COLLEGE OF MOuNT ST. JOSEPH - MSJ Lions Athletics

2010-2011 Season OutlookFor the 2010-2011 season the men’s basketball team is going to have tofill some big shoes from the past season. The team lost four seniors whocontributed 62 percent of the Lions’ scoring in 2009-2010. Head CoachLarry Cox is confident in the talent level of the team but feels they willhave to “tweak a few things” in order to take advantage of the new talent.The Lions graduated First Team All-HCAC honoree Michael Romes aswell as Honorable Mention All-Conference players Travis Huffman and KyleMcCord. Mike Mechler, guard, was also lost to graduation. In all, the Lionswill have to replace almost 3,500 career points. Cox, while making someadjustments due to the heavy losses, will continue with his philosophy ofattacking the ball and attacking the rim.“My offense is going to be very similar, but we’ll emphasize different setplays than what we used a year ago,’’ Cox states. “I’m confident we’re goingto be a better shooting team and hopefully we’ll be able to put multipleplayers on the floor that will have the ability to shoot the ball so thedefense can’t key on one or two players.”For the season Coach Cox said he will be emphasizing to the team toestablish their own identity which starts with being physically and mentallytough, and competing hard for 40 minutes every game. Other areas thatwill be emphasized include, utilizing your defense to create your offense,improving full court pressure, rebounding more tenaciously at both ends,and taking better care of the ball.“You have to have players who will buy into the system,’’ Cox adds.“If they believe in each other then they will share the ball, they’ll put theteam first and understand it’s the name on the front of the jersey thatmatters, not the back.”The top returners the Lions will feature this season include lettermen:seniors Jordan Brown and John Valerius, as well as junior David Lane.“I want these guys to continue to improve, be a year better not just ayear older and to keep improving and expanding their game,’’ Cox says.Two potential key personnel additions are transfers Ben Haarman andMatt Wester, both of whom came from scholarship programs and usedlast year to practice with the team and learn the system. Both Westerand Haarman are seniors. Sophomores Alex Cole, Najeeb Abdur-Rahman,Aaron Barber, and Colin Smart will all be looked upon to make significantcontributions as well.“These guys have now graduated from being on the junior varsity teamto now being college varsity players and they’ll have some growing painsbut they also have the right blend of talent and toughness we’re lookingfor,” says Cox.Asked about any key games for the team this season Coach Cox says,“They are all key games, we have a very ambitious schedule, but thenon-conference games against Wilmington College and Thomas MoreCollege, both of whom are top-20 teams nationally, certainly stand out aswell as our exhibition game against NCAA Division II Northern KentuckyUniversity and a regular season game at Division I Ball State University.Of course all our games in the HCAC are key to us. There’s a reason theconference is considered one of the six power conferences in the nation,there is just so much parity and balance from top to bottom. I cannot thinkof another sport or conference where every team in the conference hasbeaten a top-20 team in the past five years!”For the overall season outlook the Lions are prepared and poised tochallenge in the HCAC, but it will come at a cost to achieve it.“You need to have a high degree of commitment and sacrifice if you wantto compete for the top spot in the HCAC,’’ states Cox. “I believe this teamwants to put the necessary time in both on and off the court in order tocompete at the highest level in the HCAC.”Mount senior forward John Valerius (50) battles for a rebound in 2009-2010 season action.2010-2011 MEN’S BASKETBALL GUIDE 11