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By: Jaycee Cruz

The importance of rebounding is old-hat in basketball circles. Ask a coach about how his team can improve and taking care of the glass is bound to come up. For the McMaster men’s basketball team, rebounding is one of their greatest strengths.

McMaster ranks eighth in the country when it comes to total rebounds per game, averaging a healthy 42 rebounds per game. If we dive deeper, Mac ranks fifth in defensive rebounds per contest (29.7) and 18th in offensive rebounds per game (12.3).

Mac’s rebounding has helped their recent success in their double-digit wins over Waterloo and Guelph. In both games, the rebound battle was close in the first half, but the Marauders increased their intensity on the glass in the second half.

This helped them increase their leads and secure victories over the Warriors and Gryphons. McMaster out-rebounded Waterloo 48 to 22 and out-rebounded Guelph 44 to 29.

“In our first half against Waterloo our scoring totals off of our defensive rebounds were horrendous. We had 16 defensive boards that led to seven fast-break points. In the second half it was like our defensive rebounding was turning into double the points,” said Amos Connolly, head coach the men’s basketball team.

“The rebound is one thing. The tempo at which you break out of it is another. I thought that we were better in the second half of the Waterloo and Guelph games,” said Connolly.

“We were better at translating a defensive rebound into a stressful possession the other way.”

A high-pressure possession is created by grabbing the defensive rebound and pushing the pace up the floor, which is a style McMaster likes to play. Run outs lead to easy points in transition.

“I think if you can get to the paint in eight seconds and stress the defense that way, that’s great. Whether that’s a post player running down the floor, rim-to-rim, or you enter the ball up the sideline and that guy attacks or gets into a threatening area within eight seconds, I think that’s good,” Connolly said.

Mac isn’t the biggest team in the nation. Their tallest regular-rotation players are Connor Gilmore and Taylor Black who both stand around 6’ 7”.

For what they lack in height, they make up in speed. One of Mac’s strengths is their quickness, which helps create favorable number advantages for the Marauders in transition. Connolly thinks pushing tempo is necessary with a team full of guys that hover around the 6’ to 6’ 5” mark.

“I think we’re deep and I think we’re athletic and I think we’re a little bit small. I think pushing pace makes sense for a team like this,” said Connolly.

It’s important that Mac knows that they have pieces that need to be used in certain capacities to yield successful results.

Despite the fact that a relatively fast tempo is ideal for the Marauders’ offense, they will slow the game down when it is necessary.

However, a fast pace is their first choice if they can get out in transition before the defense gets set.

“We do run half court sets when we have to. We attack a set defense with a set offense but the first look off of a defensive rebound is a run out,” said Connolly.

The Marauders have four games remaining in their regular season and they are all home games.

McMaster will take on the Queen’s Gaels next on Feb. 7 here at Burridge Gymnasium. Tip off is set for 2 p.m.

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It was a storybook tale for what could have been a heavy night. Siobhan Manning dropped a season-high 15 points during a breast cancer awareness event, just months after her mother was diagnosed with that very disease.

The story begins back in November. Bernadette Manning, mother of McMaster women’s basketball guard Siobhan, was diagnosed with breast cancer. The news shook Manning, but she was not alone.

The women’s basketball team is no stranger to breast cancer. Head coach Theresa Burns was diagnosed with the disease and beat it – she’s been cancer-free for nine years. Manning had support from her coach and teammates during the tough time and continued to play.

Then came the Think Pink game against Waterloo. The CIS launched a breast cancer awareness campaign in 2007, pairing with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Nearly all CIS basketball teams host the event. Some universities wear pink jerseys, while others teams outfit themselves with pink accents like wristbands, socks and shoelaces.

During warm-ups for Mac’s Think Pink event, Marauder players wore pink t-shirts with the Marauder logo on the front and text on the back: “I’m playing for _______.” Mac wrote that they were playing for Mama Manning, a touching moment for a family that has dealt with a tumultuous few months. And although it was just a regular season match-up, the pre-game feel was not the same.

