SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – November 17, 2006 – The Springfield College men’s basketball team, under the direction of Head Coach Charlie Brock, will open its 2006-07 season tonight at the Brandeis Tip-Off Tournament in Waltham, Massachusetts.

The Brandeis Tip-Off promises to be a highly-competitive event. In the first game tonight at 6 pm, the host team, Brandeis University, will take on Newbury College of Brookline, Mass. In game #2 at 8 pm, Springfield College will take on Colby-Sawyer College of New London, N.H. The consolation game will take place tomorrow (Nov. 18) at 1 pm, while the championship game will take place at 3 pm.

SC’s overall record last year was 10-16. A losing record at SC is considered more of an aberration considering what has occurred in the past 11 years. The Pride has had eight winning seasons (just three on the debit side) since and including 1995-96.

SC did not play like a 10-16 team last season. Fourteen of its losses were by eight points or less, and in all of those losses, the Pride was within a handful of points -- or less -- within the final two minutes of play. The year was highlighted by a five-game win streak in late January and early February. In the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference, Springfield finished 5th with a 5-7 mark. SC then lost at Wheaton, 82-78, in a first-round NEWMAC playoff game to end its season.

If SC is to get back on the track, it will have to do so without 6-2 guard Derek Yvon of nearby East Longmeadow, the school’s all-time leading scorer. Yvon finished with 2,101 career points, breaking the record of 2,003 held by Hassan Robinson ’95. Yvon averaged an even 23.0 points per game a year ago to lead not only the team, but also the NEWMAC conference. He was named First Team All-NEWMAC for the third straight season, and All-Northeast Region by d3hoops.com for the second straight year.

Not only must Brock replace Yvon, he must also replace two other starters who graduated. They are forwards Mike DeCaeser and Brian Riley. DeCaeser averaged 11.7 points and 5.4 rebounds in an average of 32 minutes per game, while Riley averaged 8.3 points and a team-leading 6.7 rebounds in an average of 22 minutes of play. Another who will be missed is three-point sharpshooter Jim Mack, who averaged just 3.0 ppg, but shot .522 from beyond the 3-point arc.

With those four graduates no longer on the scene, Brock will be looking to count heavily on his two remaining starters, who will also serve as co-captains. They are 6-3 senior forward Damian Farley (Natick, Mass.), and 5-8 senior point-guard Anthony Pizzo (Clifton Park, N.Y.). Farley was last year’s third-leading scorer with his 10.7 ppg average. He was also the team’s second-leading rebounder at 6.3 per game. Farley shot .498 from the field, and .813 from the free throw line. Pizzo, not looked upon to score necessarily, averaged 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and a team-leading 5.2 assists. The feisty spark-plug will once again lead the team from his point position.

Another important returnee is 5-10 junior guard Jamaal Gibbs (Norwalk, Conn.), last year’s sixth man, who averaged 6.9 points while playing 24 minutes per game. The speedy Gibbs is expected to start this season. With Pizzo and Gibbs playing together, it will be like having two point-guards in the line-up at the same time.

SC will return three big men, none of whom saw a great amount of action last year. Of those three, certainly the most experienced is 6-7 junior forward Gregg Daly (Farmington, Conn.), who averaged 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game a year ago. Then there is the sophomore center/forward duo of 6-6 John Strawson (Torrington, Conn.) and 6-8 Zach Mitzan (Wilmington, Mass.). All three of the above will see plenty of playing time this season.

Dan White, a 5-10 sophomore from Troy, N.Y., will serve as a back-up point guard. White led the JV unit a year ago.

That leaves the four freshmen on this year’s roster, all of whom will see action, according to Brock. Pat Crean, considered a solid all-around player, is a 6-4 forward from Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. Crean is expected to start. In addition, there are three others who could contribute early on. They are 6-2 guard/forward Ryan Blackmon (Stamford, Conn.), 6-2 guard/forward Matt Petrides (Amherst, Mass.), and 6-3 guard Andy Covington (South Hadley, Mass.) – the latter two local products.

Brock is anxious to see how quickly this team can jell. Considering the fact that SC plays seven of its first 10 on the road, jelling would be crucial if the team is to have any post-season aspirations. With so many new faces, the best approach is to wait-and-see.

published: 11/17/2006