Jumbos stumble through disappointing season

At times this season, it seemed that the men's basketball team wouldn't even be able win a game as far away as the intramural courts of Chase Gymnasium, that's how bad they were away from Cousens Gym.

Fittingly, Tufts ended its season on the road last weekend at Trinity College. After gaining the seventh seed in the NESCAC tournament through tie-breaking criteria, the Jumbos got out-played by the Bantams, 72-57.

Excluding the second game of the year, when the Jumbos beat D'Youville 69-60 at a neutral site, Tufts did not win a single road game all season. Tufts finished 0-10 on the road, and just 1-3 in games played on neutral courts.

"I don't know what it was," junior forward Reggie Stovell said. "We were just a lot more comfortable at home."

With its terrible luck on the road, Tufts still managed to finish with an 8-17 overall record thanks to its play at home.

If the Jumbos could have played every game at home this year, they likely would have been higher than the seventh seed in the NESCAC tournament. They finished the year 7-4 at home including a loss to Bates on a half-court buzzer-beater, which could have easily gone the other way.

The Jumbos' eight total victories is the fewest number of wins coach Bob Sheldon has had during his 16-year tenure at Tufts and is the lowest win total for any Tufts men's basketball team since the 1970-71 team that finished 1-17 overall.

"I'm pretty sad about it," Stovell said. "I'm taking it hard."

Sophomore forward Scott "Stretch" Armstrong added, "It's definitely surprising considering how much talent we have this year; it's definitely a shock. Our record wasn't stellar either, so I somewhat expected it."

This is the third season in a row the team has finished with a sub .500 record, with the two previous years' teams each finishing 12-13 overall.

The problem with this season's team was inconsistency, as illustrated through the difference on its home and away record.

In wins such as the Feb. 3, 96-94 win against Keene State, previously 24th in the country, the Jumbos showed flashes of being a solid basketball team. However in losses like the 80-65 game at Colby on Feb. 7, the team seemed like it did not even deserve a NESCAC tournament bid.

"When we are playing a complete game we can play with anybody in the country," Armstrong said. "But, when we take breaks and have lapses we can get beat by anybody."

To Tufts' and Sheldon's credit, the Jumbos played one of the toughest schedules around. In addition to nationally ranked NESCAC-foes Williams, Amherst, and Trinity, the team played national vote-getters Salem State, Plymouth State, Keene State, as well as a tough Clark Cougars squad.

"I want to play a tough schedule next year," Stovell said. "Unfortunately we have a young team. Our guys have experience now; we are looking forward to all the returning players next year."

As far as individual performances, nobody had a bigger breakout year than senior co-captain Deyvehn East. After starting 15 of 25 games played last year, averaging 6.8 points per game, East exploded into a leadership position this season.

East played a team high average of 29 minutes per game, while pouring in a team high 12.5 points per game, grabbing a team high 6.8 rebounds per game, and dishing out 2.56 assists per game, which was second highest on the team. East didn't just bring all-around play to the table, it seemed as though every move he made was spectacular in its own right.

Though there is no official record, between the out of bounds alley-oop plays to sophomore forward Dan Martin and East's two-handed dunks on what seemed like any situation, guarded or open, the team had to have the most dunks in its history.

While this season was forgettable, the future looks bright if the Jumbos are able to retain all of their underclass talent for next year.

"We have the foundation there to have a good season next year," Armstrong said. "It's just about how hard we work."

Stovell and sophomore forwards Armstrong, Blaine Lay, and Martin finished the season ranked second through fifth in scoring, respectively.

Stovell and Armstrong are both known for their ability and fearlessness to shoot the ball, while Lay and Martin combine solid offensive games with even better defense.

The team also got solid play out of freshmen Brian Kumf and David Shepherd. Both players averaged 6.3 points per game, though both were injured late in the season. Kumf was able to fight through an ankle injury and play the last couple games, but Shepherd was forced to sit out of the last six or seven contests with knee troubles.

Although the team is losing East and fellow co-captain and starting point guard Eric Mack to graduation, if the underclassmen continue to improve, the Jumbos should avoid another 8-17 season.

"I'm looking to forward to next year," Stovell said. "I hope my team is too."