“The mindset was different. It was more than a game for our team. In past years, it’s been more than a game, but this year especially, it was really close to home,” said Manning. “I was ready to play for what the game represented.”

Forwards Clare Kenney and Linnaea Harper were sidelined with injuries, opening a couple spots in the starting line-up. Siobhan Manning got her first start of the season and the second of her career.

Manning took the opportunity and made the most of it. She opened the game with a three, confidently pulling the trigger and splashing a shot from the right wing.

“One of my teammates, ironically enough, came up to me and said ‘let the game come to you,’” said Manning. And she did just that.

Playing with a ton of confidence, Manning led the team in minutes played (35) and finished third in scoring. Mac beat Waterloo, 81-67. Coming into the game, the Health Sciences student was averaging 13.5 minutes per contest and 3.2 points per game. To the casual observer, it was a surprise. The coaching staff was not taken aback by the performance.

“Sho has had some good games for us this year. She’s been steady, but that was one of the best games I’ve seen her play,” said Burns.

“We knew she was capable with that. She put a lot of work in over the summer … she had definitely added to her game. It was a matter of time for her to put it all together and she did it on Saturday.”

Now, Manning’s mother has already completed one surgery, but radiation therapy awaits. Siobhan has learned how to cope with the situation, but she admits that she struggled at the beginning.

“The first game where I saw my mom come in, I looked into the crowd and I just started tearing up,” said Manning. “But as time has gone on, not that it’s become normal, I’ve reflected and learned how to deal with. It’s just become the way it is and we’re going to get through it together.”

Following the game, Manning says her mother gave her a hug and was “speechless.”

The Think Pink game and Manning’s stand-out performance provided the family and team with a feel-good moment during one of the more difficult times the group will face. You can’t find that in a box score.

The McMaster women’s basketball team’s game plan has always been simple: run. From the moment the warm-ups come off to the last seconds of the fourth quarter, a momentum is kept that revolves around speed and agility. For the players to run fast and play long minutes, it is training that helps to set the tone.

In his first year working at McMaster, Ben Bahrami, head Strength and Conditioning coach of the McMaster women’s and men’s basketball teams does what he can to assure the players remain active while competing on the hardwood. Though adjusting to a new school meant forming fresh relationships with players and coaches, the program has been allowing Bahrami to continuously grow.

“The athletes are very motivated and involved. It’s a good thing that we are busy and I love it,” said Bahrami.

Having a six-day program in the off-season and workouts two to three times a week during the season, Bahrami and staff give nutritional advice and train the basketball teams in recovery. In the event of an injury, alternate programs are created for athletes that will still allow them to take part in team lifts. No program is ever set in stone and exercises are made to fit the individual’s needs in order to maximize fitness.

From what the athletes eat, to the pre-game warm-up and post-game cool-downs, the Strength and Conditioning Program is holistic and helps strengthen all aspects of a student-athlete’s life. Three lead coaches will work alongside interns from the McMaster Kinesiology program. Those groups are responsible for working with different McMaster varsity teams to accelerate the growth of players and keep them healthy.

Under the leadership of coordinator Steve Lidstone, Mac’s Strength and Conditioning program is solidifying its spot as one of the best university programs in the country.

“Strength and conditioning is huge for injury prevention, for performance and for team culture. With sports like basketball, their seasons are very long and the athletes’ bodies would break down if this program didn’t exist,” said Bahrami.

Twice a week, players fill out a fatigue survey sent directly to their inbox that is completed as soon as they wake up. Players answer questions on a scale that asks about stress levels, sleep quality and mental wellbeing. Along with direct face-time with coaches and trainers during post-game stretches and talks, McMaster has many ways to cater to the players on the team.

Several tests are done throughout the year assessing factors like body composition and strength and focus is placed on recovery from the high-intensity portion of training.

“The numbers go up because our athletes are amazing. They are going to get stronger.”

With a shot at playoffs nearing, modifications in the program will be introduced to the players with a greater emphasis put on the individual’s strengths. Programs are flexible and always keep in mind the players’ health.

