Yale Notebook: Investing in Yale
by Alexander Goot
16 January, 2004
The number one rule of investing is "buy low, sell high". Therefore it seems Yale men's basketball may be the best investment in the Ivy League. After all, everyone knows the potential possessed by this Yale team. It is talented, deep, and-perhaps most importantly-experienced. Against the University of Connecticut it put all of these traits on display in a tremendous opening to the season. Sure, the Yale stock was overvalued after the rampant buying that followed, as the recent six-game losing streak has made quite clear. Nevertheless, just as Yale is not as good as many believed following the trip to Gampel, it is also not as bad as the masses of people diving off of the Bulldog bandwagon believe today. According to CollegeRPI.com, the Bulldogs' schedule ranks 44th in the nation in difficulty-no small feat for an Ivy League school. Yes, Yale should have won games against St. Peter's, American, and maybe even Fairfield and South Carolina. Nonetheless, for all their losses, the Bulldogs are not a lost cause, and there remain a number of reasons why a person might take out a couple of shares of Bulldog Inc.
"Draughan" to the hoop
No one who has watched Edwin Draughan this season can doubt his physical gifts. He is without question one of the best athletes in the lineup. He is averaging four boards per game despite spending a great deal of time at the point guard position. Even so, the leaping ability that allows him to take balls away from bigger, more physical opponents, doesn't keep him scoring consistently, much to the dismay of the Bulldog faithful. Draughan had just three points against URI, and a case could be made that with a strong offensive game from Draughan, Yale could have been right in the game.
Aggressiveness-or a lack thereof-is Draughan's most commonly cited flaw, but that may not be entirely fair. From watching him on the floor, it seems like the problem, when it arises, is that Draughan has become a "cog in the machine". Yale's system, like many Ivy offenses, revolves around a great deal of passing around the arc, patiently waiting for either an open three-pointer, or a chance to dump the ball to Martin or Simon in the paint. This system is a logical one for most of the talent on the Yale team, but it stifles Draughan's slashing game,causing him to settle for jumpers.
Draughan's three-point shooting percentage, at 31%, is the lowest of any Bulldog who regularly attempts such shots. He is not Jeff Schiffner, and to be most effective he must start driving to the hoop aggressively. Draughan has the talent to lose his defender in man coverage, and he can undoubtedly create space either for himself or for a quick kick-out to an open teammate. This is the kind of play that won Draughan the MVP trophy at the Pepsi-Marist Classic, which seems like a distant memory at this point. If Draughan can return to this style of play-and not just for a game or two but throughout the entire Ivy League season-then Yale fans will have a great deal to cheer about.
Captain Intangible
It is hard to read too much into any statistics from last Saturday's game against Division III SUNY-Old Westbury. Nonetheless, the line of one Matt Minoff was particularly interesting, and perhaps even encouraging for Yale fans. In 19 minutes, Minoff attempted just three shots from the field, compared to eight shots against Rhode Island. On an afternoon when the entire Yale team was feasting offensively, Minoff showed enough restraint to let his teammates carry the scoring load. Too often, basketball success is equated with scoring, and within the Ivy League, there is no better poster boy than Minoff. Perhaps the most egregious snub from last year's All-Ivy teams, Yale's captain is as good a rebounder, passer, and defender as there is in the League, but his lack of a dominant offensive game kept him from an honor he probably deserved.
This might explain why at times this season, Minoff has appeared determined to be more aggressive offensively. Against Old Westbury however, Minoff seemed to remember that in 2002-2003 he averaged nearly eight points a game by cleaning up the mess inside. Yale's lineup has plenty of shooters, but the team as a whole has been struggling to do any damage on the offensive glass. It may be that Minoff is realizing that he can best serve his team down low, putting back rebounds and letting the offensive opportunities come to him, rather than forcing them. Minoff does a great number of things well, but shooting isn't one of them this season. However, fans can look forward to his hard-nosed defense and rebounding against Ivy opponents.
Center of Attention
On Wednesday night against URI, four of the five Yale starters played 30 minutes or more. The exception? Justin Simon, who played 20 minutes, as did Dominick Martin, splitting time evenly at the center. The problem was that these two were by far Yale's most consistent scorers on the night. The dilemma was not lost on Yale coach James Jones, who used the second half of the Old Westbury game to experiment with having both big men on the floor at the same time, with mixed results. Though the interior became more cluttered, and both men prefer to work in isolation, there is still reason for Yale fans to get a little giddy at the prospect of both men on the floor at the same time once the Ivy season begins. Martin can hit the midrange jumper, although he hasn't yet had the need to attempt many, and he could remain effective playing at or around the foul line extended while Simon goes to work in the post. In addition, having both men in on the defensive end should upgrade Yale's rebounding, which needs serious improvement. Whether it is Judson Wallace, Eric Taylor, or Adam Chubb, Yale will do battle with some talented centers this season in league play. Perhaps the one edge the Bulldogs will possess is the ability to send not just one, but two true centers into the paint to wreak havoc against interior defenses. A case can be made that Martin and Simon have been Yale's two strongest and most consistent offensive performers this season. It would seem therefore, that more minutes for the both of them can only breed optimism.
