After a devastating loss in last year's NESCAC finals to arch-rival Williams, the Amherst men's basketball team is back with a chance to redeem itself. The defending national champion Lord Jeffs are the top seed for the fourth consecutive year, and once again, they're the clear favorites to cut down the nets next weekend. Here's a look at the four first-round games tipping off tomorrow:
No. 8 Colby at No. 1 Amherst: The Lord Jeffs have returned to their familiar No. 1 spot atop the national rankings, and they'll defend it at LeFrak Gym against a Colby squad that went 3-6 in NESCAC play. Colby has one of the league's best young post players in sophomore power forward Adam Choice, the reigning NESCAC Player of the Week, but Choice will have his hands full tomorrow. Amherst sports a four-headed monster of talented senior big men - Kevin Hopkins, Fletcher Walters, Brandon Jones and Matt Goldsmith - and is captained by the nation's best point guard in classmate Andrew Olson. The Jeffs are heavy favorites.
No. 7 Conn. College at No. 2 Trinity: Four talented senior big men will clash in Hartford this weekend. Trinity brings tri-captains Robert Taylor and preseason All-American Russ Martin, while the Camels counter with Jeff Young and tri-captain Charles Stone. Both squads are senior-laden more than ever this season, and both are feeling the urgency for a win Saturday. The Bantams have the experience and the size (four Trinity starters are 6-foot-4 or taller), but the Camels have the talent to pull an upset.
No. 6 Williams at No. 3 Middlebury: The defending champs have had an up-and-down season, opening 12-0 in their non-NESCAC schedule but later rattling off a five-game losing streak in their conference slate. The Ephs' two biggest question marks are their senior co-captains, Chris Shalvoy and Chris Rose, who have struggled to stay consistent down the stretch. If Chris and Chris are on, the six-seed could emerge, but Middlebury is stacked this season. Junior Aaron Smith and senior co-captain Mike Walsh crash the boards like none other, and the Panthers' two guards, junior Ben Rudin and senior co-captain Andrew Harris, are solid on both ends of the floor. This could be the Panthers' year.
No. 5 Bates at No. 4 Bowdoin: Who's the favorite? At 6-3 in conference play, the Polar Bears are the higher seed, but the Bobcats are 2-0 this year against their Maine rivals. Bates topped Bowdoin 66-65 at home on Dec. 1 and closed the season with a 65-62 win in Brunswick last Saturday. The Bobcats are led by one of the league's best shooting guards, senior tri-captain Bryan Wholey, and a phenomenal rookie power forward, Brian Ellis. The Polar Bears have three senior tri-captains - guard Andrew Hippert, forward Andrew Sargeantson and center Jordan Fliegel - all having career years, and all three will have to step up Saturday to keep their collegiate careers alive.
