The men's basketball team is coming off of a strong 2004-2005 season, as the team compiled a 16-10 record, including an impressive 7-2 mark in NESCAC play. As the Jumbos look to put together a repeat performance this winter, the one question that begs to be answered is - can they do it again, this time without the help of 2005 graduate Reggie Stovell?
Stovell, a senior tri-captain and the team's go-to guy last season, led the Jumbos by far in both scoring, with 18.2 points per game, and rebounding, pulling down 10.2 boards per contest. He also logged more minutes than any other Jumbo forward with 28.2 per game.
In addition to being a captain and a front-runner in the stat book, Stovell made first-team All-NESCAC and was a recipient of the Outstanding Male Athlete honor at the university's Distinguished Achievement Awards held last month. Stovell's absence inevitably leaves gaps in the Jumbos' game plan.
At the forward positions, junior Brian Kumf and senior tri-captain Brian Fitzgerald will be relied upon to fill the starting lineup. Their reinforcement from the bench may not be as strong as it has been in recent years, however.
"We're not as deep up front as we were last year," Coach Bob Sheldon said. "Nobody new came in this year at forward."
As the post-Stovell era begins this Friday afternoon, all eyes will be on a pair of young, talented sophomores - Weitzen and Ryan O'Keefe - to fill the scoring void left by the sharp-shooting Stovell. Weitzen averaged 11.1 points per game in his freshman season, and O'Keefe was not far behind with 10.9.
For an inside presence, senior tri-captain and starting center Dan Martin will have to step up as the Jumbos' dominant big man. Martin finished second only to Stovell last year with 6.8 rebounds a game, and he led the team with 20 blocks. Without Stovell's presence in the paint, Martin will have to pick up the slack.
Sheldon is optimistic that his team has what it takes to fill Stovell's shoes on the court, but remarked on Stovell's leadership ability and off-court presence.
"We play nine or ten guys," he said. "When you break it down, it's just one extra rebound and two extra points from each guy. Mostly, what we'll miss is his leadership."
The team will turn to seniors Martin and Fitzgerald for that leadership in the 2005-06 season. This year's squad is young but talented, and if its rising stars can step up and fill the shoes of their departed leader, this could a productive winter for the men's basketball team.
