Berkshire Eagle: "Trailblazer Men rebuilding with hopes for a promising season"
Check out the feature from the Berkshire Eagle written by Howard Herman focusing on the MCLA Men's Basketball program and their difficult schedule
Berkshire Eagle- "Trailblazer Men rebuilding with hopes for a promising season"
By Howard Herman
NORTH ADAMS, MA-- When putting together his non-conference slate, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts men's basketball coach Jamie Morrison believes in the old John Chaney-John Calipari scheduling model. For the Trailblazers, it's anyone, anytime and anyplace.
"It's great for us," MCLA forward Adam Conquest said. "Getting that kind of competition and getting that exposure to great talent is only going to help us when we get to conference play.
"I think it'll definitely pay off in [MASCAC]."
Morrison, once again, has put together another challenging non-conference schedule for the Trailblazers, who went into the Thanksgiving break with a 1-2 record.
After winning their opener, the Trailblazers lost on the road at Castleton State and then on the road at Williams. The 82-71 loss to the Ephs was the closest MCLA has come to beating its county rivals since 2001. The Trailblazers come back after the holiday to play New York University on Saturday at home.
MCLA has a 11-game non-league slate before opening conference play on Jan. 8 against Bridgewater State, the defending MASCAC conference champions and the preseason pick to win the league in 2014-15. MCLA is picked fifth in the preseason poll.
For good measure, Morrison's 11-game "preseason" schedule includes at least five teams with winning records, three postseason tournament teams from last year and one — in rival Williams — that went to the NCAA Division III championship game.
The Trailblazers will also be in a pair of tournaments, the Tri-State Shootout on Dec. 5 and 6, and the Trinity Holiday Invitational on Dec. 30-31.
"It a good learning experience for our team," MCLA forward Tyriq Rochester said. "For all of us, the younger guys and the older guys, it's a good experience to learn and get better. Our schedule doesn't get any easier, but we feel like we can compete with anyone on our schedule."
Rochester played in only 15 games for MCLA last year, but has averaged nearly 25 minutes in three games this year.
"I didn't play the whole season last year, so it's a new team and different from when I played before," he said. "I'm liking it."
Last year, the Trailblazers went 2-9 during a typically difficult non-conference slate and went 7-8 in MASCAC play to finish 9-17. That was a bit of a disappointment coming off the previous season where MCLA made it to the MASCAC title game before losing to Fitchburg State.
Now, Morrison and assistants Tony Skiffington and Vermon Cross, have a new and they hope improved squad of Trailblazers.
"This team this year, we have more weapons offensively," said point guard Ruben Delrosario. "I think we mesh more. We have a little bit more chemistry. We have a lot of guys who can put the ball in the hoop and defend the ball as well."
This year's MCLA team has more size than last year's team. Last year, Morrison could only roll out four players 6-foot-4 or taller. This year, he has six. That includes three starters against Williams — 6-foot-4 4 Khalil Paul from Troy, N.Y., 6-5 Adam Conquest and 6-5 Rochester. The size off the bench includes sophomore Dakari Hannah-Wornum from Boston, who stands 6-7.
"It's actually a lot easier for me," said Delrosario, who is currently the MASCAC leader in assists. "I can get guys quick in the offense and I can get them the ball and go to work."
Morrison changed the offense around with his newfound size, and the 5-7 Delrosario said the adjustment has not been tough.
"Coach changed things around a lot. He wants me to try to get into the paint more, try to penetrate and look more for the guys," the senior guard from Springfield said. "That's actually what I like doing. It makes my job a whole lot easier to dish it to these guys and they finish around the rim."
One of the Trailblazers' top scorers is in his first year on campus. Conquest played two years ago for a Gardner High School team that lost in the Central Massachusetts Division II final. He spent last year playing at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester before transferring to MCLA.
"We're still adjusting. We're still jelling as a unit," he said. "We have a lot of new guys. Our seniors are doing a good job of keeping us focused and keeping us on task in practice and in games. We'll just look to keep getting better every day."