Having multiple resources available for McMaster athletes, the willpower of the staff and the consistency of different programs within the athletic department suggest that the Strength and Conditioning program will only get better. “We are able to bring people in and work together. We are succeeding in the culture that Steve [Lidstone] and the coaches have created,” said Bahrami.

Ongoing communication between head varsity coaches and their Strength and Conditioning coaches is important in guaranteeing success and good health on and off the court.

Head coach of the women’s basketball team, Theresa Burns says, “strength and conditioning is a part of everything we do.”

Paying attention to the weaknesses of the team and finding solutions in practices while pushing physical boundaries during team lifts has only helped sharpen the Women’s Basketball team’s quick style of play. In games where players play big minutes, preparing the body is crucial.

Rookie Hilary Hanaka and third-year guard Danielle Boiago know all about big minutes. Hanaka is ranked third, while Boiago is ranked fifth in the OUA for minutes played per game. Averaging 33.9 and 33.7 minutes a game respectively, a fundamental fitness plan helps in keeping these players running up and down the court without a sign of short breath or fatigue.

“You can’t play a fast game with players that don’t have that kind of foot speed or fitness. I think we are a little quicker in all of our positions now, our fitness level is very good,” said Burns.

The cohesive and seamless link between varsity teams and programs such as Strength and Conditioning foster development in a player’s skill set.

“He [Bahrami] has to take a lot credit for the team’s success this year because your athletes can’t do what they do on the court without that base of fitness,” said Burns.

Juggling a full-time student course load and the demands that come with being a student-athlete can be difficult but the support available to players like Hanaka have made the transition from high school basketball to the university level a lot easier to handle. Working a schedule around academics, a program is made with team members in mind.

“We are able to bring our full potential on the court,” said Hanaka.

“The games are a lot more demanding and very fast paced,” she said, comparing it to her high school experience. “With conditioning, it’s one notch up.”

As fans, it is easy to only see one aspect of the game. While watching a double header at Burridge, it could be hard to understand the amount of work that goes on off the court for our players to yield the results that are witnessed. A team’s success is the result of all of the little puzzle pieces being brought together.

It is through the presence of programs like Strength and Conditioning at McMaster that coaches can continue to test the abilities of our athletes and what they are capable of. Because of the combination of experienced staff, great facilities and the care given to McMaster student-athletes, this program is unmatched in most universities in the country.

“Our athletes are so well supported. Being a McMaster athlete is pretty special and a big part of the special feeling is knowing how well supported you are,” said Burns. “There is nothing standing in your way. Nothing.”

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McMaster is a team with national championship dreams, but a middling defence.

Despite their 9-3 record in conference play, defensive issues are still keeping McMaster a step behind the OUA elite, which includes Ottawa, Carleton and Ryerson. They have regressed defensively from last year: in 2013-14, Mac owned a defensive rating of 88.4. Now, the Marauders are up to 98.4, a mark that hasn’t changed in the new year despite a weaker schedule.

This is not news to the players or coaching staff. Last year, McMaster’s defence was more conservative. Overall, the defense was effective against lesser competition, but the team still struggled against elite teams. The simpler system from last year was not going to stop the teams McMaster needed to beat in order to win a national championship. That’s why head coach Amos Connolly and his coaching staff overhauled the scheme and added new wrinkles.

“We have a lot of rules for a lot of scenarios; a staggered screen has a rule, a dribble hand-off has a rule. There’s a lot of stuff. Some guys are further along than others in their knowledge and implementation of those rules,” says Connolly. “Last year, we would handle perimeter screens differently but there wasn’t a clear concept. Now, we’re playing a defensive system that helps us win on the highest level.”

Mac is struggling to pick up their new scheme for a number of reasons; the system requires players to make the right decision faster when defending, which has been made difficult by poor communication on rotations. And typically, younger players struggle to pick up any kind of system in university because they lack experience at the post-secondary level. Fourth-year guard Aaron Redpath recognized those struggles.

