Shooting for a graduation present

Welcome back, beloved readers. As a second-semester senior, my time at college is almost at an end. As a result, these next few months will be spent taking full advantage of Morningside Heights and doing the things that should be done by every Columbia student before graduation, including completing the swim test. Unfortunately, one of the things that I want to do before graduation is something I can’t control, namely witness a Columbia men’s basketball Ivy League championship. While I can’t do anything about it, it seems as if this year may be my lucky one, as the Lions are playing like they want to give me a fantastic graduation present.

Before the break, the Light Blue was showing a lot of promise, going 6-4 to start the season. While I was relaxing in California, Columbia stepped its game up even further, winning three of four. A year or two ago, the optimist in me would have declared a Columbia championship, like I do with all my favorite teams (by the way, this is the year the Golden State Warriors win it all). However, my experience with Columbia athletics has taught me to be cautious, and this year I decided to wait to see how the Lions fared in conference play.

The two games against Cornell have awakened my inner optimist, and I can’t help but get excited for the rest of the season. In game one, Columbia showed the type of offensive firepower that I haven’t seen at Levien Gymnasium in a while. Guards Noruwa Agho and Brian Barbour anchored the offense, scoring 25 and 21 points, respectively. Both players shot well, just under 50 percent, and, more importantly, hit big shots when Columbia needed them most. In game two, the Lions were able to overcome Agho’s tough night and put together a big win on the road. Barbour did his best superhero impression, dropping a career-high 23 points in front of rowdy Cornell fans. Statistically, the Lions have been impressive, but numbers aren’t enough to get me thinking about a title. What gets me excited about this team is its attitude on the court.

One big problem I had with last year’s team was its demeanor. The Lions didn’t behave like winners. Offensively, they were hesitant and lacked the aggressiveness that I expect from a team that is out to win a championship. Defensively, the team looked soft and unwilling to dish out hard fouls. The first game against Cornell showed me how much can change in a year. Instead of being hesitant on offense, the Lions were decisive. Late in the game, head coach Kyle Smith correctly put the ball into the hands of his best players, Agho and Barbour, and the duo put pressure on the Big Red defense without forcing the issue. With the game on the line, the Lions hit big shots, including a late dagger 3-pointer by Agho in the defender’s face. On defense, Columbia played tough and controlled the boards (out-rebounding Cornell 40-30). While I would still prefer it if the Lions were a little meaner on defense, their defense was enough to pull out the victory. In game two, the Light Blue showed the mental toughness to win in a hostile environment, something it didn’t do much of at all last year.

It is easy to overlook how a team carries itself on the court because it doesn’t show up in the box score, but it is what helps a team win games that it shouldn’t win. On any given night, a team can hit every shot it takes or miss enough shots to build a brick house. In those games, the intangibles, such as poise, decisiveness, and toughness, are what separate the elite from the bottom of the pack. If the Lions can maintain a winning demeanor, they will have a legitimate shot at the title and at making my last semester the best one yet.