Lions’ Roar Has Arrived, But Not in Time to Beat Big Red

In Ithaca five weeks ago, Columbia men’s basketball narrowly lost to the Ivy League’s best team, and it seemed as though the Light Blue was a legitimate contender for a championship. With home court advantage the following weekend, it was no stretch to think that they would even the score and enter a neck-and-neck race with Cornell. Instead the Lions hit rock bottom, playing their worst game of the season at the worst possible time. Since then, they’ve played their best basketball of the season and the best six-game stretch Head Coach Joe Jones has seen at Columbia, improving in nearly every conceivable category.

“We were obviously very disappointed after that game,” Jones said. “I really felt that we grew from that experience. I think we learned some things about ourselves. We’ve gotten some great leadership from some of our seniors.”

His team has had the top-scoring defense in the league over the past three weekends, leaving them a half-point above league leader Cornell and a shade below Brown. Kevin Bulger, starting to fit into the offense as a sometimes-point guard, has been a big part of that improvement, as have added minutes for Asenso Ampim, who is the team’s best help-defending big man.

But the defense had been there for most of the season and was never a cause for alarm. What has really changed Columbia’s fortunes is a revitalized offense.

In their second meeting, Cornell became the only Ivy team this season to neutralize John Baumann, crowding the lane with double and triple teams. Columbia only hit one two-point field goal in the first half and even then only eight overall, causing it to rely entirely on its perimeter game.

Baumann has begun to play the low post more often, as a variety of plays are designed to get the ball to him on the low block, usually beginning with a handoff above the perimeter and a quick post entry pass before the double team arrives. With a much-improved jump hook, he can either score over the double teams or pass out to open shooters. He’s become a high percentage free throw shooter and has a knack for drawing contact in the post.

“He’s always been an excellent player, but now he’s a much smarter player,” Jones said. “He knows how to use his body. He knows how to use the low post now. He can step outside and makes some threes, and he’s a very good passer now. He can hurt you in a lot of different ways.”

Re-establishing Baumann as a low post presence has given the offense a stronger identity, as they can spread the court for shooters or take advantage of poor help defense to drive their bigger guards into the lane. Bulger, though not a particularly strong shooter, has made strong moves towards the basket, and Niko Scott has regained a shooting stroke that was absent for most of the year. And at least five players have had their best statistical performances of the season in the past three weeks.

“Even though my statistics are going up, everybody else’s are going up too,” Baumann said. “It’s not really me. Everybody’s gelling and we are understanding how each other plays, and when that happens, everybody is going to benefit.”