Oct. 13, 2006
Some say patience is a virtue. Others believe that good things come to those who wait. Fairfield University Men's Basketball Coach Ed Cooley subscribes to both adages, enough so that it has become his mantra for the 2006-07 season.
In his first season as the Stags head coach, Cooley realizes that patience must become a way of life for a roster that includes more freshmen than any other class. Even the returning players will need to exhibit a hint of patience as they learn his style as well as his offensive and defensive schemes. And with about 10 days less in pre-season camp, the learning curve will be more like a learning slider - hard, tight, and biting.
Fortunately for Cooley, he returns three talented seniors who will provide experience and leadership to the young roster. Forward Marty O'Sullivan as well as guards Michael Van Schaick and Danny Oglesby offer their teammates dependability on both ends of the basketball court.
O'Sullivan returns to the lineup after recovering from an ankle injury that caused him to miss all but two games a year ago. In the season opener, the forward tallied his first career double double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. His ability to register those types of numbers each night will have a direct correlation to the team's success, especially inside the paint. But, O'Sullivan can also make sagging defenses pay as well with his three-point range and quick release.
Van Schaick developed into one of the team's top three-point shooters a year ago, tying graduated Michael Bell for the team lead with 46 long-range jumpers. More importantly, his accuracy from behind the arc stood at 43 percent which was second only to fellow guard Herbie Allen (43.6 percent). Van Schaick's reputation for sure-handedness was only enhanced last year, as the guard committed just over one turnover per game while averaging about 27 minutes played per game. He is the team's top returning scorer with 8.8 points per contest, which placed him third overall last season.
Oglesby is one of the team's most explosive scorers, a trait he has shown through his stay at Fairfield. Most of his scoring comes from behind the three-point line, as nearly 60 percent of his baskets were from that distance (33 of 57). In one three-game stretch, the guard netted 11 of 16 three-point attempts against Providence (5 of 8), Iowa (2 of 3), and Tulane (4 of 5). Oglesby netted 10 or more points five times last year, all coming as a reserve.
Geoff Middleton and Mamadou Diakhate represent the junior class, both inside players who can bolster the team's presence down low. Middleton began to emerge as an inside threat both offensively and defensively last season. He placed second on the team in blocks with 16, averaging 0.6 rejections per game. The forward also showed his ability to score, recording points in 17 of his 25 appearances. Middleton hovered around the 50 percent mark for field goal percentage throughout the season, hitting at least half of his attempts in 13 of his 25 games.
Diakhate became eligible for the second half of the 2005-06 campaign, completing the NCAA one-year requirement for transfer students. He enjoyed a quick start to the season by averaging nearly five points per game through seven contests as a reserve, which included his season-high of nine points at Niagara. He was equally effective on the boards, securing just over three caroms per contest. The coaching staff will look for those numbers to increase this season, especially if Diakhate earns more playing time.
There's always been talk of the "sophomore jinx", but Jonathan Han and Herbie Allen know that talent always trumps superstition. Han exhibited his offensive abilities night in and night out with his long-range jumpers and pin-point passing. The guard ended the season with a team-high 83 assists, which also placed him among the conference's leaders for assists and assist-to-turnover ratio. Han tossed in 31 three-point baskets last year, a significant portion of his 70 total field goals. His ability to create open shots for himself and his teammates will be a key to the team's offensive success this season.
Allen garnered a spot on the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) All-Rookie team last year. Besides leading the team in three-point field goal percentage (43.6 percent), the guard was one of the squad's best free throw shooters (82 percent). His knack for hitting a big shot in key situations helped him earn a reputation as a clutch player. As a player who can score, pass, and handle the basketball, Allen can contribute at several dimensions on the court.
With seven returning letter winners on the roster, Coach Cooley has some ability to develop his six newcomers at a reasonable pace that will afford the rookies an opportunity to become acclimated to the fast-paced collegiate game. Keeping that in mind, the coaching staff also understands that seven veterans do not leave much room for injury or foul trouble, which may force the freshmen to contribute much more quickly. Fortunately, Coach Cooley has a very talented class of freshmen that certainly has the talent to answer when those occasions arise.
The class of 2010 is comprised of one guard and five forwards, all checking into the season at 6-feet, 4-inches or taller. Guard Devin Johnson is the lone guard in the class, coming to Fairfield after averaging a double double at Meadowbrook High School. He tallied 18 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists per game as a senior, helping the high school capture the district championship. His abilities were recognized by his peers in the form of Metro Player of the Year and All-District honors.
Rich Flemming also averaged a double double as a senior, turning in 14 points and 10 caroms per night at Chester High School. Coach Cooley points to his two blocks per game as an even better indicator of this forward's ability to make an impact on the basketball court. Roi Buchbinder promises a great deal of scoring prowess, having range from anywhere on the court. He joined the Fairfield basketball program after a successful career at Cornerstone Christian School in Texas, where he scored in double figures on a regular basis.
Anthony Johnson makes the trip from the Sunshine State where he tallied 14 points and eight rebounds per game for Lakes Wales Senior High School. He possesses a strong shot-blocking sense that often changes shots and in turn frustrates the opponent's inside game. Greg Nero heads to Fairfield after a solid career at Red Hook High School, where he helped the team to the regional championship game three times. He averaged 22 points, 15 rebounds, and an impressive five blocks per game, which helped him garner the Mid-Hudson Athletic League most valuable player award as a junior.
Mike Evanovich transferred from Iowa State to the Stags over the summer, returning to his native state. Per NCAA transfer rules, he will not be eligible until the 2007-08 season. He played his scholastic ball at E.O. Smith High School, before attending South Kent Prep for one year. He earned All-State honors and averaged 15.1 points per game his final season at E.O. Smith High School. At South Kent Prep, he averaged 9.8 points per game as the school finished the season with a 32-9 mark.
All 13 players will certainly have a great deal to think about as they prepare for the upcoming season. The 2006-07 schedule includes teams from nine different conferences, including the Big East, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). This year's opponents posted a combined winning percentage of .563 last year, with 13 teams posting winning records of which six won 20 or more games.
But Coach Cooley understands that despite the challenging schedule, he must be patient in bringing along his team as the coaching staff, veterans, and newcomers amalgamate during the pre-season. He knows better than anyone that good things come to those who wait.
