The Middlebury men’s basketball team will tip off its season on Friday, November 18. The Panthers return the entire squad from last season, and will look to build on their 2021-22 campaign, while adding six new faces. 

Middlebury’s strong returning core will be led by senior forward Alex Sobel. An All-American and first-team All-NESCAC selection, Sobel led the Panthers in scoring last season, averaging 18.3 points per game (ppg), which was good for second in the NESCAC. Sobel was also a force on the defensive end, leading the conference in rebounds (12.1 rebounds per game) and ranking third in the country in blocks (3.6). 

Noah Osher and Jaden Bobbett will both return to the guard spots this winter. The pair appeared in all 24 games last season, with Osher starting every contest. Osher led the Panthers in minutes played, at 35.1 per game, while averaging 16.5 ppg. Bobbett registered a team-high 87 assists in his first year and played over 30 minutes a contest.

Forwards David Brennan and Sam Stevens will round out the core of returning Panthers. Brennan was a balanced contributor for the Panthers last season, providing 7.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 41 assists and a team-leading 26 steals. Stevens will look to build on a successful first year, which saw him earn NESCAC Rookie of the Year and second-team honors. Stevens poured in 18 ppg, which was third-best in the conference, and shot almost 38 percent from beyond the arc.

The Panthers are led by head coach Jeff Brown, who enters his 26th year at the helm of the program. In that time, he has amassed a 414-216 career record, which includes four conference championships and three NCAA Quarterfinal appearances. Brown welcomes Sam Rubinstein for his first season as an assistant at Middlebury, while Rob Alberts also returns to the bench.