The buzz is circulating in the Yeshiva University Men’s Basketball locker room: "Finish strong." That's the mentality they're carrying into Senior Night, where they'll host the Mount Saint Vincent Dolphins in a crucial Skyline Conference showdown. Yeshiva finds itself in a tight spot after dropping three straight conference games for the first time since 2014-15. They will need to win their last two games to secure the Gold Division title and the second seed in the conference tournament. Meanwhile, the Dolphins are eyeing a playoff berth and aiming to give their potential quarterfinal opponent a run for their money.
It's been quite the journey for the Dolphins since their November 21st matchup against the Macs, where they suffered a 76-57 defeat. Since that point, they have received standout performances from freshmen Louis Vidal and Connor Wein, as well as increased contributions from both junior Frank Camastro and sophomore Gerald Novello.
Yeshiva knows they face a tough challenge, especially without the services of a few key players. Still, the Macs should be able to emerge victorious in their final regular season home game.
Senior Captain Adi Markovich will look to lead the Macs to victory in their final home game of the regular season on Wednesday night. (Photo Credit: Akiva Poppers/MacsLive)
The Art Of Patience:
Mount Saint Vincent is a team known for their aggressive defense and high turnover margin, leading the conference at 3.22. Yeshiva must exercise patience on offense against Mount Saint Vincent's zone and take care of the ball. They'll need to move the ball with intent and wait to make the right passes. This game promises to be a shootout, with the Macs boasting the second-highest points per game in the conference at 79.6 and the Dolphins sitting in fifth with 72.7. Additionally, both teams sit atop the conference in steals and excel in transition. Both teams are sure to get out in space early and often in this matchup.
A Defensive Mindset:
The Macs must embrace a more defensive mindset as they enter this season's home stretch. Throughout the season, they've struggled with individual assignments, proper communication, and winning the rebounding margin. They currently have the worst defense in the conference, allowing an average of 77.6 points per game. While Mount Saint Vincent is not much better at 74.8 ppg allowed, it's still a concerning trend that Yeshiva must attempt to address.
Drive And Dominate:
The Macs lead the conference from the charity stripe, shooting an impressive 75.8% from the free-throw line.
On the other hand, the Dolphins are sitting in eighth place with a 68.2% success rate. Considering the size advantage of the Dolphins, Yeshiva should capitalize on this opportunity and take the ball to the cup, aiming to draw fouls and get to the line.
How To Watch:
Tip-off is scheduled for 8PM from the Max Stern Athletic Center. You can watch the game on the MacsLive YouTube channel.
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