MEN'S BASKETBALL: 2009-2010 SEASON PREVIEW

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: YOUNG COUGARS READ FOR 2009-10 SEASON

UPCOMNING BASKETBALL GAMES

MEN'S BASKETBALL: 2009-2010 SEASON PREVIEW

With head coach Paul Phillips now in the fourth year of his second stint at Clark, and the return of eight of his top ten scorers from a season ago, all the pieces seem to be in place for the 2009-10 edition of Clark mens basketball to make its move towards the top of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference standings.

"We have high expectations this year," said Phillips. "I believe we can be very good. We have great leadership and the attitude has been the best it has been in years."

The Scarlet and White feature one of the best scoring combinations in the NEWMAC in senior lead guard Mark Alexander (Providence, R.I.) and sophomore sensation Brian Vayda (Sturbridge, Mass.). Alexander, a three-time, second team all-conference selection, has already eclipsed the 1,000-point mark and has led the team in scoring in each of his three seasons. An electrifying scorer who has 19 career games of 20 points or more, Alexander can get points on the perimeter or use his quickness to attack the lane and finish at the rim. In addition to his scoring prowess, he has developed into a top-notch distributor. Last season he finished second in the NEWMAC in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio.

Vayda, meanwhile, started every game last season and had an immediate impact. He reached double figures in 18 games and had four games with 20 or more points, finishing tenth in the league in points per game (12.4). Excellent on the glass, he recorded six double-doubles, including hauling in a career-high 15 to go along with 21 points in an upset win over nationally-ranked WPI. His rebound totals (7.3 per game) ranked him third in the NEWMAC and his scoring efficiency (.506 field goal percentage) was fourth-best. Not afraid to take the outside shot, Vayda was fourth on the team in made three-pointers (22) and played the passing lane as well, finishing second on the team in steals (38). After a freshman campaign that saw him collect NEWMAC and ECAC Rookie of the Year honors, much more will be expected of him during his sophomore season.

Senior Jack Minister (Manchester, England) could be a valuable asset of the bench in 2009-10. As a junior, he averaged 8.4 points per outing in less than 20 minutes per game. Despite playing less than half the game, Minister still finished ninth in the league in three-pointers made per contest (1.48) and led the Cougar attack with 37 made triples.

Another member of the Class of 2010, Chris LoPiano (Franklin Square, N.Y.) returns after a junior season in which he started 23 of the 26 Clark contests. An elite marksman, more than half of his shots last season came from behind the arc. After closing out the year with double figure outputs in two of the last three games in which he averaged 13.5 points and dropped in six three-pointers, LoPiano seems destined for a breakout season.

Additional perimeter players Slader Lyell (Portsmouth, R.I.), Reed Powell (Worcester, Mass.) and David Opp (Hudson, Mass.) will provide depth for a high-octane offense that ranked fourth in the NEWMAC in scoring 71.7 and was second in three-pointers attempted (629).

The development of a trio of sophomores will go a long way in the progress of the Cougars and replacing the 12.8 points and 6.0 rebounds now gone with the graduation of 1,000-point scorer Peter Normandin. Classmates Tom Desautels (Manchester, Conn.), Jonathan Phillips (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Mitch Renshaw (Rutland, Mass.) all saw playing time in their inaugural seasons and will be relied upon to produce in their second year. Desautels appeared in 25 games, making one start for the Cougars. A relentless worker on the interior, Desautels had five games with five rebounds or more in an average of just ten minutes per game. Phillips appeared in 20 contests as a freshman and in limited minutes still was able to connect on seven three pointers and hand out 12 assists. His ability to shoot the deep ball could open up the floor for teammates by drawing out interior defenders leaving the lane open. Renshaw, meanwhile, was beginning to emerge as legitimate threat for Clark before an injury ended his season after 14 games. Prior to that however, he was averaging 4.2 points and nearly three rebounds a game and showed some promise following a career-high 12-point, eight-rebound game against Anna Maria.

The arrival of freshman Tucker Esborn (New Haven, Conn.) could be an unexpected boon for the program. A versatile wing player with excellent size (6-5, 220) and strength, Esborn has the ability to handle the ball, attack the basket and make outside shots. As usual, the Cougars will play a daunting non-conference schedule. This year's slate features two teams ranked in the preseason top 25 according to various national polls (Salem State, No. 12, Brandeis No. 22) and another that advanced to the NCAA Tournament as well (Rhode Island College).

"We have five seniors and four sophomores who all have playing experience," said Phillips. "We are going to take one game at a time and try and prove something."

Anchored by a veteran cast of leaders, and a skilled group of playmakers, Clark's rise towards the upper echelon of the NEWMAC should continue.

