MEN'S BASKETBALL LIGHTS-UP HORSBURGH GYMNASIUM...
CLEVELAND, OH (December 11, 2007) - Getting into the winter holiday theme, The Case Western Reserve University men’s basketball team has been “lighting up” opponents on its way to its second best start since the 1998-99 season.
The Spartans have kicked off their 2007-08 season in high gear by winning seven of their first nine games [also 7-2 in 1998-99 and 2005-06]. Case Western Reserve is scoring 85.1 points per game and is only yielding 72.0 points, a margin of 12.9 points per game. The Spartans lead the University Athletic Association with 83 three-point field goals and a .419 three-point field goal percentage.
“It’s a welcome change because we did not shoot the ball well a year ago,” said Head Coach Sean McDonnell. “Getting some players back from injury and the new freshman class has really helped us add that dimension to our offense.”
The high-octane offense has been on display six times so far at home in Horsburgh Gymnasium, as Case Western Reserve carries a 5-1 record in the friendly confines of the Veale Center.
At the Case Alumni Association Tip-Off Classic in mid-November, the Spartans nailed 14-of-23 three-pointers in an 88-69 victory over Alma College, for a .608 three-point field goal percentage. The next day, Case Western Reserve would nail 10 three-pointers against Earlham College in a (77-72) championship game loss to the Quakers.
One week later, the men hit 8-of-19 treys in a 74-70 victory against Catholic University in the Bill Sudeck Holiday Tournament championship game. The Spartans followed that up a week later by hitting 10-of-23 three-pointers in an 88-51 victory over the Yeoman at the Veale Center Nov. 27.
The Spartans nailed a season-high 16 three-pointers against Denison Dec. 1, en route to a 102-56 win. Junior forward Brad Sutton (Findlay, OH) hit six-of-seven threes, freshman guard Colin Mulholland (Jacksonville, FL) hit three-of-five and freshman guard Greg Beretta (Naples, FL) also stroked three-of-five three-pointers.
In an 84-81 victory over the Kenyon Lords last Tuesday, the Spartans nailed 11-of-24 three-pointers, including Sutton’s five-of-eight mark from beyond-the-arc.
Sutton, who missed the 2006-07 season with a knee injury, has made 22-of-44 three-point attempts and is currently third in the UAA for three-point field goal percentage. Junior guard Steve Young (St. Louis, MO-pictured on page one) shares the team lead with Sutton (22 three-pointers) and is the team’s primary perimeter threat.
Additionally, two freshmen guards have been instrumental to the Case Western Reserve offensive attack.
Freshman Kevin Herring (Blacklick, OH) is averaging 11 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists as a rookie for the Spartans. Herring has nailed 13-of-31 three-pointers, for a .419 three-point field goal percentage.
Mulholland is another important first-year Spartan. Coming off the bench, Mulholland has made 16-of-33 treys (.485 percent) which ranks him among the league leaders.
“All of our first year guys are doing a good job,” emphasized McDonnell. “However, when you single-out those two [Herring and Mulholland], there was an opportunity and a need for them to contribute right away. Those guys take care of the ball and shoot it extremely well. They have stepped in and filled the need admirably.”
As a team, the Spartans are averaging nine three-pointers made per-game, which leads the UAA.
In the past, hitting perimeter shots was a tough feat for the Spartans. This year is totally different, and the improvement has come from the inside-out.
Senior center Mason Conrad (Tarpon Springs, FL) and junior center Rob Skuski (Russell, OH) have done a phenomenal job in the post for the Spartans along with senior guard Brandon Bradford (Detroit, MI). The trio combines for nearly 30 points per game to draw in the defense, creating open opportunities for Young, Herring, Mulholland, and Sutton behind the arc.
The ball-movement from the post and around the perimeter been superb thus far as the Spartans’ assist/turnover ratio is plus-1.4, which leads the UAA.
“Our guys have done a good job of taking care of the ball, and I think that speaks volumes for the players’ individually, and how they play collectively,” McDonnell explained about the Spartans’ team play. “We are willing to make the extra pass and are skilled enough to take an open shot if it’s on the first pass. Compared to last season, we have a much higher percentage of our baskets coming off of assists (62% vs. 51%), and our turnovers are way down as well. Those are two really solid indications of good team chemistry.”
The Spartans are also tops in the conference with 43.5 rebounds per game. The team has benefited from a number of fast-break baskets, which has been huge for Case Western Reserve.
The Spartans travel to Tampa Bay, Florida in late December for the Tampa Bay Shootout. Once the Spartans finish their games in Florida, they start UAA conference play.
“The Tampa Bay Shootout will be very competitive. We play a perennial powerhouse in DePauw University, which should pose a very good test for us,” said McDonnell. “I don’t know much about the other two programs, but I know we will be ready to go and are excited to play in front of Mason Conrad’s friends and family.”
Like most other UAA sports, the conference is nationally known as one of the toughest basketball conferences in Division III sports period. Three UAA school's occupy [No. 1 - University of Rochester, No. 2 - Brandeis University and No. 12 - Washington University] Top 25 spots in this week's D3hoops.com men's basketball poll.
The UAA conference schedule should bring out the best in the Spartans.
“It [UAA] will be a very competitive conference. We’ve got three nationally ranked teams from last year [Rochester, Brandeis, and Washington] who had minor losses to graduation and could make a deep run in the Division III national tournament. I think we will be very competitive. We’ve got good experience, size, and can shoot the ball well, and when we play solidly, people have to play well to beat us.”
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