2006-2007
Bard Preview
We start by looking under every rock and behind every bush for a few good men. Then we accept that what took four years to build, would take at least two seasons to replace. Adam Turner is an Assistant Coach for Men's Basketball and Men's/Women's Volleyball, Josef Woldense is working in admissions at Bard and acts as the liaison for Space Management on campus while he prepares for graduate work, Collin Orcutt is living and working in California as a personal trainer.
2. Let's talk co-captains. Trevor McGinn is likely to anchor the Raptors down low- what has he improved the most this off-season?
Trevor has worked extremely hard on his ball handling skills and his outside shooting - we need him to be a step out jump shooter and a big man in the middle. His leadership skills are also relied upon heavily.
3. Demitrius Washington transferred from Chaminade, which defeated Virginia in 1982, which topped No. 10 Arizona 93-90 on Sunday night. Is Bard the No. 10 team in the country?
Demitrius has definitely brought some excitement with him from Chaminade - maybe even enough for the Raptors to feel like they are the #10 team in the country! He certainly plays that way day in and day out!
4. Is Raymond Arocho set to become the scorer you pictured when you recruited him?
When Ray is on his game there is no better two guard in the conference. The kid can flat out play when he sets his mind to it we will know better after this weekend in NH. My guess is that he emerges as a truethreat for everyone in the NEAC. Don't be surprised if he leads the Raptors in rebounds and scoring now that he does not have to play behind some of the graduated seniors!
5. You have a young team this year. How does your job change as a coach, after running a senior-dominated team last year?
With seven freshman on the roster my job starts all over again we start from scratch and we build - build for four years. Their collective enthusiasm is what drives them - they all play hard and some of them are actually starting to fill big shoes left behind by the departed seniors. They may surprise you. We may even have two very qualified candidates for Rookie of the Year in the NEAC - you can guess who they might be barring any injury or setback that would preclude them from playing every night.
6. With one senior, and seven freshmen, is a naptime worked into your practice schedule? How about show-and-tell?
Certainly nap time for the coaches and certainly many answers to the endless list of questions that freshman generate. I will give them this - they are all fast learners and all have exceeded my expectations to this point.
7. Give us a brief report on each newcomer this year, and your likely starting lineup.
Several of the new guys are unproved as of this writing - Ones that have proven themselves are Greg "Mac" McLean and Justin "Night Night" White - both will see good minutes and should figure in the starting lineup before long, if not on opening night. The remainder of a possible starting line up would include Demitrius Washington, Trevor McGinn and Eber Wright and Ray "Boogie" Arocho Jr..
8. With a HVMAC championship in the bank, the NEAC in the rearview mirror, and the Skyline ahead, are you excited at the prospect of dominating three leagues in four years?
Truthfully, Bard has exceeded my expectations in many ways to date. We have had a great deal of success since my arrival four years ago and it is hard to believe that in just that length of time we have gone from an NCAA Independent to one of the most competitive basketball conferences in the country. We established over 20 school records and had two 1000 point scorers, including the all time leading scorer. We might even be ready for the much anticipated match with Wheaton College. I guess if they can find a night that is good for the surrounding communities to lend the college it's emergency personnel and vehicles for the obvious carnage that such a game would produce it will work for Bard - I just don't know if they have had the right amount of disaster training sessions before hosting a team that is so much better than the "Wheat Thins."
9. If Bard basketball were a salad, what kind of salad would it be?
I guess it would definitely be a tossed salad with Italian and French dressing - that kinda represents all of the different parts that we represent from around the world and the USA. I would also add that this salad will be significantly dressed up after this year of recruiting - we are looking at adding croutons and bacon bits for next season - should be a good first year in the new league.