For whatever reason, there is seemingly always one team on each great basketball team’s schedule that elevates its game on certain occasions and gives fits to its more skilled opponent.
Enter Emory University.
In no case does the bizarre paradigm of a weaker opponent giving absolute fits to its statistically superior foe hold truer than in the recent rivalry between the men’s basketball teams of Emory and Washington University.
Tonight at the Field House, the 11th ranked Bears (16-3, 7-2 UAA) will again look to hold off a pesky Eagles squad which, in recent contests, has come extremely close to knocking off the almost always heavily favored Red and Green and who split the season series with the Bears last season. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
“For some reason, they [Emory] really come out and they want the game against us,” said sophomore point guard Sean Wallis. “Their students really make a big deal out of this game and they make it to be their marquee rival in conference.”
Emory is led by star guard Spiro Ferderigos, a husky 6’1″ pure scorer. The junior is averaging close to 17 points a contest and recently eclipsed the 1,000 point mark for his career. Last season, Ferderigos led the Eagles in scoring in both of Emory’s games against Wash. U., which included a Herculean effort of 45 points in a double overtime loss at the Field House.
“Last year, he put on one of the best performances I’ve ever seen,” said Wallis, who noted that in the Bears’ 78-73 victory over the Eagles just four weeks ago, the Bears did a much better job limiting Ferderigos.
The Eagles are a guard-heavy squad, which features four players under 6’3″ in its starting lineup. Emory enters the contest at 8-12 overall and 2-7 in the league. With no possibility of postseason play in the future, Emory can afford to play care free with nothing to lose, a dangerous prospect for the Bears who are currently tied with Chicago for first place in the conference with five regular season games remaining.
On Sunday, Wash. U. hosts league opponent Case Western Reserve, a squad who is yet to pick up a win in conference play. Nonetheless, Wallis noted the importance of not overlooking the Spartans.
“Especially in the conference, you can’t overlook any game. Since we didn’t lose in the first half of conference, we have a big ‘x’ on our back. Every team is going to give us their best shot and come out at us with everything they have.”
Game time is set for noon on Sunday.