2008 Woodie Awards
Generals Hoops team looks to rebound and hold serve at home against big time opponents
Byron Peyster
Issue date: 1/31/07 Section: Sports
The Washington and Lee men's basketball team has a huge week ahead of them. Starting tonight, they play three home games, all against ODAC foes that are or have been ranked in the top 25 this season. Guilford, Randolph-Macon, and Virginia Wesleyan all boast impressive talent, and the Blue and White will have their hands full with each game. With five wins in the league, they are pursuing that coveted sixth win, which virtually guarantees a birth in the ODAC tournament. That has eluded the Generals since the 2002-2003 season. More importantly than that, however, the team is looking to position themselves with a high seed in the tournament, as they currently sit in fourth place in the league.
Last week, the Generals helped their cause by destroying Eastern Mennonite on the road by a score of 86-62. W&L was led by junior forward Femi Kusimo, who tallied a career-high 23 points, to go along with eight rebounds. Guards Chris McHugh and Chris Halkitis combined for 19 assists en route to helping the Generals shoot over 60 percent from the field.
On Saturday night, in front of a packed house at the Warner Center, Washington and Lee was unable to keep their momentum going, as they fell 70-64 to Roanoke College. Unable to figure out the defense of the Maroons, the Generals struggled to get the ball inside to their superstar Greg Bienemann, who scored in single digits for the first time all year with nine points. Sophomore Kirk Jones was able to keep the Blue and White in it by hitting four three pointers. However, in the end, it was not enough to garner that sixth win and sole possession of third place that they were looking for at the start of the night.
That loss is where the team left off last week, and is where they need to rebound from to start this week. There is no question that this team has been the surprise of the school year, winning ten games for the first time in almost a decade. However, the Generals are on the verge of being good enough to make some noise in the tournament, not just show up, and to do that, they need to prove something this week.
Last week, the Generals helped their cause by destroying Eastern Mennonite on the road by a score of 86-62. W&L was led by junior forward Femi Kusimo, who tallied a career-high 23 points, to go along with eight rebounds. Guards Chris McHugh and Chris Halkitis combined for 19 assists en route to helping the Generals shoot over 60 percent from the field.
On Saturday night, in front of a packed house at the Warner Center, Washington and Lee was unable to keep their momentum going, as they fell 70-64 to Roanoke College. Unable to figure out the defense of the Maroons, the Generals struggled to get the ball inside to their superstar Greg Bienemann, who scored in single digits for the first time all year with nine points. Sophomore Kirk Jones was able to keep the Blue and White in it by hitting four three pointers. However, in the end, it was not enough to garner that sixth win and sole possession of third place that they were looking for at the start of the night.
That loss is where the team left off last week, and is where they need to rebound from to start this week. There is no question that this team has been the surprise of the school year, winning ten games for the first time in almost a decade. However, the Generals are on the verge of being good enough to make some noise in the tournament, not just show up, and to do that, they need to prove something this week.
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