Lighting one fire, and containing another
Paul Vitelli and Alex Gamboa represent a particularly interesting contrast. When Jones removed Vitelli from the starting lineup for two games this season, and then proceeded to talk in interviews about how he had not yet reached his full potential, it seemed quite obvious that he intended to motivate his talented forward by any means necessary. Vitelli's shooting has been strong all season, but he has been too hesitant in pulling the trigger, and too passive in his rebounding. Jones seems quite eager to tap into Vitelli's aggressive streak, even if it requires prodding. So far, the results are encouraging. Upon reentering the starting lineup, Vitelli posted consecutive 14-point games, and added seven rebounds against American.
On the other side of the coin lies Gamboa. Jones has on occasion pulled the junior point guard off the floor seemingly as a way of cooling his heated emotions. Gamboa's passion for his team can oftentimes be quite an asset. The captain, Minoff, keeps a calm and collected approach on the floor, and this is complemented quite well by Gamboa, whose fiery style as floor general can energize the entire team. No Yale player seemed more delighted by the performance of Yale's reserves against Old Westbury than Gamboa, and his enthusiasm seemed to spread like wildfire through a team in need of positive vibes. Nevertheless, as point guard Gamboa must walk a thin line, and avoid letting his emotions lead to bad fouls and turnovers. Yale has had great difficulty against the press this season, and it can expect to see plenty of pressure in Ivy play. It will take a clear-headed Gamboa for Yale to break the press successfully, and if the former Ivy League Rookie of the Year can play with emotion and composure at the same time, there is no reason he can't hold his own with any point guard in the Ivy League.
Whither Yale?
As this week's PowerPoll reflects, Yale did itself no favors with its lackluster non-league play. While Princeton and Penn have solidified their standing as contenders and shown tangible improvement in most contests, Yale has been largely floundering, with a different problem rising up to bite it in every game. With that said, there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic going into league play. The Bulldogs are currently shooting 47.1 percent from the field against Division I opponents, and no matter how complicated basketball gets, it still comes down to putting the ball in the hoop-something at which Yale has shown itself to be quite good. The problems stem from not taking enough shots-due to poor rebounding and turnovers-and not taking enough free throws-stemming from a willingness to settle for outside jumpers. These problems are significant, but they are also fixable.
by Alexander Goot
16 January, 2004
The number one rule of investing is "buy low, sell high". Therefore it seems Yale men's basketball may be the best investment in the Ivy League. After all, everyone knows the potential possessed by this Yale team. It is talented, deep, and-perhaps most importantly-experienced. Against the University of Connecticut it put all of these traits on display in a tremendous opening to the season. Sure, the Yale stock was overvalued after the rampant buying that followed, as the recent six-game losing streak has made quite clear. Nevertheless, just as Yale is not as good as many believed following the trip to Gampel, it is also not as bad as the masses of people diving off of the Bulldog bandwagon believe today. According to CollegeRPI.com, the Bulldogs' schedule ranks 44th in the nation in difficulty-no small feat for an Ivy League school. Yes, Yale should have won games against St. Peter's, American, and maybe even Fairfield and South Carolina. Nonetheless, for all their losses, the Bulldogs are not a lost cause, and there remain a number of reasons why a person might take out a couple of shares of Bulldog Inc.
"Draughan" to the hoop
No one who has watched Edwin Draughan this season can doubt his physical gifts. He is without question one of the best athletes in the lineup. He is averaging four boards per game despite spending a great deal of time at the point guard position. Even so, the leaping ability that allows him to take balls away from bigger, more physical opponents, doesn't keep him scoring consistently, much to the dismay of the Bulldog faithful. Draughan had just three points against URI, and a case could be made that with a strong offensive game from Draughan, Yale could have been right in the game.
Aggressiveness-or a lack thereof-is Draughan's most commonly cited flaw, but that may not be entirely fair. From watching him on the floor, it seems like the problem, when it arises, is that Draughan has become a "cog in the machine". Yale's system, like many Ivy offenses, revolves around a great deal of passing around the arc, patiently waiting for either an open three-pointer, or a chance to dump the ball to Martin or Simon in the paint. This system is a logical one for most of the talent on the Yale team, but it stifles Draughan's slashing game,causing him to settle for jumpers.
Draughan's three-point shooting percentage, at 31%, is the lowest of any Bulldog who regularly attempts such shots. He is not Jeff Schiffner, and to be most effective he must start driving to the hoop aggressively. Draughan has the talent to lose his defender in man coverage, and he can undoubtedly create space either for himself or for a quick kick-out to an open teammate. This is the kind of play that won Draughan the MVP trophy at the Pepsi-Marist Classic, which seems like a distant memory at this point. If Draughan can return to this style of play-and not just for a game or two but throughout the entire Ivy League season-then Yale fans will have a great deal to cheer about.
