2008 Woodie Awards
Which basketball team will have a better year?
The Biz says the men's team is the better unit
Dave Bartlett
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: Sports
Transitioning from the collegiate fall sports season to the doldrums of winter can be a drag. Unless, that is, you go to a school with a quality basketball program.
And, as far as Division III programs go, Emerson has lucked out. This college has a top-notch hoops team.
And yes, I'm being completely serious.
The men's basketball team made it to the conference finals last season, coming up just short 69-60 in the last game against Norwich.
Before anyone starts saying that the loss of six seniors will be too much for the team to overcome, sit back and take a look at the foundation this program has to build from.
First, the fact that Head Coach Hank Smith has made Emerson into a perennial contender must be noted. Smith is entering his 13th season as a coach with Emerson's program and won the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) titles in 1997-98 and 1998-99. Smith is a hard worker who puts in countless hours with the team so that they won't underachieve under any circumstances. And, with the amount of talent on this squad, they'll be hard-pressed to fail.
Returning seniors Steve Georgoulis and William "Jay" O'Connell will provide leadership for a team that is admittedly young, though talented. Georgoulis was an All-Star last season in the Greater Northeast Atlantic Conference, and O'Connell is a stabilizing and charismatic force both on and off the court.
Moreover, junior Alfredo Tovar should be ready to step his game up a notch and continue to develop into a key contributor for the team.
But, perhaps the biggest factor to a successful championship run this season will be the dynamic game provided by sophomore Will Dawkins, a player whose star is truly rising in the GNAC. There will be many nights when Dawkins will quite simply be the best player on the court.
Though the Lions will certainly not be as dependent on seniors as they were last year, the contributions made by the whole team will have to compensate for lost players.
Smith, through sheer tenacity, has the ability to unite his players toward a common goal; namely, that of a championship.
These guys play hard for him, especially with everyone working toward the same goal.
A solid overall game, a potential explosive young player and a coach with unparalleled drive will ensure that the men's basketball team will be the wonder of the winter.
And, as far as Division III programs go, Emerson has lucked out. This college has a top-notch hoops team.
And yes, I'm being completely serious.
The men's basketball team made it to the conference finals last season, coming up just short 69-60 in the last game against Norwich.
Before anyone starts saying that the loss of six seniors will be too much for the team to overcome, sit back and take a look at the foundation this program has to build from.
First, the fact that Head Coach Hank Smith has made Emerson into a perennial contender must be noted. Smith is entering his 13th season as a coach with Emerson's program and won the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) titles in 1997-98 and 1998-99. Smith is a hard worker who puts in countless hours with the team so that they won't underachieve under any circumstances. And, with the amount of talent on this squad, they'll be hard-pressed to fail.
Returning seniors Steve Georgoulis and William "Jay" O'Connell will provide leadership for a team that is admittedly young, though talented. Georgoulis was an All-Star last season in the Greater Northeast Atlantic Conference, and O'Connell is a stabilizing and charismatic force both on and off the court.
Moreover, junior Alfredo Tovar should be ready to step his game up a notch and continue to develop into a key contributor for the team.
But, perhaps the biggest factor to a successful championship run this season will be the dynamic game provided by sophomore Will Dawkins, a player whose star is truly rising in the GNAC. There will be many nights when Dawkins will quite simply be the best player on the court.
Though the Lions will certainly not be as dependent on seniors as they were last year, the contributions made by the whole team will have to compensate for lost players.
Smith, through sheer tenacity, has the ability to unite his players toward a common goal; namely, that of a championship.
These guys play hard for him, especially with everyone working toward the same goal.
A solid overall game, a potential explosive young player and a coach with unparalleled drive will ensure that the men's basketball team will be the wonder of the winter.
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