2006-2007 Caldwell College Basketball Media Guide
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2006-2007 CALDWELL COLLEGE BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE Caldwell College Quick Facts Dear Cougar Fans: General I am pleased to present our 2006-2007 Address: 9 Ryerson Avenue,Caldwell, NJ Basketball Media Guide, which illustrates Founded: 1939 Enrollment: 2,270 our ongoing commitment to intercollegiate Nickname: Cougars athletics. We’re very excited about the Colors: Scarlet, White and Gold continued growth of our athletic programs Affi liations: NCAA Division II, ECAC and proud of our scholar athletes, whose Conference: Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) graduation rate is impressive. They have Web Site: www.caldwell.edu achieved standards of academic excellence Home Arena: George R. Newman as well as athletic success and demonstrate Center (1,800) that at Caldwell College, our fi rst priority is a quality education. Administration President: Sister Patrice Werner, O.P., Ph.D. Our stimulating growth has created unique opportunities for expanded VP of Student Life: Sister Elaine Keenan, O.P. Executive Director of Athletics: academic programs, student services and technological advancements. Mark A. Corino The College attributes much of the growth to its innovative use of campus Associate Athletic Director/ wide advances in technology, the increased interest in resident life and our Compliance Offi cer: Dean Johnson affordable tuition. Assistant Athletic Director/ Senior Women’s Administrator: Linda Cimino Administrative Assistant: Lisa Bateman The College’s enhanced institutional image among our prestigious peer Athletic Trainer: Diane Froehlich institutions and the excellence of our athletic programs continues to grow Athletic Phone Number: (973) 618-3260 Athletic Fax Number: (973) 618-3370 since joining the NCAA Division II in 1998. Cougar athletic programs have competed in NCAA regional and national championships six times in the last three years, providing increased exposure of the College and our athletics Coaches Directory department. Baseball: Chris Reardon Cross Country: John Tosato Golf: TBA The success of our athletic teams speaks for itself. Our fi ne basketball teams Men’s Soccer: Jamie Nash have great traditions that include multiple conference championships and Women’s Soccer: Rick Stainton national tournament appearances. In 2005, our men’s soccer team received Softball: Dean Johnson Men’s and Women’s Tennis: its fi rst national ranking and appeared in the New England Region rankings all Bruce Hamburger season. And this past spring the softball team repeated as CACC champions Volleyball: Megan Hrbek and participated in the NCAA Northeast Region Tournament for the third consecutive season. Sports Information Offi ce Director of Sports Information: Matt McLagan Your support of Caldwell College athletics is deeply appreciated. I hope to see Phone: (973) 618-3567 you at some of our upcoming athletic events. Look for me especially at home Fax: (973) 618-3370 Email: [email protected] basketball games. Website: http://info.caldwell.edu/athletics Sister Patrice Werner, O.P, Ph.D. President Media Information Requests for information on the Caldwell College athletic programs should be directed to the Sports Information Offi ce. 1 2006-07 MEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW t has been fi ve seasons since the Caldwell College three years and who understand what it takes to be successful basketball team has won a Central Atlantic Collegiate at this level. The Cougars return their top three scorers from a IConference title and played in a national tournament. year ago and four players who have started at least 23 games In the four years following the graduation of six seniors who in their career. played major roles on Caldwell’s last championship team, the Cougars have experienced some success and have With a good nucleus back from last season, Corino saw the strengthened a roster that was decimated by the departure of need for some additions to bolster an already solid lineup. the Class of 2003. As coach Mark Corino prepares his current “In the past, we’ve been lacking certain parts that we felt we squad for the upcoming season, he sees one characteristic his needed to be successful. But we made a conscious effort to Cougars need to master if they want to return to the top of the bring players in to fi ll those needs. Right now we’re confi dent conference and compete at the national level: consistency. that we have the players to play the way we want to play and who complement each other.” “We were up and down all year last year, from game Those who have followed the Cougars over the years know to game and even within that when they were winning conference titles and playing games,” Corino said. “We in the national