Yale Men's Basketball 2015 Postseason Capsule

Yale Bulldogs
Ivy League (22-10, 11-3)

 

On March 6th, during their second-to-last game of the regular season, Yale got a huge win at Harvard to put the team in the driver’s seat to win the Ivy League and earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament. However, the very next day, the Bulldogs lost at Dartmouth and were forced into a one-game playoff with the Crimson to see who would represent the conference in the NCAA Tournament. And Yale could not quite get the job done and reach their first NCAA Tournament since 1962. However, this is their third postseason appearance in the last four years and that is an impressive feat.

Big Wins: 11/23 at Kent State (66-59), 12/5 at Connecticut (45-44), 3/6 at Harvard (62-52)
Bad Losses: 11/14 at Quinnipiac (85-89), 1/9 at NJIT (71-78), 2/21 Columbia (50-56)
Coach: James Jones

Why They Can Surprise:
This experienced Yale squad has been built around junior forward Justin Sears and senior point guard Javier Duren. Sears is a bruiser in the paint on both ends of the floor. He can create space for himself even against players who are bigger than his 6-8, 205 pound frame. Sears is extremely efficient and is also a great rebounder and shot blocker. He has battled successfully against some good opposing big men and Yale needs him to do so again in the postseason. Duren does what you would expect from a playmaker, yet he is also a big 6-4 guard who is very helpful on the glass and a great all-around scorer. Duren averages 14.0 points, 3.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals. When he is playing smart and working the offense through Sears, this is a very dangerous team.

Why They Can Disappoint:
However, it can be relatively easy for the opposition to key in on Duren and Sears and make somebody else score. Coach James Jones has other scoring options in guards Jack Montague, Armani Cotton and Makai Mason, along with forward Matt Townsend. None of them have been particularly consistent though and in the postseason it will take more than one player to step up and help compliment Duren and Sears in the scoring column. In the loss to Dartmouth, Sears was held to 14 points and Duren was having an off-shooting night and scored just 11 points. Mason stepped up big time and led the team with 19 points, but that was not enough to beat Dartmouth. Cotton and Montague combined to shoot 1-of-9 from the floor and Yale simply struggled to score. Sears and Duren will get theirs, but the rest of the team needs to have a good day offensively for this team to advance.

Probable Starters:
Javier Duren, Senior, Guard, 14.0 ppg, 3.9 apg, 5.5 rpg
Jack Montague, Junior, Guard, 8.3 ppg, 2.0 apg
Armani Cotton, Senior, Guard, 6.5 ppg, 1.2 apg
Matt Townsend, Senior, Forward, 7.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg
Justin Sears, Junior, Forward, 14.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.4 bpg

Key Roleplayers:
Sam Downey, Sophomore, Forward, 3.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg
Makai Mason, Freshman, Guard, 6.2 ppg, 1.6 apg
Anthony Dallier, Sophomore, Guard, 2.3 ppg,1.0 apg

By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 68.2 (156th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 60.6 (41, 2)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.5 (112, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.5 (104, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.0 (101, 3)  
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.2 (64, 2)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.9 (103, 5)
Rebound Margin: 5.7 (27, 1)
Assists Per Game: 13.8 (90, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.8 (200, 6)

Recent Postseason Appearances:
2014    CIT    First Round win over Quinnipiac
2014    CIT    Second Round win over Holy Cross
2014    CIT    Quarterfinal win over Columbia
2014    CIT    Semifinal win over VMI
2014    CIT    Championship loss to Murray State
2012    CIT    First Round loss to Fairfield

*all team stats through 3/8

 

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