the confidence in me, I felt a lot more comfortable out there and just played my game."
Shapiro turned in several more impressive performances down the stretch, all the while playing an integral role in the Jumbos march to the ECAC Tournament Title. Against Brandeis on Feb. 24, he netted 16 points, including four three-pointers, in an 89-77 Tufts victory.
Two nights later, Shapiro stole two consecutive passes and converted the ensuing breakaways to put his team ahead to stay with 7:30 to go at Bowdoin in the regular season finale. The 78-75 win was the Jumbos' fourth in a row, and 13th in their last 15 games, and guaranteed the fourth seed in the ECAC Tournament. The freshman phenom made his presence felt there as well, averaging 8.3 points in three games, including ten in the championship game.
"He missed the first two weeks of practice because of his ankle," Sheldon said. "So it wasn't that we held him back, but more of a physical thing. By the end of the season, though, he was playing 20-25 minutes per game."
This season, Shapiro has quickly adjusted to his new role as a member of the starting five, after coming off the bench in every game but one last year.
"Last year really prepared me a lot [to start]," Shapiro said. "I got a lot of minutes towards the end. The only difference between this year and last is that I play at the beginning. It's an honor. We have a lot of good players on this team."
Another difference from last year is that Shapiro has added some new weapons to his offensive game, such as a pull-up jumper. He also worked in the off-season to improve his quickness and defensive skills.
"After last year, I wanted to focus on my defense, and get quicker from side to side," Shapiro said. "I don't want to be one-dimensional on offense. All the teams scout, so they know that I like to shoot the three. I think the pull-up jumper will be a good addition, and will keep the defenses guessing."
But the biggest difference, though, according to Sheldon, is not a physical one.
"He has a year under his belt and is playing more mature," Sheldon said. "That's the biggest change - his maturity. He's doing more than just scoring: playing a little defense, making some passes."
Sheldon was full of praise for his young star's other attributes as well. "Part of his thing is that he's just a great athlete," Sheldon said. "He's a team player, but he knows he has to take some shots for us, too. He's got a great attitude... he's a good person and really meshes well with the other players."
Shapiro, on the other hand, remains modest. "I just want to be an important part of the team," he said. "Numbers-wise, I don't have any goals like that."
