Men’s basketball has great expectations for ’08-’09
The 2008-2009 edition of the Spartans men’s basketball team will look nothing like last season’s, and that is a very good thing. Last season was the Spartans’ worst in six years, as the boys struggled to a 7-16 record, saw head coach Stan Peters fired mid-season and had three of their victories forfeited due to an ineligible player participating in those games. The team finished 4-19, good for fifth (out of six) in the Canada West Pacific, and twelfth (out of fourteen) in the conference.
An active off-season has the Spartan men poised for a banner year in 2008-09. Scott Allen was hired as the new head coach from White Rock Christian Academy, where he won three provincial championships over the past eight years. Allen brings with him not only his basketball know-how and proven track record, but a desire that his players be successful and examples both on and off the court.
“The Complete Champion Approach, along with the idea of servant leadership and the community aspect at Trinity is why I wanted to come here,” explains Allen.
When fourth year player Dan Reynolds was asked about buzz around campus, he said, “When New Kids On The Block reunited, there was some hype. This year’s Spartans are just like that – only with better jumpshots and cooler haircuts.”
Reynolds is talking about Allen’s first recruiting class, which is highlighted by three blue chippers – forwards Jacob Doerksen and Calvin Westbrook and guard Louis Hurd.
Though Westbrook will be forced to red-shirt this season as a transfer from Cal-State Stanislaus, Doerksen and Hurd should both step in as starters. Doerksen is a 6’6 former UVic standout and averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds as a sophomore in 2006-07 and should provide match-up problems at the power forward position. Hurd is quick and at 5’11 can score, having led the BCCAA (BC College League) in scoring last season with over 20 points a game while at Columbia Bible College.
In addition to Doerksen and Hurd, Jamie Vaughan, a 6’5 forward transfer from UFV, who was named National Player of the Year while averaging 18 and 8 at the college level in 2006-07, brings his strong two-way ability to the Spartans. Also returning is Brian Banman, an off-guard who led the Spartans in scoring two seasons ago at 20 points before having to sit out last season due to injury.
Other key returning players from last season include centres Lance Verhoeff and Michael Brouwer, forward Jason Keegstra, as well as swingman Matt Myers, and guard Daniel Demian, formerly of the men’s soccer team.
Reynolds is hoping the new trio can gel with the returning core and has high expectations for the season. “Let me put it this way: I don’t think UBC should worry about another disappointing showing at the CIS National tournament – they won’t be there. King Xerxes had to worry about 300 Spartans; the Canada West won’t be able to handle five at a time.”
If these returnees can form a strong chemistry with the aforementioned trio of Doerksen, Hurd and Vaughan, the Men of Sparta should threaten UBC’s recent monopoly on first place in the division and possibly snag one of the eight spots in the CIS Championship tournament in Ottawa come March.
Allen has even greater expectations, “We’re not thinking about anything less than a National Championship.”
There’s strong reason for the optimism, as the boys earned their first ever win against an NCAA opponent in the pre-season defeating Colorado State and opened their CIS season with a win over Waterloo’s Laurier University last weekend.
“They haven’t done much since I’ve been here, so I’m looking forward to seeing guys like Jamie [Vaughan] dunk on fools,” said Ryan Clarke, a fourth-year fan.
Of course the Spartans face a long road ahead, and have already faced setbacks, with Jon Schmidt and Joe Vroom injured before opening CIS play.
Students, as well as the new infusion of talent to this year’s team, are hoping that Spartans basketball can rebound from a forgettable ’07-’08 season, and give the Enarson gym a proper send off.
The boys will open Canada West play at Enarson on October 24 against SFU.
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