“We’re nowhere close to where we need to be. For instance, against Nipissing, we give up a 24-point quarter while we also hold them to a zero-point quarter. There’s a lot of inconsistencies on defence,” says Redpath.

Examples like that zero-point quarter are why the Marauders are so rational and calm going forward. They trust the defence and want believe the pieces are here for an elite defence. Both conversations with Redpath and Connolly about the defence were honest and critical; a sign that the team understands the weakness, but that they also have a plan going forward.

Holding any team scoreless means your defence can be highly effective and the system in place is working. It is frustrating to see Mac give up large totals to weaker teams, but they have had their moments against Ryerson, Ottawa and Carleton. More defensive reps are what the team needs to get more familiar with the system. With a month remaining, McMaster has a lot of time to work out the kinks.

Connolly says the team has watched a lot of film in recent weeks and the group has a full understanding of the system. While the upcoming slate of games won’t feature any ranked opponents, the opportunity to improve their defence could represent be the most important part of the season.

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By: Jaycee Cruz

On Wednesday, January 7, 2014 the McMaster Marauders men’s basketball team hosted the Laurier Golden Hawks.

Laurier surprised the crowd by going punch-for-punch with Mac for the first part of the first quarter. The Marauders ended up grabbing the lead and held onto it bringing a 41-37 lead into halftime.

The main source of the Golden Hawks offensive firepower was fourth-year guard Will Coulthard. Coulthard was shooting at will from all over the floor and hit his peak after converting a rare 4-point play. Coulthard ended the half with 18 points and finished the game with 22. Second-year guard Trevon McNeil was instrumental in slowing down the Golden Hawk shooter.

McMaster had four players in double figures with Taylor Black scoring 18, Rohan Boney scoring 11, and Aaron Redpath and Joe Rocca scoring 16 apiece.

Mac shot a respectable 44.4 percent from the field but a cold 15.4 percent from 3-point range. The Marauders dominated the Golden Hawks in terms of points in the paint, outscoring Laurier 50-24.

Despite Laurier making the game closer than expected, Mac slowly but surely pulled away from the pesky Golden Hawks, winning 85-75.

This past Saturday the McMaster men’s basketball team took a road trip to the Mattamy Athletic Centre inside the old Maple Leaf Gardens to play the No. 3 Ryerson Rams. McMaster and Ryerson both entered the game with seven wins and two losses.

The two teams played each other close in the first half with the Marauders taking a 43-40 lead into the halftime break. McMaster escaped the half with a lead, but the scoring seemed unsustainable: Rocca banked in a fading three, Redpath nailed a deep, contested three and Presutti cashed in a pull up long-range attempt with two defenders nearby.

The Rams grabbed the lead from Marauders in the third quarter and never looked back. Ryerson carried that momentum into the fourth and outscored McMaster 32-17 en route to a convincing 98-78 win on their home court.

All five Ryerson starters scored in double figures. Rams guard Aaron Best dropped a game-high 30 points on 11-for-13 shooting from the field and 6-for-7 from 3-point range.

McMaster had three players score in double digits. Aaron Redpath, Joe Rocca, and Adam Presutti contributed 20, 17, and 14 respectively.

The loss adds a bit more separation between the fourth-ranked Marauders and the third-ranked Rams.

Up ahead for the Marauders this weekend are two road games at Laurentian on Friday and at Nipissing in North Bay on Saturday.

Two wins on the road will be good for this Marauders team looking to get back on track after a small setback.

Though the McMaster women’s basketball team rang in the New Year and second half of the season with two losses, their destination of making it to the playoffs is a road that is still attainable.

After a 62-48 loss to Laurier and a 80-77 defeat to Ryerson this past week, the attention is placed on winning upcoming games and cleaning up play to get the results needed.

Head coach Theresa Burns indicated that the concentration is on future games to come.

“There’s nothing to do now, but move on and be better next time,” she said.

A key area of improvement the team needs to work on is their ability to rebound. Their two recent losses saw the Laurier Golden Hawks outrebounding the Marauders 46-37 and the Ryerson Rams had a 48-34 advantage in boards.

