For the first time in three years, the Tufts men's basketball team will not be taking a trip anywhere out of the region over break. They won't be traveling to La Verne, Calif. for the SCIAC Classic like last year or driving down to Wilkes-Barre, Penn. for the Wilkes Barre Challenge.
Instead, the Jumbos plan on using the winter recess for the same function most other Tufts students do: a break.
"Over the past three years, we've played in a tournament over break, and we've traveled a lot, and we've struggled coming back from break. So this year we want to change that up a little bit and keep it more local," senior tri-captain Jon Pierce said.
Instead of attending a holiday season or New Year's tournament, the Jumbos are preaching a more individualistic approach to this year's break from class.
"Over the next two weeks guys are going to get into the gym on their own and work on some of the things we've talked about," Pierce said.
Players will have time to reflect individually on what has been a tough season so far, with the Jumbos starting off 2-6. They don't resume play again until Jan. 5, when they will host local foe MIT.
The contest against the Engineers is the first of three non-conference match-ups for the Jumbos coming in the week after break, the others coming on Jan. 7 at UMass Boston and at home against Clark on Jan. 12. That same weekend, Tufts will open up conference play with games at Williams and Middlebury.
Following the opening slate of conference games, the Jumbos will play Western New England College at home before most students arrive back from their break. Still, the Jumbos are trying to focus on the immediate future and the adjustments they must make, especially late in games, to turn this still-early season around.
"Coming back from break New Year's Day, we want to have four focused practices and get ready for MIT," Pierce said.
