GETTING INSIDE

It wasn’t supposed to be this way for Colgate.

Small forward Kyle Roemer, who tore a knee ligament during last year’s preseason, has come back and hasn’t missed a beat, leading the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game. He is flanked by one of the most underrated scorers in the league, sophomore forward Yaw Gyawu (14.9 points per game, 4.4 rebounds).

Despite that duo up front, the Red Raiders had a brutal first half. Part of it has to do with a tough schedule, including routs at the hands of nationally ranked UConn on opening night and Syracuse on Nov. 30.

They are also victims of overall inexperience. Roemer is a senior in name only and is coming off a lost season. Forward Ben Jonson is the Raiders’ only other senior. Injured wing Mike Venezia and backup point Joe Hoban are the only juniors.

Could the brutal non-conference schedule benefit the Raiders in the long run? Wins and losses aside, Colgate will have seen some of the nation’s top programs as it settles into conference play. That experience could go a long way in building the character of some of coach Emmett Davis’ young players. But whether that translates into some victories remains to be seen.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Colgate has the worst scoring margin (-9.2) of any of the Patriot League teams.

• Kyle Roemer’s 16.1 points per game is good for second among individual scorers in the conference.

January At A Glance:   As if they weren’t beaten up enough by their non-conference opponents, Colgate opens league play with a date against the top defense in the league (Army, Jan. 9) and the top offense (Lafayette, Jan. 13). Were the Raiders merely victims of a tough schedule, or are they really this bad? Those first couple of games could hold the answer.

Quote To Note:   “I was really pleased with our defensive effort throughout. We did a better job on the glass in the second half. I’m really happy for the players to get this win. They have been working very hard in practice and have not seen the results they deserve.”—Head coach Emmett Davis, following his team’s 63-44 win over Dartmouth on Dec. 22.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Season Recap:   Colgate had a brutal early run to start the season, playing well but still losing the season opener to Connecticut and falling in tough games against Yale, TCU and Wisconsin-Milwaukee, before being blown out by Syracuse. The verdict is still out and a winless stretch doesn’t help matters, but the Raiders played hard and had some winnable games. Because of that, they might be the most enigmatic of the Patriot League teams.

Player Rotation:   Usual Starters—G Mitch Rolls, G Anthony Hall, G/F Kyle Roemer, F Yaw Gywau, F Ben Jonson. Key Subs—G Joe Hoban.

Game Review:  

Stony Brook 66, Colgate 55

Texas San Antonio-Colgate, PPD

Colgate 63, Dartmouth 44

Game Preview:  

at New Hampshire, Wednesday, Dec. 30

vs. Longwood, Saturday, Jan. 2

vs. Central Connecticut State, Monday, Jan. 4

vs. North Carolina Central, Wednesday, Jan. 6

vs. Army, Saturday, Jan. 9

In Focus:   Colgate welcomes the Army Black Knights to Cotterell Court in what should be a fascinating look at the dichotomy of tough non-conference scheduling. While the Raiders have been victimized by much tougher opponents, Army has taken advantage of a weaker schedule.

Roster Report:  

• Former University of Virginia big John Brandenburg, who left the school in July for unspecified personal reasons, transferred to Colgate over the summer.

• Junior Mike Venezia continues to rest an ankle he injured on Nov. 23 against TCU. He has missed seven straight games as of Dec. 27, but coach Emmett Davis hopes to have him back in the lineup by the start of league play.