Men's Basketball
2007-08 Season Preview
The Clark University men’s basketball team enters the 2007-08 campaign with one clear goal in mind – overachieve. Although the Cougars finished the year with an 11-14 (5-7 NEWMAC) mark and return just eight players and two starters, the team has high hopes for the upcoming season.
One of the biggest challenges for head coach Paul W. Phillips will be blending the talents of five newcomers with the veteran players, including three seniors. “We want to give the seniors their first winning season in four years,” said the tenth-year head coach. “It would be a nice compliment to the guys who have worked hard throughout their career if we could achieve an above .500 record and advance to a postseason tournament. Hopefully, the seniors will be apart of something special; that’s getting back to winning ways.”
The backcourt – where there is no shortage of talent – will aid in that effort. Headlining the list of returnees are seniors D.J. Brinn and Pat Ochoa. Brinn, a co-captain, will take over as the team’s starting point guard, while Ochoa, a tenacious defender, is expected to give the squad an offensive boost at the two spot. Gunnar Hagstrom will also be in the mix. The graduate student and consummate team-player will provide veteran presence and a pass-first mentality. Coach Phillips can also tap the talents of newcomer Chris LoPiano, a quick point guard from Merrimack College, and a pair of smart, physical freshmen in Chris Vitulano and Ben Kosinski. Freshman Kyle Bean rounds out the list of backcourt candidates.
NEWMAC All-Star Mark Alexander (13.5 ppg) leads the list of returning forwards. The team’s top returning scorer is a multifaceted player who can handle and distribute the ball, drive to the hoop or pull up for the jumper. Alexander, who will also be utilized as a combo guard, will be joined by senior Pat Landers, junior Sal DeMarco and sophomore Slader Lyell. Landers is a power forward with all of the skills to make an impact, while DeMarco and Lyell will contribute inside and on the perimeter, respectively. Sophomore transfer Jack Minister’s size and three-point range also makes him a viable frontcourt option. Coach Phillips is counting on junior Peter Normandin (11.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg) for production in the middle. Normandin, who will also serve as captain, is a mobile big man who will be a force on the boards.
Playing in a conference that is stacked with talent from top to bottom, Clark, whose last NCAA tournament berth was in 2003-04, will have to defend their right to return to postseason play.
“We have a tough schedule,” said Phillips. “We’ll play in a strong tournament in Tempe, Ariz., over the winter break, and then go right into our conference slate, where one of our goals is to finish higher than fourth.”
“It won’t be easy,” he said, “but we are teaching our team to over-achieve, be more defensively-minded, and start gaining respect back, first and foremost, in our own backyard in Worcester, our league and then in New England.”
About the Program
The men’s basketball team has a long and impressive tradition at Clark. Making 15 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, including an unprecedented 11 consecutive trips from 1977 to 1988 and three straight in 2001, 2002 and 2003, the Cougars have established themselves as one of the top teams at both the regional and national level. One of two New England men’s basketball squads to play in an NCAA National Championship game twice (1984, 1987), Clark has also advanced to the Elite Eight round two times (2001, 2002).
Coach Paul W. Phillips was at the helm during those NCAA runs (1998-2002) and returns to guide the Cougars back to regional and national prominence. In his first stint at Clark (1996-2004), he led the squad to an impressive 140-76 record and four NEWMAC Championships (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003) in the eight-year history of the conference. In the last 25 years, the Cougars have earned a remarkable 429-260 record and produced 10 20-win seasons.
The men's basketball team has had six All-Americans including Kevin Clark '81 (3x), Kermit Sharp '88 (2x), Jason Qua '90 (2x) and, most recently, Sean Fleming '03.
For more information about Clark University Men's Basketball, please contact head coach Paul Phillips
at (508) 793-7430 or by email at pphillips@clarku.edu
|
 |
|
Varsity Sports Quick Links:
|
|
|
|
Additional Resources
|
|
|
|
