With the disappointing scene unfolding at half-court, Head Coach Dave Hixon ’75 crouched before his players and talked to them for one of the final times this season. According to Hixon, he told the team—and particularly the seniors—to “not let this game define their four years.”
Since the loss, many fans, alumni, and even other NESCAC competitors have been telling Hixon the same thing. “I’ve had more people call me or come by—people I haven’t heard from in 30 years—and say, ‘hey, make sure the kids know this has been so much fun watching this team, watching Andrew Olson and the guys do their thing. Don’t let them focus on this game,’” Hixon said, “It’s amazing how many people have called me.”
For the last game of their Amherst careers, the five senior players did something that was rather unusual for their four years on the Amherst men’s basketball team: they lost. Going in to the final, they had only lost 11 games, and won 111—tied for the most in school history. On top of that, the seniors appeared in three consecutive Final Fours, won four regular second NESCAC Championships and, of course, brought home the college’s first basketball National Championship last year. The five players brought very different skills to the court, but collectively made up one of the best classes in school history.
Andrew Olson
“Andrew has accomplished almost everything you can accomplish,” said Hixon. “He’s become sort of the poster boy for Division III basketball.” Whether hitting the buzzer beating three-point shot against Tufts in the 2006 national round of 16 or serving up half-court alley-oops, Andrew Olson has been the one constant star on Amherst’s three consecutive Final Four teams.
His 758 career assists are 260 more than any player who has ever played for Amherst while his 1,238 points place him 12th in school history. Last year
he was named co-National Player of the Year, while he was awarded NESCAC Player of the Year both this year and last, as well as NESCAC Rookie of the Year when he was a freshman.
In his office, Hixon fondly pointed out the Official 2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball Record Book. “You look at Oscar Robertson, you look at Kekeski, you look at Larry Bird, you look at Lou Al Cindor. You look at all these great people and all these great players and look who’s there—Andrew Olson. You look inside—Andrew Olson. You look on d3hoops.com—Andrew Olson. He’s so humble and unassuming and so good, and people gravitate toward that whole magic of that combination.”
Kevin Hopkins
The most frequent recipient of Olson’s alley-oop passes was 6’10” center Kevin Hopkins, who often stirred the Lefrak Gymnasium student section into a frenzy with his forceful dunks. Though he did not start on last year’s national championship team, he still logged the most minutes at center. This year, he was the team’s leader down-low, often towering over the opposition en route to an average of 9.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
“I think Hop has kind of redefined the Division III big man,” said Hixon. “A 6’10” kid that could really get out and run the floor and catch like an athlete, dunk the ball in so many different ways … I haven’t seen kids like that at this level.”
Fletcher Walters
Of all the seniors, Fletcher Walters made the biggest leap in both statistics and recognition this year. He doubled his scoring output from 7.1 points per game to 14.8 points per game, the highest on the team, and was voted onto the All-NESCAC First Team as well as the NABC All-District Northeast Team.
This year, according to Hixon, everything came together for Walters. Before, he had been plagued by inconsistency, but in his senior year, he became a dependable leader for the Jeffs. “We’d use to laugh because he could fill up a stat line more quickly and more fully than any player I’ve ever coached. In other words, he’d make a three, he’d have an air ball, he’d make an assist, he’d have a turnover,” said Hixon. “This year, for most of the year, he has been impeccable with his consistency … It was clear this year that winning the game was more important than the spectacular play … It was that real focus and consistency that defined him this year over other years.”
Brandon Jones
Rounding out the three senior starters down-low was power forward Brandon Jones. According to Hixon, when Jones first arrived at Amherst he was content on being a small forward, largely a three-point shooter. Yet, by the end of his freshman year, Hixon was convinced that he was better suited for the power forward possession.
By his senior year, Jones became a sort of hybrid power forward, confident to shoot a three on one play and post-up on the next. “All the sudden this year, he worked real hard over the summer, and he comes back, and was sort of our prototypical four man,” said Hixon. “A guy who was terrific inside, a terrific rebounder, and yet can take people outside.”
Matt Goldsmith
Often lost in the senior shuffle is Matt Goldsmith. Goldsmith was a key contributor to the 2005-2006 team which reached the Final Four, but his junior season was over before it began, when he broke his leg playing pick-up basketball during fall break. With a 17-inch titanium plate in place, Goldsmith attempted to make a comeback last year, but he wasn’t ready. He ended up playing less than two minutes all season, entering at the closing end of a NCAA Tournament blow-out to a rousing ovation from the fans.
This year, though, he was healthy enough to play and became a key contributor off the bench, especially on the defensive end. “Down the stretch, he particularly has really done some great rebounding, some phenomenal old fashion three-point plays going to the basket that have really helped us,” said Hixon. “You know, he’s been inspirational for us in his senior year.”