College Basketball: A Look Inside Yeshiva University’s Amazing Winning Streak

ByAndrew Pistone

3 min read

College Basketball: A Look Inside Yeshiva University’s Amazing Winning Streak

There have been quite a few historic men’s basketball winning streaks throughout history. The UCLA Bruins won 88 straight games in the early part of the 1970’s. We’ve also had a few teams in the last couple days reach the NCAA tournament undefeated, only to fall during March Madness. However, one impressively long winning streak just came to an end in the last week or so. Yeshiva University rattled off 50 consecutive victories in Division III, before finally falling to Illinois Wesleyan University at the end of December, 73-59.

The Maccabees, based out of New York City, had not lost since November 2019 before their most recent defeat. Senior Ryan Turell has been an integral part of the team’s success throughout the run, and is the leading scorer amongst all players in Division III. Even though he was enjoying the winning streak, he still wanted to put larger goals in perspective.

“At the end of the day, our goal is to win a national championship, and so we have to stay focused and stay humble, you know, you either are humbled or you get humbled,” Turell said. Via Algemeiner.com

There have even been rumblings that Turell could get a shot with some NBA teams once his Maccabee career comes to an end. He isn’t the only player contributing on a high level for Yeshiva, though. Gabriel Leifer has also had a solid career there, totaling over 500 assists during his time with the team.

With any successful college program, sometimes the ball needs to bounce a certain way, on or off the floor, and Yeshiva certainly lucked out with regards to its coaching situation. Head coach Elliott Steinmetz had an interesting first interaction with former athletic director Joe Bednarsh, which almost let the AD to take his search in a different direction.

“He didn’t do well on the hiring committee screening call,” Bednarsh said, recalling Steinmetz’s interview performance. “He obviously had an agenda, and instead of answering the questions I asked, he kept pivoting to the things he wanted to talk about…I can say now that I was woefully, embarrassingly wrong. He was trying to share his vision, and I didn’t get it.” Via ESPN.com

Fortunately for the program, Steinmetz was brought on, and the program has turned a corner. He takes a thoughtful, informed approach to recruiting, something that Leifer recalls quite vividly. The young player thought his most accomplished skill was shooting, or driving to the best, but the coach saw it differently.

“It’s the way you see the court,” Steinmetz told Leifer his best attribute was after one of his high school games. Via ESPN.com

While the 50 game winning streak has been snapped, there’s a lot of thought that has gone into the foundation that has been built at Yeshiva University. The talent they’ve brought into the program could yield some exciting things for the Maccabees in the postseason.

Are you an Athlete?

Create a free profile to access the largest network specifically designed to connect athletes to opportunities. Get started.

RELATED ARTICLES
USA Cycling: The Search for Speed Starts Here

USA Cycling: The Search for Speed Starts Here

Do you have a need for speed? If so, you should check out USA Cycling’s new talent identification...

ByTiffany Allen | Wed Jan 24 2024
From Challengers to Champions: USA Boxing Launches New Athlete Identification Program

From Challengers to Champions: USA Boxing Launches New Athlete Identification Program

USA Boxing, the National Governing Body for Boxing in the U.S., has launched a brand new Talent...

ByTiffany Allen | Wed Jan 17 2024
USA Football Dominates 2023: Unprecedented Growth and Digital Combine Triumphs

USA Football Dominates 2023: Unprecedented Growth and Digital Combine Triumphs

2023 has proved to be a year of acceleration for the sport of flag football. From a pivotal Olympic...

ByTiffany Allen | Mon Dec 18 2023
USA Triathlon Celebrates New Heights in November

USA Triathlon Celebrates New Heights in November

In a dynamic collaboration aimed at boosting collegiate triathlon, USA Triathlon joined forces with...

ByTiffany Allen | Wed Dec 13 2023
Rise to the Challenge: Join the USA Triathlon Virtual Combine this November

Rise to the Challenge: Join the USA Triathlon Virtual Combine this November

Are you ready to put your skills to the test, go beyond your limits, and claim your spot amongst...

