Tufts' Saturday loss to Bates highlighted the differences in the teams' offensive strategies. While the fourth-ranked Bobcats moved the ball on nearly every possession and established their inside game, the Jumbos were much more one-on-one oriented. The result was the 76-66 final score.
Tufts put on an impressive display of toughness and talent. Several times, Tufts was able to rally from big deficits to make the game close. After falling behind 17-1 early in the game, the Jumbos cut the lead to six points with 3:55 remaining in the first half. Later in the game, after the Bobcats opened up a 21 point lead, Tufts went on an 18-3 run to cut the lead to six once again. During their run, Tufts' aggressiveness on both sides of the court worked together flawlessly. However, Bates answered with their offensive execution, extending their lead to double digits.
Bates, was able to respond to every Tufts run. The Bobcats bent, but never broke, and the Jumbos never led. The difference in the way the two teams valued their offensive possessions made up the difference in the game. Any time Bates had to score, they found star forward Olivia Zurek in the paint, or put the ball in the hands of a wide open jump shooter. Tufts' possessions, on the other hand, usually ended with one of its guards slashing to the basket for a tough shot. Although Bates had just four more team assists than the Jumbos, 18 to 14, over half of Tufts' came from just two players, juniors Jessica Powers and Julia Verplank.
Tufts is far from a selfish team, but its personnel seems to translate into the kind of basketball they played Saturday. Powers and Verplank, the starting backcourt, are both tremendously gifted all-around offensive players. In addition to being good shooters, both can get to the basket almost at will. Unfortunately this often results in them attempting drives on every possession.
The embodiment of this problem seems to be sophomore guard Valerie Krah. Krah is perhaps the most talented offensive player in the NESCAC; despite not starting a single game this season and averaging just over 20 minutes per game, Krah is leading the team in scoring. Yet, when she's in the game, the rest of the team just watches her take it to the basket.
With three guards as good as Powers, Verplank, and Krah, it is hardly surprising that one of the three seems to be working off the dribble on every possession. This strategy did not work against the Bobcat defense.
As a result of the Tufts backcourt's high wire act, last year's leading scorer, senior Allison Love has been somewhat marginalized. She is still scoring in double figures, but at times in the Bates game she looked lost in the offense. Love, who can score both inside and out, went long stretches of the game without touching the ball. Love, when she receives the ball in the post, has the ability to score or hit the open player.
Tufts is already a good basketball team. Their performance against Bates made their quickness, aggressiveness, and toughness obvious. But the difference between the great team on the court and the good team on the court was also obvious. For the Jumbos to get to the next level, they must do a better job adapting their players to the team.
-by Chris Munsey
