The numbers: 7-10 overall, 2-2 Ivy, 245th RPI, 290th Sagarin, 300th Pomeroy
The recent results: won 56-52 over Brown (1/26), lost 71-64 to Yale (1/27)
The upcoming schedule: Cornell (2/2), Columbia (2/3)
Getting defensive
Following the impressive 6-1 stretch that coincided with the return of Leon Pattman, Dartmouth has dropped three of four. Two of those losses (New Hampshire and Yale) came when the Big Green’s defense allowed more than 1.10 points per possession — as was the case in the Vermont loss back in December as well. Not blessed with an explosive offense, Dartmouth is 6-2 on the season when holding opponents under a point per possession. Which means it is 1-8 when failing to do so. Terry Dunn’s defense looks to harass opponents into poor shooting, and is 6-0 when holding opponents under an effective field goal percentage of 44.0. Turnovers also are a factor, as the Big Green is 5-0 when forcing turnovers on more than 24.0 percent of opponent possessions.
Foul play
The downside of the aggressive defensive play is a lot of fouling, and Dartmouth has done so more frequently than anyone else in the league, averaging a foul every 3.27 possesions. It will come as no surprise that Big Green opponents average a free throw attempt every 2.72 possessions — easily the highest opponent free throw attempt rate in the league. Consequently, opponents are getting 24.6 percent of their points at the line, which is the highest component percentage in the Ivy League, and higher than all but 25 Division I teams. Combine that with Dartmouth’s own paltry 4.46 possessions per free throw attempt, and you can see why the Big Green is being outshot 417-251 and outscored 289-175 at the charity stripe.
An off weekend for Pattman
Dartmouth was able to split with Brown and Yale despite back-to-back rough shooting nights by its leading scorer, Pattman. The senior guard scored 23 points on the weekend, but shot just 9 of 27 (33.3 percent) — 1 of 7 (14.3 percent) from three — in the two games. On a team that has problems getting to the line, Pattman needs to do better than the five free throws he has attempted over the past four games. And with opposing defenses making him a marked man, he also should have more than six assists over that stretch.
Barnett showing improvement
With a number of starters out early on, Alex Barnett tried taking the scoring load on his shoulders. He averaged 12.3 field goal attempts in the first six games and shot just 24 of 74 (32.4 percent) in that span. When Pattman returned, Barnett got more selective, averaging 9.5 attempts over the next six contests, and shooting a healthier 23 of 57 (40.3 percent) from the field. Beginning with the first Harvard game on January 6, however, his shot attempts per game are up to 16.0 per game. Barnett is getting some decent looks, because he’s managed to shoot 36 of 80 (45.0 percent) in those games. His outside shooting definitely needs some work still, at just 7 of 43 (16.3 percent) from beyond the arc.
Ball steps up
John Ball is having a very solid junior season, averaging career highs across the board in scoring (8.1), rebounding (4.9), assists (2.1), field goal shooting (59.8 percent), and minutes (24.5). Against Brown and Yale this past weekend, Ball enjoyed his finest collegiate weekend yet with 24 points on 11-of-16 shooting and 18 rebounds. His free throw shooting has plummeted alarmingly from 72.7 percent last season to just 45.9 percent this year, and he has attempted only one three-pointer all season, but Dunn has found a way to create matchup problems with Ball offensively, while getting excellent defense out of him at the other end.
Anemic outside shooting
After shooting a healthy 36.4 percent as a team from three-point range last season, Dartmouth has fallen all the way to 31.2 percent from beyond the arc this year. Aside from Pattman (45.8 percent) and DeVon Mosley (37.8 percent), no other Big Green regular has hit over one-third of his three-point attempts. As a matter of fact, subtract Pattman’s and Mosley’s combined 50-for-122 shooting (41.0 percent), and the rest of the team is just 34 of 147 (23.1 percent). Jason Meyer entered the season as a 38.8-percent marksman from three and is shooting 13 of 40 (32.5 percent), while Mike Giovacchini — a 37.9-percent outside shooter his first two seasons — is just 9 of 40 (22.5 percent) from the arc on the year.
Looking for frontcourt production
The Dartmouth coaching staff is looking for answers down low, but no one has stepped up and demanded minutes with strong post play. Dan Biber has had two productive scoring games inside, but hasn’t asserted himself in the other five contests since his December 30 return from a broken wrist. Brian McMillan also came back at UMES after missing seven games with complications from a broken nose, but scored just 10 points total over the next six games before missing Saturday’s Yale game. JuCo transfer Kurt Graeber generally has been limited to a bucket or two a game, while freshman Elgin Fitzgerald hasn’t been able to sustain the good production he had in consecutive games at Vermont and UMES back in December.
Odds & ends
– Dartmouth ranks second in the Ivy League at taking care of the ball, committing turnovers on just 21.6 percent of possessions.
– Rebounding has been a weak spot for the Big Green, which ranks 308th in Division I on the offensive glass at 27.8 percent, and 259th defensively at 64.1 percent.
– Marlon Sanders has struggled since his return from a knee injury, missing all six three-pointers and shooting just 8 of 24 (33.3 percent) from the field in those 11 games.
– Biber has just six assists in 202 minutes this year, while Fitzgerald has yet to record a collegiate assist in 132 minutes of playing time.
– No Dartmouth player has more than 30 turnovers on the season.
