Captain

� TAYLOR, RICK
� Height: 6-5
� Weight: 200
� Position: Forward
� Class: Senior
� Hometown: Freetown, MA
� High School: Apponequet Regional HS

In his first two seasons with the Corsairs, Taylor saw limited action, but last season he turned into an impact player for UMass Dartmouth's. One of five players to appear in all 27 games last season, Taylor averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds per game. He added 31 steals and 10 blocked shots, while shooting 42% from the floor (68-163) and 40% from three-point range (14-35). At 6-5, Taylor is an aggressive rebounder at both ends of the court and demonstrated a soft shooting touch from the outside last season. This season, Coach Baptiste will use Taylor in the post, but also expects to take advantage of his outside shooting skills as well. While the Corsairs will play without a true center, Coach Baptiste expects Taylor to be a strong rebounder and scorer up front as well as a team leader.

Seniors

� BLAND, RYAN
� Height: 6-1
� Weight: 180
� Position: Guard
� Class: Senior
� Hometown: Dartmouth, MA
� High School: Dartmouth HS

After joining the Corsairs after the holiday break last season, Bland became one of the Corsairs most important players. On offense, he controlled the UMass Dartmouth offense at point guard and was also one of the Corsairs' top rebounders and defensive players. In 21 games, Bland averaged a team-high 14 points per game (9th in the LEC) and added 6.1 rebounds per game. His 50 steals, an average of 2.4 per game, ranked him second in the LEC. Bland also led the LEC in assist average (4.6/game) with a team-high 99 assists and 6 blocked shots. Bland's 78.8% from the free throw line (44-56) ranked him third in the conference. Bland earned LEC Player of the Week Honors during the next to last week of the regular season last year, one week after earning honorable mention. Coach Baptiste will make use of all of Bland's talents this season, shifting him to small forward to take advantage of his shooting and rebounding skills, along with assigning Bland one of the opponent's top players when he is on defense. Bland returns to the basketball team following a very strong rookie season with the Corsairs' football team. He led UMass Dartmouth with 33 pass receptions for 614 yards and 6 TDs, including a 67-yarder against Fitchburg State.

DONOVAN, SEAN
� Height: 6-2
� Weight: 185
� Position: Guard
� Class: Senior
� Hometown: Quincy, MA
� High School: North Quincy HS

After playing baseball for UMass Dartmouth for the last three seasons, Donovan is in his second season with the Corsairs' basketball program. Donovan is a three-point shooter who can score a lot of points in a hurry and he demonstrated his shooting skills throughout last season. Coach Baptiste used Donovan off the bench as a zone buster when teams started pack in their zone defense. In 18 games last season, Donovan averaged 5.7 points and one rebound per game. From three-point range, Donovan was third on the team, connecting on 21 of 49 attempts (43%), while also hitting 44% from the floor on 37-84 shooting and 7 of 10 from the free throw line. Coach Baptiste said Donovan would be one of the Corsairs' designated three-point specialists this season.

RIZY, CHRIS
� Height: 6-6
� Weight: 215
� Position: Forward
� Class: Senior
� Hometown: Manchester, CT
� High School: Manchester HS

One of three Corsair basketball players who also played football for UMass Dartmouth this season, this is Rizy's fourth year with the Corsairs' basketball team. Although his playing time was limited to 11 games last season, Rizy brings a great attitude and work ethic to the squad. This season, Rizy and Mark Antinori will be called on to step into the lineup to provide the Corsairs with strong defense and rebounding. At 6-6, 215 pounds, Rizy is one of the Corsairs' biggest players on the roster and has worked hard to improve his shooting and rebounding skills.

Juniors

ANTINORI, MARC
� Height: 6-8
� Weight: 235
� Position: Center
� Class: Junior
� Hometown: Dover, MA
� High School: Dover-Sherborn Regional HS

The biggest player on the Corsairs' roster again this season, Antinori is in his third season with the UMass Dartmouth program and has continued to make progress Coach Baptiste said. His strengths are his size and he possesses a good shooting touch for a big man. He may see some action in the Corsairs' front court rotation this season as one of the returning veterans. In 10 games off the bench for UMass Dartmouth last season, he grabbed 5 rebounds and blocked a pair shots. Antinori is listed as the only true center on the Corsairs' roster this season.

Sophomores

ANTONIO, JASON
� Height: 6-0
� Weight: 165
� Position: Guard
� Class:Sophomore
� Hometown: Mattapoisett, MA
� High School: Old Rochester Regional HS

After a very strong first season at shooting guard for the Corsairs, Antonio was moved into the starting lineup at point guard this season. An excellent ball handler, Antonio has a great sense for the game and great defensive anticipation Coach Baptiste said. Although he didn't start at the beginning of his freshman season last year, Antonio developed into one of the Corsairs' top offensive threats by the end of the season. In 27 games last year, Antonio averaged 8.7 points per game and 3.2 rebounds. He dished out 44 assists and added a team-leading 51 steals along with 4 blocked shots. Antonio shot 40% from the floor (78-193) and 31% from three-point range (25-81). His 76% from the free throw line (53-70) was among the top three for the Corsairs last season. Antonio was one of two Corsair freshmen to earn Little East Conference Rookie of the Week honors during his first season. At Old Rochester Regional High School in Mattapoisett, Antonio finished his career as the schools' all-time leading scorer.

