The Observer, November 17, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 11
Men's basketball season starts with Medaille
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College athletic programs continually strive to replace talented graduating players. Case's basketball program has a tough task ahead of it after losing all-time points leader Carson Oren as well as Funso Lafe, who was named second-team All-UAA and averaged over 15 points in his three-year career with the Spartans. Still, coach Sean McDonnell does not expect this to be a rebuilding year.
"We have a good core of returning players. Replacing people is a part of college athletics," he said. Among this group are co-captains Matt Cannan, a four-year starting forward, and Brandon Bradford, a junior point guard.
"Brandon is our most important perimeter player," McDonnell said. "He'll also have to shoulder the most minutes. He will have to stay out of foul trouble for us to be successful."
Another player critical to the Spartans' success this year is junior center Mason Conrad.
"Mason is our best offensive player. We need him to perform like a first-team All-UAA player this year," McDonnell said. Conrad was named honorable mention All-UAA in his freshman and sophomore years. Other returning players include Steve Young, the starting two-guard, who had a 43.6 percent three-point shooting percentage in his freshman year, and senior Quinton Mathis. The Spartans will have to do without sophomore forward Brad Sutton, who is out for the year with a torn ACL. There are also six freshmen on the Case squad.
"They'll all have a chance to contribute," McDonnell said.
Another new player is 6-8 center Rob Skuski, a junior, who McDonnell expects to be a solid compliment to starting center Mason Conrad.
"He'll bring some upperclassman savvy and he's a great interior defender."
McDonnell believes this group of players has many strengths.
"We have a good core of returning players, a big front court which will allow us to have good defense inside," he said. "We also have a tough group of players."
Still, there are also areas for concern.
"Our bench is talented but extremely inexperienced, and I worry about our decision making on both offense and defense."
Case's conference, the UAA, is strong in basketball, evidenced by its teams winning 80 percent of their non-conference games last year. Coaches picked NYU to finish in first place this year.
"They have four outstanding seniors," said McDonnell of Case's rival from the Big Apple.
Two highlights of non-UAA action this year will be the Case Alumni Association Tip-off Tournament and the Bill Sudeck Holiday Tournament, named after the former basketball coach who served from 1954-2000.
McDonnell has a few goals for tonight's season opener.
"When we step on the court, no opponent plays harder, with greater energy than our team," he said. "I want the team to play together, share the ball, and play aggressively without making mistakes."
The Spartans will be facing Medaille to start the '06-'07 campaign.
"They have a new coach, so I don't know what to expect," said McDonnell. Medaille's James McNeal will present a challenge to the Spartans. McNeal averaged 24 points per game last year. "If he scores 24 points on us, we're going to have our hands full," said McDonnell.
