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Posting Up - Scoreboard - Top 25 - Features - Notables - Team of the Week - Live Audio |
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A look at the upcoming season 1999-2000 season |
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Bates One of the prime reasons behind the improvement was a much-heralded rookie class. With a starting lineup that boasted one senior, one sophomore and three first-year players, the Bobcats knew that 1998-99 would be a learning experience. Maine Rookie of the Year Billy Hart ’02 (Haverhill, Mass.) became the first rookie since 1993-94 to lead the team in scoring at 16 points-per-game, while finishing fourth in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) in assists. Forward Alex Wilson ’02 (Duxbury, Mass.) was fifth in the conference in rebounding (8 rpg) and earned New England Basketball Coaches’ Association Rookie of the Year honors, while forward Ed Walker ’02 (Roxbury, Mass.) topped the team in NESCAC and ECAC Rookie of the Week honors during the season. Forward Rommel Padonou ’01 (Libreville, Gabon), the top returning rebounder in the conference and second-leading scorer on the team averaging more than 15 points per game, was featured on NESN’s Front Row program. Rommel is on pace to surpass the 1,000 career point total by the end of his junior year. As the player on the team with the most NESCAC experience, he will be in a position to emerge as inspirational leader both on and off the court. Sophomore Matt Moulis (Concord, N.H.) averaged 20 minutes per game and started five contests last season and should again play a major role in the program this season. Sophomore Jason Patterson (New York, N.Y.) also played an important role in the success of the Bobcats last season and has improved his game this past summer by travelling to China with a New York City Boys' Club all-star team. It is also hopeful that 6-8 Sophomore Jesse Carney (Brunswick, Maine) can stay healthy and become a major impact player for the Bobcats this season. "We’re very optimistic about the future of our program," coach Reilly says. "The younger players gained valuable experience last year. We have a solid nucleus, and we are looking forward to attracting more quality student-athletes who will be committed to the future success of our program." The addition of another heralded freshman class should add to the excitement this season in Alumni Gymnasium. Matt LaPointe (Beverly, Mass./Cushing Acad.) joins the Bobcats after being selected as a New England Class B Prep School All-Star last year. As a senior at Beverly High School, Matt averaged over 20 points and 10 assists and was a Boston Globe All-Scholastic selection. Erik Williams (Hanson, Mass./Sacred Heart H.S.) and Jason Hirshhorn (Lexington, Mass./Lexington H.S.) were both 1st team All-League selections last year. Erik and Jason are excellent shooters and should adjust quickly to the Bobcats' aggressive offensive transition game. Coach Reilly is extremely excited about the addition of 6-5 forward C.J. Neely (N. Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames H.S.) who is an explosive offensive threat and fierce competitor. C.J. was a two-time All Hockomock League selection in high school. 6-4 forward Jon Constant (Presque Isle, Maine/Presque Isle H.S.) will also have the opportunity to make a valuable contribution to the success of the program and will add much needed depth to the front court. The Bobcats, who won Norwich University’s Ed Hockenbury Classic last year, always play at least one in-season tournament every year, this year heading to the Vassar College Tip-Off tournament and to Anna Maria College in early December. The Bobcats play a schedule of 24 games, including all 10 NESCAC opponents. Four NESCAC schools competed in the NCAA Division III tournament last year, and one conference foe has been among the final four teams in four of the last five seasons. Bowdoin The lone senior on the team, Wil Smith (Jacksonville, Fla./N.B. Forrest), has the experience to provide the Polar Bears with the leadership they need. A veteran of the Persian Gulf War, the 30-year old Smith returns to Brunswick this fall after serving in the U.S. Navy’s peacekeeping force in the Balkans this summer. On the court last winter, Smith started in all 26 games for Bowdoin averaging 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game at the guard position. A co-captain for the second year, Smith led the team in steals with 61 and also paced the Polar Bears in assists with 95. "Having Wil on our team is like having another coach," said Gilbride, who is 13 wins away from registering his 200th with Bowdoin. "He is the backbone of our team and he will be counted on again this winter to be a leader." Joining Smith in the backcourt and as a co-captain is junior Hugh Coleman (Boston, Mass./Charlestown) as he begins his third year as the starting point guard. Along with his duties at the point, Coleman finished second on the team in scoring (13.1 ppg) while hitting a team-leading 63 three-point field goals. With two full seasons remaining, Coleman needs 337 points