The men's basketball team will put its 3-1 record and three-game winning streak on the line tomorrow night when it travels to Springfield College to take on the Pride.
Springfield, a perennially tough team, is 41-16 lifetime verses Tufts, and boasts a winning record over every other team in the NESCAC. The Pride has posted wins over a number of Div. I programs. But despite Springfield's statistical advantage, the games have gone the Jumbos' way in recent years, with Tufts taking the last two matches, including a 59-57 come-from-behind overtime thriller two years ago in which the Jumbos handed Springfield its first loss of the season.
This year's Springfield team is 2-1, having escaped with back-to-back one-point victories over Curry and Scranton after losing to Franklin & Marshall 85-61 in the season opener.
As it has through its first four games, Tufts will look to its backcourt to lead the way tomorrow. Guards Brian Shapiro, Phil Barlow, and Mike McGlynn have double-digit scoring averages, while Barlow and McGlynn average 2.75 assists per game. The hot-handed McGlynn has hit 50 percent (13-26) of his shots from behind the arc, helping Tufts succeed with its new, perimeter-based offense.
Along with all the action in the backcourt, freshman Craig Coupe is making a name for himself down low. The 6'7", 225-pound center is fourth on the team with 9.0 ppg and leads Tufts in rebounds averaging 5.3 per game. Coupe is also second on the team in shooting, going 16-27 (59.3 percent) this season.
Springfield will be led by senior tri-captain guard John Gleason, who has tallied 20.3 points per contest. Another tri-captain, senior forward Michael Parker, and junior guard Jonathan Trant are also averaging double figures. Parker has been key in the paint for the Pride, grabbing 12.0 boards a game, while senior forward Keith Arnold has chipped in an additional 7.3 a night.
But the Pride have been careless with the ball, committing 51 turnovers in three games, which could open the door for the Jumbos, who have given up only 58 turnovers in four games and are averaging almost nine steals a night. Springfield has shot just 37.8 percent from the floor, while allowing opponents to shoot 45.2 percent. Tufts is a combined 43.2 percent from the floor so far this year.
Tomorrow's game will be the fourth road game for the Jumbos. Tufts will travel to Babson on Tuesday before playing two at home, hosting MIT on Thursday and Wheaton next Saturday.