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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: YOUNG COUGARS READ FOR 2009-10 SEASON

Youth. Now in her 26th season as the women's basketball coach at Clark University, Pat Glispin's 2009-10 squad is filled with it. Of the 14 members of this year's squad, ten are either freshmen or sophomores. With youth comes an exuberance and unbridled excitement that can permeate a team and carry it for stretches at a time. Good thing for the Cougars several of those sophomores saw extended playing time a season ago. Not to mention, captain Jillian Camilleri (Lancaster, Mass.) returns for her senior campaign. That combination could be one that carries a hungry group back to the top of the NEWMAC standings.

"We have a good mix of veteran and young players with talent across the board," said Glispin. "The key to our success will be how well they gel and work as a unit."

A fixture in the lineup since her freshman season, Camilleri will be relied on to provide leadership and scoring for Clark this season. She has career averages of 11 points and six rebounds and is closing in on her 1,000th career point. Not just a banger on the inside, she has shown the ability to hit the elbow jumper as well. She finished last season as one of only two players in the NEWMAC to rank in the top 15 in scoring (15th) and in the top five in both rebounding (4th) and field goal percentage (5th). Superb on the glass, she set a school-record with 24 caroms in a win over Smith a season ago when she averaged a career-best 9.1 boards a game.

The three other upperclassmen for the Cougars are lead guard Hannah Lacaire (East Brookfield, Mass.), Chloe Carden (Monmouth, N.J.) and Blaize Denfield (South Windsor, Conn.). Lacaire saw the most action of the trio, playing in 21 games a season ago, but her minutes were limited behind the now graduated Sara Hagstrom, who was second in the NEWMAC in minutes played. Carden and Denfield could provide valuable minutes off the bench.

Two of the aforementioned sophomores - Ivori Aiken (Harlem, N.Y.) and Kate Minister (Manchester, England) - started a combined 51 of 52 games as freshmen and gained tons of game-situation experience. Aiken, a versatile player, is the Cougars' most athletic with her ability to handle the ball and get into the lane and finish in traffic. She had 18 double figure scoring games in her first season, including three double-doubles.

Minister, meanwhile, started all 26 contests as a freshman and had several huge games. A shooter with deep range, she was seventh in the NEWMAC in three-point percentage (31 percent) and fourth in three-pointers made (1.73) a game. Not afraid to mix it up down low, Minister had a pair of double-doubles and was fourth in the league in blocked shots. When she gets rolling from behind the arc, she becomes hard to guard, evidenced by her nine games with three or more made three-pointers.

Second-year players Maggie Croft (East Aurora, N.Y.) and Michelle Chambers (Bronx, N.Y.) could both serve as key cogs to the team as the season progresses. Croft can be instant offense off the bench and likes to shoot the three-pointer - more than half of her shots as a freshman came from behind the arc. Chambers can run the offense from her point guard slot but is willing to take the open jumper or attack the rim in transition if the defense isn't set yet.

The arrival of six freshmen - headlined by 6-foot-1 Kelsey Giedymin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) - bodes well for the program. Giedymin should be able to immediately help the Cougars on the glass and provide some scoring inside. Another freshman who could help out on the interior is Brittany Kennedy (West Hartford, N.Y.). A bruiser on the post, she has soft hands and the ability to finish around the basket.

Guard Eleni Dixon (Wellesley, Mass.), who won a state title as a senior then spent a post graduate year at the Tilton School, brings a championship mentality amongst the newcomers and could see some minutes at the off guard spot. Kristen Haller (Commack, N.Y.) is another guard to be on the look out for who will handle the ball for Clark.

Two Worcester-area products - Kelsey Johnston (Shirley, Mass.) and Theresa Pickens (Worcester, Mass.) - also join the Cougar squad for 2009-10. Johnston is another player who can bring an interior toughness, while Pickens, who was the top scorer in Central Mass. as a senior, will look to spark the Cougars with scoring opportunities off the bench.

As usual, Clark has put together a daunting schedule which features a pair of teams in the preseason top 25 (Amherst (No. 2) and William Patterson (receiving votes) and two others (Eastern Connecticut, Babson) who advanced to the NCAA Tournament a season ago.

With an influx of major talent and the return of younger players with extended game experience coupled with a veteran presence, a return to the upper-echelon of the NEWMAC seems to be on the horizon.

"Every player has an important role on our team and each one's ability to recognize that will also be a big factor in our success," said Glispin.

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Upcoming Basketball Games

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The highlights for this newsletter are provided by
Kevin Anderson, Sports Information Director, 508-793-7164.
Email Kevin Anderson (Keanderson@clarku.edu)

Newsletter designed by Joe Brady (Head Women's Soccer Coach/Athletic Web Site Administrator)