The 2001-02 edition of the men's basketball team will open its season today in a non-conference tournament at Swarthmore. Coach Bob Sheldon's squad, which won the ECAC Championship two years ago, is coming off a somewhat disappointing 15-9 campaign in which it failed to qualify for postseason action. This winter, aside from a new parquet floor, the Jumbos will feature some new faces in the lineup to go along with key veterans and a slightly altered game plan.
"I think its just going to be exciting to watch," Sheldon said. "We're going to fly up and down, fire the threes, and press a fair amount. It's going to be an up-tempo game. We had a scrimmage the other day and we took 43 threes."
Sophomore Phil Barlow's play specifically illuminated the contrast in style to last year's group. "It's definitely going to be a transition year," he said. "Last year, we dumped it in a lot, and this year we will be more on the perimeter, but we are still very confident."
With that in mind, here's a closer look at what to expect:
Backcourt
For the first time in three years, the Jumbos will start the season with a new floor general. 2001 NESCAC Rookie of the Year Barlow will anchor the backcourt this year, after splitting time with the graduated Bobby Mpuku at the point last winter. Barlow, who started eight games as a freshman, was the team's third leading scorer last year at 11.0 points per game (ppg), while also ranking second to Mpuku in both assists and steals.
"This year it's going to be a little bit different for Phil," Sheldon said. "This year, it's his team to run. Last year it was Bobby's team, and Phil knew that. But now it's his team."
Despite the big shoes he has to fill - Mpuku ranks sixth on Tufts' all time assist list and was renowned for his Jordan-esque ability to hit game-winning shots - the 5'11", 160-lb. Barlow remains confident.
"After a few games into the season, I was doing most of the point guard stuff," he said. "We have a lot of other guys who will be able to handle the ball well, so I don't feel too much pressure."
Two of the Jumbos' other skilled ball handlers, junior Brian Shapiro and junior transfer Mike McGlynn, will be joining Barlow in the starting backcourt as part of Sheldon's three-guard set. Shapiro, the 2000 NESCAC Rookie of the Year, is Tufts' leading returning scorer at 15.1 ppg, and also its most frequent three-point shooter. A year ago, he hoisted 157 threes and connected on 33.1 percent, fourth best on the team.
According to Sheldon, the 5'11" McGlynn, who transferred from Brandeis but did not play last season, can also do damage from the perimeter. "It's nice to have two guys that really light it up outside," Sheldon said. "And we're certainly not afraid to fire it up."
Also seeing time in the backcourt this year will be senior co-captain Bobby MacMannis, juniors Lee Neugebauer and Jim Wilson, and sophomore Erick Mack, who played jayvee last year.
"Jimmy Wilson's been playing great," Sheldon said. "He's going to have some real good confidence coming in."
MacMannis has seen sporadic minutes since his freshman year and represents an outside shooting threat, while Neugebauer and Wilson each saw their minutes rise as sophomores.
"Ball handling is our biggest strength," Sheldon said. "I think our guard play is going to the best around to be honest."
Frontcourt
Although they lost Fred Pedroletti, a key component of last year's inside game, to graduation, the Jumbos will return the other half of their frontcourt. Junior Kyle Van Natta shifts from the small forward to the power forward slot, after averaging five points and 3.4 rebounds per contest. The 6'5" Van Natta also showed that he can shoot from outside in his first season as a starter, hitting 33.3 percent of his three point attempts.Relieving Van Natta up front will be a trio of youngsters coming off the bench: sophomore Troy Palmer, who played jayvee last year, and a pair of freshman, Craig Coupe and Reggie Stoval. Despite his inexperience, Coupe (6'7", 225 lbs.) has the size and athleticism to make his impression felt early on.
Stoval is a bit smaller than Coupe at 6'5" and 215 lbs., but has still managed to hold his own in preseason workouts. Palmer does have some varsity experience under his belt, albeit limited, with nine points to his credit in 19 total minutes.
Even so, questions remain about the Jumbos' inside game. "Right now our biggest weaknesses lie in our rebounding and inside defense," Sheldon said. "But those are things that we can do as a team and get better as the season goes on. Then we'll make our run."
Center
Noticeably absent in the middle will be Dan Flaherty, an All-NESCAC selection and the team's leading scorer and rebounder a season ago who also graduated. Without Flaherty, the Jumbos will lack experience as well as the presence of a "go-to" guy down low."We don't have a big, go-to guy this year," Sheldon said. "But I think our go-to guys are gonna be Brian [Shapiro] and Mike [McGlynn] on the outside."
Flaherty's successor will be 6'5", 215-lb. Colin Wetherhill. Wetherhill averaged just under ten minutes a game last year in a reserve role, to go along with 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds.
"Colin's going to start at the five," Sheldon said. "But at 6'5", he's a bit undersized."
Coupe will also log minutes in the middle, and could eventually become the starter. "[Coupe] is more athletic than other centers we've had in the past which is a plus," Barlow said.
Coach/Intangibles
Sheldon is entering his 14th season on the Tufts sidelines, and is already the winningest coach in school history with a 202-120 career record. Since 1990, Sheldon has compiled a 183-98 mark, won an ECAC Championship and produced multiple All-Americans. In light of his recent success, though, Sheldon's goals remain modest for now."Right now it's just to work hard and come together as a team," he said. "That's our short term goal."
Despite the fact that there are only three seniors on the roster, leadership will not be a problem. Co-captains MacMannis and senior Bruce Reese are both four-year veterans of the program, who bring experience and leadership to the floor.
"They know their role on the team," Barlow said. "They both have great leadership skills and love the game."
