Trailblazers Men's Basketball Seeking Redemption
The 2013-14 season for the MCLA Men's basketball team was full of expectations, but the preseason #1 fell short in results.
North Adams, MA- The 2013-14 season for the MCLA Men's Basketball team was full of expectations, but the preseason #1 fell short in results. The 2014-15 team looks to put that underachieving season behind them and put themselves in a position to again contend for a league title.
"We have put a lot of emphasis on defense and execution on both sides of the floor so far in camp. We need to do a better job taking care of the ball and getting quality shots on the offensive end. Defensively we need the players to buy into the team concept. That was the foundation that got us to the MASCAC championship and we lost that last season. We need to get that back and that is the focus." said MCLA coach Jamie Morrison.
The Trailblazers allowed MASCAC opponents to shoot 46% from the field last year, up from just 39% the season before.
The Trailblazers heart and soul are a pair of senior guards, neither bigger than 5'7". Ruben Delrosario averaged just under 10ppg and shot 49% from the field as he started 25 games last year at point guard. He also carried an assist to turnover ratio of 2:1 during the season and almost 3:1 in conference play. His counterpart for the past two seasons has beenAnthony Barbosa. Barbosa has been a change of pace guard whose strength is his ability to push our transition game and to defend for 94 feet. Barbosa plays big in the biggest games and when on gives the team the emotional edge it needs.
2013 MASCAC Rookie of the Year Paul Maurice was also a big contributor from 2013 and like the rest of the team, looks to rebound from a tough regular season last year. Maurice struggled early with injuries and consistency, but rebounded in the postseason. Maurice averaged 21ppg in a quarterfinal win at Westfield and an 82-76 semifinal loss at Salem State. Maurice was a blistering 11-19 from downtown in those two games and will look to be a perimeter threat again for the Trailblazers in 14-15.
Sophomore Careem Kirksey is another guard with returning experience. Kirksey is expected to play a larger role on the team and his improved play will be pivotal in providing MCLA a deep backcourt. Joshwa Hall also looks to contribute on the defensive end.
Seniors Tyriq Rochester and Todd Hunt return in the frontcourt. Hunt averaged almost 8ppg in conference play and has the ability to play a stretch forward position and also runs the floor and rebounds well. Rochester was a bit rusty when he returned in the spring after taking the previous year off. Rochester is an experienced player who was a contributing freshman in 2010-11 when MCLA won 17 games and advanced to the ECAC semifinals. Senior Kraig Pageis another versatile wing who should help.
Two newcomers expect to make a big impact up front as well. Center Adam Conquest and forward/guard Khalil Paul should bring both scoring and rebounding to the team. Paul is a tough match-up who can play both inside and out, while Conquest has a nice face-up game and gives the Trailblazers a low-post presence. MCLA hopes to get contributions at center; especially on the defensive end from sophomore Isshiah Coleman and newcomer Dakari Hannah-Wornum. The frontcourt will have a chance to get deeper in the spring when the Trailblazers expect to get Kenny Suggs back as well. Suggs was part of the two-headed tandem at center with Richard Johnson on the 2012-13 team that reached the finals. Suggs averaged 6ppg and 5.5 rpg in fifteen minutes a game.
MCLA will again play a tough non-conference schedule with Castleton State, Williams, NYU, Wesleyan, WPI and Trinity all appearing on the schedule. NYU and Wesleyan will travel to North Adams in the first semester. The Trailblazers will open the season against Maine Fort-Kent this Saturday at 1:00pm.