UMASS DARTMOUTH MEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2005-06
NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA-After three consecutive seasons right around the .500 mark, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth men’s basketball team is ready to turn back the clock a few years to the period when they were a perennial power in the Little East Conference.
A solid group of returning veterans and a few key newcomers could be just what the Corsairs need to resume their position as one of the conference’s leaders.
Senior forward Chris Lapriore (Grafton, MA/Holy Name HS) is ready to make his senior season his best year in a UMD uniform, and that’s saying something. Lapriore was named an All-Little East Conference first team selection last season after leading UMass Dartmouth in both scoring (18.3 points/game, 4th in the LEC) and rebounding (7.2 rebounds/game, 6th in the LEC). He also shot a team-high 50.7 per cent from the field (193-380, 8th in the LEC), led the Corsairs in minutes played (739), field goals (186), shots (367), free throws made and attempted (101-159, .635) and points (476).
Lapriore will be aided and abetted by junior captain Paul Pawlowski (Taunton, MA/Taunton HS), who averaged 7.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while making 37.3 per cent of his three-point shots and shooting 80.7 per cent from the free throw line. Junior guard Devon Maiorano (Rehoboth, MA/Dighton-Rehoboth Regional HS), who was named Little East Conference Rookie of the Year two seasons ago but did not play last season, also returns, and he averaged 10.1 points per game, tops among rookies in the LEC, while grabbing 2.6 rebounds per contest in 2003-2004.
“With the return of Chris Lapriore, Paul Pawlowski and Devin Maiorano, I’m very optimistic,” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Brian Baptiste. “Chris has been a first team All-Conference player two years in a row, and if Paul plays a lot of minutes, it will help me be successful. The return of Devon to the lineup with his three-point shooting ability will be a big help. Devon brings consistency in three-point shooting from the perimeter.”
The Corsairs have also added quickness. Freshman guards Reece Freeman (Cambridge, MA/Rindge and Latin HS) and Daryl Goodridge (Somerville, MA/Somerville HS), who played against each other while starring in high school, will aid the UMD backcourt this year.
“Reece and Daryl bring quickness and ball handling skills on the offensive end,” said Baptiste. “They will help us break down the defense and open things up. This will be a significant improvement from previous years. Daryl and Reece will give us the depth at the point guard position that we didn’t have last year, with Reece penciled in as the starter, and Daryl backing him up.”
The Corsairs also were looking to improve their size, and they feel that they have filled that need with the addition of junior center Dan Holbrook (Lexington, MA/Lexington HS), a transfer from Westfield State. At WSC, Holbrook led the Massachusetts Collegiate Athletic Conference in rebounding as a freshman. Last season, he averaged 7.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in seven games and missed time due to an injury.
“At 6-6 and 235 pounds, Danny Holbrook gives us a true center, and frees up Chris Lapriore for more scoring options away from the basket,” said Baptiste. “I anticipate Danny being one of the top rebounders in the conference. He should be a tremendous help to our basketball team.”
Another newcomer who should make his presence felt is junior forward Stephane Abelard (Brockton, MA/Brockton HS), who led Massasoit Community College in scoring last season. MCC went 17-8 last season.
“Steph will help us at the power forward position,” said Baptiste. “He was an outstanding scorer at the junior college level, both with his back to the basket and facing the goal. He is a very strong, physical player who should contribute a great deal.”
The mix should be a good one for the Corsairs. “I feel that we have more overall talent than we had last year,” said Baptiste. “At times, we will apply full court defensive pressure. We will try to capitalize on our defensive pressure, and run the fast break. We expect to be able to run, but also to have the intelligence to slow it down and work for a good shot when the situation calls for it. We have the ability to shoot the three, and we can also spread it out and open up the middle for Danny, Chris and Steph.”
Baptiste feels that a more talented team will bring UMass Dartmouth more success. “Because we are more talented, we will be a more effective team,” said Baptiste. “Our freshmen have a great deal of talent. With more size, we will be more effective in terms of rebounding. We feel that we have made drastic in terms of our point guard, inside game and three-point shooting.”
The Corsairs hope to be Little East Conference champs, but it will be a tough road. “Our goal at the beginning of the season is to win the conference championship, and we have the potential to make a run,” said Baptiste. “Western Connecticut always has a good team. They lost a lot from last year, but they have a tendency to reload and be good right away. Keene State and Rhode Island College should be good again, and Plymouth State has an outstanding player who should make them a contender.”
The schedule is once again a challenging one. “Our conference schedule is tough, and our conference champion should be competitive in the NCAA Tournament,” said Baptiste. “With the possibility of playing Catholic in the Hampton Inn Classic, a tem that won the national championship three or four years ago, and playing in a tournament at Roanoke with Lebanon Valley, another team that has won a championship, our schedule is solid. Our non-conference opponents are all good. Lasell is an NCAA tournament team, Tufts from the NESCAC is always strong, and Salem State was in the NCAAs. We don’t play any slouches.”
Baptiste will be assisted by Joe Winterhalter and Len Desautels, who worked with Baptiste for 12 years, spent a year with a professional team, and has returned. Josh Adamec, who was a senior co-captain last year, will also assist Baptiste.
UMASSDARTMOUTH BASKETBALL
