Since edging Babson at home in early January and improving the team's record to 7-4, the Bowdoin men's basketball team has fallen a great deal, especially in the NESCAC. Since then, Bowdoin has lost six of their last seven games, including five important conference games. Bowdoin has fallen to 8-10 overall and have not yet earned a NESCAC win, with a 0-5 record in conference games.
Most recently, Bowdoin traveled to New Hampshire to face the 14-5 Plymouth State on Tuesday. Although Bowdoin had four players reach double-digits in scoring, the team was stifled by a stingy Plymouth State defense.
Leading scorer Kyle Petrie '06 shot only 6-16 from the floor, while first-year guard Andrew Hippert was even more disturbed by the Plymouth defense, shooting 4-18. Reserve Kevin Bradley '07 also had noticeable difficulties against Plymouth, as he connected on three of his 14 attempts.
Overall, Bowdoin shot a poor 31.3 percent from the field and hit only 26.7 percent of their three-pointers. Although Bowdoin's defense was quite solid, holding Plymouth State under 45 percent shooting on the night, Bowdoin still lost, 88-72.
Including Plymouth State, Bowdoin has faced a very difficult schedule over the past six weeks. Bowdoin only played one game at home during Winter Break, a victory over Babson, and their only win during the break.
Afterwards, the team traveled to Bates and Tufts to face teams that are tied for second in the NESCAC. The Bobcats and Jumbos won these games handily. Afterwards, the team had to face a tough 10-6 Colby in Waterville, a game Bowdoin dropped 75-71.
After a win over St. Joseph's, Bowdoin played host to Amherst, the top team in the conference. Bowdoin, bolstered by the opportunity to play at home, possessed a six-point lead over the fifth-ranked team in the nation at halftime. However, Amherst simply provided too much offense for Bowdoin to hold down the entire game, and Amherst surged to a 69-60 win.
During the same weekend Bowdoin faced Trinity, a team ranked fourth in the NESCAC, yet possesses a stellar 14-4 overall record. Bowdoin fell again, 93-73.
Bowdoin has scored the fewest points in NESCAC games this year, resulting from playing stiff competition in Amherst, Bates, Tufts, and Colby. Bowdoin faces a decidedly less difficult schedule over the final two weeks of the season. Williams and Middlebury both rank in the lower half of the NESCAC standings. Although the team has struggled, Bowdoin should rise in the rankings in the final weeks of the season.
Bowdoin would improve its record greatly this weekend with wins over two conference opponents in home games against Wesleyan and Connecticut College. Wesleyan enters the game fifth in the conference with a record of 12-8 (3-3 NESCAC).
While Wesleyan could be a tough match-up for Bowdoin, the game against Conn. College presents a good opportunity for Bowdoin to earn its first conference win of the season. Conn. College ranks ninth in the conference with a record of 5-15 (1-5 NESCAC).
Bowdoin tips off against Wesleyan tonight at 7:00 p.m. and face the Camels of Conn. College at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow.