Currently on a three-game winning streak, men's basketball has been putting up one strong performance after another. Losing only two games out of a possible ten in the new year, it appears they've unlocked some secret to success. That secret? 6'2'' junior guard Jimmy Hammer.
One glance at the individual statistics highlights Hammer's dominance on the court. Tied at the top for scoring, Hammer averages 11.9 points-a-game. As of late, he has paved the way for two key conference victories for the Jays, dialing up 18 points in their most recent win over Muhlenberg and a career-high 22 points over Dickinson. Hammer's prowess continues, shooting .917 percent in free throws and .449 in three-pointers.
In the exciting victory over Muhlenburg, 63-59, Hammer's aptitude at the line came up big in the closing minutes of the first half. Hammer then lead the charge in a ten-point scoring run in the opening moments of the second. Similarly, the junior went five for five in free throws during the Dickinson game a week before. In addition, Hammer put on a three-pointer clinic in the match, at one time hitting three in a row from downtown. Prior to that, Hammer poured on the points in the unfortunate double overtime loss to Franklin and Marshall, notching 21 points in the game.
As January comes to a close, the season is making a turn towards the 'must-win' stage. Nerves for the conference tournament continue to grow, especially considering the Jays' previous first round exit at the hands of Washington College last year. As of late, Hammer has pushed Hopkins within one game of topping the Centennial Conference leader board, initiating a fantastic buildup to what is sure to be an exhilarating post-season. Considering the recent successes of the Blue Jays and Jimmy's corresponding artistry on the court, The News-Letter dropped by to ask the junior Guard a few questions.
The News-Letter (N-L): Walk me through your latest win over Muhlenberg—they're on a three game winning streak, last time you faced them, it was a tight game, and now you're on the road... what was your strategy going into the game?
Jimmy Hammer (JH): We knew we had to come out and play well and execute what we practiced, but at the same time we had to shut down Malique Killing because he is one of the best players in the league. We have been playing well recently and we knew if we continued that good play, we would win. And we were able to do all these things and get the big win.
N-L: You've had a couple of impressive performances this season, and it seems like they're becoming more and more common. What's fueling this new personal drive? Anything different in team dynamic this year?
JH: I guess I just realize that we have an opportunity to not only host the conference tournament, but to win it and go to the NCAA tournament. It is added motivation for me because that is our ultimate goal, going to the NCAA tournament. I don’t think our team dynamic has changed too much. We were good last year, but came up short in the conference tournament. Plus we only lost Tim McCarty and Danny Gergen to graduation, so we had a lot of players returning this year along with a solid freshmen class.
N-L: You're 8-4 in the conference and recently secured that third place slot. The leader board's pretty tight right now, and you have Gettysburg coming on Thursday. How important is this game coming up and any thoughts on potential home court advantage?
JH: The Gettysburg game coming up is absolutely huge. It is a must win, along with the rest of the games on our schedule. There is no room for error, especially if we want to host the conference tournament. Hosting the tournament would be awesome and it would be a great atmosphere because I think lots of fans would come to support us.