to become the 16th 1,000-point scorer in school history and 36 three-pointers to break the school record for a career. Gilbride used a three-guard offense to spark Bowdoin to its nine-game winning streak at the end of the season last year and junior Steve McKinnon (Pawtucket, R.I./Moses Brown) moved into the starting lineup at the beginning of that streak. An outstanding defensive player, the 6-1 leaper averaged 4.9 points and 3.0 rebounds while often matching up against the opposition's best offensive forward. The backcourt will also be bolstered by sophomore transfer Mark Gilbride (Topsham, Maine/Mt. Ararat). The coach’s son, Gilbride joins the Polar Bears after spending his first season with the University of Chicago and will give the team a poised point guard off the bench. Several other returners and first-years will provide depth at the guard positions. In the front court, Bowdoin loses its top scorer in David Lovely, but a couple of experienced big men should fill the void. A starter since his first year, junior Erich Buschmann (Sidney, Maine/Messalonskee) provides an experienced man in the middle for the Polar Bears. Buschmann averaged 6.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, scoring a career-high 21 points in a key win against Plymouth State. Coach Gilbride loses 6-7 junior forward Paul Masson (Baltimore, Md./Friends) for the winter with an illness, but gains sophomore forward Chris Ranslow (Hallowell, Maine/Hall-Dale), who took last season away from Bowdoin. A slashing small forward, Ranslow started in six games as a first-year, averaging 7.8 points and 4.0 rebound per game. Six-foot-nine junior David Baranowski (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) averaged 10 points per game coming off the bench while leading the conference in blocked shots and he should once again be a presence in the low post. Junior Tim Weems (Brunswick, Maine/Brunswick), sophomores Shane O'Neill (No. Andover, Mass./Gov. Dummer) and Shawn Pelletier (Madawaska, Maine/Madawaska) along with a host of new faces will give Gilbride several options up front. Along with the fierce NESCAC schedule, Bowdoin will get tested early on in the schedule. The Polar Bears open up at the Blue Jay Classic at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, where they will face Fredonia State in the first round and possibly No. 13 Johns Hopkins -- an NCAA tournament team in 1998-99 -- in the second round. Traditional regional powers Plymouth State and Babson appear on the schedule, as well. "Every game will be a test for us," said Gilbride. "If we play smart and to our potential, I think we can compete with anybody. But if we don’t, any team on our schedule could beat us. I feel that we have strong leadership this year and that should help us down the stretch." Curry The Colonels’ 14-12 record a year ago was their best showing since the 1992-93 season, and with nine of 11 players returning, expectations are running high. "They’ve got a year of playing together under their belts, so we expect to be further along than we were last year," says Casey. Curry’s front court will once again be the domain of junior co-captain Brian Williams (Marlboro, Mass.). The first-team All-CCC performer led the squad in eight different statistical categories, and was chosen by his teammates and coaches as MVP. "Brian’s our best inside scorer and our top rebounder," Casey says, "and again we expect big things from him." Williams will work inside with a new partner in 1999-2000. Oliver Vil’s graduation left open a starting forward’s job -- one that is likely to go to Shakir Shabazz (New York, N.Y.). The 6-6 sophomore improved his game dramatically toward the latter half of the 1998-99 campaign, finishing sixth in points scored (142) and third in rebounds (101). "Shakir will be an excellent second option to Brian on offense and a force on the boards," says Casey. Of the remaining frontcourt players on his roster, Casey will rely most heavily on junior Lavar White (Milton, Mass.). A regular starter last season at the small forward position, White will transition to power forward this year. Even in this new assignment, however, he’ll step out and test the long-range accuracy that produced 13 three-pointers a year ago. Two additional forwards -- Kyle McNamar (Vernon, Conn.) and Brendan Monaghan (Trumbull, Conn.) -- provide Casey with even more flexibility underneath the basket. Sophomore McNamar has a left-handed shot, is the tallest player on the squad at 6-7, and according to Casey, is an excellent shot blocker. Junior Monaghan saw a dramatic increase in playing time last year, but missed all of preseason with a foot injury. Holding court on the outside for one more year is co-captain Eric Ferris (Taunton, Mass.). The Colonels’ lone senior put together an outstanding season in 1998-99, and was rewarded with second-team All-CCC honors. Ferris averaged a healthy 16.8 points per game. He was often deadly-accurate from three-point range, making him one of the best long-distance shooters in the conference. Two second-year guards round out Casey’s starting quintet. Sophomore Will McCoy (Franklin, Mass.) took over at