To some, it's suicidal. To the Stags fans, it's exciting. To the Fairfield men's basketball team , it's incentive. To Head Coach Tim O'Toole, it's dogma. Simply stated - To be the best, you must play the best. And so, the Fairfield University men's basketball team will do just that.
The 1999-2000 schedule sends Fairfield University to such basketball cathedrals as Allen Fieldhouse at the University of Kansas, the Thomas-Mack Center at UNLV and Pauley Pavillion at UCLA. Mix in defending national champion UConn and one can see that O'Toole practices what he preaches.
Fortunately, the second-year coach has a group of experienced players as well as a talented class of newcomers which should make things interesting for the upcoming campaign. Nine players return from last year's 12-15 team, while six additional players will don the red and white for the first time.
Darren Phillip, Andy Buzbee and Sunday Eniojukan represent the senior leadership this year, a class which combined for 39 points and 17 rebounds per game. Phillip enjoyed his best season as a Stag last year, leading the team in both scoring (16.7 ppg) and rebounding (9.9 rpg). He was among the NCAA leaders all season long, leading the nation at one point, before settling for 15th in Division I. Phillip garnered pre-season All-Conference honors from several national organizations.
Buzbee started all 27 games last season, contributing both as a scorer and rebounder. The forward developed a new weapon in his arsenal, a three-point shot. After not netting one trey in his first two seasons as a Stag, Buzbee placed third on the team with 30 three-point baskets in 87 attempts (35 percent). He averaged 6.4 points per game, a slightly higher average than his 4.1 caroms per contest. Eniojukan became one of Fairfield's top reserves in 1998-99. He played in 26 games, missing the first game of his career with a foot injury midway through the season. His presence inside the lane will be necessary, adding much needed depth at the forward and center positions.
The junior class will be represented by Boo Farrow, Chris Rivers and Leroy Robertson. Farrow became the first guard off the bench last year, and often injected instant offense. While not a scorer, Farrow contributed primarily with his ball handling skills and passing abilities. He knows how to push the ball up court, penetrate and find the open man. Farrow averaged seven points and two rebounds per game a year ago.
Rivers became one of the team's most accurate shooters last season, netting 48 percent of his field goal attempts. He was the top scorer off the bench, averaging seven points per outing. Robertson returns to the lineup after missing the entire 1998-99 season with a foot injury. The guard broke his foot in the second exhibition game and never returned to the floor. Robertson could be among the team leaders in three categories this season - scoring, assists and steals.
The sophomore class includes guard Jermaine Clark, Kyle Walsh and Joey Dreyer. Clark was one of the most decorated freshmen in the MAAC last season, earning the MAAC Rookie of the Year as well as a MAAC All-Rookie team berth. He captured the MAAC's Long Distance Shooting Award by netting the most three-point baskets during the regular season, connecting on 65 treys. He finished the 1998-99 season with 433 points, the second-highest total by a Fairfield freshman, which translated into a 16.0 scoring average. He was also among the team leaders in assists with 68 and in steals with 43.
Walsh and Dreyer gained valuable experience last season, each gaining minutes off the bench. Walsh scored 17 points in 19 appearances while Dreyer appeared in nine games. Both players will help the cause this season.
The coaching staff expects to see this year's newcomers make an immediate contribution. Sophomore Sam Spann, named the MAAC Newcomer of the Year by one national publication, transferred from Syracuse and will be eligible for the second semester. Spann adds strength and size to the Stags inside attack and should challenge for a starting role this season.
Jeremy Logan and Mark Price are both highly-touted guards who should challenge for MAAC honors. Logan comes to Fairfield after spending last season with Milford Academy where he averaged 14 points per game. He tallied 15.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game while a member of the Salesian High School team. His basketball resume also includes time with the Riverside Church AAU team.
Price played his scholastic basketball at Riverside High School in Buffalo, where he tallied 1,400 points during his career. He averaged better than 30 points, seven rebounds and seven assists per game. Price set a city record when he netted 658 points in a season. The guard was nominated for McDonald's All-America team and was listed among USA Today's Top 75.
Freshmen Mike Young, Nick Delfico and Oscar Garcia will challenge for playing time up front this year. Delfico, a Street and Smith All-American, attended Iona Prep. He became the third 1,000-point scorer in school history. Garcia, a native of Leon, Spain, received All-League and All-State honors while at Trumbull High School. Young averaged 12 points per game and earned All-League honors while at senior at Xaverian Brothers.
O'Toole believes he has the right mix to battle for a conference title and possibly win the conference tournament for the first time under his reign. With the proper balance of veteran players and talented newcomers, Fairfield will know quickly how it stacks up against the best.
Tim O'Toole would have it no other way.
