MARCY, N.Y. – Like a young Theodore Roosevelt in search of adventure and experience, The SUNY Polytechnic Men's Basketball Team (1-3, 0-0 NEAC) will head out west this weekend. Departing from our 26^th President's course somewhat, the team plans to stop a mere 2,000 miles shy of the Dakotas, making camp in Aurora, N.Y. It is unlikely TR took any time off from hunting buffalo to play basketball, especially since Dr. Naismith's "peach-basket game" wasn't invented until 1891, but the Wildcats will when they take on Wells College this Saturday, December 6^th (which happens to be the 110^th anniversary of the famous Roosevelt Corollary). The game is scheduled for 2 pm.

Unlike the grief-stricken Rough Rider President, whose wife had died tragically prior to his 1884 westward venture (okay, we'll stop with the Roosevelt references now), the Wildcats will journey down I-90 fresh off their first victory of the year, a gritty 62-58 win over SUNY-ESF at last weekend's Hamilton Invitational.

The Express on the other hand are still in search of their first win, and will enter Saturday's contest at 0-5 after a 75-61 loss to defending NEAC Champion Morrisville State.

There isn't enough of a sample yet for either team to draw many conclusions, but here are some of the salient numbers so far:

73.2 / 67.0 … Points-per-game for Wells / Wildcats

83.6 / 73.8 … Points-allowed per game for Wells / Wildcats

43% / 43% ... FG percentage for Wells / Wildcats

50% / 48% … Opponent FG percentage for Wells / Wildcats

28% / 36% … 3-pt FG percentage for Wells / Wildcats (4^th Best in the NEAC)

70% / 57% … FT percentage for Wells / Wildcats

-4 / -1 … Rebounding margin per-game for Wells / Wildcats

17.2 / 19.0 … PPG for Wells leading scorer Jordan Jean / Wildcats leading scorer Maverick Hodge

Following Saturday's game the Wildcats will stay in wine country to take on the Keuka Wolfpack, Sunday at 3 pm. Incidentally, the Wolfpack just defeated the same SUNY-ESF team that the Wildcats did, besting the Mighty Oaks earlier this week on Tuesday, 77-57.

The only other common opponent between the Wildcats and Keuka is Hamilton, whom the Wolfpack fell to on November 22^nd, 82-69 (SUNY Poly dropped a 63-51 contest to open the season on November 19^th).

Below are some non-letter characters:

66.5 / 67.0 … Points-per-game for Keuka / Wildcats

66.0 / 73.8 … Points-allowed per game for Keuka / Wildcats

 46% / 43% … FG percentage for Keuka / Wildcats

39% / 36% … 3-pt FG percentage for Keuka / Wildcats

64% / 57% … FT percentage for Keuka / Wildcats

+7.8 / -1.0 … Rebounding margin per-game for Keuka / Wildcats