The Yeshiva Maccabees are back in action, hosting a tough #10 Tufts Jumbos squad that brings size, strength, and a serious rebounding edge to the Max Stern Athletic Center. The Macs are 0-3 in these litmus test games and a big reason why is they have been dominated on the glass. With a -7 rebounding margin on the season, the Macs know they’ll need to battle hard and avoid getting bullied on the boards against a Jumbos team stacked with height. Every player in Tufts’ starting five, plus their first option off the bench, stands over 6 foot threel.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because the Macs saw this exact matchup on their home floor two seasons ago and came up short in a 75-64 loss. This time around, they’ll need to flip the script.
Roy Itcovichi hopes to lead Yeshiva to a massive season-turning upset over Tufts at the Max Stern Athletic Center. (Akiva Poppers/Macslive)
Contain Gyimesi:
Tufts’ star man, Luke Gyimesi, is a 6'6", 240-pound All-American candidate who dominates the paint with efficiency. Averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game, he’s the engine that drives the Jumbos. When teams force him below 55% shooting, Tufts is just 1-2. The bad news? When he’s on his game, Tufts are nearly unstoppable at 9-0. The Macs must make him work for every bucket to stay competitive.
Win the Rebounding Battle (or at Least Stay Close):
The Macs have struggled all season to control the glass. Against a Tufts team that thrives on rebounding, it’ll take a full-team effort to limit second-chance points and keep the Jumbos from owning the paint.
Hit Your Shots Under Pressure:
Tufts brings a physical man-man defensive system that’s given Yeshiva trouble before against Trinity, NYU, and Wesleyan. The Macs will need to stay composed, move the ball, and knock down open looks to avoid falling into the same trap as last time.
How To Watch:
Tip-off is at 7:30PM from the Max Stern Athletic Center. You can watch the game on the MacsLive YouTube page.
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