Nov. 27, 2007

Complete Release in PDF Format

THE WEEK IN REVIEW... Johns Hopkins finished in fifth place in the third annual Provident Pride of Maryland Tournament last week. The Blue Jays were matched up against the Hood Blazers in Tuesday's first round match.

In a low-scoring affair, Hood held on for a 52-43 win in Frederick. Junior Phil Beggans punched up 17 points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds in the loss. The Blazers hit just two field goals in the final 11 minutes, capitalizing on 10 of 16 free throw attempts to take the win.

Hopkins then moved into the consolation bracket and a match-up with Washington College at Goldfarb. With the game tied at 19 apiece to start the second, Hopkins used a 31-12 half-opening run to push out to a 19-point lead. The Shoremen battled back, but the Blue Jays answered to win 69-52.

The Blue Jays' win pushed them into the fifth place game. It was a rematch of the 2005 Provident Pride of Maryland title game. But this time there was a different outcome as Hopkins defeated Villa Julie 64-61 in overtime. Sophomore Pat O'Connell and senior Doug Polster combined for six of the Blue Jays eight points in overtime. There were four lead changes in the overtime but a lay-up by Polster with just six seconds remaining sealed the win.

THE WEEK AHEAD... Johns Hopkins opens its Centennial Conference title defense this week with a pair of contests. On Wednesday, Hopkins travels to Lancaster, PA to take on Franklin & Marshall. The Blue Jays then host the Swarthmore Garnet on Saturday.

Franklin & Marshall leads the all-time series with Hopkins 49-29. However, the Blue Jays have won two straight and three of the last four meetings. Last season, Hopkins swept the series for the first time since 1998.

Hopkins holds the edge in the series against Swarthmore, 59-34 and has won six straight. The Blue Jays haven't lost at home to the Garnet since the 1997 Centennial Conference semifinals. Their last loss at home during the regular season was a 53-51 overtime loss on January 28, 1984.

I'M HONORED... Senior guard Doug Polster was named to the Provident Pride of Maryland All-Tournament Team on Sunday. He hit the game-clinching lay-up with just six seconds left in overtime as Hopkins defeated Villa Julie for fifth place in the tournament. Polster averaged 7.0 points per game with seven rebounds, three assists and five steals. He was also named to the Centennial Conference Honor Roll on Monday.

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 355-201 (.638) record entering this week's action. Nelson ranks second in Centennial Conference history in conference wins (138), 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 191 attempts and ranking 14th all-time. Polster has nailed 77 treys and now ranks tied for 11th all-time. He entered the season ranked third in JHU history in three-point percentage with a 41.9 percent clip. AROUND THE CENTENNIAL... Senior guard Doug Polster ranks fourth in the Centennial in free throw percentage (.857) and sixth in three-point field goals made (2.20). Junior guard Scott Weisenfeld ranks sixth in free throw percentage (.850) and steals (2.60). Sophomore guard Pat O'Connell is fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.583).

Hopkins is second in the Centennial in turnover margin (+3.00) and field goal percentage defense (.401). The Blue Jays also rank third in scoring defense (63.2), free throw percentage (.728), three-point field goal percentage defense (.256) and steals (9.40).

CHARITY STRIPE... The Blue Jays have four players who are shooting better than 70.0 percent from the charity stripe this season. Senior Doug Polster and junior Phil Beggans are shooting at an 85.7 percent clip.

IT'S A NEW SEASON... Johns Hopkins is in its 83rd season of basketball and posts an all-time record of 785-892-1 (.468). The Blue Jays also post a Centennial Conference record of 138-64 (.683). Hopkins ranks second behind Franklin & Marshall (152) 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.