Cautious Winter Optimism

Let's face it, after this past fall's truly astounding athletic performances from Columbia teams (ah the joyous subtleties of sarcasm), the expectations for the winter and spring seasons have considerably decreased. I mean, it's pretty much understood that between football's 0-7 Ivy record (not to mention their average deficit of over 33 points) and the administration's tactless handling of the no-booze-at-games rule (aka: Bakergate), school spirit on this campus has flatlined in the last three months.

It seems like in each of the four years that I have desperately tried to remain a fan of the Light Blue, winter has become a season of awaited redemption. First, Joe Jones was hired and instilled a feeling of excitement and increased expectations for the men's basketball team. Then came his new class of young recruits who promised to bring in more talent than the program had seen in years, followed by the addition of Traci Waites as a highly competent coach for the women's team (well, I guess we all know now how that was a bit of an overstatement). Each year we were promised great things from the winter teams that would lift our reputation out of the Ivy dumpster.

Well guys, enough is enough. I'm tired of having everyone be built up to expect that this is the year that both men's and women's basketball will win the Ivy Title all in one big swoop. In the last two to three years, both teams have made major improvements to their rosters, coaching staffs, and attitudes toward play, but we shouldn't put the weight of the world on their shoulders just quite yet.

This year, let's not make any grand predictions of shattering school records and Ancient Eight Championships before the teams have even hit their stride. All that does is set us fans up for disappointment, and considering how much these students have done to improve the status of their respective programs, that just seems far from fair. As a reasonable goal for a change, all I'm asking for is a .500 record. Maybe even above .500, but, like I said before, I'm not one to pressure.

Already this year, as a result of my new Zen-like approach to Columbia basketball fan-hood, things are looking pretty good. Even-dare I say it-better than I expected.

With their narrow win over Stony Brook this past Saturday, the men's team is off to their best start in 36 years. Granted, this is only four games, against non-Ivy teams, but still, things are looking up.

For the women, things have been slightly more difficult over the past year, as they have been forced to overcome the still-mysterious departure of Waites halfway through last season. Nonetheless, though their record is not quite as perfect as the men's, they have already bounced back to commendable results thus far. The Lions gained their first victory under new head coach Paul Nixon just over a week ago in dramatic fashion against Morgan State, with junior guard Shasta Henderson launching the game into the first of two overtime periods, then banking 12 points in extra minutes to give Columbia the win. Then a couple of days later, right before Thanksgiving, Henderson's classmate and fellow guard, Megan Griffith, posted 23 points in a career-high effort against Delaware State. Though the Lions eventually lost the match by a one-point deficit, Griffith's early performance shone as a bright spot for the team, along with 14 points from sophomore Michele Gage and 11 from Henderson. It's only three games in, but I have a feeling that the combination of Griffith and Henderson is experienced and talented enough to overcome the void left by the four starters who graduated last spring.

Now please, whatever you do, do not take those last couple of paragraphs as praise or any sort of promise of what is to come. These teams have a ton of potential, but I'm not going to pretend to know what they're going to do with it. I'm just saying...at this point, 7-7 sounds pretty damn nice.