Tier I Qualifier Preview: #5 Ramaz vs #12 YULA
- Marvin Azrak
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
This Thursday night game is sure to be a good one!
Following a one year hiatus, the #5 Ramaz Rams have returned to Sarachek while the #12 YULA Panthers are essentially a new team altogether after 12 out of 15 players from last year’s team graduated, leaving many new players to fill in different roles.
The two teams faced off earlier this year at Glouberman, where Ramaz came out on top—but that result comes with context. YULA was without Liam Braun, one of their key players who was injured for much of the season. While he’s still working his way back to full strength, his presence alone changes the team dynamic.
Ramaz has been playing their best basketball late in the season. They won their annual tournament, went 11–3 in Yeshiva League this year, beat MDY in the playoffs, and nearly took down the championed DRS in the semifinals. That long stretch of success was the product of a team that’s grown strong and united over the course of the year.
A lot of that starts with Coach Scott Ferguson and the addition of Akiva Poppers and YU Maccabees star Max “Red Rocket” Zakheim who have clearly elevated this group. They’re disciplined, have great defense, and have a connected offense. On the court, Emmanuel Kushner has a strong presence and plays a threat in the post. Alon Sidi complements Kushner perfectly as a second big man who can rebound and score at multiple levels. On the perimeter, Noah Hiltzik is one of the best three-point shooters in the tournament. Asaf Seinfeld, a great scoring guard, can drive and dish, giving the team creation and strength in their playmaking. Stanley Cayre is a menace at defense and brings great energy to the team.
YULA, meanwhile, is harder to pin down.
It was clear that this year was going to have a lot of change for YULA after losing most of last year’s #1 seed core. And yet, they’re still here and they’re not backing down. They scheduled up, took their lumps, and are better than their record might suggest. And with Mikey Pollack as their coach, who has won Sarachek as a player and coach, you know YULA will be prepared. They want to spread the floor, play fast, and create pressure. They’ll mix in full-court looks, try to disrupt rhythm, and lean on guard play. Sam Noah attacks downhill and plays hard, Noah Hendeles is an excellent shooter, and Liam Braun, even if not at his 100%, gives the team size, passing, and a different dimension offensively.
If Ramaz dictates tempo, works through their bigs, and keeps this game in the half-court, they should have the edge. But if YULA speeds things up, hits shots, and opens this game up, they can absolutely make things interesting.
It’s experience versus growth and structure versus unpredictability.
Can Ramaz dictate a defensive game? :
This is Ramaz’s identity. They want this game in the half-court, physical, methodical, and low-scoring. The statistics say it all: when they hold teams under 40, they haven’t lost. If they’re getting stops, controlling the glass, and playing through Kushner and Sidi inside, they’ll be comfortable. If that defensive grip slips, things will get interesting fast.
YULA’s pressure:
YULA doesn’t want to play slowly. They’ll look to speed this up, with full-court pressure, quick decisions, and early offense. If they can disrupt Ramaz’s rhythm and turn this into a more chaotic game, that’s where they have a path. Watch how effective their pressure is early on. Will it force turnovers, or does Ramaz handle it cleanly?
Braun’s impact (even if limited):
Braun doesn’t need to dominate to matter. His presence alone changes spacing, ball movement, and Ramaz's defense. He’s a big man who can pass and facilitate, unlocking cutters and shooters. The question is how close he is to his full strength and whether YULA can maximize him in key moments.
How To Watch:
Tip-Off is at 7:00PM from the MSAC. You can watch the game on MacsLive.
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