the point position during the team’s last 10 contests, and paced the squad in three-point field goal percentage (39.5) and free-throw percentage (75.7). "Will is a good outside shooter and is excellent in transition," says Casey. "But most importantly, his confidence is way up, and we expect him to have a big season." A big half-season is what Earl Pemberton (Mattapan, Mass.) put together in early 1999. The junior joined the squad at mid-season and wound up as a second-team All-CCC selection. Pemberton not only finished third on the team in points scored (189), he led the Colonels in assists (75), steals (55) and field goal percentage (55.0) over 19 games. Despite those accomplishments, Casey believes that Pemberton’s best is yet to come. "Earl does a little of everything -- including playing backup at the point," says the Curry mentor. "He’s easily our best defender, and probably our best athlete." Casey’s remaining backcourt players all have individual talents that will allow each to make contributions throughout the campaign. Tough defense is the trademark of sophomore Christian Mitchell (Medford, Mass.), while solid outside shooting is the strength of Alex Hernandez’s game. Hernandez (Lawrence, Mass.) -- who averaged 6.3 points per game as a member of Curry’s 1997-98 squad -- has been slowed during preseason by a nagging knee injury. Sophomore Pete Mazalewski (Sandown, N.H.) saw limited action last year, but considerable offseason work has elevated his game. Rounding out the roster is a foursome of freshman guards -- John Devlin (Wayland, Mass.), Keith Fredriksen (East Lyme, Conn.), Darius Garvin (Highland Park, N.J.) and Jeff Richards (Barrington, R.I.). Because of his size and athleticism, Casey sees Fredriksen as a notch or two above his classmates. The road to a CCC title could once again pass through Roger Williams, a team the Colonels lost to three times last February (including the tournament semifinals). Curry also plays one of its toughest non-conference schedules ever, with contests against two 1999 NCAA Tournament schools (Bridgewater State, Springfield College) and four of New England’s other top programs (Tufts, Coast Guard, St. Joseph’s and Plymouth State). The head coach’s overall season prognosis? "We’ll be better," says Casey, "but we’ve still got our work cut out for us." Mass-Dartmouth UMass Dartmouth finished fifth in the LEC last season with a 6-8 record before being eliminated from the conference tournament during the quarter final round by eventual champion Western Connecticut State University. With the memories of last season still in his mind, Baptiste hit the recruiting trails over the offseason and has come up with some new faces for this season. "I think we're going to have a very different type of team than we've had in the past," said Baptiste (320-109 overall). "Our goal is to play as fast as we have in the past, but do it with bigger bodies." UMass Dartmouth's returning starters from a year ago include a trio of juniors, 6-8 center Nick Cecilio (Centerville, MA), 6-2 shooting guard Marques Houtman (New Bedford, MA) and 5-10 point guard Jay Norton (Billerica, MA). With two of the three returners in the Corsair backcourt, Baptiste expects some solid play from his guards this season. In Norton (6.6 pts, 85 assists), UMass Dartmouth has an experienced player at the point, teaming with Houtman (8.8 pts, 2.24 reb), a player who demonstrated last season that he can get his share of points from anywhere on the floor. "Norton is a smart player and he knows exactly what I want on offense," Baptiste said. "Houtman has played well in the pre-season at his natural position, the shooting guard. He's an outstanding three-point shooter and thus far has been playing head and shoulders above everyone else. I think he's really going to shine this year." Up front Cecilio will be looking to return to the form which earned him Little East Conference Co-Rookie of the Year two seasons ago. Cecilio averaged 14.8 points per game as a sophomore last year, and was the Corsairs' top rebounder with 6.9 rebounds per game. His 56.9% field goal percentage was tops among the LEC, but Baptiste thinks Cecilio is ready to take the level of his game one step higher this year. "I'm seeing the same attitude in Nick that he had in his first year. He's playing as if he's got something to prove," said Baptiste, who will be joined on the bench by assistant coaches Len Desautels and Stefan Pagios. "He feels last year wasn't a great year for him and he wasn't happy with it. I'm very happy with his attitude and the fact that he has worked very hard to improve." Joining Cecilio on the UMass Dartmouth front lines will be a pair of newcomers who will give the Corsairs a very different look this year. Sophomore Ryan Cassidy (Framingham, MA) is a 6-7 sophomore transfer from Keene State College and freshman Brian Cagle (Norwich, CT), a 6-5 freshman from The Winchendon School, both bring size and strength to a Corsair lineup that has historically not had size in the frontcourt. "In the past we've played a small lineup with three guards because we had more skilled players at that position," said