UMass Dartmouth will combine veterans with newcomers in hopes of returning to NCAA

(Dartmouth, MA) - UMass Dartmouth men's basketball coach Brian Baptiste will combine a group of returning veterans with several newcomers to the program as the Corsairs look to return to the top of the Little East Conference and a return to the NCAA Tournament.

The Corsairs will build the 2002-03 team around their most experienced veteran, senior point guard and co-captain Tim Gaspar (Dartmouth, MA). A four-year starter for UMass Dartmouth, Gaspar led the Little East Conference and was among the national leaders in assists and steals last year. He topped the LEC with 6.6 assist and 3.3 steals per game and was the Corsairs' fifth leading scorer with 9.5 points per game and 3.1 rebounds.

"Tim Gaspar is a proven veteran for us," said Baptiste, who enters his 20th season at UMass Dartmouth with a record of 384-141 "He knows what it takes to win at this level. This being his senior year there is some extra motivation on his part to go out on top. His experience is crucial for us this season. He's a great ball handler and we're working on him to shoot the ball a little more on the offensive end."

Gaspar's experience will be important because in the backcourt he will be matched with a pair of first-year players. Freshmen Jeff Hambley (South Hadley, MA) (6-0, 180) and Devon Maiorano (Rehoboth, MA) (6-1, 185) have moved into the shooting guard position left vacant by Ivan Britto last season. Hambley and Maiorano have already demonstrated their scoring abilities and, teamed with Gaspar, Baptiste is confident his newcomers can succeed in providing points for the Corsairs.

"Gaspar is helping out with the new guys in the backcourt and he's been a real big help for Jeff and Devon," Baptiste said. "Timmy can get them the ball at just the right time and make sure their jobs are easier."

Hambley played his high school ball at South Hadley High last season, while Maiorano was a standout at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional. Hambley has been a big surprise for Baptiste during the pre-season with a solid shooting touch and good defensive skills as well. Maiorano is a deadly three-point shooter who scored as many as 49 points in a single game last season.

Backing up Gaspar at point guard will be junior Manny Monteiro (Boston, MA) (5-7, 155), who saw plenty of action last season. Baptiste said Monteiro has shown lots of improvement in the early going and is much more comfortable running the Corsairs' office. Derek Thatcher (Brockton, MA) (5-9, 165) a freshman out of Brockton High School and a Big Three All-Star last season will also get some playing team in his first season.

Sophomore forward Chris Lapriore (Grafton, MA) (6-4, 230) will be the Corsairs' most experience returning player along with senior co-captain Ryan Surprenant (Madison, CT) (6-4, 225). Lapriore moved into the starting lineup as a freshman last year and proved he belonged among the top young players in the LEC. Lapriore pulled down 6.5 rebounds per game, ninth best in the LEC and averaged 10.24 points per game, third best on the team. Surprenant will back up Lapriore and provide important leadership and experience to the team.

At the small forward position, the Corsairs have moved Ben McAuliffe (Sutton, MA) (6-4, 185) from the shooting guard position last season. At 6-4 this season, McAuliffe is an inch taller and 15 pounds heavier after a year in the weight room. Baptiste said he's a smart and talented offensive player who can shoot the three pointer.

"He's a smart offensive player and on defense he has great anticipation," Baptiste said. "He has played very well at the small forward position in pre-season."

Backing up McAulliffe will be another newcomer to the team, junior Brent Cordeiro (Westport, MA) (6-0, 200). A former Westport High standout, Cordeiro played for one season at Worcester State before transferring to UMass Dartmouth. Baptiste said he loves the way Cordeiro works hard on defense and is someone who will see some time up front.

Among the other forwards who are jockeying for playing time is a pair of players coming off of injuries last year. Sophomore Jimmy Campbell (Marlboro, MA) (6-3, 190) is coming off an ankle injury and Mike Lapriore (Grafton, MA) (6-4, 235), Chris' twin brother, has rehabbed a knee injury.

Seniors Sean Walsh (East Sandwich, MA) (6-9, 225) and Jason Wiggins (Bloomfield, CT) (6-6, 200) are battling for the starting job at center. Walsh (4.4 pts, 2.3 reb) had some experience last season and has demonstrated a solid rebounding presence and the ability to block shots. Wiggins is a transfer from Roger Williams University who is an aggressive rebounder and shot blocker.

As the Corsairs head into the 2002-03 season, they will be trying to make sure their season ends on a different note than did last season. UMass Dartmouth finished the 2001-02 season with a 21-8 overall record, tied for second in the LEC at 10-4. But the Corsairs didn't make the NCAA Tournament and had to settle for an invitation to the ECAC Tournament.

UMass Dartmouth made the best of the situation by sweeping all three games in the tournament, including a 67-63 victory of LEC rival Plymouth State College in the championship game. The ECAC Tournament title was a first for the Corsairs. The 20-win season was UMass Dartmouth's second in as many seasons and its fourth in the last six.

"The ECAC Tournament was a nice experience for the team," said Baptiste. It was nice going out on a winning note, but in terms of carrying over into this season, the team's feeling is that we want more than what we finished with last year."

The rest of the coaches in the LEC agree with Baptiste that the Corsairs will be among the top teams in the conference this season. UMass Dartmouth garnered four first-place votes and a total of 58 points to top the LEC coaches' pre-season poll.

UMass Dartmouth opens the 2002-03 season on Nov. 22 when the Corsairs host the fourth annual Hampton Inn Basketball Classic. UMass Dartmouth has won the first three tournaments but will be pressed this season by a talented field including Salve Regina University, Bowdoin College and Wheaton College. The Corsairs will open LEC play on December 7 when they host Plymouth State College at the Tripp Athletic Center.

UMass Dartmouth has three players who will not be eligible to play for academic reasons until the second semester. The ineligible players are senior forward Brian Cagle, and junior forwards Stephan Patrick and Michael Young.

 Last Updated On: 9/1/06