Gameday Preview: Yeshiva @Weselyan

This is it. The final battle at the end of what has been a treacherous non-conference journey. The Macs have faced some of the nation's best. They fought #2 Randolph-Macon and then #15 Mary Washington down in Virginia, hosted defending champions #1 Trinity CT, taken a trip to Boston to face then #4 Tufts, notched a win over runners-up NYU, and played an intense rematch against legendary foes, Illinois Wesleyan. Not to mention tough battles against Chapman and Saint Joseph CT. 

Yet now, the Macs face one last challenge as they travel up to Middletown, CT to face a familiar opponent in the Wesleyan Cardinals. Last season, Wesleyan defeated Yeshiva at the MSAC by a score of 72-55 on their way to an NCAA Final Four appearance. This season, the Macs enter Silloway Gymnasium with some momentum, having put together some impressive conference wins combined with a strong showing against Illinois Wesleyan. 

Coach Steinmetz has received heat for putting together a hard schedule, but it’s fair to say that we have seen the growth from this team’s early season mistakes. Against Sarah Lawrence, the Macs didn’t commit any turnovers in the last four minutes, hit their free throws, and maximized their possessions down the stretch. Against Mount Saint Mary on Saturday night, the Macs proved they can put the pedal to the metal and really put a team away. Now, the Macs get one final test against one of the nation’s best before they enter the homestretch of Skyline play. 

Wesleyan comes into the game 11-4 overall, with some impressive wins and a notable 75-73 road loss to Farmingdale State back in November. They are led by sophomore Zach Wolinski, who was thrust into a starting role after senior captain Nicky Johnson graduated and scoring leader Shane Regan transferred to UChicago. Wolinski is a 6-0 guard who is averaging a team high 16.2 points on 46.2% shooting from the field and 35.5% from three. Another key player for the Cardinals is Junior Ben Lyttle. Lyttle is leading the team in rebounds per game and dropped 17 points in last year’s matchup against Yeshiva.

The Macs are 0-3 all time against Wesleyan and will need to correct prior mistakes if they want to return home victorious. 

Zevi Samet and the Macs look to pull even at .500 with a win over Wesleyan (Yeshiva Athletics)

Pedal to the Metal:

Wesleyan plays a high tempo style of basketball. They want to speed teams up, get out in transition, and force opponents to match their pace. They are averaging almost 80 points per game, fueled by their relentless ability to get out on the break. In last year’s matchup, Wesleyan scored 17 fastbreak points compared to Yeshiva’s six. For the Macs to come out on top, they will have to stay alert on both makes and misses, sprint back on defense, and limit easy transition opportunities.

Playing Smart:

Part of limiting transition opportunities is taking care of the basketball. Turnovers have been the Macs’ bugaboo all year. Even in Saturday’s dominant victory over Mount Saint Mary, the Macs committed 25 turnovers, increasing their season average to 17.2. Against this powerful Wesleyan team, turnovers will lead to quick buckets for the Cardinals. Additionally, the Macs will have to be patient on offense and take smart shots. By taking the right shots, they can ensure they get the best opportunities for buckets and are in position to defend a potential Wesleyan counter in case of a miss. If the Yeshiva can take care of the basketball and take smart shots, they’ll have a much better chance of limiting Wesleyan’s possessions.

Rebounding:

Rebounding has been a relative strength for the Macs this season. While it has been an issue in the past, especially against high level competition, the Macs have won or tied the rebound battle in eight of their 13 games this year, with only one loss by more than five boards (Illinois Wesleyan). Led by Yoav Oselka, the Macs will need to clean up the glass and limit the second-chance opportunities. On the offensive end, they will need to force Wesleyan to earn every rebound as clean boards will turn into fastbreak points. Four different Cardinals average over five rebounds per game, meaning it will take a team effort to contain Wesleyan on the glass.

How To Watch:

Tip-off is scheduled for 7pm in Silloway Gymnasium at Wesleyan University. You can watch the game on Wesleyan’s live stream using this link: https://www.nsnsports.net/colleges/wesleyan/