On Wednesday, November 9, the Yeshiva University Maccabees will begin their season with a trip to West Hartford, Connecticut, where they will take on the University of Saint Joseph Blue Jays. The Blue Jays made the NCAA tournament last season before losing in the first round to Penn State-Harrisburg. This game will be an early test and the first look at a revamped Macs team that is missing many of last year's impact players.
When these two teams met a year ago, the Macs won by a score of 87-76. However, their top four scorers from that night— and the season— are no longer on the Macs. The Macs are hoping to recreate their offensive efficiency of last season with the help of several newcomers, in addition to some of their returning players. Veterans Matan Zucker, Adi Markovich, and Oren Betesh will likely be in line to play significant time. In addition, Zevi Samet and Max Zakheim will likely see extended time in the backcourt, while Daniel Margusov and Dothan Bardichev will slide into roles in the front court.
Unlike the Macs, Saint Joseph will be returning with all of their key contributors from a season ago. Leading the way for the veteran Blue Jays team will be senior guards Jaecee Martin and Tyree Mitchell. The duo each shot over 45% from the field while scoring double-digit points per game last season. Ryan O’Neill and Chaylyn Martin will also likely play significant minutes for the Blue Jays. Saint Joseph does most of their scoring inside the arc. However, they are a capable team from beyond the 3-point line. The Blue Jays' efficient team field goal percentage of 49.3% from a season ago indicates that the Macs' defense will need to be ready for a difficult matchup to begin the season.
How to Watch:
Watch the game here. Tip off is at 7 pm.
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