A narrow loss to Shindai, a loss in the lower leagues
The Kanto University League has entered the second round, and Waseda University has begun its battle in the lower leagues. In the first match against God Taisen, they allowed a comeback with two minutes left in the fourth quarter and narrowly lost 76-78. The 4th quarter started with Waseda leading by 6 points, but Waseda’s attack stalled. Then, Shindai attacked with a 3-point shot. “We lost a winning game,” said assistant coach Kazufumi Mori (Rei 4 sports graduate). Waseda University wanted to improve their ranking as much as possible in order to participate in the All-Japan University Championship (Intercollegiate Championships), but they started with a loss in the second round.
The first quarter got off to a good start with consecutive points from F Kenichi Miura (Sport 1 = Kyoto Rakunan), but Komori University made a three-point shot and the game was quickly reversed. However, F Kennobu Hoshikawa (Sport 4 = Kyoto Rakunan) returned with a 3-point shot, and Miura also hit a shot under the hoop, giving Waseda University another lead. The first quarter continued to be an even match, but in the final stages, Shindai scored points in quick succession on fast attacks, and Waseda University was behind by four points. However, right after the start of the second quarter, Miura’s fierce defense led to a mistake from Shindai, and Waseda University scored consecutive points from there. They quickly regained control at the end of the first quarter. From there, Waseda University moved quickly and continued to attack at a good tempo. F Haruki Hori (Sport 2 = Kyoto Higashiyama) also shined with rebounds, and Waseda University ended the second quarter with a 43-36 lead.
Penetrating descent
In the third quarter, Waseda University’s attack continued to make mistakes, and Komori University briefly caught up to the tie. However, G Eiji Shimoyama (Sport 1 = Aichi Chubu Daiichi) broke the bad momentum with a 3-point shot, and Waseda University increased the tempo of its attack just as Shindai’s shots began to fall. At the end of the third quarter, Waseda University regained the lead to 59-53 with consecutive points from fast breaks. The fourth quarter started well as well. After stopping Shindai’s attack, Miura and Kido scored consecutive points with mid-range shots. Waseda University quickly increased their lead to 10 points. However, Waseda University’s attack pace slowed down from there. “We relied too much on Hoshikawa’s one-on-one ability,” said assistant coach Mori. While Waseda University’s scoring stagnated, Shindai University stepped up its offense by actively aiming for 3-point shots. Waseda University was 2 points behind with 1 second left, and they gave Miura a shot from a set play, but in the end, he was denied by the ring. The final score was 76-78, a narrow loss.
Hoshikawa aiming for a shot
Shimoyama bit his lip and said, “With about five minutes left, I became less thorough.” Looking back on the fourth quarter, assistant coach Mori said, “We aimed too hard at Hoshikawa’s one-on-one play, and the ball stopped and his feet stopped as well.” Waseda University wanted to gain some momentum by winning the first match of the second round, the God Wars, but they were unable to win in the final stages and suffered a painful defeat. The next match will be against Taku University, which is one place lower than Waseda University. Assistant coach Mori emphasized, “If we look at our feet and do our best, we can win.”
(Article Shun Ochiai, Photos Ayaka Hamashima, Yusuke Miura)
99th Kanto University League Match October 14th (vs. Shindai)
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２Ｑ
３Ｑ
４Ｑ
total
Waseda University
１７
２６
１６
１７
７６God University
２１
１５
１７
２５
７８
◇Waseda University starting members◇
G#3 Kazuyuki Takada (Commercial 2 = Kyoto/Rakunan)
G#5 Haruki Hori (Sport 2 = Kyoto/Higashiyama)
F#6 Kenichi Miura (Sport 1 = Kyoto/Rakunan)
F#13 Kennobu Hoshikawa (Sport 4 = Kyoto/Rakunan)
G#18 Yori Iwaya (Sport 2 = Kyoto/Rakunan)
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Kazushi Mori Assistant Coach (Rei 4 Sports graduate)
–What kind of impact do you think will have on the second round being divided into upper and lower leagues?
(Waseda University) playing time is biased toward certain players, so I think it’s a positive thing if the number of games is simply reduced. However, to be honest, I think it’s better to have challenge matches in between (like last year) so you can try out different things and be more bold about what you’re going for. (With the second round being played in a lower league), the feeling of not being able to lose and not being able to lose has come first, and to some extent, we have become neglectful of what we were able to do in the past.
–So the experience of playing a challenge match against a higher-ranked university cannot be compensated for through practical training.
There are limits to the height, strength, and speed that can be reproduced within a team, so starting teams in particular must practice daily with teammates who are lower in level than the opposing university they will have to compete against on match day. I think there are some difficulties in that regard.
–How did you feel looking back on today’s match?
I think we lost a winning match today.
–What do you feel was the cause of your defeat?
In the second half, our point guard kept repeating, “Oh, I’m going to choose that one” when it came to making offensive decisions. In the end, we did well in the third quarter, but we couldn’t see the situation from a long-term perspective, so we relied on it too much, and things didn’t go well in the end and we lost. I feel like we relied too much on Hoshikawa’s one-on-one ability.
–How did you plan to structure your team’s attack?
Our strength is an offense that doesn’t stop people and the ball. However, I was aiming for Hoshikawa one-on-one too much, and the ball stopped, and my feet stopped as well.
–Was the final set piece the way you were aiming for?
I was aiming. It was a play where I had four options, so I thought I could go anywhere. There was no room to dribble, so no matter where the pass went, it was a catch-and-shoot style. I was able to carry it out, so it’s just that I was wrong in that regard. I don’t have much to say about that play. It was a matter of how I spent the previous 39 minutes and 59 seconds.
–Toward the next Taku Taisen war
(From here) we have to win everything. As I said to the team earlier, I think we can win if we give up our confidence that we can win at this level and look back at what we are doing.
G Eiji Shimoyama (Sports 1 = Aichi/Chubu Daiichi)
–How do you feel about this match?
In the final period, with about 5 minutes left, the level of thoroughness decreased. As with the last rebound, it wasn’t the entire team, but someone (individually) working hard. The team was falling apart and being beaten so hard that I thought there was still a long way to go. If we had stayed focused and fought as a team until the end, I don’t think we would have been able to close the gap, and I don’t think we would have made a comeback at the end, so I think we should reflect on that.
–What kind of instructions did Head Coach Kuraishihira (graduated in 1982) give regarding the pace of the game?
When I go out, rather than setting, I am told to break from the defense and increase my speed.
–What do you keep in mind when controlling the game?
If I have a few fast breaks in a row, I think about whether or not it will lead to points, and I try to create a sense of balance by stopping one break, even though I might be able to get a fast break. But today, I think I made the wrong decision.
–How do you look back on the last set piece?
Considering that Kennobu Hoshikawa (F Kennobu Hoshikawa, Sports 4 = Kyoto, Rakunan) would be the defenseman, I thought that Kenichi (F Kenichi Miura, Sports 1 = Kyoto, Rakunan) would be available, and it just so happened. It was empty, so it was exactly what I wanted. But that can’t be helped.
–Please express your enthusiasm for the next match.
Mr. Takushoku is the same, and I think all the teams we will face from here have a strong desire not to lose, so we will not give in to that feeling and will want to outdo ourselves and play at our own pace to win. Masu.
2023-10-14 16:53:47
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