#14 Whitman vs #7 Bowdoin: The Forgotten Children
Happy Tuesday evening, boys and girls. Tonight, D3West and I have gotten together to throw a quick one match preview at you fine folks. We’re both a little tired of the match-by-match previews, which we know we’ll be doing more of soon, so we decided to do a little something different tonight. Each of us is staying within our respective areas of expertise, giving our take on why our top-15 team (according to the current Blog Power Rankings, new BPR should come out Wednesday) can both win and lose this match. If you’re already bored and just want the predictions, go ahead and skip down to the bottom the page. Now, neither Whitman nor Bowdoin get the attention that D3West and I feel they so rightfully deserve. Both are talented teams, with high potential, who are constantly overshadowed by regional powers like CMS or Amherst and Middlebury. To say they have little-brother syndrome wouldn’t even be accurate. In the west, PP is CMS’ little brother, Redlands is the 3rd brother, and Trinity Texas is that favorite uncle that everybody likes, but only shows up about once per month and half the time is drunk. In the NE, while neither Amherst nor Midd would want to admit it, they both have been the little brother, as has Williams. Whitman and Bowdoin are beyond the little brother, they are the forgotten children, a role that I’m sure both embrace. What happens when the forgotten child comes home? Everybody fawns and ABC makes some drama about it that they wouldn’t shut about during the Oscars. Today, the forgotten children get what’s theirs, a full preview devoted just to their match. Hey, I did say that you could skip ahead…
Why Bowdoin will win the match
D3NE: Even without Bragg and Wolstoncroft, this Bowdoin lineup is already better than last year’s. That should scare some people. Last year the Polar Bears relied on their fantastic depth to overcome some doubles deficits. With Tercek’s emergence this fall (and spring), and a slew of talented freshmen (again) I don’t think that will be the case this year. Trinka and Tercek have another year together for chemistry purposes, and the #3 team of Roddy/Savage is far superior than last year. Bragg was a great player, but his game was not really made for doubles. Bowdoin should do better in doubles this year, but the top of their singles lineup should be even stronger as well. Trinka was a very decent #1, but now he’s playing #2. Tercek was an excellent #5, and now he’s playing #1. Makes sense, right? It doesn’t have to. Tercek is gigantic and though he doesn’t actually smack the ball like it looks like he can, if he’s beating Trinka then he’s ready to play #1. Both guys also handled the only two established Bantams the other day (Glickman and Matingo), losing a total of six games between the two of them. Bowdoin beat Whitman last year (overcoming a doubles sweep!) so, if Bowdoin’s lineup is better than last year’s, and Whitman’s lineup is lighter (due to graduation), then it stands to reason that Bowdoin should win this match.
Why Whitman will win the match
D3West: Whitman swept Bowdoin in doubles last year, and they still weren’t able to put them away in singles. While their singles play in that match left much for wanting, that match shows just how the Squirrels can be successful against the Polar Bears. Whitman has played several good teams already this season, and their doubles seems to be improving as the season goes one. If they can jump over a Bowdoin team that is still adjusting to outdoor tennis early and secure another doubles sweep, they might just be able to hold on for a victory on the back of Hewlin and solid depth. Bowdoin is coming out of the Arctic Circle and has just one match against a depleted Trinity (CT) team under their belt. The second advantage Whitman has is the fact that they have 0 freshmen in their lineup. Bowdoin’s lineup today featured a couple newbies at 4 and 6 (and sophomores at 1, 3, and 5). While Whitman is a relatively young team themselves with sophomores at 1, 3, 5, and 6, all of these guys have at least A LITTLE experience in big matches. They also have a 3-year starter in Jivkov at #4 who might be able to take out Bowdoin’s 4-star freshman Jiang. If Whitman can sweep doubles and get singles wins from Hewlin and Jivkov, they might just come away with the program’s first top 10 win since 2012. This truly is a golden opportunity against a young team early in the season who is sure to pick up many big wins throughout the rest of the year.
Why Bowdoin will lose this match
D3NE: In a word, doubles. Bowdoin’s achilles heel has been doubles ever since the graduation of Sullivan and Pena. Taking a 3-0 lead on Trinity Ct isn’t worthy of a huge boost, seeing as that team is now playing with only one returning lineup player. Time and time again last year, the Polar Bears would find themselves in a doubles hole. Therefore, it’s very simple, if Whitman comes out firing and gets the doubles sweep, exactly as they did last year, then they might be able to squeak out a couple of singles wins. Bowdoin is likely weakest in the middle of their lineup. Wolfe was very good last year, but he struggled vs. Segal (Trin Ct) on Monday, and was the only Polar Bear who dropped a set. If Wolfe is not yet acclimated to the outdoors, then a squirrel might be able to find his nut. Jiang at #4 is another slight question mark. There’s always a chance that Savage will play in this match. Maybe he’ll be in the lineup and then taken out if Bowdoin has a lead after dubs? Jerry is young and inexperienced, and even though he’s talented, we have yet to see how he responds when his spot is needed for the team win. In addition, the fact that it’s Whitman’s 1st California match doesn’t really matter to me. It’s been 50’s and 60’s in Walla Walla over the past week, so Whitman has been getting the chance to play outdoors. Just because you add a couple degrees doesn’t all of a sudden make Whitman struggle more than Bowdoin. Give me a break. Now, all that being said, I’m merely playing devil’s advocate, because I think Bowdoin will not, in fact, lose this match.
Why Whitman will lose this match
D3West: I’m going to be completely transparent and say that I don’t actually believe Whitman is going to win this match. While Bowdoin is coming across three time zones into warm weather, they should actually be more acclimated than Whitman, which is just now leaving the Northwest. The first match of Spring Break has never been particularly kind to the Squirrels (as exemplified by last year’s brutal loss to Trinity), and though Whitman isn’t starting any freshmen, Carter and Rapoport might as well be freshmen for how much significant action they saw in the singles lineup last year. Most telling, perhaps, is Whitman’s abysmal performance in singles last season against Bowdoin. The only guy who won a singles match for Whitman is now the assistant coach and the rest of the lineup won a grand total of one set. Doubles sweeps are hard to come by, and, while I believe they can take a 2-1 lead, I think they probably only win one (two max) singles match against the Polar Bears.
Predictions
D3NE: 7-2 Bowdoin. Wins at 2 doubles and 4 singles for Whitman
D3West: 6-3 Bowdoin. Wins at 1 and 2 doubles and 1 singles for Whitman