March 7, 2014
Freshman Will Bellamy joined the Johns Hopkins Athletic Communications staff as a student assistant not long after arriving at Homewood in August. An experienced writer, he will bolster the efforts of the office with a preview of each weekend's events (please note that this is not intended to be an exhaustive in-depth preview of every game or event. Rather, it provides a quick overview for fans with key links and things to look for. Key games, especially those against nationally-ranked teams or those with playoff implications, will lead the column each week).
Men's Basketball
The Johns Hopkins men's basketball team will make its 10th appearance overall and first since 2007 in the NCAA tournament when it takes on against Virginia Wesleyan in the opening round on Friday.
The game, which will take place in Virginia Beach, VA, will be a challenge for the Blue Jays (17-10). The Marlins will make their tenth straight appearance in the tournament after posting an overall record of 22-6 and claiming the Old Dominion Athletic Conference title yet again. They also lay claim to one of the more dangerous guards in all of Division III in DJ Woodmore, whose averages of 20.2 points, six rebounds and 2.2 assists per game serve as a testament to his versatility.
JHU, however, can find confidence in a number of places. The team is riding a hot streak, having just secured the third Centennial Conference title in school history. It has a pair of solid scorers in Jimmy Hammer (13.9 points per game) and George Bugarinovic (12.5 points) and can look to a number of battle-tested upperclassmen for leadership.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Johns Hopkins vs. Virginia Wesleyan - Live Video
Johns Hopkins vs. Virginia Wesleyan - Live Stats
Baseball
After inclement weather resulted in the cancelation of what would have been its season opener last weekend, the Johns Hopkins baseball team is chomping at the bit to get the year underway.
Fortunately for the Blue Jays, they're primed to make up for the lost playing time with not one, but two doubleheaders this weekend. JHU will take on Rivier on Saturday and Oneonta on Sunday.
All four games will be played at the Ripken Baseball Complex in Aberdeen, MD with first pitch each day scheduled for noon.
Click here for live stats for all four games
Men's Lacrosse
The Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse team has exploded out of the gates this season, going undefeated in its first four games and drawing a number three ranking in the most recent USILA coaches' rankings.
The Blue Jays will look to continue their hot start when they travel to University of Maryland - Baltimore County on Saturday for a matchup of local rivals. The Retrievers have also looked strong in their first few games of the year. They currently sit at 2-1 and field a dangerous scorer in Matt McGregoire, who has already notched nine goals this season.
The Blue Jays will look to stick to what has worked for them so far and that means putting the ball in the hands of play-making attackman Wells Stanwick (15 assists) on offense and using their team-oriented defense to limit UMBC's opoortunities.
Johns Hopkins-UMBC Live Video
Johns Hopkins-UMBC Live Stats
Women's Lacrosse
The Johns Hopkins women's lacrosse team will have to adjust to life on the road - for a weekend, at least.
The Blue Jays will play somewhere other than Homewood Field for the first time in two weeks when they travel to George Washington on Saturday. In addition to contending with an unfamiliar crowd, JHU (6-0) will also have to find a way to slow down the Colonials' dynamic trio of Jamie Bumgardner, Allie Rash and Rachel Mia. The three attackers have combined for 30 goals and 19 assists in only five games this season.
Stopping GWU (3-2) will be a challenge for the Blue Jay defense, but it has proven itself capable of locking down opponents thus far. JHU has held its opponents to an average of just under five goals per game so far this year and holds impressive wins over nationally-ranked Loyola and Towson. In those two wins the Blue Jays allowed a total of just 13 goals.
The opening draw is set for 1 pm
Johns Hopkins-George Washington Live Video
Track
The Johns Hopkins men's and women's track teams will head to Roxbury Crossing, MA, this weekend for the 2014 Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships. The Championships, which are scheduled to be run throughout Friday and Saturday, mark the last chance for Blue Jay athletes to qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska.
JHU recently took first at the Centennial Conference Championships and turned in a solid all-round performance at the Tufts Last Chance Meet. Check back to HopkinsSports.com for a full listing of NCAA qualifiers after this weekend.
Fencing
The Johns Hopkins men's and women's fencing teams will compete at the NCAA Regional Championships on Saturday in Easton, PA. The men took first at the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association Championship last weekend and the women claimed the Eastern Women's Fencing Conference Championship two weeks earlier. Both teams will look to carry that momentum into this week's action as they look to qualify individuals for the NCAA Championships.
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