Jan. 2, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

THE WEEK IN REVIEW... Johns Hopkins closed out the 2007 portion of its schedule with a pair of road Centennial Conference games. The Blue Jays lost in a shootout at Gettysburg, 82-77 but rebounded with a come-from-behind 70-59 win at Dickinson.

Senior Doug Polster and sophomore Andrew Farber-Miller hit in double figures to lead JHU against Gettysburg. Polster punched up 22 points, with 18 points coming from behind the arc. Farber-Miller hit for a career-high 15 points. Sophomore Adam Baumgartner pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

In the final game of 2007, Polster, Farber-Miller and junior Collin Kamm all scored in double digits as Johns Hopkins closed the game with a 17-0 run to defeat Dickinson. Senior Kevin Roach grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds in the win. The Blue Jays connected on 16 straight free throws, including all 14 attempts in the second half.

THE WEEK AHEAD... Johns Hopkins returns to the court this weekend at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in York, PA. JHU will take on undefeated Elizabethtown on Friday in the opening round in a battle of the Blue Jays. Hopkins will then face either York or Eastern on Saturday. The Spartans and the Eagles square off in the second game on Friday.

Hopkins and Elizabethtown have not met since November 29, 2001. Etown won that meeting 89-64 and leads the series 3-2.

JHU and Eastern have never met on the hardwood, while Hopkins and York have not played since December 4, 1987. The Spartans lead the series 4-1.

I'M HONORED... Sophomore Andrew Farber-Miller was named to both the Centennial Conference and PrestoSports/Pride of Maryland Honor Roll prior to the holiday break.

At Gettysburg, he punched up a career-high 15 points to go with four rebounds and two steals. Three days later, he chipped in 14 points, five rebounds and a career-high two assists in the come-from-behind win at Dickinson.

NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP.. After seeing limited playing time in their rookie seasons, Adam Baumgartner and Andrew Farber-Miller are having solid sophomore campaigns.

Baumgartner has started four of nine games and is averaging 5.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 44.7 percent from the field. Farber-Miller has started the last five games and is averaging 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest, while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor. In Centennial Conference action, Farber-Miller ranks second on the team in points (10.8), field goal percentage (54.5), free throw percentage (.778) and rebounds (4.3).

COACH NELSON... Head coach Bill Nelson, now in his 22nd season with the Blue Jays, is the winningest coach in program history. He posts a 357-203 (.638) record entering this week's action. Nelson ranks second in Centennial Conference history in conference wins (140), conference tournament wins (9) and NCAA Tournament wins (5).

MOVING ON UP... Senior guard Doug Polster is moving up the ranks in the Hopkins record book for career three-point field goals made and attempted. He enters this week with 242 attempts and ranking 10th all-time. Polster has nailed 94 treys and now ranks 10th all-time. He entered the season ranked third in JHU history in three-point percentage with a 41.9 percent clip.

Also making a move in the Hopkins record book is senior forward Kevin Roach. He enters this week's action with 34 career blocks, ranking 20th in program history.

AROUND THE CENTENNIAL... Senior guard Doug Polster leads the Centennial in three-point field goals (2.67), while ranking fourth in free throw percentage (.850) and eighth in scoring (14.4). Sophomore forward Andrew Farber-Miller is tied for seventh in field goal percentage (.500) and tied for ninth in offensive rebounds (2.00).

Junior guard Scott Weisenfeld is fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.09), tied for seventh in assists (2.78) and tied for eighth in steals (1.67). Senior Kevin Roach ranks tied for seventh in blocks (1.11), while junior guard Collin Kamm is tied for eighth in steals (1.67).

Sophomore guard Pat O'Connell leads the conference in three point percentage (.600) and is tied for eighth in steals (1.67). Junior guard Phil Beggans ranks seventh in three point field goals made (1.78) and ninth in three point percentage (.444).

As a team, Hopkins leads the Centennial in turnover margin (+2.78). The Blue Jays also rank second in free throw percentage (.714) and three point percentage (.382). Hopkins ranks third in steals (9.00) and three point field goals made (6.11).

CHARITY STRIPE... The Blue Jays have seven players who are shooting better than 65.0 percent from the charity stripe this season. In fact, four Blue Jays are shooting better than 74.0 percent. Senior Doug Polster leads the team, connecting on 85.0 percent of his shots from the free throw line. In addition, Polster hit on all 11 of his attempts in the Blue Jays come-from-behind win at Dickinson and has hit 12 straight overall.

IT'S A NEW SEASON... Johns Hopkins is in its 83rd season of basketball and posts an all-time record of 787-894-1 (.468). The Blue Jays also post a Centennial Conference record of 140-66 (.680). Hopkins ranks second behind Franklin & Marshall (153) for most conference wins.

COACHES' PICK... The Blue Jays were picked to finish fourth in the Centennial Conference in the coaches' preseason poll. Hopkins received 111 points and was the only team in the top-five to not receive a first place vote. Ursinus is the conference preseason favorite, earning seven first place votes and 137 points.