For many members of the Rensselaer men’s basketball team, playing Division I basketball was their dream, their goal, and now after playing seven games in two weeks with stops ranging from Florida to Wisconsin, the Red Hawks may have got their wish.
Rensselaer posted a 5-2 record over the span, which included back-to-back wins in the Milwaukee School of Engineering Tournament, giving RPI its first tournament trophy since the 1999 New York University Tournament.
“It was extremely exciting,” Rensselaer Head Coach Mike Griffin said of the RPI’s preseason accomplishments. “We completed a very difficult travel period, which gave the players some great, almost Division I, travel experience.”
Griffin is hopeful the constant travel and gruesome back-to-back tournaments will prepare the Red Hawks for similar back-to-back match-ups in the always punishing Liberty League.
However, fatigue is a concern for the Griffin, now in his 21st season at the helm for Rensselaer, as his starters have played maximum minutes throughout the preseason and in the team’s first two league games.
“The starters are getting more minutes than I would like, especially given the back-to-back scheduling the Liberty League,” Griffin said. “You don’t have a bench unless you use it, so we will need the guys off the bench to pick up some slack.”
For now, Rensselaer is looking strong as they boast an 8-5 overall record and split their opening weekend of conference play with a 66-63 win over rival Union on January 14, before falling 72-67 to Skidmore on January 15.
“The conference is closer top to bottom than it was last year,” Griffin said, admitting he had no clue who would win this year’s Liberty League Tournament. “Things can go either way everyday.”
The Red Hawks certainly found this to be true in two intense league games.
The Dutchmen were out for blood in an effort to repay the Red Hawks for a 71-64 thrashing in the last year’s regular season finale in the Armory, which prevented Union from qualifying for the conference playoffs. Union, who was also opening its new basketball facilities, was determined to not let their crosstown rival walk away victorious on their sparkling hardwood floor.
However, solid defensive pressure from the Red Hawks forced the dangerous Dutchmen shooters to misfire early and often, as Union combined to go a 2-14 from three point range in the first half and shot just 29 percent for the game.
“We are not a great man-to-man team,” Griffin admitted. “But we are steadily improving.”
Offensively, the Red Hawks showed significant improvement, as they seem to have finally adjusted to life without Jared Hite. Paris Moore tallied a game high 20 points, while Matt Zepernick and Neal Wesson added 14 and 13, respectively.
Perhaps the most telling stat in the win was free-throw shooting as Rensselaer went 13-15 from the charity stripe including 11-13 in the game’s second session.
“We survived,” Griffin said. “We have continued to develop on the offensive side of the ball.”
However, Rensselaer lost their shooting touch between Friday evening’s victory and Saturday’s contest against Skidmore, as the Thoroughbreds proceeded to shoot 43 percent compared to the Red Hawks dismal 33 percent display.
John Van Schaick had the lone hot hand for RPI, scoring 21 points on 7-16 shooting. Skidmore’s Dana Martin and J.P. Corry combined to score 51 of the Thoroughbreds’ 72 points in the win.
However, the split should not be viewed as a disappointment for Rensselaer, as every team in the Liberty League has at least one loss after playing a maximum of three games.
The Red Hawks are also welcoming a four-game league home stand that begins at 8 pm. this Friday against Clarkson in the Armory. RPI will face St. Lawrence Saturday at 4 pm in the Armory before welcoming defending league champion Hamilton and Hobart the following weekend.
