When Phil Barlow, the sophomore point guard for the men's basketball team, first injured his left ankle in a pickup game last summer, he was assured that with proper rest the injury would eventually heal itself. Unfortunately for the Jumbos, this mending never occurred. After ten games and oftentimes excruciating pain, Barlow underwent surgery last Friday and was lost for the season.
As the squad enters the integral NESCAC portion of its schedule, it will do so without the services of an important cog from its early season success. Even while hampered by his injury, Barlow managed to lead the team in minutes played, steals (which he also leads the NESCAC in), and assists.
"This is a really tough loss for us," coach Bob Sheldon said. "He's like our quarterback; he calls the plays, he runs the plays, he distributes the ball. We'll also miss him on defense."
Barlow entered this season with great expectations after a stellar freshman campaign where he began the season as the team's sixth man and eventually won a starting job. In ten games this year, Barlow averaged 9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 3.5 steals per game, while heading a fast-paced, aggressive offense. Perhaps Barlow's best game of the year came in the Jumbos' early-season, overtime victory against perennially tough Salem State. Barlow netted 16 points while picking up 8 rebounds and recording 5 steals.
Yet even while playing crisp basketball, Barlow was in constant pain. "It hurt all the time," Barlow said. "I think I felt it the most the day after a game. It was always there."
One aspect of his game the injury did affect was his shooting. Barlow shot a mere 32 percent from the floor this year, and only 26 percent from behind the arc - meager outputs for one of the team's leaders in shots.
"When I was injured over the summer, I was off the foot for three full months," Barlow said. "By the time I was ready to play, the season was about to start, and my shot was rusty. I never really regained my touch."
With Barlow out, starting point guard duties shift to junior Lee Neugebauer, Barlow's backup during the early portion of this season. Backup duties now fall on the shoulders of sophomore Eric Mack. While an entirely different player than Barlow, Neugebauer has the confidence of his coach - who said that Lee knows the game and the Jumbos' offense in and out - and his teammates.
"Since Phil's injury, Lee has shown a lot," captain Bobby MacMannis said. "When he was backing up Phil early on, I think he was a little nervous out there. Since taking over, his confidence has really improved."
Neugebauer says he plays a game that is basically opposite to Barlow's. "I have to concentrate to play my game and not try to play the way Phil does. My game is passing, setting up the offense, hitting open shots, while containing my man on defense and not allowing penetration."
While the team's offensive sets will remain in place, the shot distribution will undoubtedly change. Isolation plays once run through Barlow will now go to Junior Brian Shapiro, the team's second leading scorer. Junior Mike McGlynn, leading the Jumbos with an average of 16 points per game, will assume additional offensive duties. Yet by far the player whose role will change the most significantly is freshman big man Craig Coupe, who the team will expect to play a more prominent role on offense.
"Coupe will definitely be getting more shots," Neugebauer said. "Since I've come in we've instituted more plays for him since he's been playing so well."
In coach Sheldon's tenure at Tufts, he has never endured a season-ending injury to as key a player as Barlow. Though his loss is a difficult setback, he remains confident in his team's chances.
"This is a tough league," Sheldon said. "Every game is a war, and if you're not ready, you will lose every time. The loss of Phil isn't easy, but the timing wasn't terrible. We got to play three or four games without Phil, and we know Lee and Eric can do it."
"The last few games before the heart of the NESCAC have really been beneficial for me," Neugebauer said. "I've been getting used to playing 25 to 30 minutes per game instead of the ten to15 I was getting when I was backing up Phil. The NESCAC is always so competitive but I really feel like I've gotten the boost I need to continue to play solid basketball."
As for Phil Barlow's prognosis, the future is bright.
"I'll be all healed and ready to go next season," Barlow said. "The doctors told me there is no reason that I shouldn't gain back all my speed and movement."
