By Max Lederman
In Matthews Arena men are crashing the boards, but it’s not coming from the ice hockey team. The NU hoops team’s season is underway, as they lace up the A6’s and hit the hardwood.
The Huskies enters the 2002-2003 season with ten players from last year’s roster nowhere to be found. Whether it was graduation or transfers, the Huskies enter this season undermanned. With only six returning players, a list that includes Meshak Burke-Bennet, who was injured during the football season and is out indefinitely, the Huskies will look to a crop of young and athletic newcomers to help raise the team to the next level.
“We’ve got a lot of new faces,” said head coach Ron Everhart, whose Huskies went 7-21 overall and 5-11 in the conference last year. They finished the season tied for seventh place in the America East.
“Last year we lost nine games by three points or less,” said Everhart. “We had some bad bounces and tough luck.”
In only his second season at the helm, the head coach is optimistic that his team will improve. “[Sylbrin] Robinson and [Cornelius] Wright were hurt last year, and this year they’re ready to go,” said Everhart.
It may take some time for the team to mesh together. With so many young players the veterans will have to play a big role in their development. Returnees Aaron Davis, Jesse Dunn, Jamaar Walker, Robinson and Wright will provide veteran leadership that the team will need to compete this year.
“Last year we had a good group of guys who played every game down to the wire,” said Everhart. “The guys who are coming back are solid guys who went through the wars with us last year.”
The only senior on the team, point guard Walker, will be a great mentor for freshman point guard Jose Juan Barea, who has already been impressive in early exhibition games.
“Jose was the starting point guard on the junior national team for Puerto Rico, and the Miami Herald player of the year,” said Everhart of the young guard.
Another promising freshman is six-foot 10-inch center Gene Oliynyk. “Gene is strong, physical and really rebounds the basketball well. He improves everyday, especially offensively, and knows how to go get the ball off the boards,” added Everhart. “He is a crowd favorite because he tries to dunk everything.”
Another freshman to keep an eye on is shooting guard Adrian Martinez. “Adrian is a great competitor and tremendous perimeter jump shooter with a good work ethic. He’ll help us stretch out opponent defenses that will have to honor his long-range shot,” the coach said.
Two more guys who should make an impact this season are junior college transfers Adam Drain and Javorie Wilson.
“Javorie is a veteran type player that brings maturity, leadership and a great deal of toughness to our team. He provides our team with a lot of versatility because he can play at the three or four positions, giving us the ability to play big,” Everhart said. “Drain has a great basketball background and shoots the ball real well. He’s a very good defender and will provide a lot of help for us on the wing this year.”
To throw another curve at the team, Aaron Davis, the team’s leading scorer and an America East All-Rookie selection from a year ago who averaged 11.4 points per game, has re-injured his shoulder that he had to play with all of last season. “That’s going to make things tough for us,” Everhart said.
The wild card for the team, maybe not this season but next, is Miami transfer Marcus Barnes, who is sitting out this season due to NCAA transfer rules.
“Marcus is an explosive athlete that will have a tremendous impact on our perimeter game,” said Everhart of his transfer.
With a lot of young but talented players on the roster this year the season promises to be exciting. The Huskies begin the regular season on Friday, Nov. 22 at Matthews Arena.