Baptiste. "At 6-7, Cassidy has proved he is the most aggressive player on the team and a strong rebounder. It's going to take a while for him to adjust to things, but right now he is a plus on the floor because of his aggressiveness. Cagle can play inside in the post and is an extremely good rebounder. He handles the ball like a guard and can hit the three-pointer." In addition to Cassidy and Cagle in the starting lineup, Baptiste is confident he can get some significant contributions from several others coming off the bench. In freshman Tim Gaspar (Dartmouth, MA), Baptiste has another true point guard who throughout the preseason was very close to breaking into the starting lineup. Senior captain Tim Ladley (Pittsfield, MA) is a three-point shooter who will see action behind Houtman as the two guard spot along with junior Craig Sullivan (Arlington, MA). Backing up the starting front line, 6-6 sophomore Carl Stephens (Lynn, MA), 6-2 junior Frank Barrows (Dartmouth, MA) are entering their second season with the Corsairs, both looking to add more playing time from last year. Barrows will probably split time with Cagle and give the Corsairs some valuable rebounding and defensive play. Another newcomer, 6-4 freshman Ryan Suprenant (Madison, CT), has been injured during the preseason, but could be a player who makes an impact as the season progresses. Baptiste describes Suprenant has an aggressive, fundamentally sound post player who could give Cecilio a rest when needed. When he's healthy, Baptiste hopes to find time for Suprenant in the post to give the Corsairs an event stronger front line. Adam Rogers (Marion, MA), a 6-5 red-shirt sophomore and freshman Sean Walsh (E. Sandwich, MA), a 6-7 freshman will have to work hard to find some playing time. The Corsairs will be part of a scramble at the top of the Little East Conference during a transition season in the eight-team conference. With all six of last year's First Team All-Stars having graduated, including UMass Dartmouth guard Jason Antonio, the Corsairs' leading scorer from a year ago, the LEC appears to be wide opens this season. "This is going to be a transition year in the LEC," said Baptiste. "All three of last year's top teams have lost key players and hopefully we can do a better job with our stronger lineup this year." During his 16 seasons, Baptiste's teams have qualified for postseason play 13 times, including 10 NCAA Tournament invitations. Under Baptiste's guidance, the Corsairs have captured 10 LEC regular season and nine postseason playoff championships in the conference's 11-year history. Baptiste has always been a believer in solid play up front to free up the three-point shooting. With the addition of Cagle and Cassidy to join Cecilio and an experienced back court in Houtman and Norton, Baptiste feels like he's got the Corsairs position to be right back in the race for the top spot in the LEC and another invitation to the NCAA Tournament. Springfield Heading the list of returnees are 6-3 senior guard Randy Alexander (Tuckahoe, NY/Tuckahoe High School) and 6-3 sophomore forward Michael Parker (Kingston, NY/Kingston High School). Alexander, a NEWMAC All-Conference selection, was second on the team in scoring last year with a 14.1 average. He has 1,071 career points. Parker was the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year after averaging 11.6 points and 7.3 rebounds. He also shot 47.5% from the field. Challenging for the other starting assignments are 5-10 senior point guard Gerard Coles (Monroe, CT/Masuk High School), 6-2 junior forward Lydell Capers (New York, NY/Bath School, ME), 6'8" junior center Nolan Hendren (Stratford, CT/Stratford High School), and 6'6" junior forward/center Mike Shaughnessy (Lowell, MA/Lawrence Catholic Central High School). Capers played in all 27 games last year averaging 5.6 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 55.8% from the field. Shaughnessy averaged six points in his first 10 games before missing the remainder of the season with an injury. Cole averaged 2.3 points in 23 games (seven starts) and made the All-Tournament Team at the Eastern Connecticut Invitational. Hendren saw limited action in 12 contests. Brock also returns a pair of promising sophomores, 6-4 forward Keith Arnold (Orleans, MA/Nauset Regional High School) who averaged 2.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 20 games (three starts) and 6-1 guard John Gleason (Northampton, MA/Northampton High School) who averaged 6.2 points in 24 contests. Six freshmen join the varsity squad, guards Eddie Cole (Kensington, CT/ Middletown Xavier High School), Jonathan Trant (Providence, RI/Bishop Hendricken High School), and David White (Medford, MA/Medford High School), and forwards Adetokunbo Adewuyi (Providence, RI/Mt. Pleasant High School), Dyshawn Thames (Manchester, CT/Manchester High School), and Kamor Yussuf (Providence, RI/Classical High School). "We will have a young, talented, and versatile Pride team this season," said Brock. "Randy Alexander, Lydell Capers, Mike Shaughnessy, and Michael Parker return as the team’s emotional and statistical leaders. An excellent supporting cast and