SPORTS
12
WWW.GUILFORDlAN.COM
Men’s basketball season heats up the court
BY NICOLE BARNARD
Staff Warrcit
Shoulders shining with sweat, Guilford's
men's basketball team scrambles after the ball.
Noise echoes off the walls, and players pass
effortlessly. Someone shoots and ... does the
ball go in?
You will have to see for yourself.
"I believe they will be challenging to play,
come tournament time," said junior Ryan
Phillips, student assistant women's basketball
coach.
"We have a very good combination of yoimg
players and veterans," said Athletic Director
and head basketball coach Tom Palombo. "As
we move forward ... they will get better... we
will play several freshmen."
Pdombo does not exactly have a choice,
considering the team is mostly first-years.
Will this affect the team?
Rookie coach Drew Scott does not think so.
"If they make it an excuse, it'll be an excuse,"
said Scott. "But we have talented freshman.
'They're going to make some normal
freshman mistakes, but they're also going to
do some things that they do well."
Senior forward Jake Hopkins added to
Scott's argument, along with junior guard
Matt McCarthy.
'The freshmen we have are well developed
and very athletic," said Hopkins.
McCarthy concluded, "We are going to be
relying on fi^hman to really help us out this
year.
"We have a really talented freshman dass."
In spite of the number of first-years, the team
was ranked fourth in Old Dominion Athletic
Conference preseason polls, due in large part
to returning starters, McCarthy and Hopkins.
"We learn off what the}^re doing," said
first-year guard Michael Kiely. "It's helping
everyone else get better."
Sports Information Director and Assistant
Director of Athletics Dave Walters agreed that
Hopkins is a senior captain to watch out for in
theODAC.
"Hopkins made really good progress," said
Walters. "He's going to be able to provide
some good leadership."
McCarthy also noted that the low-post
presence of sophomore center Zeb Richardson
will contribute to how the season turns out.
"He had an amazing freshman year," said
McCarthy. "Hopefully he builds off that and
continues to dominate."
Rumors of former team members that
left have been drculating, but assistant
athletic trainer Jared Siglin said that it is not
imcommon.
"Every year, there is always a large group
who desire to play on the team," said Siglin.
"But during preseason conditioning and &er
hearing the expectations of them, (they) are not
ready to make that kind of commitment."
Quaker studies Professor Max Carter, an
avid basketball fan, laments the loss of last
year's players.
"They don't have Josh Pittman or the
dominant power of the past when Ben Strong
and Tyler Sanborn won awards," said Carter.
'They^ll depend on a balanced offensive and
defensive effort and team chemistry."
Overall, the team has high hopes for the
2013-14 season.
"I see a great future for this team this year,"
said Hopkins. "Even though our team is
young, we have quickly developed a good
bond on and off the court, whidi is a must
when having a successful team."
McCarthy agreed.
"I think we have the talent to compete for
the ODAC championship," said McCarthy.
'The previous two years... we have had really
good regular seasons, (but) disappointing
tournament finishes.
"I feel this year, we could change that."
Carter is also excited for this season to take
off.
'They will make some noise in the ODAC,"
said Carter. "They have returning talent and
some quality recruits."
INSIDE SPORTS
I IP
^1,
V?
Jonathan Martin speaks
out about NFL hazing
Caroline Bishop excels
on the soccer team
BY IAN PENNY
Staff Wioter
BY OLIVIA WERNER
Staff WiurER
\'S. EtU',’-'.; &
ODACRi
SFM'-r-.
Recorded the biggest
comeback in school history by
scoring 35 unanswered points ’
to win 35-31
Collected his 300th victory as
a coach in a 77-65 win in the
Greensboro Coliseum