Bulldogs start down road to the Big Dance

By Jonathan Berkon

On Fri., Mar. 2, the day before last year's spring break began, thousands of Yalies opted to stay in frigid New Haven to crowd into the John J. Lee Amphitheater for the suddenly pivotal Yale-Princeton men's basketball game.

Perhaps only Head Coach James Jones and his players had initially believed that the Bulldogs would be playing the last three games of the season with a chance to win the Ivies and advance to the NCAA Tournament. But although they lost the remainder of the contests, the Elis' solid 7-7 Ivy record belied the league coaches' pre-season prediction that Yale would finish the 2000-01 season in the cellar.

With three of the Bulldogs' four top scorers returning, one would think that the league's coaches would treat this year's squad with a little more respect. Don't count Jones among those who believe his peers have changed their ways.

"I assume that they will pick us to finish between sixth and eighth, just like they always do," he said.

But if Ivy coaches are skeptical about the 2001-02 incarnation of Yale men's basketball, the players are not. "We can be very good, and we have a great chance to win the Ivy title," prized recruit Edwin Draughan, SY '05, said. To fulfill that promise, the Bulldogs will have to win with pinpoint shooting, quickness, and tenacious defense due to their glaring lack of size down low.

Leading the team's returning players are guard Chris Leanza, SY '03, and swingman Ime Archibong, TD '03, the Elis' captain. Leanza paced the team in most offensive categories last year, leading in scoring (13.3 ppg), assists (95), and three-pointers (70). However, he is currently recovering from shoulder surgery and will not be able to suit up until January. Widely regarded as the team's top defender and the most improved player in the Ivies last year, Archibong scored 9.1 ppg last season, third on the team.

While Archibong and Leanza represent the team's established stars, the player with the greatest upside is undoubtedly Draughan, a 6'5" guard who was ranked among the Top 100 Prospects in the nation by CNNSI.com and is regarded by some publications as the best freshman in the league. Draughan is a player who can break down defenses, pass with accuracy, and knock down the jumper.

"Edwin is a very talented player. His size makes him tough to guard and adds a lot of different looks for our team. He finds a way to score whether it is with his penetrating ability or his great jumper," Leanza said. "But what really impresses me is that he is not always looking for his [shot]—he is looking to create for other people."

Draughan demonstrated his potential in the first scrimmage against Lafayette on Sun., Nov. 4. Filling in for Leanza at the point, he led the team with 19 points and added seven rebounds and four assists. Sharing duties with Draughan until Leanza returns will be fellow newcomer Alex Gamboa, TD '05, who made his debut with 16 points, seven assists, and only one turnover.

The two rookies will find that they have three second-year targets camped on the perimeter waiting to exhibit their shooting touch. Scott Gaffield, JE '04, who was named the Ivy Rookie of the Week once last year, has excellent three-point range, which he demonstrated by knocking down three treys en route to a 17-point performance last season. Fellow two-guard Matt Minoff, BR '04, followed up on his solid rookie year by joining the National Team at the Maccabiah Games in Israel over the summer. Paul Vitelli, MC '04, proved to be the most effective of the freshmen last season, finishing fourth on the team in scoring (5.7 ppg) and rebounding (91). His 6'7" height allows Jones to play him at the power forward position.

Players expect Jones to adjust his offensive strategy to account for the team's strength on the perimeter. "You might see us run and push the ball more this year," Leanza said.

While the team's lack of established big men is cause for concern, Jones is confident that T.J. McHugh, MC '03, can fill in at center, with help from Bill Parkhurst, CC '03, Josh Hill, TC '04, and Justin Simon, CC '04. Although the graduation of Neil Yanke, MC '01, and Tom Kritzer, PC '01, means that the team will be without last year's two leading rebounders, Jones does not believe that a deficiency on the boards will be fatal, as Yale was badly beaten on the glass last year as well. Still, the team must compensate for its size disadvantage with stellar defense and unwavering tenacity, both of which were absent at times last Sunday.

But while the size of the players' bodies may prove to be problematic, the size of their confidence will not. "It will not be easy, and we will have to work hard, but we have the talent this year to win the league," Archibong said.

Jones has proved his peers wrong before. And last year's team showed that the best way to impress other coaches is not by winning them over in the fall, but by beating their teams in the winter.

Photo of Chris Leanza, SY '03, by Rebecca Rosenthal.

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