2010 Season Preview
November 25, 2009
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Men's
| 2008-09 Record - Overall - Conference Location: Biddeford, ME Head Coach: Jason Mulligan (Olivet Nazarene '00) Gym (cap.): Campus Center (1200) Conference: CCC Region: Northeast Team Page |
Gone are first team all-conference selections Johnnie Jefferson and Jaykyri Simpson from that 24-5 squad, a duo that combined for nearly 28 points and 11 rebounds a contest in 2008-09. Also departed is steady point guard Steve Belmonte, a key cog in the Nor’easters’ surge over the last two seasons.
Third-year head coach Jason Mulligan recognizes the contributions of that departed group – one of the main challenges his team will face in the season ahead.
“It will be very difficult to replace those three seniors,” commented Mulligan. “They provided us leadership and a lot of talent. Our returnees will have to pick up the slack if we are going to repeat as TCCC champions.”
Mulligan still has a great deal of talent at his disposal. Leading the charges will be sophomore forward Quentin Thompson (Austin, Texas). Last season’s TCCC Rookie of the Year, Thompson averaged 11.8 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 35.8 percent from beyond the arc and accumulating 55 steals. A very versatile offensive player, he presents match-up problems for opposing defenses.
Another returning starter is sophomore guard Anthony Johnson (Austin, Texas). A gifted scorer, Johnson tallied 9.2 points per game on 54.9 percent shooting from the floor. Johnson had several big games last season, including a 27-point effort versus UMaine Fort Kent in the opening round of the Paul Bunyan Classic at Husson University.
Senior guard Marchale Robinson (Baton Rouge, La.) battled nagging injuries a year ago, but when healthy is a dynamic offensive player with long-range shooting ability. He saw action in 21 of 29 games in 2008-09, averaging seven points and shooting 38.3 percent from three-point land.
Another member of the Nor’easters who should play an important role is junior guard J.J. Roseman (Dallas, Texas). Roseman was limited to just 14 games a year ago but was the team’s fifth-leading scorer while shooting 37.9 percent from beyond the arc and 82.6 percent from the free throw line. His explosive athleticism fits UNE’s system perfectly.
One newcomer to watch is junior point guard Kadare Brown (Baton Rouge, La.). Brown was not in school last year after spending the previous two years at junior colleges (Hill CC and Laramie CC). His ability to penetrate and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates will be vital to the Nor’easters’ offense.
UNE will be tested early and often in what Mulligan describes as one of New England’s most difficult schedules. In November and December, the Nor’easters will play seven contests away from the friendly confines of Campus Center, where UNE went 14-2 a year ago. On the docket is a Nov. 20 date with No. 9 UMass Dartmouth, along with clashes with perennial powers WPI, Bowdoin and Colby. Mulligan hopes the rugged first-semester schedule will prepare the Nor’easters for the open of their TCCC schedule Jan. 9.
Once again, UNE will look to employ a frenetic pace to wear down its opponents.
“It will be no surprise that we will continue to be an uptempo team,” Mulligan said. “We will be smaller than just about every opponent on our schedule so it is essential we use our speed and quickness to combat opposing height and strength. We will need to apply a lot of pressure on defense and take advantage of mismatches on offense.”
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