Lions play through loss of key players

It was a rough winter break for the men’s basketball team. Injuries to two key starters and second-half struggles plagued the Lions (6-9, 0-1 Ivy) as they went 1-5 during the break.
Their most recent loss came on Saturday against Cornell, the unanimous favorite to top the Ancient Eight.
The Light Blue’s only victory during the recess was a 56-51 win over American on Jan. 4. However, Columbia suffered two crucial injuries in that game, as both senior point guard Patrick Foley and junior forward Brian Grimes went down early. Trainers diagnosed Foley with a high-ankle sprain after stepping on an opponent’s foot, while Grimes strained a calf muscle.
Though Grimes returned to the court this past weekend against Cornell, head coach Joe Jones is still unsure about Foley’s status for this Saturday’s rematch against the Big Red.
“We’re hoping [he’ll play],” Jones said. “But it’s one of the deals where we don’t want him to play and then he gets hurt again, and then he’s out.”
As tri-captain and starting point guard, Foley is a major component of the team. In fact, last season the Lions were only 3-6 without Foley, who only played 19 games due to injury.
“We weren’t playing as well as we’re capable of playing before they got hurt, but then, once they got hurt, we really have struggled,” Jones said.
During the absence of Foley and Grimes, though, other players were able to step up and fill the void. Senior guard Kevin Bulger, who is averaging only 3.2 points per game on the season, has averaged eight points a game since Foley got injured. Last season, Bulger averaged 5.3 points a game, but, due to the emergence of Grimes and sophomore Noruwa Agho as offensive stalwarts, he has had to take on a different role this season.
“Kevin had to really tone his game down and try to fit with our team.,” Jones said. “Without even meeting with him, he recognized that and we tried to play a style that was conducive to us winning with some of the offensive fire power we’re bringing in this year.”
However, Bulger has returned to last year’s form during the absence of Grimes and Foley.
“He was helping the team flow and now he’s back to his old self,” Jones continued.
Sophomore guard Matt Johnson is another player that got the chance to play a more significant role. After averaging 4.8 minutes a game last season, Johnson has seen a considerable jump in playing time—he averaged 11.8 minutes a game over break.
“Matt’s been one of our better defensive players,” Jones said. “He’s got good size. He’s a pretty smart player. He needs game experience, and he’s starting to get that, and so it’s been good to have him out there because I think he can help us now and for the future.”
Although health was a major problem for the Light Blue over break, lack of consistency, especially in the second half, also contributed to several of its losses. In the Lions’ first game over break, a 63-51 loss at Quinnipiac, they led by four at the half before losing by 12.
“It’s something that we’ve had trouble with this year and I can’t put my finger on it,” Jones said of his team’s second-half woes.
In Columbia’s next game against Maine, it led by nine at the half before again letting the game slip away, losing 65-59. Against St. Francis (NY), as well, the Light Blue was unable to hold on to its halftime lead of nine, and ended up falling to the Terriers 59-53.
“We’ve just had a hard time of being consistent this year so far,” Jones said.
This lack of consistency is something Jones and his team has been focusing on, especially heading into league play.
“I do think this team is more talented and this team has a chance to really have a good run in the Ivy League,” Jones said. “But we’re going to have to learn how to play consistent over 40 minutes, and learn how to play specifically better in the second half of games.”
Columbia’s game against Lafayette offered another example of the Lions’ second-half struggles. The Lions led by one with 14:24 to go in the second half, only to end up losing 91-74.
Last Saturday, Columbia’s dropped its Ivy League opener in a 74-53 decision to Cornell (15-3, 1-0 Ivy). The Lions only shot 36.8 percent from the field during the game, something Jones attributes to the Big Red’s solid defense.
“It was more about us playing on our heels offensively than anything else,” Jones said. “I think their defense made us a little more passive than we wanted to be.”
Bulger led the Light Blue with nine points, while Cornell sophomore guard Chris Wroblewski and senior forward Ryan Wittman each scored a game-high 13 points.
Columbia will have another crack at Cornell this Saturday at Levien. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.