What a fun weekend ahead for some key teams in the Central region with a little West flare to make for a great late season quadrangle (did I use the correct term LoveD3Tennis? Seriously don’t answer that question because I don’t want you bogging down any comments). Coach Bizot and his Patriots travel north to test themselves in preparation for May. On a side note, how perfect of a name is the Patriots in regards to #OldManWooten. If playing D3 tennis at age 52 isn’t the definition of the American dream than I don’t know what is. Because this is a conglomerate of six different matches, I don’t want to do all the work of previewing every doubles/singles match. Instead I will key in on some interesting/key spots that each team will look to capitalize on. I am hoping to get this done all in one sitting because Masters coverage starts tomorrow and I will be glued to the TV waiting for Tiger’s short game to meltdown. My apologies to some of our commenters as I am feeling rather sassy and will be referencing a few of our favorites throughout.
Friday
Tyler vs. Wash U
The Patriots will take on the Bears Friday afternoon to kick off the weekend which will be a good confidence boost if they can fare well. I don’t expect it to be close up and down the singles lineup as Wash U is just too strong at every spot. Tyler can “compete with, but not defeat” Wash U. The key match-up that I am looking forward to is Old Man Wooten and partner Fischer taking on Putterman and Bush at the top doubles spot. The Tyler duo are on a 12 match winning streak with some key wins over Redlands and UCSC on their resume. Putterman and Bush are a well known quantity in the doubles world, but also have lost 3 of their last 4, but against much better competition. If Wooten can keep the energy up throughout and keep this one close, I think they will win in a breaker. But if the Bears break early, I don’t think the Patriots have enough to make the comeback. Ultimately, I think Wash U flexes some muscles here to lead 2-1 after doubles (Tyler wins at #3 dubs). Combined with a singles sweep, this one won’t qualify as a “close loss.” Wash U over Tyler 8-1.
Saturday
Chicago vs. Wash U
Clearly this is the match I am most excited about because it should be interesting on all fronts. Before last weekend I would have said Wash U wins with relative ease, but the beating they took from Amherst is cause for concern. I don’t think Chicago is on the same level of Amherst, but time and time again I have mentioned they are dangerous. Chicago has to escape with a doubles point to give them a chance for a massive upset. I think the two matches of most importance for Chicago are #1 Chua vs. Carswell and #3 Sabada vs. Kratky. I think they need to win both of them to come out as a victorious team. That is quite a tall task. Both Chua and Carswell have had ups and downs. Carswell is getting better as the season progresses and Chua got smoked by Hudson in Cali which is rough on a youngsters confidence. The Sabada and Kratky match should be a great one as the upperclassmen have been on the big stage before. Previously I have called Kratky a weak #3, but a solid win over Williams makes a different case. Even with both Chua and Sabada winning, I think they come up short, but at least put a scare into the Bears. You never know, Chicago could have another freshman with the talent of Jeremy Novick waiting to make a splash. Wash U over Chicago 6-3
Whitewater vs. Tyler
This is a big match for both teams as it gives Whitewater a chance to move up the rankings and Tyler a chance to earn another quality win like the one they have over Santa Cruz months ago. Both teams boast doubles prowess and it’s going to be an important part of the match as I think the leader will end up winning the match. Whitewater needs to be leading more than Tyler as their singles depth is suspect. While I can’t pick one match as the most important, I can pick one player. Ben Shklyar for the Warhawks has been in and out of the lineup all season with injuries. Two years ago Shklyar was a national qualifier at #1 for Whitewater. Now he is playing #5 so needless to say his game has fallen significantly. Whitewater needs him to win both of his matches (#1 dubs and #5 singles) to take down Tyler. I don’t even have faith that he will play both at this moment so I have to give the edge to the Patriots. Tyler over Whitewater 6-3
Whitewater vs. Wash U
The number 1 doubles match is monumental in terms of qualifying for nationals. Shklyar and Treis are at the top of the rankings in the Central region with Putterman and Bush at #5 just outside of qualifying in May. Shklyar and Treis haven’t had any big time Central region wins (Depauw?), but also haven’t lost. Treis paired with Humphreys to take out Gustavus, but they were only together for the above mentioned injury issues for Shklyar. The Bears need to win this to knock out the Warhawks and insert their name into the top 4. Otherwise they will be waiting for Gustavus, Wabash, or Case to drop a match. To think that a national semi-final team may not make it back to the tourney is crazy, but if they lose this match, their destiny is at the hands of others. However, I think they take it. The Humphreys vs Carswell match is also intriguing as the Warhawk has been lights out being undefeated this spring against D3 including a win over Heinrich aka the Resident Pest (who Krimbill lost to). When rankings come out Thursday, I would guess Humphreys will be #1 in the region. I think he takes out Carswell for Whitewater’s only win. Wash U over WW 8-1.
Chicago vs. Tyler
Tyler will hope that Chicago is coming off of an emotional roller coaster match in the morning. Whether Chicago wins in an upset or loses in a close one really doesn’t matter as a let down can happen in either scenario. Tyler could use some of the Yeshiva coach’s Jesus powers (credit that one to ASouth) in doubles to attempt a sweep to make the Maroons sweat out singles. Something tells me Coach Bizot will do just fine without any supernatural help and Tyler takes a 2-1 lead to stretch this one on some levels. The match I am most interested in would be at #3 between Sabada and Harry Kelleher. Sabada will be tired from a tough match against Kratky and Kelleher has some solid results all season. Deepak is known for one big let down a year (I remember Denison last year) so this could very well be it, but overall I think the talent level of the Maroons will be too much for Tyler. Chicago over Tyler 6-3
Sunday
Chicago vs. Whitewater
Jake Humphreys vs. Nicolas Chua. That’s the whole reason this match is important. Chua is sitting at #2 in the region and Humphreys is #3. So this is the best of the best in the Central region (right now anyways). I think Whitewater has the opportunity to exploit some of the Chicago doubles teams weakness and even could take a 2-1 lead heading into singles with wins at #1 and #2. Right now I am trending up on Humphreys and a little down on Chua so I will give him the edge, but in the end it will probably come down to whomever has the most gas left in the tank after the two previous matches on Saturday. I don’t want it to go unnoticed that Whitewater upset Chicago last year, but this clearly isn’t the same team. Now they did it by winning two doubles matches and winning at 1, 3, and 4 singles. Crazier things have happened and they have the horses to do it again. I don’t think they will this year, but wouldn’t be blown away if they do because Chicago is….well Chicago. Chicago over Whitewater 6-3
There you have it. I am sorry if I offended any of our most beloved readers. Ok, that’s a lie. I am old, senile, and can say what I want. Here’s to another great weekend in the Central region!
Chicago and Wash U are similar talent-wise, but the match-ups wouldn’t seem to favor Chicago. Sven and Putterman play similarly (physical styles with good transition games), but Putterman plays the style slightly better (although Sven certainly has the talent to win.) At 5, Leung has huge groundstrokes but not much of a transition game, which I think you need to have in order to beat Wu (at ITAs, I watched Wu take apart Baratashevich from Earlham, who was similar to Leung in that he had a huge forehand but an underdeveloped transition game.) I actually think Coach Tee would do well to swap Tsai and Leung, since Leung matches well against Bush and Tsai has the great transition game that you need vs. Wu.
I remember watching Chicago and Wash U play each other exactly 3 years ago, when Wash U came up to Hyde Park. That Chicago team was so disjointed–players arriving late, a disinterested coach, etc. Coach Tee has done phenomenal work turning them around, and yet, one doesn’t even see him looking for premature adulation on blog comment boards…