highly-touted class of newcomers are expected to keep the program moving in the right direction. "The upcoming season hinges on a young team maturing quickly as the Pride opens with four road games while preparing for a tough conference schedule." Springfield will play road games against Western New England College on November 23 and Curry College of November 30 before opening its home season against Tufts University on December 2. The Pride also will entertain Connecticut College on December 9 in its final game before exams. Springfield will host the 13th annual Springfield Holiday-Inn Naismith Classic on January 4-5, 2000, with Eastern Connecticut, Salve Regina, and Trinity visiting "The Birthplace of Basketball." Springfield's all-time record (90 seasons since 1906) is 1,184-759 for a 60.9 winning percentage. Since joining the Division III ranks in 1995, the Pride has a 89-21 mark (80.9%). Wentworth Leading the charge for the Leopards will be senior forward Sterling Marshall (Brockton, Mass.), the 1999 CCC Co-Player of the Year, who was also a first team All-ECAC and All-NABC Northeast selection during his junior season. Marshall averaged 21.5 points and 9.0 rebounds, while shooting just under 50 percent from the floor. Marshall has 1,411 career points and has a shot to be the school's first 2,000-point scorer. Returning to the frontcourt will be junior Eric Witschel (Tel Aviv, Israel), who hopes to have another solid season. A year ago, he averaged 5.6 ppg and 5.0 rpg. The backcourt tandem of seniors Kenny Bascomb (Medford, Mass.) and Kevin Hanlon (Dedham, Mass.) return for their senior season. These two have started all 83 games during their careers and look to continue their fine play of their first two seasons. Bascomb, a first team All-CCC selection a year ago, averaged 9.5 ppg and 6.2 assists. Hanlon, a Third Team GTE/CoSIDA® Academic All-American as a junior, averaged 12.0 ppg and was tops on the team with 59 three-pointers made. During the team's final three games, he averaged 25.7 ppg, including a career-high 29 in the CCC semifinals. In that game, he set a school record with eight three-pointers. Sixth-year head coach Harry McShane has a talented recruiting class as well. Junior Dan Cartwright (East Brunswick, N.J.), a transfer from Middlesex County Community College, should fit in as a swing man, while guards Earl Faulk (Mattapan, Mass.), Stephan Osborne (Capital Heights, Md.), and Gary Boussicaut (Randolph, Mass.) add to the mix as well. Over the last four years, Wentworth has posted a 78-32 (.709) record which includes two 20-win seasons (1997, 1998), three berths in the CCC Championship game (1996, 1997, 1998), two CCC Championships (1997, 1998), a berth in the NCAA tournament (1997) and a berth in the ECAC Tournament (1998). Prior to the 1995-96 season, Wentworth had never won more than 12 games in a season. In addition to the 11-game CCC schedule, the Leopards are playing in two in-season tournaments--the Eastern Connecticut State Tournament (Eastern Conn., Westfield State, and Staten Island, and the Las Vegas Desert Classic (Catholic, Alvernia, Wilmington)--and are playing non-league foes Babson, MIT, Springfield, Coast Guard, Suffolk, WPI, Tufts, and Newbury. The Leopards open the 1999-2000 season on Friday, November 19 against Eastern Connecticut. Connecticut College While last seasons march to the final four might have surprised some, the Camels' 85-20 record over the last four seasons ranks them among the elite programs in Division III. Connecticut College has also compiled an impressive .848 winning percentage over the last three seasons which is tops in the NESCAC. Leading the returnees for the Camels in 1999-2000 will be junior guard/forward Kareem Tatum (Worcester, Mass.) and sophomore guard Mizan Ayers (Bronx, N.Y.). Tatum, a two-time All-NESCAC Second Team performer and an All-America candidate, has averaged 14.2 points per game over his first two seasons. Ayers staked his claim to the starting point guard spot in the fourth game of the season and never looked back averaging 7.5 points and 3.5 assists per game while earning NESCAC Rookie of the Year honors. Seniors Jason Ashur (Northeast Harbor, Maine) and Bill Bassett (Arvada, Colo.), junior Aaron Taylor (Hackensack, N.J.), an All-NESCAC Defensive Team performer a year ago, and sophomore Vaidais Nutautas (Kaunas, Lithuania) give the Camels additional talent and depth in the backcourt. Up front, sophomore Rich Futia (Greenwich, Conn.) could play an even more prominent role this season. Futia averaged 15 minutes a game off the bench, shot 54% from the field, and earned NESCAC Rookie of the Week honors twice. The return of juniors Tope Adekanbi (Hackensack, N.J.) and Jason Shea (West Haven, Conn.) gives the Camels experience, athleticism, and size down low. This season's freshman class could rank as among the best in the history of the program. Kevin Herrington (Everett, MA), Ali Rahman (New York, N.Y.), Aubrey Hodges (Bronx, N.Y.), Joe Tremblay (Lebanon, Conn.), and Michael Strangfeld (Hopkinton, Mass.) could all make an immediate impact this season. |
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