by Jim Mullins
Assistant Director
Sports Information
November 5, 1999

Corsairs combine returning veterans with two newcomers with an eye toward LEC crown

(Dartmouth, MA) -- UMass Dartmouth men's basketball coach Brian Baptiste enters his 17th season with three returning starters back from last year's 14-11 team and a pair of newcomers who he hopes can return the Corsairs to the top of the Little East Conference.

UMass Dartmouth finished fifth in the LEC last season with a 6-8 record before being eliminated from the conference tournament during the quarter final round by eventual champion Western Connecticut State University. With the memories of last season still in his mind, Baptiste hit the recruiting trails over the off season and has come up with some new faces for this season.

"I think we're going to have a very different type of team than we've had in the past," said Baptiste (320-109 overall). "Our goal is to play as fast as we have in the past, but do it with bigger bodies."

UMass Dartmouth's returning starters from a year ago include a trio of juniors, 6-8 center Nick Cecilio (Centerville, MA), 6-2 shooting guard Marques Houtman (New Bedford, MA) and 5-10 point guard Jay Norton (Billerica, MA).

With two of the three returners in the Corsair backcourt, Baptiste expects some solid play from his guards this season. In Norton (6.6 pts, 85 assists), UMass Dartmouth has an experienced player at the point, teaming with Houtman (8.8 pts, 2.24 reb), a player who demonstrated last season that he can get his share of points from anywhere on the floor.

"Norton is a smart player and he knows exactly what I want on offense," Baptiste said. "Houtman has played well in the pre-season at his natural position, the shooting guard. He's an outstanding three-point shooter and thus far has been playing head and shoulders above everyone else. I think he's really going to shine this year."

Up front Cecilio will be looking to return to the form which earned him Little East Conference Co-Rookie of the Year two seasons ago. Cecilio averaged 14.8 points per game as a sophomore last year, and was the Corsairs' top rebounder with 6.9 rebounds per game. His 56.9% field goal percentage was tops among the LEC, but Baptiste thinks Cecilio is ready to take the level of his game one step higher this year.

"I'm seeing the same attitude in Nick that he had in his first year. He's playing as if he's got something to prove," said Baptiste, who will be joined on the bench by assistant coaches Len Desautels and Stefan Pagios. "He feels last year wasn't a great year for him and he wasn't happy with it. I'm very happy with his attitude and the fact that he has worked very hard to improve."
Joining Cecilio on the UMass Dartmouth front lines will be a pair of newcomers who will give the Corsairs a very different look this year. Sophomore Ryan Cassidy (Framingham, MA) is a 6-7 sophomore transfer from Keene State College and freshman Brian Cagle (Norwich, CT), a 6-5 freshman from The Winchendon School, both bring size and strength to a Corsair lineup that has historically not had the luxury of size in the front court.

"In the past we've played a small lineup with three guards because we had more skilled players at that position," said Baptiste. "At 6-7, Cassidy has proved he is the most aggressive player on the team and a strong rebounder. It's going to take a while for him to adjust to things, but right now he is a plus on the floor because of his aggressiveness. Cagle can play inside in the post and is an extremely good rebounder. He handles the ball like a guard and can hit the three-pointer."

In addition to Cassidy and Cagle in the starting lineup, Baptiste is confident he can get some significant contributions from several other players coming off the bench.

In freshman Tim Gaspar (Dartmouth, MA), Baptiste has another true point guard who throughout the preseason was very close to breaking into the starting lineup. Senior captain Tim Ladley (Pittsfield, MA) is a three-point shooter who will see action behind Houtman as the two guard spot along with junior Craig Sullivan (Arlington, MA).

Backing up the starting front line, 6-6 sophomore Carl Stephens (Lynn, MA), 6-2 junior Frank Barrows (Dartmouth, MA) are entering their second season with the Corsairs, both looking to add more playing time from last year. Barrows will probably split time with Cagle and give the Corsairs some valuable rebounding and defensive play.

Another newcomer, 6-4 freshman Ryan Suprenant (Madison, CT), has been injured during the preseason, but could be a player who makes an impact as the season progresses. Baptiste describes Suprenant has an aggressive, fundamentally sound post player who could give Cecilio a rest when needed. When he's healthy, Baptiste hopes to find time for Suprenant in the post to give the Corsairs an event stronger front line. Adam Rogers (Marion, MA), a 6-5 red-shirt sophomore and freshman Sean Walsh (E. Sandwich, MA), a 6-7 freshman will have to work hard to find some playing time.

The Corsairs will be part of a scramble at the top of the Little East Conference during a transition season in the eight-team conference. With all six of last year's First Team All-Stars having graduated, including UMass Dartmouth guard Jason Antonio, the Corsairs' leading scorer from a year ago, the LEC appears to be wide opens this season.

"This is going to be a transition year in the LEC," said Baptiste. "All three of last year's top teams have lost key players and hopefully we can do a better job with our stronger lineup this year."

During his 16 seasons with the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs, Baptiste's teams have qualified for post season play in 13 seasons, including 10 NCAA Division III tournament invitations. Under Baptiste's guidance, the Corsairs have captured 10 LEC regular season and nine post-season playoff championships in the conference's eleven-year history.

Baptiste has always been a believer in solid play up front to free up the three-point shooting. With the addition of Cagle and Cassidy to join Cecilio and an experienced back court in Houtman and Norton, Baptiste feels like he's got the Corsairs position to be right back in the race for the top spot in the LEC and another invitation to the NCAA Tournament.