MUCH NEEDED: Princeton University men’s basketball player Sebastian Much dribbles into the paint in recent action. Last Sunday, freshman forward Much scored nine points off the bench to help Princeton defeat Fairleigh Dickinson 83-76 as the Tigers posted their second straight win. Princeton, now 2-3, hosts Lehigh on November 29 before playing at Miami on December 2. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Although Sebastian Much spent most of the first half on the bench as the Princeton University men’s basketball team hosted Lafayette last Wednesday, he still had his head in the game.

“I was feeding off of Richmond [Aririguzoh] because he brought such an intensity to the game,” said freshman forward Much of his sophomore teammate.

“I didn’t play much in the first half, but that didn’t matter; Richmond kept everyone on their feet because everyone was always clapping for him.”

In the second half, people were clapping for Much when he poured in 10 points to spark a 17-5 run as Princeton pulled away to a 60-46 win over the Leopards before a crowd of 1,575 at Jadwin Gym.

“I just did my job, made open shots, and tried to play hard and keep up with Richmond’s intensity,” said Much, reflecting on his outburst.

While Much did his job well against Lafayette, he acknowledged that it has been hard getting up to speed at the next level.

“I think a lot of it is getting acclimated to the intensity that comes with college basketball,” said Much, a 6’8, 225-pound native of Laguna Niguel, Calif.

“Coming from high school, everyone was not at this level obviously. You are playing at a different level with everyone being a very good player and a star in high school. Matching that and learning how to play and be a different player in the sense of fitting what is needed of you is the hardest thing.”

Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson likes the way Much is fitting in.  “Sebastian hit a couple of key shots; it covers up all ills when you can make a shot,” said Henderson of Much, who hit some more shots on Sunday, tallying nine points off the bench as Princeton defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 83-76 to improve to 2-3. “He has adjusted to the college game well; he is very talented.”

In Henderson’s view, the play of the athletic and charismatic Aririguzoh, a former Trenton Catholic standout, helped change the tone of the Lafayette game in Princeton’s favor.

“We are putting a lot of pressure on our defense and I thought Richmond did a great job with energy,” said Henderson of the 6’9, 220-pound center who contributed six points and four rebounds in 22 minutes of action.

“For me, it started with Richmond. He brought a spark, he lights up a room with his smile. He is a special young man who has the ability to affect a game that way. He takes ownership of that, which is a lot of fun for us. The team loves him.”

Henderson loved seeing Princeton holding the Leopards to 17 points in the second half on the way to posting its first victory of the season.

“They are always hard to guard, [Matt] Klinewski, in particular, is difficult,” said Henderson.

“They challenge you in terms of your spacing defensively. We have an opportunity to be a very good defensive team. We were really happy to get the win.”

While the team’s big three of Devin Cannady, Myles Stephens, and Amir Bell has shouldered much of the scoring load in the early going, Henderson believes the Tigers will eventually be harder to guard all over the court.

“By league play, we won’t even be talking about those three guys; it will be a team, that is the objective,” maintained Henderson, whose squad will look to keep on the winning track as it hosts Lehigh on November 29 and then plays at Miami on December 2.

“This is a good group, it is a good team. We are missing Will Gladson and Elijah Barnes so we are going to keep growing together as a group until those guys can come back.”

Much, for his part, believes that his performance against Lafayette will prove to be a key step in his growth as a player.

“It will help me a lot, but I think I can’t think about it too much,” said Much. “I just have to play and things will come.”