Age is just a number for Mac's young team
Brandon Meawasige
Assistant Sports Editor
After finishing last season with a .500 record of 11-11, coach Amos Connolly and the Marauders enter the 2011 season with high hopes - and the talent to back it up.
This year’s roster will feature a mix of veteran leadership from players playing alongside arguably the strongest recruiting class in the country.
The Marauders made a splash last spring by bringing in five of the nation’s top-100 recruits: guards Adam Presutti, Joe Rocca and Aaron Redpath and forwards Nathan McCarthy and Brett Sanders.
With potential all-stars in Cam Michaud and Victor Raso returning, the Marauders have a nice combination of youth and depth, one that could form a contending team – if they can come together before the season’s end.
The long-term potential of these players is more or less a guaranteed positive. Whether they can adapt to the university level of play is the question that may dictate their fortune this year.
“We expect the older players to groom our young guys with the culture of expectation that we have here at McMaster basketball,” says Connolly. The Marauders will kick off their season on Friday at home against a perennial powerhouse in the defending national champion Carleton Ravens.
Sporting a pre-season record of 7-3, this season offers a bright outlook coming off a 2010-11 result that was perhaps disappointing given the high preseason expectations. Forward Scott Brittain, who transferred from Boston University and made an immediate impact on the team, was lost for the year with concussion problems and has moved full-time to the coaches’ side of the bench.
McMaster also struggled with a few close games last year - their record of 11-11 (16-16 including non-conference games) does not indicate that the Marauders were 5-7 in games decided by less than 5 points. An improvement on the winning percentage in those close games will play a pivotal roll in the success of this team.
“It has been in my head since the season ended,” Connolly admits of his team’s play in close games down the stretch.
Games decided by fewer than five points ar0 oftene controlled by disciplined and fundamental basketball that is typically the mark of veteran players. This year’s Marauder team will be expected to mature quickly in order to make the improvements necessary to contend.
“They’re getting thrown into a fire,” Connolly said of his team’s youngest members, adding that “youth cannot be used an excuse for poor performance.”
The 2011 season is going to see its fair share of ups and downs. However, if this team can quickly live up to its potential and develop chemistry on and off the court, they have the chance to surprise some people.
Tipping off at 8 p.m., Friday’s Carleton game will probably be the toughest test of the year. The Ravens went undefeated in the regular season last year, losing in the OUA final to Lakehead before turning in a masterpiece performance to win the CIS Championship.
While it will be a tough test, Friday’s game will provide a brief glimpse of the level of play to be expected from the Marauders this season.
Richard Zazulak
