Player and Team Analysis: Basketball

After a respectable 8-6 start, the remainder of the 1997-1998 Yeshiva University basketball season promises to be one of great excitement and achievement as well. The Maccabees are attempting to improve on their record setting season of a year ago in which they advanced to the ECAC tournament for the first time in their illustrious and storied history. With this task in mind, Coach Halpert has assembled thirteen fine young men molding them into one dominating and cohesive unit.

From the very beginning of the semester, the prospects for a successful basketball season have been excellent according to the Macs’ captain and pillar of puissance, senior center Joel Jacobson. Recently, Jacobson remarked, "We still have very hig h expectations for this year. We had a tremendous season a year ago, and will continue to put forth the tremendous effort needed to better last year's unbelievable record." When asked to discuss this year’s #1 objective, he commented, "Last year our goal was to make the ECAC tournament, and that was accomplished. This year, our goal is to be the first team in YU history to play in the NCAA division III tournament."

For Jacobson's wish to be realized, the strong play of the Macs’ starting five must persist the rest of the way. For instance, senior shooting sensation Alon Zaibert, who came to YU two years ago after running out of challenges on the Israeli bask etball circuit, has to constantly display his strong perimeter game. His smooth and effortless shooting motion inarguably makes him the best pure shooter on the team. Another senior, the athletic and acrobatic Brian Wein, has demonstrated that his combi nation of strength, speed, and explosiveness are unparalleled in the basketball world. Marc Nadritch, the junior point guard, continues to display his marvelous ball handling abilities after effectively directing the team in its offensive sets last year. He also specializes in dishing off precise passes to any one of his talented teammates. Coming back from a year of study in Israel, David Neiss is already wreaking havoc on the hardwood, whereas Captain Joel Jacobson has claimed the lane as his dominio n by exercising complete and utter supremacy over the boards.

What has made this year’s team a legitimate contender in the ECAC thus far, is the depth of its bench. Leading the way is senior forward Neil Bronstein. Bronstein, a solid all-around player, utilizes great court awareness to his advantage. The bench also consists of a small contingent from Canada, led by second year guard Joel Kruger. Kruger has ascended to new heights as a smooth operator on offense and as a tenacious defender. Also hailing from Canada are senior guard Gabi Lakser and the fa bulously skilled freshman, Steve Martinek. Martinek has seen some extensive playing time enabling him to display his spectacular ball handling and deadly outside shooting. Rounding out the bench is Shane Rabin, a talented big man from Georgia, Yoni Zado k, a guard with cat-like jumping ability and quickness, and Chicagoan Karesh, a win-at-all-costs player.

From day one, the Macs have been very excited about the addition of Moshe Garmay, a six foot five inch center from Shire, Ethiopia, who represents the first Ethiopian to don a Maccabee uniform. His tall, rangy body, along with his enormous wingspan co vering some nine feet, makes him a natural shot blocker. In fact, Garmay has astounded so many that some basketball observers have tagged him the Ethiopian Eraser.

This basketball season is the first under the new regime of athletic director Dr. Richard Zerneck. Although Zerneck admitted that he is not one to make any predictions, he did say that if the team stays free of injury and plays together the rest of th e way, much success would result in the end. Similarly, Jonathan Halpert, who roams the sidelines for a remarkable twenty-sixth year as coach, reaffirmed the secret of success in a statement made before the season: "Only if we exhibit a cohesiveness amon gst ourselves and play unselfish basketball the full 23 games will the wins will take care of themselves."

The ‘97-’98 edition of the Macs is a serious power in the East Coast Athletic Conference. Their starting five is amongst the elite in the league, while their bench hasn’t been this strong in some time. With less than two-thirds of the season left, ho wever, the Macs need to play as one undivided unit, each player complementing the other, in order to bring home more victories and have a shot at the unofficial league championship.