Author: Leanne Zabala
The day is approaching when Oxy basketball players can once again experience the squeaking sneakers, bouncing balls, dripping sweat, rim- rattling dunks and swooshing baskets that form the electrifying atmosphere on the basketball court.
Tryouts and practice for the Men’s Basketball team begins Oct. 15. “Oxy will play a rigorous pre-season schedule including UC Riverside, Cal State Dominguez Hills, St. Thomas (ranked #1 nationally by Sporting News), St. Johns, Babson, and UMASS Dartmouth,” Men’s Basketball Coach Eric Newhall said.
In the past three years, our Men’s Basketball team has made three trips to the NCAA Tournament, won back-to-back SCIAC Titles and scored 61 wins over the past three seasons.With seven seniors having graduated in spring of 2008, the team is fired up for fresh talent and a new year of success. Newhall said, “Four football players will join us after their season is finished; Justin Goltz, Neil Gordan, Jordan Washington and Bobby Phillips.”
“Even though we lost seven seniors, I believe our upcoming junior varsity players as well as our new players will fill in the roles left by the seniors nicely,” Co-captain Sean Anderson (junior) said. “With losing so many seniors, everyone has a shot at getting playing time this year, just a matter of who works the hardest.”
Frontline players 6’10” junior post player Sean Anderson and 6’5″ forward Henry Meier will lead the Tigers this season. And sophomore Doug Jordan is returning to the game from a knee injury.
“Oxy’s winning ways have been centered around team defense, rebounding and conditioning,” Newhall said when asked about his coaching philosophy. “Offensively we will have multiple players embracing new roles.”
“As of right now, we all need to work on everything because it is the beginning of the season, but most of all I would have to say we need to work on playing as a team” Anderson said.
As for the Women’s Basketball team, Women’s Basketball Coach Heidi VanDerveer said, “With the new coaches, right now our players are learning a new system and style of coaching that will enable them to play hard, play smart, and play together.
“The girls put a tremendous amount of effort into the game as well as academics. They are committed, competitive, goal-oriented, and positive. The next step is to win the SCIA tournament championship to qualify for the NCAA championship and challenge nationally.”
The Men’s team’s first game is here at Oxy on Nov. 18th against La Sierra University and the Women’s is on Nov. 21 also against La Sierra.
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