ByTiffany Allen | Wed Oct 18 2023
USA Football and GMTM Announce 2023 Digital Combine

USA Football and GMTM Announce 2023 Digital Combine

USA Football and GMTM will hold the second U.S. National Team Digital Combine with GMTM to identify...

BySamuel Teets | Thu Aug 10 2023
USA Bobsled & Skeleton Launches Registration for August In-Person Combine

USA Bobsled & Skeleton Launches Registration for August In-Person Combine

USA Bobsled & Skeleton has launched registration for their next in-person combine open to the...

ByTiffany Allen | Tue Aug 01 2023
How To Participate in the 2023 Virtual World Flip League

How To Participate in the 2023 Virtual World Flip League

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has just launched the first Virtual World Flip League. The Virtual World Flip...

ByTiffany Allen | Wed Jul 05 2023
USA Bobsled & Skeleton Hosts In-Person Combine Open to the Public

USA Bobsled & Skeleton Hosts In-Person Combine Open to the Public

USA Bobsled & Skeleton has been working to provide unique opportunities for aspiring athletes to...

ByTiffany Allen | Fri Jun 16 2023
Trending Stories from Volleyball Canada: March/April

Trending Stories from Volleyball Canada: March/April

A new season means new events and opportunities for volleyball athletes across Canada. As the...

ByJoey Grant | Thu Apr 20 2023
USA Team Handball: Three Handball events you should pay attention to this month

USA Team Handball: Three Handball events you should pay attention to this month

It may seem like a sleepy time for Olympic sports, halfway through a year with no Olympic games....

ByTiffany Allen | Wed Apr 12 2023
Meet The Top Finishers At The 2023 USA Bobsled & Skeleton National Championships

Meet The Top Finishers At The 2023 USA Bobsled & Skeleton National Championships

LAKE PLACID, NY - The 2023 Skeleton Selection Races and the USABS National Championships for both...

ByAbby Slenker | Thu Mar 30 2023
USA Football announces final rosters for 2023 Men’s and Women’s Flag National Teams

USA Football announces final rosters for 2023 Men’s and Women’s Flag National Teams

INDIANAPOLIS – USA Football, a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the sport's...

ByTiffany Allen | Thu Mar 23 2023
4 GMTM Athletes Attend USA Football's National Team Trials

4 GMTM Athletes Attend USA Football's National Team Trials

March 10, 2023 - It’s a gray, rainy Friday morning in Charlotte, NC. We’re inside the Belk...

ByTiffany Allen | Thu Mar 16 2023
College Basketball: Four Coaches Who Could Switch Jobs After March Madness

College Basketball: Four Coaches Who Could Switch Jobs After March Madness

While the games from November through February certainly count in the standings, the tilts that...

ByAndrew Pistone | Wed Mar 15 2023
Name, Image, & Likeness: March Madness Offers Rare NIL Opportunities

Name, Image, & Likeness: March Madness Offers Rare NIL Opportunities

For college basketball fans around the country, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year....

ByAndrew Pistone | Tue Mar 07 2023
When Values Clash: Tackling the Alignment Problem for Sports Organizations and Athletes

When Values Clash: Tackling the Alignment Problem for Sports Organizations and Athletes

More than a century ago, Teddy Roosevelt Jr's injury during an amateur football game resulted in...

ByJoey Grant | Thu Mar 02 2023
How Many Scholarships Does Each Collegiate Sport Offer?

How Many Scholarships Does Each Collegiate Sport Offer?

It's time to start applying for schools and begin your recruiting process. You have been working...

ByJohnathan Wright | Tue Feb 21 2023
Five Reasons Why College Basketball Coaches Rescind Scholarship Offers

Five Reasons Why College Basketball Coaches Rescind Scholarship Offers

It’s what you have dreamed of, worked for, and waited on your whole life - a coveted college...

