2008 Woodie Awards
Men's basketball on the rebound
After last season, team tries to bounce back after losing six seniors and defeat in GNAC finals against Norwich
Justin DeMarco
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: Sports
Despite losing six seniors, the Emerson College men's basketball team has great expectations for the coming season.
Senior William "Jay" O'Connell said the squad hopes to accomplish what it did last year in qualifying for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship, and then some.
"Our goal is to win the GNAC tournament and win the NCAA tournament," O'Connell said.
Junior Alfredo Tovar agrees with his teammate's high expectations this season.
"I think he's right," Tovar said. "He expects a lot out of us ... We shouldn't expect anything less than winning the championship. Anything less would be disappointing."
Sophomore Will Dawkins said he is anticipating that the Lions will have a good year because of a different offensive scheme.
"Last year, being my first year here, we made it to the conference finals but came [up] short," Dawkins said. "This year we have a different offense that features our better players. We are expecting success just like last year."
As far as losing six seniors, Tovar said that should not be a concern because three of the five leading scorers from last year are still playing.
"We have the core three players back," Tovar said. "We have a good team so we should be able to go back to the championship."
Winning the title may be difficult, however, since the team has lost so many players. Head Coach Hank Smith said that there was "a lot of change and turnover" this year.
When asked if this season would be a rebuilding year, Smith said, "I don't know anything about rebuilding. We're going to play with the guys we have and we'll do fine."
Smith said he expects breakout years from Dawkins and Tovar.
"I think Will Dawkins and Alfredo Tovar will step it up a notch," he said. He went on to say he anticipates another great season from Steve Georgoulis, who was selected to the GNAC All-Conference first team last year. Georgoulis was the fourth-leading scorer in the conference, averaging 17 points per game.
Senior William "Jay" O'Connell said the squad hopes to accomplish what it did last year in qualifying for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship, and then some.
"Our goal is to win the GNAC tournament and win the NCAA tournament," O'Connell said.
Junior Alfredo Tovar agrees with his teammate's high expectations this season.
"I think he's right," Tovar said. "He expects a lot out of us ... We shouldn't expect anything less than winning the championship. Anything less would be disappointing."
Sophomore Will Dawkins said he is anticipating that the Lions will have a good year because of a different offensive scheme.
"Last year, being my first year here, we made it to the conference finals but came [up] short," Dawkins said. "This year we have a different offense that features our better players. We are expecting success just like last year."
As far as losing six seniors, Tovar said that should not be a concern because three of the five leading scorers from last year are still playing.
"We have the core three players back," Tovar said. "We have a good team so we should be able to go back to the championship."
Winning the title may be difficult, however, since the team has lost so many players. Head Coach Hank Smith said that there was "a lot of change and turnover" this year.
When asked if this season would be a rebuilding year, Smith said, "I don't know anything about rebuilding. We're going to play with the guys we have and we'll do fine."
Smith said he expects breakout years from Dawkins and Tovar.
"I think Will Dawkins and Alfredo Tovar will step it up a notch," he said. He went on to say he anticipates another great season from Steve Georgoulis, who was selected to the GNAC All-Conference first team last year. Georgoulis was the fourth-leading scorer in the conference, averaging 17 points per game.
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