Men's basketball winless, no luck at home

Junior Jabili Sawicki nearly nets quadruple-double in loss

The men's team dropped more sweat than points Wednesday night to the College of Wooster. Playing against a Wooster squad picked to finish second in the conference, the Fighting Scots exposed enough Yeomen vulnerabilities to leave with a 32 point victory, winning 95-63.

The Yeomen are now 0-5 after this and a nail-biting loss to Thiel College on Nov. 25 in their home opener. The team blew a 17 point-lead in the second half as Thiel tied the game with about five minutes left to go and ended down 81-79.

Wooster's frontcourt dominated the game, revealing what seemed to be soft Yeomen defense on the post and capitalizing on many second shot opportunities. Point guard junior Jabili Sawicki commented on the Yeomen's frontcourt frustrations, stating: "They got the ball down low too easily. When they did get the ball down low and then put up a shot, we didn't block them out, and that just killed us, because they got second shots and layups."

Inability to consistently dominate the lane forced Oberlin's guards to double-team Wooster post players. However, this strategy was abandoned when Wooster's big men showed enough vision to see the double team coming, and dutifully kicked the ball out to their guards to hit the spot-up three pointer.

On the offensive end of the Yeomen frontcourt, only the brutal finesse of sophomore John Norris was able to consistently penetrate the Scots' low post defense, and provide support on the boards.

Oberlin's backcourt was plagued throughout the game with poor shot selection. However, their intense defense kept the game reasonably close throughout the first half, many times allowing the Yeomen to trade baskets with the'Scots, even when their offense sputtered. Coach James Sullinger appreciated this intensity, saying "That's what we build upon. Jabili, John Norris, [senior] Kiese [Laymon] with his eye cut and lip busted, all them out there banging and diving on the floor for the ball...that's where it all starts."

In particular, Sawicki showed courage, officially ending the game with nine points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, and nine steals. Unofficially, his play made a twenty point deficit seem as though the game were riding on every possession. Sullinger appreciated what Sawicki's play does for the team, declaring that "We have to up the ante now, because Jabili has upped the ante...We have to take our game to his level...At the end of that game, everything he had was left between the black lines."

A loss is a loss, but even in defeat comes education. "Each individual needs to keep the level of intensity constant throughout the game, and each individual has to play within his own game," Sawicki said. "Sometimes you can't be the hero, you have to let the game make you the hero. If you try to force shots, or you try to do too much on defense, you will throw everyone else off. If you play within the game, if you make your backcuts without the ball, you will get your shots, you will be victorious. We have the talent, but it's the little things that are preventing us from winning games."

The men's team faces Wittenburg University away this weekend. Facing the team picked to win the conference is never easy, and to avoid embarrassment the team will have to take this advice to heart.

Airborne: First-year Maurice Elrod glides to the basket against Wooster, while junior Jabali Sawicki wrestles with his opponent in the background. (photo by Ned Basbaum)