Aug. 15, 2006
The 2006-07 Yale basketball season actually began in May when the Bulldogs took a 10-day tour of Spain. While seeing the sites in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona, the Bulldogs played five games against top university and professional teams. It was a bonding and learning experience for a squad that returns four starters and 10 letterwinners.
"Because of generous contributions from the late John J. Lee and the leadership of the Yale administration, we are extremely fortunate to be able to take a foreign tour every four years," said James Jones, The Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach Of Men's Basketball. "The ability to take a team overseas and experience another culture while playing the game of basketball is an unbelievable opportunity. I learned many things about this team which has helped me in my preparation for the upcoming season."
Yale finished with a 15-14 overall record last year and was 7-7 in Ivy League play. The Bulldogs have been .500 or better in Ivy play in each of the last six years, the first time that has happened at Yale since the official start of Ivy play in 1956-57.
All indications are that streak should continue this winter, and Jones believes his team can contend for an Ivy League championship. The only significant statistical loss is Dominick Martin, who earned first team All-Ivy recognition and led the team in scoring (13.7 ppg.) and rebounding (7.1 rpg.). There is evidence, however, that the Bulldogs can succeed without Martin, who didn't join the team last year until the end of the first semester. Without him, Yale still topped a Louisiana Tech team that went on to earn a berth in the NIT and was competitive with Big 12 foe Nebraska.
"Defensive rebounding and free throw shooting are two areas in which we need to show improvement if we are going to have a chance at being more successful this season," Jones said. "Dominick was our leading rebounder last season and our go-to guy during late game situations. We will have to have some of the younger guys step up and take more of a role in those areas."
A visit to Lee Amphitheater by NCAA Cinderella Bucknell highlights the schedule. The Bison, who shocked Kansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament two years ago and then beat Arkansas last year, come to New Haven on Nov. 25, the first of four games the Bulldogs play against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year. Yale travels to Sweet 16 participant Boston College on Jan. 3 and has two meetings with defending Ivy League champion Penn - Feb. 3 at home and Mar. 2 at the Palestra.
"I'm excited about our schedule for the 2006-07 season," Jones said. "We have a great mix of teams that will challenge us and help prepare the team for conference play."
The Bulldogs open the season on Nov. 12 against Allegheny, the first of 13 home games, the most since the 1992-93 season. Yale is 22-11 in the last three seasons in the friendly confines of Lee Amphitheater.
Here is a breakdown of the 2006-07 Bulldogs:
FRONTCOURT
A pair of seniors - Sam Kaplan and Casey Hughes -- anchor Yale's frontcourt. Kaplan, the team captain, has shown steady improvement throughout his career. Last year he was second in the Ivy League in field goal percentage (.546) and averaged a career-best 10.6 points. Hughes also is a two-year starter and is one of the most dynamic players in the Ivy League. He has finished in the top-10 in the league in rebounding each of the last two years and was the recipient of the George McReynolds Award as the team's best defender last year after leading Yale with 35 steals.
Senior Jason Abromaitis was one of the team's most improved players last year. After appearing in a total of 12 games in his first two years, he played in 24 games off the bench in 2005-06 and should see considerable action this winter as well. Junior Matt Kyle is a candidate to replace Martin at center. Kyle started the first 12 games last year and played well on the trip to Spain, averaging 8.4 points.
Sophomore Ross Morin made an immediate impact in his rookie year, earning the John C. Cobb Award as Yale's top freshman. He shot 56.1 percent from the field in 27 games and was twice selected as the Ivy League Rookie of the Week. Reid Wittman was hampered by an injury for much of his rookie season but gained valuable playing experience on the trip to Spain.
Three freshmen will try to step in and make a contribution to the frontcourt. Josh Davis (Waterloo, Belgium) comes to Yale after spending one year at the Hun School in New Jersey. At St. John's International School in Belgium, he averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, four blocks and three steals as a senior. Jordan Gibson (Fairfax, VA) averaged 19.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.6 blocks at Fairfax High School. He holds the school single season record for free throws made. Paul Nelson (Ridgewood, NJ) was a McDonald's All-America nominee at Ridgewood High School and averaged 13.0 points, 13.6 rebounds and 3.6 blocks as a senior.
"We added depth to the frontcourt with the addition of Josh, Paul and Jordan," Jones said. "Along with our returning players I feel our group is as strong as any in the league. Sam Kaplan is our leader, and we will look to him to set an example for this group."
BACKCOURT
Junior Eric Flato, an honorable mention All-Ivy selection, started 28 games last year at point guard and returns as the leader of the backcourt. He finished in the top-10 in the Ivy League in four categories - scoring (9th, 11.3 ppg.), assists (5th, 2.90 per game), three-point field goal percentage (5th, .409) and three-point field goals made (4th, 2.10 per game). His 61 three-pointers tied for the third most in a single season in Yale history, and his 84 assists led the team.
The Holmes twins, Caleb and Nick, have alternated as starters the last two seasons. Caleb started the final 10 games of the 2004-05 season, while Nick was the only player to start all 29 games last year. Caleb was second on the team in three-pointers made (39), fifth in scoring (7.7 ppg.) and the recipient of the Eggie Miles Award as Yale's top free throw shooter. Nick led the team in blocks (21), was third in three-pointers (29), fourth in assists (50) and seventh in scoring (5.4 ppg.).
Sophomore Travis Pinick showed excellent playmaking ability in his rookie year. He was third on the team in assists (55) and shot 52.2 percent from the field. Point guard Chris Andrews also had a solid rookie season, appearing in all 29 games off the bench. He tied for fifth on the team in steals (21) and was sixth in assists (39). The player who may have benefited most from the trip to Spain was sophomore Ed White, who saw considerable playing time at both point and shooting guard. He averaged 6.6 points in the five games and led the team in assists. Ari Greenberg, who appeared in eight games last year, adds depth to the backcourt.
Freshman Alexander Zampier (East Greenbush, NY) brings an excellent shooting touch to New Haven. He holds the Columbia High School record for career three-point field goals and is the school's second all-time leading scorer.
"It has always been my thought that championships in this league are won with excellent guard play," Jones said. "We have a group that has experience and youth. If our young kids are able to provide depth and our upperclassmen show leadership, this group could be very special."
Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity