Marietta College Pioneers vs. John Carroll Blue Streaks
Saturday – February 5th – 4:00PM
Match-Up History & Keys to Victory
February 4, 2022 by C. Jay Prescher
Last Wednesday night, The Marietta College men’s basketball team weathered a strong effort by a physical Muskingum Fighting Muskie team. Next up for the #3 nationally ranked Pioneers are the John Carroll University Blue Streaks. This game is another small step towards an ultimate goal. But it will not be easy. Pioneer basketball fans know John Carroll all too well.
The Blue Streaks will come to play. Let’s set the stage for a critical OAC game set for tip-off this Saturday afternoon at 4:00 pm. These two OAC rivals will square off inside Ban Johnson Arena, right after the Marietta College women Pioneers battle the #9 ranked John Carroll women.
Match-Up History
If the Muskingum vs. Marietta match-up is a true rivalry game, then the Pioneers vs. Blue Streaks rivalry would need to include the word “bitter”. Marietta College and John Carroll did not play during last year’s pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.
The last time these two elite OAC basketball powers met was in the conference tournament on February 27, 2020. John Carroll defeated the Pioneers on their home court, 86-79. That was the second straight year the Blue Streaks knocked Marietta out of OAC tournament play.
In February 2019, John Carroll edged the then-17th nationally ranked Pioneers in the final seconds, bumping them out of the tournament again. The 2015-16 OAC tournament final was a battle of nationally ranked titans. John Carroll came into Ban Johnson Arena ranked 12th in the nation. They would have to upset the #4 team in the country to claim the conference tournament crown.
They did. Looking back a few years, Marietta won a third straight game in the rivalry back on December 20, 2014. This longest Pioneer series winning streak occurred prior to John Carroll’s recent run of success. Since those three-straight Marietta victories, the Blue Streaks have come out on top in 9 out of the last 14 head-to-head meetings.
This includes a season sweep in 2017-18, to go along with the disappointing losses JCU handed Marietta in the conference tournament. To say that John Carroll has delivered the Pioneers some bitter defeats in recent memory would be an understatement. This is a game, which an exceptionally talented team; currently 3rd in the country, cannot afford to look past. Here are a few ways Marietta can avoid the Blue Streaks’ bid to hand the Pioneers another bitter defeat.
Keys to Victory
• Do Not Underestimate This Team
John Carroll is not having one of their typically successful seasons. The Blue Streaks are 7-10 overall and 2-8 in the OAC. They’ve lost three in a row since beating Muskingum by eight points.
However, it would be wise to look at some details about these three defeats. Capital shot lights-out from beyond the arc to bury John Carroll in the second half. In their next game, the Blue Streak actually outplayed Mount Union in the second half of a nine-point loss.
Both losses were on the road. John Carroll’s most recent game was last Tuesday at home. They hosted a strong Heidelberg team at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center. John Carroll was in control of the game for most of the first 20 minutes. The Student Princes struggled back to tie the game at the 7:53 mark in the 2nd half. Heidelberg managed to hold off a valiant effort by John Carroll, with Eric Hanna’s three-point shot at the buzzer missing the mark.
The Blue Streaks came dangerously close to beating one of the better DIII basketball teams in the country. John Carroll is a team coming to Ban Johnson Arena with that same goal in mind. The 2021-2022 season has been a disappointment. However, John Carroll relishes the thought of coming to “The Banjo” as underdogs and then beating their bitter rivals. Marietta cannot afford to underestimate this team.
• Secure the Perimeter on Defense
John Carroll doesn’t really shoot many more three-pointers as a squad than most OAC teams, except for maybe Baldwin Wallace. However, Jackson Sartain does. Sartain tosses up 7½ shots per game from behind the arc. Only BW Yellow Jacket Jake Snyder has more 3-point attempts in 2021-22. Sartain is fifth in the OAC in three-point shooting parentage; hitting 43%.
Eric Hanna hits the mark from long range 10 percentage points below Sartain, but Hanna hurls up nearly seven three-point tries per game himself. With a trio of outstanding sharpshooter guards, the Pioneers are rightfully considered a three-point dangerous team. But only one Marietta player, Jason Ellis, has more than 100 shots behind the arc.
Sure, Lukas Isaly is close with 90, and Mason Lydic has missed some time. But both John Carroll long-range bombers have shot more than 100 a piece. Expect The Blue Streaks to use all their weapons, but if they get hot from deep, it could pose problems. Both Hanna and Sartain are not afraid to throw it up, so Marietta must secure the perimeter on defense.
• Control John Carroll in the Paint
Marietta’s post-play has been outstanding, especially in recent games. Sahmi Willoughby posted a double-double in the Muskingum win, and senior big man Tim Kreeger missed that statistical accolade by a single rebound.
Senior Jason Ellis posted the Pioneers’ other double-double in Wednesday night’s 20-point Marietta win, scoring 18 points to go along with 10 boards. John Carroll has essentially two primary threats in the post. A 6’6” freshman, David Gentry, has produced some outstanding games.
While he’s been erratic, Gentry has topped the 20-point mark three times this season. Gentry’s game is almost exclusively in the paint. He hasn’t hoisted a three-point try all season. The other key post player for John Carroll is 6’5” forward Mason Trubisky. Trubisky has played relatively limited minutes in the last two losses.
Prior to that, he hit for 14 points in back-to-back games against Muskingum and Mount Union. The Blue Streaks will hope to suck the Pioneers’ defense away from Hanna and Sartain. If Marietta controls John Carroll in the paint, they will force their outside shooters to fight for open looks.
• Blazing a Trail Towards March
If you haven’t watched the Marietta College Pioneers men’s basketball team firsthand yet, you’re missing an exciting experience. Undeniably, this is one of the most talented Division III basketball teams in America. They are a special group that is good enough to challenge for a National Championship. Marietta has a wealth of talent and the tools to beat any team in the country. However, there’s another huge weapon in the Pioneers’ arsenal; Fenton Court inside Ban Johnson Arena.
“The Banjo” is one of the most formidable home court advantages in small college sports. When packed full of Pioneer fans, it’s difficult to beat any Marietta College team, especially one that’s this deep and talented. Marietta is battling to secure home court advantage for the first two rounds of D3 March Madness. If they take care of business, the road to the NCAA DIII Final Four Championship in Fort Wayne, Indiana, will have to go through “The Banjo”.
There are two more regular season home games remaining, followed by the OAC tournament. This group of tremendous student-athletes needs the help of the Marietta community. There shouldn’t be an empty seat inside Ban Johnson Arena for the rest of the 2021-22 season. It will be the hard work and dedication of these young men that will ultimately bring home the biggest price in DII basketball. But every single Pioneer fan can show up to be part of something great for Marietta. No more excuses, it’s “Time to Get to The Banjo!”
The Word Jester is not employed by Marietta College, and is not affiliated with the Ohio Athletic Conference or D3 Hoops.com
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They do not reflect the points of view, policies, or principles of any outside agency or organization.