Captain Intangible
It is hard to read too much into any statistics from last Saturday's game against Division III SUNY-Old Westbury. Nonetheless, the line of one Matt Minoff was particularly interesting, and perhaps even encouraging for Yale fans. In 19 minutes, Minoff attempted just three shots from the field, compared to eight shots against Rhode Island. On an afternoon when the entire Yale team was feasting offensively, Minoff showed enough restraint to let his teammates carry the scoring load. Too often, basketball success is equated with scoring, and within the Ivy League, there is no better poster boy than Minoff. Perhaps the most egregious snub from last year's All-Ivy teams, Yale's captain is as good a rebounder, passer, and defender as there is in the League, but his lack of a dominant offensive game kept him from an honor he probably deserved.
This might explain why at times this season, Minoff has appeared determined to be more aggressive offensively. Against Old Westbury however, Minoff seemed to remember that in 2002-2003 he averaged nearly eight points a game by cleaning up the mess inside. Yale's lineup has plenty of shooters, but the team as a whole has been struggling to do any damage on the offensive glass. It may be that Minoff is realizing that he can best serve his team down low, putting back rebounds and letting the offensive opportunities come to him, rather than forcing them. Minoff does a great number of things well, but shooting isn't one of them this season. However, fans can look forward to his hard-nosed defense and rebounding against Ivy opponents.
Center of Attention
On Wednesday night against URI, four of the five Yale starters played 30 minutes or more. The exception? Justin Simon, who played 20 minutes, as did Dominick Martin, splitting time evenly at the center. The problem was that these two were by far Yale's most consistent scorers on the night. The dilemma was not lost on Yale coach James Jones, who used the second half of the Old Westbury game to experiment with having both big men on the floor at the same time, with mixed results. Though the interior became more cluttered, and both men prefer to work in isolation, there is still reason for Yale fans to get a little giddy at the prospect of both men on the floor at the same time once the Ivy season begins. Martin can hit the midrange jumper, although he hasn't yet had the need to attempt many, and he could remain effective playing at or around the foul line extended while Simon goes to work in the post. In addition, having both men in on the defensive end should upgrade Yale's rebounding, which needs serious improvement. Whether it is Judson Wallace, Eric Taylor, or Adam Chubb, Yale will do battle with some talented centers this season in league play. Perhaps the one edge the Bulldogs will possess is the ability to send not just one, but two true centers into the paint to wreak havoc against interior defenses. A case can be made that Martin and Simon have been Yale's two strongest and most consistent offensive performers this season. It would seem therefore, that more minutes for the both of them can only breed optimism.
Lighting one fire, and containing another
Paul Vitelli and Alex Gamboa represent a particularly interesting contrast. When Jones removed Vitelli from the starting lineup for two games this season, and then proceeded to talk in interviews about how he had not yet reached his full potential, it seemed quite obvious that he intended to motivate his talented forward by any means necessary. Vitelli's shooting has been strong all season, but he has been too hesitant in pulling the trigger, and too passive in his rebounding. Jones seems quite eager to tap into Vitelli's aggressive streak, even if it requires prodding. So far, the results are encouraging. Upon reentering the starting lineup, Vitelli posted consecutive 14-point games, and added seven rebounds against American.
On the other side of the coin lies Gamboa. Jones has on occasion pulled the junior point guard off the floor seemingly as a way of cooling his heated emotions. Gamboa's passion for his team can oftentimes be quite an asset. The captain, Minoff, keeps a calm and collected approach on the floor, and this is complemented quite well by Gamboa, whose fiery style as floor general can energize the entire team. No Yale player seemed more delighted by the performance of Yale's reserves against Old Westbury than Gamboa, and his enthusiasm seemed to spread like wildfire through a team in need of positive vibes. Nevertheless, as point guard Gamboa must walk a thin line, and avoid letting his emotions lead to bad fouls and turnovers. Yale has had great difficulty against the press this season, and it can expect to see plenty of pressure in Ivy play. It will take a clear-headed Gamboa for Yale to break the press successfully, and if the former Ivy League Rookie of the Year can play with emotion and composure at the same time, there is no reason he can't hold his own with any point guard in the Ivy League.
Whither Yale?
As this week's PowerPoll reflects, Yale did itself no favors with its lackluster non-league play. While Princeton and Penn have solidified their standing as contenders and shown tangible improvement in most contests, Yale has been largely floundering, with a different problem rising up to bite it in every game. With that said, there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic going into league play. The Bulldogs are currently shooting 47.1 percent from the field against Division I opponents, and no matter how complicated basketball gets, it still comes down to putting the ball in the hoop-something at which Yale has shown itself to be quite good. The problems stem from not taking enough shots-due to poor rebounding and turnovers-and not taking enough free throws-stemming from a willingness to settle for outside jumpers. These problems are significant, but they are also fixable.