“Attention to rebounding is huge. In the Laurier and Ryerson games, that was the game changer if you had to pick one statistical category, ” coach Burns explained.

Now holding a 6-4 record, the women’s team must win upcoming games for a seat with the contenders in the playoffs.

“I hope the losses don’t bump us out of a by-position in the first round of playoffs.”

With a young team of players, emphasis is placed on having clarity in the game. Having a consistent amount of motivation and energy during the entirety of the game is crucial to the team’s success from here on out.

“We lose focus sometimes. At times, young players don’t feel like they have the green light to go out and take over the game. As soon as they truly believe that they can, they’ll go out and play that way.”

Currently ranked No. 10, it is critical that the team makes the needed improvements and adjustments to ensure that their season is not cut short.

“Ranking is important, but it’s about taking care of business each time. Our focus right now is to have the best effort on Friday vs. Laurentian. We are not thinking about Saturday, but getting ready on Friday.”

The mindset of playing for here and now will ultimately decide whether this team is destined to reach their end goal.

“The results will take care of themselves when you take off that day-to-day nitty gritty,” said Burns, who continuously stresses the significance of having a present outlook and a clear vision by not looking too far ahead.

The confidence level approaching this weekend’s road games against Laurentian and Nipissing are high. Burns said her team needs to “keep the perspective balanced, solid and positive.”

With fans and skeptics alike keeping a close eye on the rest of the season, it will be interesting to see how rankings change and games play out.

For now, the team is focused on winning each game left on the calendar for a chance to be in the playoffs and a shot at an OUA Championship.

Catch the next home action on January 24, 2015 as the Marauders take on the Waterloo Warriors in the Burridge Gym.

Holiday tournaments are not about the wins and losses, but the McMaster women’s basketball picked up three big wins in the Concordia Invitational this winter break.

The results of those games can influence CIS top ten rankings, which in turn influences the seeding at the national tournament. Head coach Theresa Burns was satisfied with the results, but was more impressed with the team’s growth.

“I thought we took some real steps forward, individually and as a team,” said Burns. “We had five people at any given time, whoever was on the court, we operated at as a five player unit.”

While McMaster finished the 2014 portion of their season atop the OUA Central division, the team’s play was not consistent. For example, Mac opened up the first game against Lakehead with strong play before losing by 15.

The road game against Brock saw the Marauders jump out to a 19-5 lead, yet the Badgers came back and took the lead in the second quarter. Mac would steady and win convincingly, but it will take a full 40-minute performance to beat other elite teams.

The Marauders showed the ability to perform at that level with their sweep over the winter break: they beat Concordia 85-72, bested Bishop’s 84-33 before beating Queen’s 75-48.

Topping the Gaels, who started the year ranked before dropping out of the top-ten in late November, is the most impressive win of the break.

“We got better every night. I thought we came out pretty strong given that we are coming off Christmas break, we had only one one-hour practice under our belts. There was a little bit of rust in the first game, but the next night we shook the rust right off and then against Queen’s, even better again,” Burns said.

“From a consistency standpoint, we were very good. Our key players did what we rely on them to do.”

Now, the team heads into a critical stretch of their season. They lost to Laurier, 62-48 and now have to bounce back to take on Ryerson on Jan. 10. Before the game, Burns said she thought the Golden Hawks haven’t gotten enough credit for their early-season wins.

Ryerson is an up-and-coming team too; the Rams started the season unranked and have climbed to No. 8, right behind McMaster.

A first-round playoff bye is a goal for the team, and the month of January will heavily influence Mac’s chances. In a deep conference, Mac wants to play as few games as it can.

January is a road-heavy month, with five of the seven games away from Burridge.

If McMaster can get through the month with only a couple losses, they will set themselves up nicely for a playoff run and a shot at the OUA championship.

On Nov. 14, the men and women's basketball teams tipped off their seasons against the Lakehead Thunderwolves in Burridge Gym.

Friday night’s matchups saw a packed gym as Marauder fans, family and the MSU Maroons were present to see the Marauders defend home territory. Earlier in the day, the David Braley Athletic Centre played to a high school basketball tournament, so fan presence was anything but lacking.

