Panthers score big wins, resume winning ways Consecutive road, home victories reverse fortunes for men's basketball

Author: Jeff Klein

For a few games, Middlebury basketball's unbelievable start to the season seemed like ancient history. Now, the tide has turned once again.

After an impressive 64-48 road win at Skidmore, men's basketball defeated University of New England 61-50 at home on Sunday to stage back-to-back wins after losing three straight. The three-game losing streak remains the only setback the team has encountered in an otherwise perfect season.

During the losing streak, which included losses to Hamilton, Plymouth State and Norwich, the team sorely lacked the effective formula of dead-eye shooting and smothering defense that allowed them to roar to an outstanding 7-0 record. Such a feat has been achieved by only one other Middlebury men's basketball team - the inaugural 1917-1918 squad finished the season at 7-0.

For one, Middlebury often looked stagnant on offense during their three defeats. Even when they did get decent ball movement, shots simply were not falling. This was partly due to the team's over-reliance on the three-point shot. While they were winning, many of those shots found the bottom of the net, but too much dependence on the three-ball always proves a dangerous strategy. Without the long ball, the team struggled mightily to find another offensive approach that worked.

"Offensively, we simply weren't getting efficiency with our possessions," said Guard/Forward Ben Ehrlich '09. "We started missing shots and turning the ball over a lot."

Another negative trend during the string of defeats was that the team repeatedly mired itself into insurmountable holes right from the game's outset. Even when they chipped away at their opponent's lead, the deficits proved too overwhelming to overcome. Against undefeated Hamilton, the Panthers trailed 27-14 after the first 12 minutes. Every time Middlebury made a run, Hamilton had ample breathing room to counter it, and the Panthers never got closer than six in the second half. At Plymouth State, Middlebury immediately trailed 19-9 and never actually led in the game. Against Norwich, Middlebury allowed the Cadets to break an 8-8 tie with a 12-0 run in the first half, and the Panthers never got closer than six thereafter.

Still, it was not as if the team abandoned its solid work ethic or lost its confidence during the losing streak. "The intensity and the hard work were still there," asserted Ehrlich. Maintaining such intensity and resolve even when things are not going well can define the success of a team. For Middlebury, it was the essential component in stopping the losing streak with two strong victories. "Nobody likes to lose," Ehrlich explained. "But when we were losing it wasn't as if we lost confidence in our abilities. We know how good we can be, and that was part of the frustration when we weren't playing up to our capability."

Having successfully overcome their first major test of the season, the Panthers understand that they can handle adversity with poise and character. With the losing streak firmly in the past, and with two solid wins to build on, men's basketball can look forward to the rest of the season with confidence as they set their sights on the NESCAC tournament which begins Feb. 18.