Midd does a thorough job vs. Thoroughbreds

Author: Jeff Klein

Explosive offense. Stifling defense. The Middlebury men's basketball team showed a bit of each in three straight wins in 2007 over the University of New England (UNE), Skidmore and Colby-Sawyer, boosting the team's record to an impressive 8-3.
Against UNE on Jan. 3, the Panthers relied on their defensive intensity to break open what had been a close, back-and-forth game in the first half. Coming out of intermission with a six point lead, Middlebury held UNE to eight points over the first six minutes of the second half, which allowed the Panthers to increase its lead to 14 by the 14:21 minute mark. A quick spurt by the Nor'easters did not deter the Panthers, as they immediately responded with a 7-0 run of their own that would ultimately put the game out of reach. Middlebury ended the game having forced 21 UNE turnovers, the major catalyst in the Panther victory.
After the game, several Panthers emphasized that their defensive intensity proved crucial in securing the win.
"The biggest reason for our win was the energy we came out with in the second half on the defensive end," said rookie Tim Edwards '09.5. "Our defensive pressure caused turnovers which led to easy baskets in transition."
Added Aaron Smith '09, who led the Panthers with nine rebounds, "Our defensive intensity was definitely strongest in the UNE game. We took them out of their offense by getting in the passing lanes and making deflections, allowing us to score easy fast-break points."
In Saturday's 81-65 win over Skidmore, it was Middlebury's offense that propelled the team to victory. A strong transition game coupled with blistering-hot shooting, especially from beyond the arc, proved a lethal combination that Skidmore could not overcome.
The first half saw Middlebury jump out to an astounding 30-point lead as the team shot .528 from the field. The Panthers' offense ran with remarkable precision and efficiency. Crisp ball movement, off-the-ball screens and constant motion by the players led to an array of open jump shots and lay-ups.
As has been the case in almost all of Middlebury's wins this season, the Panthers were able to effectively execute the transition game for a plethora of easy buckets. The up-tempo style of play has become a trademark of this year's team.
"Since the first day of practice, we have been training to be a team that fast-breaks as much as possible," said forward Evan Thompson '07. "We know that if we can push the ball up the court we have the chance to score a high-percentage shot before our opponent's defense is able to set up."
"We have seen what our transition game can do for us, and we're going to continue to work hard each practice and game to get even better," he said.
The Panthers increased their lead to 40 in the second half before a 22-3 run by the Thoroughbreds over the final 9:19 closed the gap. Yet it was too little, too late for Skidmore, as the Panthers collected their second victory of the season at Pepin Gymnasium.
Middlebury put forth another inspired effort the following day at Colby-Sawyer, winning a 96-85 shootout. Andrew Harris '08 poured in a game-high 28 points for the Panthers, who displayed the same offensive firepower as they did against Skidmore.
After three convincing victories, the Panthers are peaking at the right time as NESCAC play looms nearer. Improved intensity has been instrumental to the team's recent succes on the defensive side of the ball and it complements the Panthers' already explosive offense.
"After the first few games of the season, I feel we were comfortable on the offensive end but relied too much on it to win games," asserted Thompson. "Now back from winter break and into the second half of our season, I feel that our defensive intensity has picked up. This, coupled with our everyday growth on offense will allow us to truly compete for a NESCAC championship this year."