The double-header kicked off with the women’s game. Head coach Theresa Burns and her squad came into the matchup with a flawless record of 2-0. McMaster suffered a 75-60 defeat to the Thunderwolves as things quickly went awry. Lakehead’s Jylisa Williams finished the night with 35 points to help tarnish McMaster’s perfect record. McMaster guard Danielle Boiago finished with 28 points on 11-17 shooting, but it was not enough to bring the team a win at home.

Shortly after the women's loss, time came for the men to prove themselves after having taken a beating in the nation's capital a week earlier. McMaster went toe-to-toe against Lakehead and came out victorious, handling business at home. It was a physical game, as the Thunderwolves came ready to compete, but ultimately the 85-66 win was in favour of the Marauders. The top contributor for the squad was Taylor Black - 17 points on the board and 11 rebounds for a double-double.

Part two of the home opener weekend was against the same team, but the crowd in attendance could not have been any more different. There was a noticeable lack of energy in the building, but that didn’t stop the Marauders from owning home court.

The women earned a 63-59 win against the Thunderwolves to even out the weekend of play. The Marauders saw help from many, but forward Clare Kenney led the way who put up a career-high 24 points coupled with 12 rebounds for a solid double-double.

“It was about getting the rebounds and loose balls and taking care of the little details. Since Friday was our first loss, it really opened our eyes and showed us that every game is important, so we knew we had to pick it up,” Boiago said about the team turnaround post-Saturday’s win.

The men held their own and played a winning weekend series beating Lakehead 81-73. In a contest that went down to the wire, the Marauders kept their cool and the lead as time ran on an eight-point victory. The Marauders saw key help from guard Joe Rocca, pouring in 20 points.

Marauder basketball will play on Nov. 22 against the York Lions. The women tip-off at 12 p.m., followed by the men at 2 p.m. in Burridge Gym.

“GLEN GRUNWALD?!” is the exact text I received from a handful of people when they heard the news.

Initially reported by Ted Michaels at CHML 900 and Scott Radley at The Hamilton Spectator, Glen Grunwald, former Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks general manager, will be McMaster University’s new Athletic Director. The University made the announcement official on Thursday morning.

In terms of newsworthiness, this story trumps any CIS announcement in recent memory. Grunwald was working for one of the largest sports brands in the world in the Knicks at the start of the previous school year, but come September he’ll be in an office at the David Braley Athletic Centre.

A former NBA front office executive’s mere acknowledgment of the CIS’s existence is a good thing, but for him to take helm of a program elevates the story. People who would otherwise never care about the hiring of an athletic director are paying attention.

But it will be interesting to hear about why Grunwald took the job and, although it will be littered with corporate buzzwords, the details of his role could offer insight into the future of the role of athletic directors in Canadian university athletics. Grunwald has no immediately known affiliation with the CIS prior to the hire – he attended Indiana University for his undergrad and MBA, while going to Northwestern for law school. He then became a Canadian citizen in 1999, five years after he was brought on to work for the Raptors. Grunwald was previously on the Board of Directors at Canada Basketball.

The person who used to hold the role, Jeff Giles, told the Spectator that the majority of his work was to secure funding – either from corporate partners or out of the pockets of alumni.

Putting someone with a recognizable name in charge could help do that, and Mac could use the money. The 13^th man campaign launched by the athletic department has not gotten the cash influx that was required, and the school will need to lock down more money if it wants to maintain its status as one of the strongest athletic programs in the country.

It is easy to see the name and, as McMaster students and alumni, pat ourselves on the back for being apart of the headline-grabbing move, but until we hear some tangible and concrete plans, I would refrain from popping bottles in the name of Grunwald. There’s still a ton of work to be done before we know if the splashy hire will bear any championship-winning fruit.

There is no reason to be anything but optimistic about the move. It is a big name coming to an already strong department, and members of the McMaster community should be thrilled with the choice. This will raise the program up, but the question is: how high?