tournament, they were playing good defense must develop a more and getting production out of their post players. This year’s consistent approach on a frontcourt appears to be deep and talented, with some impact daily basis, from our work newcomers joining returnees Manny Perez and B.J. Suchy in ethic to accepting roles the paint. and molding together the pieces. In everything we Perez has been an outstanding offensive player for Caldwell do, consistency must be our since fi rst wearing the Scarlet, White and Gold, becoming the SENIOR GUARD JEAN GEORGES emphasis.” fi rst Cougar to score over 1,000 points before his junior season. He averaged 16.1 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per Last season’s results are attractive at fi rst glance: an overall game to earn second team all-CACC and all-Met honors for record of 18-13 with a 14-8 conference mark that gave the second straight year. He ranks 12th on Caldwell’s all-time Caldwell its second straight third-place fi nish. But a closer scoring list with 1,015 points before he even starts his junior look reveals missed opportunities. The Cougars offset a stellar season. Suchy started all but two games for the Cougars as a 9-2 conference record on the road with a mediocre 5-6 mark sophomore and ranked second on the team in rebounding (5.6 in the George R. Newman Center. They went 14-5 after New rpg) and third in scoring (8.5 ppg). Year’s Day, but started 4-8 before. And despite earning the No. 2 seed in the CACC Tournament, the Cougars were ousted in “Manny struggled early in the season with double teams the quarterfi nals by a Dominican College squad that lost twice and extra attention,” Corino said. “Eventually he made the to Caldwell during the regular season. adjustments like good players do. If he becomes a better passer he’ll have more opportunities to score.” “The way it ended last year was disappointing,” said Corino, who earned his 300th win at Caldwell as well as his 400th One possible benefi ciary of Perez’s passing could be incoming career victory during last season. “But in the end it was our freshman Wojciech Bocianowski, a 6-9 center from Warsaw, lack of consistency that prevented us from making a run in the Poland. Bocianowski’s size and strength inside could give tournament.” the Cougars the rebounding and defensive presence they have been looking for. “Opponents are going to have to pay A lack of experience and defi ned roles led to slow starts in attention to Wojo, and that should take pressure off of Manny each of the past two seasons, with Caldwell going 7-16 during and B.J.,” Corino said. November and December. But this year, the core of the team consists of veterans who have been with the program for two or 2 2006-07 MEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW Another newcomer who could contribute right away is College coming to the freshman forward Sam Cricelli, a native of Brighton, England Newman Center Dec. 2-3 for who can score in a variety of ways. A wiry 6-7, Cricelli is a the Commerce Bank Classic. smooth athlete who is comfortable on the perimeter as well as The conference remains down low. Freshman forward Matt Cohen is another 6-7 player competitive, with Bloomfi eld, with the potential to become an impact performer, while Philadelphia University sophomore forward Tyrone Royster adds toughness and depth and Holy Family University to the frontcourt. Sophomore center Michael Luzzi is a transfer expected to contend for the from Southern Connecticut State University who will provide CACC crown. another big body once he becomes eligible in December. Corino, who always takes a The most consistent player on last year’s squad was senior wait-and-see approach with JUNIOR FORWARD MANNY PEREZ guard Jean Georges, who led the team in scoring with 17.3 his teams before the season, likes what he has seen so far from points per contest en route to making the all-CACC second his team. “This is probably the most comfortable I’ve been team and all-Met fi rst team. Georges teamed with Perez to with our personnel since 2003,” he said. “We have good depth form one of the conference’s most dangerous duos. “Jean really and a lot of different parts that we need to bring together. We came into his own last year,” Corino said. “He needs to develop have at least two solid players at every position. If we can into a leader as our only senior, and he needs to recognize that develop good team chemistry and come together as a unit, I team success will allow him to receive the recognition he think we’re capable.” deserves as a player.” The closest competition in the preseason is at point guard, Caldwell College Men’s Basketball Quick Facts where juniors Hans Stelzer and Michael Wise are battling to Head Coach: Mark Corino (19th year) Career Record: 410-262 (23 years) replace Kelvin Reese, who graduated last spring.