BRUNSWICK — After a hot start to the 2017/18 campaign, winning its first six games, including a program record-setting 120 points against the University of New England, the Bowdoin College men’s basketball team finished the regular season 15-8, earning the No. 8 seed in the New England Small College Athletic Conference tournament.
A near upset of the top-seed Amherst, a 71-70 loss on a layup in the final seconds, ended the Polar Bear season, but the loss started the journey to the upcoming season.
Bowdoin College’s Jack Simonds, left, battles for position against Trinity last season. The Polar Bears open their men’s basketball season tonight. (Brian Beard / CiPhotography.com)
The team brings back its top two scorers in seniors David Reynolds and Jack Simonds. Reynolds, a Second Team All-NESCAC selection, scored 15.4 points per game, including 42-percent shooting from behind the arc, while co-captain Simonds netted an even 15 points per game, making 35.5-percent from 3-point range while hauling down 5.4 rebounds per contest.
Sophomore point guard Zavier Rucker will run the offense after averaging over 31 minutes per game. Co-captain Hugh O’Neil looks to provide a big presence in the paint. The 6-07 forward averaged nearly 10 points a game (9.6) and nine rebounds (8.8). O’Neil grabbed 10 or more rebounds 10 times, including a season-best 17 against Trinity midseason.
O’Neil and Simonds are the only two players to start all 24 games for the Polar Bears last season.
The team begins the season on Friday against Albertus Magnus (7 p.m.) in the Western Connecticut State Colonial Classic before hitting the road for games against the University of New England (Nov. 20), Babson (Nov. 25) and the University of Maine at Farmington (Nov. 27). The Polar Bears return to Morrell Gymnasium for contests against Colby (Nov. 29), Pine Manor (Dec. 1) and Anna Maria (Dec. 3).
NESCAC play begins in January, including games with Tufts (Jan. 5), at Trinity (Jan. 11), at Colby (Jan. 19), at Hamilton (Jan. 25) and at Amherst (Jan. 26). Following three home games to start February — Middlebury (Feb. 1), Williams (Feb. 2) and Husson (Feb. 5), Bowdoin closes out the season away at Connecticut College (Feb. 8) and Wesleyan (Feb. 9), with hopes to play in the conference tournament.
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