ByScotty Jenkins | Mon Feb 13 2023
Sports Injuries and Insurance: Four Facts Parents & Recruits Should Know

Sports Injuries and Insurance: Four Facts Parents & Recruits Should Know

Injuries are a major part of athletics, and a high percentage of student-athletes competing in NCAA...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Feb 07 2023
New XFL Draft Picks use GMTM to be seen by coaches and fans

New XFL Draft Picks use GMTM to be seen by coaches and fans

In just under a month, the XFL will be taking yet another crack at creating a competing...

ByScotty Jenkins | Fri Jan 20 2023
Unlocking Billions: How World-Class Sports Organizations Manage Talent for Success

Unlocking Billions: How World-Class Sports Organizations Manage Talent for Success

What is the thing that has driven the $90 billion Sports industry? Talent Without talent, Sports...

ByJoey Grant | Thu Jan 19 2023
How Ohio State Handball Is Becoming A Talent Pipeline For European Clubs

How Ohio State Handball Is Becoming A Talent Pipeline For European Clubs

J.D. Orr isn’t the most recognized coach at Ohio State. At a state school where the athletic...

ByScotty Jenkins | Mon Dec 12 2022
Why The Transfer Portal Is So Important For College Basketball Coaches

Why The Transfer Portal Is So Important For College Basketball Coaches

2019 was a transformative year in NCAA athletics. The NCAA Transfer Portal, a database which allows...

ByKeiwaine Hicks | Sun Dec 11 2022
Recruiting Rankings: Should I Be Worried If I’m Not A Ranked Basketball Player?

Recruiting Rankings: Should I Be Worried If I’m Not A Ranked Basketball Player?

Getting ranked - it’s the ultimate goal and source of motivation for many basketball players across...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sun Dec 04 2022
How similar is the NCAA Transfer Portal to free agency in professional sports?

How similar is the NCAA Transfer Portal to free agency in professional sports?

The NCAA Transfer Portal is a great platform that is beneficial to student-athletes. It allows...

ByScotty Jenkins | Fri Dec 02 2022
"What Is A 5-Star Recruit?": Explaining how high school basketball prospect rankings work

"What Is A 5-Star Recruit?": Explaining how high school basketball prospect rankings work

High School basketball players like Bronny James are all over TV and social media nowadays, with...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Dec 01 2022
Five Ways To Boost Your Basketball Recruiting with Social Media

Five Ways To Boost Your Basketball Recruiting with Social Media

Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, GMTM, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook... Social media is a...

ByKeiwaine Hicks | Sat Nov 19 2022
Which High Schools In America Produce The Most Female College Athletes?

Which High Schools In America Produce The Most Female College Athletes?

It may come as no surprise to hear parents want what is best for their children. If parents have...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 15 2022
Is playing Division-II college sports worth it?

Is playing Division-II college sports worth it?

Being a Division II collegiate athlete was one of the best experiences of my entire life. Having...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 08 2022
Bucket List: Five More College Football Traditions You Need To See

Bucket List: Five More College Football Traditions You Need To See

Part two of some of the best division 1 college football game day traditions throughout the United...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 05 2022
Bucket List: Five College Football Traditions You Need To See

Bucket List: Five College Football Traditions You Need To See

One of the best parts about college football are the traditions that have been around for decades....

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 05 2022
Transfer Portal: Does Every Athlete Who Transfers Find A New College To Play For?

Transfer Portal: Does Every Athlete Who Transfers Find A New College To Play For?

On the 15th of October, 2018 the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) introduced a...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Oct 19 2022
Three Tell-Tale Signs You Are Ready For College Sports

Three Tell-Tale Signs You Are Ready For College Sports

Plenty of high school athletes think they have what it takes to play sports in college. However,...

