For the second year in a row, the men’s basketball team took on Middlebury and Williams on the season’s final weekend needing at least one win to qualify for the postseason. And for the second year in a row, the Cardinals fell to both foes to end their season on a down note. Wesleyan has now missed the playoffs the past three seasons after qualifying for the NESCAC tournament each year since its inception in 2001.

“[Losing both games] is tough because that was one of our goals, to make the playoffs,” said co-captain Nick Pelletier ’08. “To not do that since freshman year, it’s not a very good feeling.”

Wesleyan needed at least one win in its final two games“in addition to a Tufts win over Colby”to return to the playoffs. The Cards traveled to Middlebury on Friday looking for its first win in Vermont since the 2003-04 season. The teams played a close game early, with the Panthers clinging to a 17-15 lead after ten minutes. Middlebury then used a 12-2 run to jump out to a 29-17 lead, but Wesleyan clawed back to cut the deficit to 33-29 at halftime.

The Cardinals twice came within one point early in the second half. Wesleyan cut the Panthers’ lead to 38-37 under four minutes in, but Middlebury scored 13 of the next 16 points for an 11-point cushion. Wesleyan refused to give in, slicing the deficit to 54-52 with 6:13 remaining. The Cardinals would get no closer, however, as Middlebury held on for a 75-71 win.

Wins by Williams and Colby that night officially eliminated Wesleyan from postseason play and also clinched a playoff spot for the Ephs. With their respective playoff fates already decided, the teams waged an all-inclusive battle on Saturday afternoon: every player on both teams played at least three minutes, and 14 of Wesleyan’s 16 squad members scored.

Wesleyan again kept it close early on, with Williams holding a four-point lead just under nine minutes into the game. However, the Ephs ended the half on a 31-13 run for a 46-24 halftime cushion. Williams’ lead soared as high as 38 points in the second half. This time, however, Wesleyan came up on the short end of an 87-57 decision.

Co-captain Eric Winters ’08 was also frustrated with the weekend’s results.

“I would say it’s one of the most frustrating things, especially because we felt like there were some games in the NESCAC that we could’ve won that we didn’t win,” Winters said. “Friday against Middlebury was a real close game, and we were right there but just came up a little short, and so it really took a lot out of us. Saturday, we definitely just didn’t do what we had to do.”

Despite the poor record, however, there were a number of bright spots on the team this year. Pelletier ended his illustrious career with 1,076 career points, tying him with Chris Bray ’03 for 11th on the all-time list. His average of 13.4 this season was 13th in the NESCAC. Pelletier was also third in the conference in rebounding, with 8.3 per game, and recorded 11 double-doubles on the season.

In addition, forward Stan Grayson ’09 broke out in a big way, averaging 11.7 points and 5.5 rebounds“the latter tying him for 15th in the NESCAC”a year after averaging just 1.5 and 1.7, respectively. Grayson broke double digits in scoring 15 times, including a streak of eight straight games in double figures, and recorded four double-doubles.

Both of the team’s captains noted that the past season, despite the poor record, was arguably Wesleyan’s best performance of their four years.

“Out of the four years we’ve played, it’s been, for me, the most rewarding season,” Pelletier added. “Our record doesn’t show that.”

Assuming Wesleyan can repeat its past success and weather the loss of its latest 1,000-point scorer, the future looks promising for the Cardinals. The team returns a solid nucleus, led by Grayson, sharpshooter Kevin Scura ’09, and point guard Jeremy Kaminer ’10. Winters and Pelletier both believe that the 2007-08 season will be the beginning of a new era for Wesleyan basketball.

“What we tried to do as a senior class was set a new precedent for the program…as a more hardworking, dedicated team, and I think we did that,” Winters said. “And now it’s…up to the younger guys to continue the tradition that we feel like we’ve established.”

Pelletier echoed Winters’s sentiments.

“This group…is on its way to start getting those early nonconference wins and building [its] confidence,” Pelletier said. “I think with the new regiment and the new direction…we set this season, next year, and in the years to come, Wesleyan is going to be a much better basketball program than has been seen in years past.”