Overview

With few weeks left in hand, the members of the Boys’ Basketball Team can usually be found going through their many intense drills with a sole aim to reclaim the BOSM crown.

As is with all team sports, success and glory tend to follow those teams with razor sharp fundamentals and teamwork, hence the team can be seen grinding dribbling and layup shots to perfection.

The practices are gruelling and intense, players report to the court by 5:30 in the evening every day, only to leave exhausted at around 7:30. Warm ups, cardio sessions, basketball drills and mock games are all on the agenda. Team practices will intensify in the coming weeks, and the added morning practices will begin at 6, ending only when classes begin. With BOSM just around the corner, injury concerns prevent players from pushing their limits even further. All players perform the same cardio and drills, as the team is focusing on team play and fitness rather than specialization.

The inclement weather also poses problems for the team, as untimely rains have washed out the last few practice sessions at this crucial stage. Team chemistry is being worked upon as new recruits are finding the best ways to gel in with older experienced members of the team.

Past Performance

While not drowning in accolades, the boys’ basketball team certainly has had its fair share of up and downs. They have reached the semifinals in the last two years, and claimed a silver medal in the year 2014. Only once in the history of BITS has the team lifted the elusive gold but the team is certainly hungry to reclaim their throne.

Recruitments

Basketball recruitments involve a series of long cardio sessions over a span of a few days to weed out the unmotivated. Around twenty players are selected from a sea of potential recruits. Subjected to many days of drills and practices, these twenty are slowly whittled down to a mere dozen based on their performance and team chemistry. Recruitments happen every semester and are not exclusive to first years.

The veterans in the team feel that the current recruits, while enthusiastic and skilled, need a better grasp of the fundamentals to truly shine. Gelling in with the team is also an issue as the freshers still need to adjust to a new team and a new style of play. But practice makes perfect and the recruits will certainly improve as the weeks roll by, ready to show their mettle at BOSM.

Captain’s Interview

Vishal Verma, the captain of his team began playing basketball at the age of twelve, honing his fundamentals and developing his game at the high school stage. Now he stands as the captain and star shooting guard of the team, ready to propel his team to victory. Vishal’s interest in the game stems from the team play aspect, where game IQ and communication are just as important as pure skill. While not open to taking up the sport professionally, Vishal has had offers from many schools in Delhi, offering him a sports scholarship and a chance to play professionally if he so desired. Fortunately for the BITSians, he chose the engineering stream instead and is now attempting to lead his squad to the elusive gold.

An avid fan of Kobe Bryant, Vishal admits that his position grants him the ‘fear factor’, and new recruits are often intimidated by his position of responsibility as the captain. All drills and practices are under his supervision and control. He also claims that his position does not impact his game, and that his playing style has remained the same as an on ball shooting guard. He likes to play a very aggressive game, with lots of cuts and drives to the basket.

His main concerns with the team were defence and rebounding, as skill and speed would all be for naught, when faced with taller players who would dominate the ball.

With a tournament just around the corner, Vishal admits that balancing sports as well as his academic responsibilities is a major concern and that he hopes that things will slow down after the fest.

BOSM is quite possibly the largest sporting event here in Pilani, attracting good teams with even better players and Vishal Verma hopes to make his mark here at this grand stage.