ByBryan Armetta | Thu Oct 13 2022
How Athletic Scholarships Work: A Quick Guide To Paying For College

How Athletic Scholarships Work: A Quick Guide To Paying For College

It is no secret that college is expensive, and as time goes on, the price continues to increase....

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Oct 11 2022
Why Is Boise State’s Football Field Blue?

Why Is Boise State’s Football Field Blue?

Some of college football’s most daunting homefield advantages come to mind pretty quickly. The Big...

ByAndrew Pistone | Tue Oct 11 2022
How to Handle College Media As a Mid-Major Athlete

How to Handle College Media As a Mid-Major Athlete

Generally speaking playing at a mid-major Division I school means not having to worry about seeing...

ByJamison White | Sun Oct 09 2022
Johnson V NCAA: The Next Case That Can ReShape the future of the NCAA

Johnson V NCAA: The Next Case That Can ReShape the future of the NCAA

By now we are all familiar with the Alston case that shifted the dynamics of college sports, as...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Oct 06 2022
Think you can play college football? Here’s what to expect in the recruiting process

Think you can play college football? Here’s what to expect in the recruiting process

Playing college football is a dream for many high schoolers but the recruiting process can be...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Oct 06 2022
How To Run Faster: Five Best Strength Training Workouts For Track Athletes

How To Run Faster: Five Best Strength Training Workouts For Track Athletes

In order to be successful in track, athletes should devote a considerable amount of time to lifting...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Oct 05 2022
College Basketball: Midnight Madness and the start of the CBB schedule

College Basketball: Midnight Madness and the start of the CBB schedule

Many college basketball fans think that the season gets underway in earnest around Thanksgiving,...

ByAndrew Pistone | Fri Sep 30 2022
College Sports: How To Pick The Right School To Attend

College Sports: How To Pick The Right School To Attend

Picking the right college can be a tough task for any high school senior, but it can be a unique...

ByAlexis Peltzer-Harding | Fri Sep 23 2022
What Does Redshirt Mean? And The Reasons Why Players Do It?

What Does Redshirt Mean? And The Reasons Why Players Do It?

Any athlete with a love for competition hates sitting on the sideline, but once he or she gets to...

ByCorey Roepken | Mon Sep 19 2022
What Every College Athlete Should Know Before Freshman Year Starts

What Every College Athlete Should Know Before Freshman Year Starts

The shift from high school to college is a big one. Throw playing a collegiate sport in and it can...

ByLily Ford | Sun Sep 18 2022
College Basketball: What Is The NCAA Transfer Portal And How Does It Work

College Basketball: What Is The NCAA Transfer Portal And How Does It Work

With the ever-changing NCAA and college athletics scene, transfer athletes have become more and...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Sep 15 2022
2022 College Football Cheat Sheet: Who Will Finish On Top In The Big Ten

2022 College Football Cheat Sheet: Who Will Finish On Top In The Big Ten

It's not the flashiest conference, nor is it the most talented, but Big Ten football offers...

ByBryan Armetta | Mon Sep 05 2022
College Football: Why Head Coach Salaries At Top Schools Keep Going Up

College Football: Why Head Coach Salaries At Top Schools Keep Going Up

What does one normally associate with the position of college football head coach? Leaders of men....

ByBryan Armetta | Sun Sep 04 2022
College Football: Are Spencer Rattler and South Carolina SEC East Contenders?

College Football: Are Spencer Rattler and South Carolina SEC East Contenders?

Competing in the SEC is not for everybody. Lost in the shuffle of the annual arms race between...

ByBryan Armetta | Sun Sep 04 2022
College Sports: What To Expect When You Arrive On Campus

College Sports: What To Expect When You Arrive On Campus

College is an exciting transition to go through for any student, athlete or not. And there is no...

ByJacob Rimmer | Thu Sep 01 2022
How UConn Has Dominated Women’s College Basketball

How UConn Has Dominated Women’s College Basketball

Women’s College Basketball and UConn are two terms that you will often hear together as they have...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Sep 01 2022