� MOREIRA, TONY
� Height: 6-5
� Weight: 190
� Position: Forward
� Class: Sophomore
� Hometown: Pawtucket, R.I.
� High School: Shea HS

A second-year player with outstanding athletic ability, Moreira gained some valuable experience off the bench for UMass Dartmouth as a freshman. Coach Baptiste said Moreira has the ability to jump, run, shoot, hit the 17-footer, block shots, and rebound. Early last season when he worked has way into the lineup, Moreira demonstrated all of his skills, impressing the UMass Dartmouth coaches with his ability. An LEC Rookie of the Week last December, Moreira appeared in 21 games for UMass Dartmouth, scoring 4.2 points and grabbing 2.3 rebounds per game. He also added 8 steals and 5 blocked shots. Coach Baptiste hopes Moreira can get off to another fast start this season and give the Corsairs a strong effort up front. Moreira played for a Rhode Island state championship team at Shea High School in Pawtucket, RI.

� NELSON, TIM
� Height: 5-9
� Weight: 165
� Position: Guard
� Class: Sophomore
� Hometown: Reading, MA
� High School: Reading HS

A second-year player at UMass Dartmouth, Nelson started last season at point guard but will be moved to the shooting guard spot this season. An excellent ball handler, who can shoot the ball and play solid defense, Nelson played in all 27 UMass Dartmouth games as a freshman, averaging 3.4 points with a total of 30 assists and 14 steals. Nelson shot 34% from the floor last year (34-99) and 33% from three-point range (15-46). Freed from the point guard duties, Nelson will be called on to be a big part of the Corsairs' fast break and to open up the inside with his outside shooting skills.

PINA, TYHON
� Height: 5-8
� Weight: 140
� Position: Guard
� Class: Sophomore
� Hometown: New Bedford, MA
� High School: New Bedford HS

As a freshman, Pina showed flashes of brilliance coming off the bench to give the Corsairs' attack plenty of spark last year. In 11 games, Pina scored 3.6 points and added 1.1 rebounds per game to go along with 10 assists and 10 steals. Pina's speed and ball handling skills make him a dangerous player when the Corsairs are on the fast break. With a full season under his belt, Coach Baptiste is looking forward to using Pina more this season. Along with Bland and Rizy, Pina was a first-year member of the Corsairs' football team this season. As a wide receiver, Pina grabbed 10 passes for 136 yards and was one of the most dangerous kick returners in the conference. Coach Baptiste will look for Pina to spell Antonio at point guard along with using his excellent speed and quickness on defense.

Freshmen

CLARK, JEFF
� Height: 6-1
� Weight: 181
� Position: Guard
� Class: Freshman
� Hometown: New Bedford, MA
� High School: New Bedford HS

A former high school standout at nearby New Bedford High School, Clark has demonstrated that he has the skills to make a significant contribution to UMass Dartmouth in his rookie season. Coach Baptiste described Clark in the pre-season as a mystery player because he could not figure out where he was going to play Clark this season. Coach Baptiste said Clark can be especially effective when UMass Dartmouth uses its fast break attack. On defense, Clark's speed and quickness makes him a very valuable player, who Coach Baptiste expects to use in a variety of spots this season.

KENNEDY, HASKELL
� Height: 6-5
� Weight: 200
� Position: Forward
� Class: Freshman
� Hometown: Barnstable, MA
� High School: Barnstable HS

At 6-5, 200 pounds, Kennedy is the kind of wide-body the Corsairs need on the front line. A first-year player at UMass Dartmouth, Kennedy impressed the Corsairs' coaching staff during pre-season practice with his inside scoring and rebounding skills. Coach Baptiste hopes Kennedy continues to improve as a low-post player, eventually becoming one of the forwards he can count on to provide the Corsairs with a strong front court game.

LADLEY, TIM
� Height: 6-1
� Weight: 165
� Position: Guard
� Class: Freshman
� Hometown: Pittsfield, MA
� High School: Pittsfield HS

Ladley has very good size for a guard and has demonstrated an outstanding shooting touch, especially from three-point range. Very effective at the shooting guard position during the pre-season, Ladley is also a solid defensive player as well. If the Corsairs run into problems at the off guard position, Ladley would be one of the first players Coach Baptiste turns to off the bench.

SULLIVAN, CRAIG
� Height: 5-11
� Weight: 158
� Position: Guard
� Class: Freshman
� Hometown: Arlington
� High School: Arlington HS

As a senior at Arlington High last season, Sullivan did everything for his team. His ball handling and shooting skills are what impressed Coach Baptiste and as a first-year player at UMass Dartmouth, he has demonstrated all of his skills in practice. A very good athlete, Sullivan played very well for the Corsairs' during the pre-season and will be trying to work his way into the lineup as a back up point guard.