The Grinnell men’s basketball team will be starting their season against Greenville this Thursday at midnight — the exact allowable minute that Division III schools are permitted to start playing.
“It’s something new and exciting,” David Arseneault Jr. `09, the head Men’s Basketball coach said. “Part of the way that we play basketball at Grinnell is about creating memories, and certainly playing a game at midnight will do just that.”
The logistical timing of a 12 a.m. tip-off, when the game begins, presents unique scheduling and physical preparation challenges for the roster.
The team is used to adjusting its schedule, Arsenault said. During Conference play, the team plays back-to-back games with the women’s basketball team. Every year, they switch which team goes first. Tip-off for the second game is variable, depending on when the first finishes.
“Of course, with this one, it’s just a little bit different because there’s a chance that some of our guys would typically be sleeping by the time that we’re getting ready to tip off,” Arsenault said.
To prepare for the game, Arsenault said they have been talking with the training staff and strength conditioning staff as well as the captains and team, to maximize the players’ diet and sleep durations. The game will be part of a fast-paced triangular event. Grinnell’s basketball team is well known for running its fast-paced “System,” an unconventional tactical approach that emphasizes high-volume three-point shooting, rapid substitutions and full-court pressure.
“They run a similar, fast paced system,” Arsenault said of Greenville. “Three of the highest-scoring teams in Division III from last year are all there at this tournament.”
Sam Spencer `30, a first year on the team, said that he learnt about the System during the recruitment process last fall, and it was part of the reason why he committed to Grinnell.
“It fits my style of play, I shoot a lot of three pointers, and so it plays to my strengths,” Spencer said.
Spencer said he is also ready for the midnight start time.
“It’s definitely different — it’s a good challenge, and we’ve been preparing and having later practices over the last few weeks.”
“Some of it is also just going to be the adrenaline of the first game of the season and excitement for the first game of the season,” Arsenault said. “ It is a little bit odd to think that we’re able to stay in Grinnell for the entire day of class on Thursday, and we’re still playing, technically Friday morning, but really late Thursday night, and we’re not even leaving until after all the classes are done, which is unique.”
Looking forward to the season, the Grinnell Men’s Basketball program enters the campaign following consecutive National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament appearances for the first time in Grinnell’s history.
“Maybe flying to the top of the mountain and achieving something that no team in College history has achieved can make it difficult to get yourself excited and hungry to go and do it again,” Arsenault said. “And so, I’m excited for the challenge.”
Spencer also said that winning the Midwest Conference and qualifying for the NCAA tournament again was definitely the ultimate goal of the team, and that the team had been able to bond very well. He said upperclassmen like Kai Te Huki `27 and Nick Lundy `27 have been great leaders.
“They’re a great group of guys that have made it easy to transition both in and off the court — a really welcoming environment.” Spencer said.
Ultimately, Arsenault said while the team has high goals, having fun and creating memories while competing was the most important one.
”Sometimes there can be this level of expectation that has the ability to take the fun out of it. And I just want to make sure that we’re keeping things in perspective. Like, this is supposed to be fun,” Arsenault said. “Yeah, we do want to win, but at the same time, we want to have fun while we’re competing.”