Seawolves Fans

YALE (7-1)
Last Game: Yale 86, Howard 40 on 11/30/22
Last Game vs SBU: Stony Brook 85, Yale 81 on 11/28/21; SBU .537 FG%; Policelli career-high 22 pts
Checkmate Unofficial Line: Yale -14.5
NET Ranking: TBD
KenPom Rating: Yale 87, Stony Brook 343
KenPom Prediction: Yale 69, Stony Brook 57
Watch: SNY or https://flosports.link/3O0u9uZ
Listen: N/A
Notables:
6-6/205 jr F Matt Knowling 18.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, .710 FG%
6-5/190 so G John Poulakidas 11.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .471 FG%, .511 3-pt FG%
6-4/190 jr G August Mahoney 8.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .489 FG%, .472 3-pt FG%
6-7/215 sr F Isaiah Kelly 6.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.1 bpg, .500 FG%
6-4/195 so G Bez Mbeng 5.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.0 spg

This just feels like a mismatch, and I think that's going to be a theme until we get some reinforcements.

If this line comes in at 12 points or so, I'd love to know when the last time was that we were underdogs by so many at home. Even when Vermont came in, it wasn't 12. And of late we haven't faced any behemoths in the non-conference slate either, so this really is unique. But I think it's appropriate. We are really ailing right now. I can't remember any team anywhere having such misfortune on the injury front. They aren't just out; they're out long term. And there's no minor leagues or JV team to pull somebody up from.

Oddly enough, both teams come into this one off a game in which they set a school record for made threes in a game. We had 17 against St. Joe's while Yale hit 18 in a 46-point drubbing of Howard. Even with their efficiency from three, I just don't know if we can afford to get out of the zone, which puts a focus on closeouts. I can't say that I've seen us do that particularly well; whether opposing threes have fallen or not has little to do with what we're doing defensively. And if you leave guys like Poulakidas and Mahoney (who was on the SBU radar a few years ago), that just isn't going to work. Yale has shown that it's able to score wherever though. They're shooting better than 54% from two, which cracks the top 50 nationwide.

Some stats you love to see if you're Yale:
Rebounds/game: Yale 42.1; opposition 29.4
Assists: Yale 146; opposition 65
Turnovers: Yale 89; opposition 111

The competition hasn't been a bunch of world beaters, but I can't remember seeing a disparity like that in the assist column in particular. Yale's doubled up its opponents in assists and then some. If they're moving the ball, they're moving the zone, and that's going to open up holes inside for athletes like Knowling, Kelly and EJ Jarvis and for cutters in general. They have some good energy inside too. Add it up and they will present problems for our personnel but the zone itself.

What James Jones has done at Yale is pretty cool. This was supposed to be a young group—coming off an NCAA tournament appearance—that would suffer a bit with Azar Swain gone (and working for JP Morgan I see) and Jalen Gabbidon now playing for Colorado. Yet it almost seems like they've taken a step forward as last year's role players have to flex a little bit. Jones has had Yale place fourth or better in the Ivy League in 21 of his 22 seasons. That consistency is really something else, so it shouldn't be a surprise that he's molded his roster into a winning group once again. They were picked to finish third in the Ivy in the preseason, but it's looking like they'll very much vie for the title themselves.

I'm not even sure what to say about SBU at this point. We kind of are what we are. I don't know that I can see us unlocking Policelli; again, he is who he is. Take out the 35 points he's had against Miami Hamilton and St. Joe's and he has 35 points in the five Division I games. He was dubbed as this knockdown shooter, but he's just 2 for 18 from three against real competition. I'm hoping that Sarvan's 0 for 16 stretch from three against URI and Brown was just a blip. He corrected himself a bit against FIU and Eastern Washington so hopefully that's the start of something. Pettway's brought some good energy.

It's wild that everybody's going to play because everybody has to play. Unfortunately, there's no sympathy from the other side. Yale's talented, deep and fundamentally sound, so tomorrow might be tough.

Yale looks strong again. Policelli played well last year against yale maybe he gets hot. Don’t think it’ll matter i would take whatever the points are with yale.

Fitz-Policelli-TSM-Policelli-Roberts in the starting lineup. Do we know if Sarvan is available? Or is it just Muratori and Heiden on the bench now?

Edit: Phew. Sarvan is in uniform. Never know with this flu going around.

Geno with the clarke surprise off the bench I called it!! Giving the team some life

This team is COMPLETELY different with Clark on the floor. He's a baller

Nice to see us play competitively, obviously inspired by the return of Clark. Policelli is really tough to watch though.

Team does look a lot different with clarke hope he stays healthy.

Wow, I didn’t go to the game in part because I didn’t think it would be close. Other things to do, etc. But this has been very entertaining. It’s great when shots go down.