Yale sophomore guard Bez Mbeng leads his team in assists at 4.1 per game and in steals with a total of 36. The 6-foot-4 Potomac, Md. native who coach James Jones told Ivy Hoops Online is the best on-ball defender he’s ever coached. IHO caught up with Mbeng for an interview in advance of Yale’s game against Cornell Saturday night:
Ivy Hoops Online: Other than the obvious academic advantages, why did you choose Yale?
Bez Mbeng: Coach Jones. I only needed a few Zoom calls. He is a coach we [Mbeng and his parents] could trust. He could make me the best player I could be.
IHO: How would you compare this year’s Yale team with last year’s? [Editor’s note: Yale is coming off a 19-12 season in which it won the Ivy League Tournament, falling to Purdue as a No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament.)
BM: We have more weapons this year. .Last year, we had Azar [Swain]. Everyone on this team can go off for 15 a game at any time.
IHO: How would you compare this year’s Ivy League with the one last season?
BM: I would say we see new faces stepping into new roles. The talent pool is deeper.
IHO: What do you think of the Ivy schedule format?
BM: I like it. Every game matters. [The] level of play every night is intense.
IHO: What is it like on the weeks when you only play one weekend game?
BM: Practice is a little different. You get to focus on one team. But I like the home back-to-backs.
IHO: What was the biggest difference between playing in high school and then in college?
BM: Not the speed, because I play fast. Knowing all the personnel from one to 10 on the other teams.