Ephs jump from No. 4 to No. 2 in national rankings

Joe Geoghegan '10

Williamstown, MA - Williams men’s basketball continues to receive national recognition, as the team moved up from fourth to second in the D3Hoops.com national rankings this week on the heels of the team’s 79-64 victory over Middlebury. Middlebury entered week ranked eighth and remained no. 8 following the loss. The Eph s jumped ove r Washington University (St. Louis), who remain ranked third. Guilford moved up from second to first after then-no. 1 UW-Stevens Point lost to UW-Whitewater. Whitewater, who entered the week ranked no. 5, fell to no. 6 after following up their victory over Stevens Point with a loss to UW-Stout.

Williams has been statistically dominant throughout the season. On the offensive end of the floor, the team is ranked first in the nation in field goal percentage at 52.2% and is ranked fifth in the nation in scoring with 87.2 ppg. In a testament to their defensive abilities, the Ephs are also ranked first in the nation in scoring margin with +20.2 ppg and 10th in the nation in rebounding margin with +8.3 rpg. 

Blake Schultz, James Wang, and Troy Whittington are leading the way for the Ephs’ torrid offense. Schultz is scoring a NESCAC-leading 18.9 ppg, while Wang is sixth with 16.4 ppg and Whittington is 17th with 11.9 ppg. Whittington leads the conference and the nation in field goal percentage, shooting an incredible 70.4% from the field; Wang is first among guards fifth overall in the conference, shooting 57.9% from the field, and Schultz is eighth while shooting 52.2%. Wang leads the team in assists with 4.5 per game, good for fourth in the conference.

The trio also plays a large role on the Ephs’ stellar defense. Schultz, Wang, and Whittington average 4.7, 4.4, and 6.1 boards per game, respectively. Joe Geoghegan leads the way for the Ephs on the glass with an average of 8.5 per game, good for third in the conference. Whittington is second in the conference and first on the team in blocks with 2.35 per game, while Schultz is third in the conference and first on the team in steals with 1.7 per game. The team as a whole is holding opponents to 39.6% shooting per game.

National statistical rankings can be found at this link; NESCAC statistical rankings can be found here.

Colby entered the poll this week ranked 25th, and is the only other NESCAC team ranked after defeating Amherst, who fell out of the poll. The Jeffs had been ranked 18th coming into the week. Colby’s jump in the rankings is impressive, given that the Mules had not even received votes coming into the week. The Mules and the Ephs are tied atop the NE SCAC with identical 5-0 records; the two teams will face off this Friday in Williamstown at 8 pm in a show down that will give the victor control of its own destiny.

You can watch the Ephs vs. the Colby Mules on Friday at 8:00 PM and against the Bowdoin Polar Bears on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 PM by clicking here.

The entire Top 25 poll through games played Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010:

Dropped out: No. 18 Amherst, No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan.

Others receiving votes: Albright 40, Illinois Wesleyan 34, Amherst 14, Cabrini 12, Lycoming 4, Emory 3, St. John Fisher 2, Stevens 2.

Poll courtesy of D3Hoops.com