 |
Tigers look to mend for Ivy season
Sophomore Robins to get first career start tonight
By Justin Feil
Princeton Packet Sports Writer
Monday, Jan. 24, 2000
Though the exam period ended last week, for the Princeton University men's basketball team the tough tests don't end. And it looks as though the Tigers may have to pull a few late nights to prepare.
Following tonight's game against Division III Catholic University, the Tigers have 14 regular season games left. But they are against Princeton's most intense opponents — the Ivy League schedule. The first four of those games are on the road, and they may be played without two of Princeton's most experienced players, Mason Rocca and Nate Walton.
Rocca's absence was something Princeton knew about heading into the exam break after the senior co-captain had ankle surgery. Expected to return by the Feb. 11 game against Dartmouth at the latest, an infection is complicating his recovery.
Walton is just the newest Tiger inserted into the power forward position to get injured. The junior broke the fourth metacarpal on his right hand in last Wednesday's practice.
"Nate and Mason are out I don't know how long," Coach Bill Carmody said. "Mason will probably miss both weekends. I don't think he could be back in time for the Brown-Yale weekend.
"Nate's hand is still very swollen. He could be ready for the Brown-Yale game, but he'd have to play with a cast on his hand, so I don't know."
Princeton's injury concerns, however, aren't limited to those two. Eugene Baah was expected to play tonight despite suffering a thigh contusion a week ago. And freshman Kyle Wente is recovering from the same ankle surgery that Rocca had. Even assistant coach Joe Scott is on the injured list with a torn calf muscle he suffered when the Tigers needed a 10th player just to scrimmage. Carmody brought up two more jayvee players to help fill out the bench and make scrimmaging in practice possible.
"You go into the year thinking your frontcourt is in good shape," Carmody said. "Then you lose Chris Krug, Cameron Carr, Nate and Mason. Now we have to have perimeter guys playing inside. It's a completely different team."
Walton was leading the Tigers in assists per game with 4.9 and he had tried to make up for Rocca's rebounding absence with 4.6 per game. Into his place will step Ray Robins. The sophomore will get his first career start, but he feels confident.
"I've been getting a lot of reps with the black (first) team," the 6-foot-7 forward said. "We have to be on the same page. It should be fine.
"In our offense, we basically can do our things so there won't be much pressure on me," he said. "It's not so much I'm looking to contribute, but I'll take what comes to me. If we can get it down low to Chris (Young), I'll be doing that. I'll contribute whatever's necessary."
What Princeton needs most is rebounding and foul shooting. Both areas have hurt the Tigers this season. In the past four games, Princeton has been outrebounded at the offensive end, 64-9. Princeton also has attempted 20 fewer free throws than its opponents have made.
"I definitely need to concentrate on rebounding," said Robins, who set a school record at Paso Robles (Calif.) High School by shooting 93.1 percent from the free throw line as a junior. "Coach has done a great job of making it known that we all need to rebound. I think he's making a concentrated effort to tell us that everyone has to get in there."
Having Robins in the lineup changes Princeton's look. He is a much better outside shooter than either Rocca or Walton, but is not as physical inside. In Princeton's offense, that may be fine since Young usually mans the post position alone.
"Mason is just tough and Nate gives everyone that threat that he'll find you if you're open," Robins said. "With me, I can give some three-point shooting and hopefully some rebounding. And I'll get up the court."
"He's just not as experienced," Carmody said of Robins. "He does everything decently. He dribbles, passes and shoots well. He's a good runner and he jumps pretty well. He has a knack for getting in there so he'll get a tip-in and some rebounds. He's not a slasher, but he gets to the basket. He just needs experience, but he's been playing with the first team for the past week."
Robins will remain with the first team until the injuries heal. But it isn't clear how long that will be. Walton said it is possible he will play eventually even if his finger is not fully recovered. In the meantime, it is up to Robins to take advantage of his first career start.
"We hope to be able to keep it going," Robins said. "We had a couple of big losses — Mason was our centerpiece and he held us together. Nate contributed so much, too. This is a chance for guys who have been on the bench to show we have the ability to help. It's an opportunity to show what they can do. Once we get to the Ivies, though, it's not who's doing what. It's just coming out with a win."
Back to Sports
|
|
|
E-MAIL REPORTER