By Paul Meyer
www.rmucolonials.com
Nov. 17, 2009 

Meyer on Morris Link

Editor's Note: Third part of a three-part series on Northeast Conference team's prospects

Moon Township, Pa. - It isn't likely that after only two games the Monmouth basketball players will need a wakeup call, but they're definitely going to get one.

The Hawks are scheduled to play at St. Peter's Nov. 17 at 6 a.m. as part of ESPN's 24 hours of college basketball marathon.

You read that correctly - 6 a.m.

It happened like this.

During the summer, Monmouth coach Dave Calloway received a telephone call from John Dunne, the St. Peter's coach.

"Dave, we'd like to move the game up a day,'' Dunne said.

"No problem,'' Calloway said.

"It will start at 6,'' Dunne said.

"No problem,'' Calloway said.

"A.M.,'' Dunne said.

"Uh, let me think about it,'' Calloway said.

After some thought, Calloway agreed to the change.

"It's a chance to be on ESPN,'' Calloway said. "It's our chance to be on national TV.''

And the Hawks do get a return home game out of the deal.

Still ...

"It's a little unique,'' Calloway conceded.

What's also a bit unique is the situation the Hawks were in over the previous three seasons.

A Northeast Conference power through the first six seasons of this decade - an 80-32 NEC record and three league championships - the Hawks fell to 17-37 and failed to make the league tournament twice in those three seasons.

"We've been a little down the last couple years,'' Calloway said. "We need to get up there and stay there.''

The NEC coaches picked Monmouth to finish ninth this season, which could be a tad low.

The Hawks return sophomore guard Will Campbell and sophomore forward Travis Taylor, both named to last season's All-Rookie team, and also get back senior guard Whitney Coleman, who sustained a season-ending knee surgery after playing just nine minutes in the Hawks' opener last season.

"We'll be a little bit deeper and more experienced,'' Calloway said.

The Hawks also will be playing in a new facility - the 4,100-seat Multi-Purpose Activity Center.

"It's beautiful,'' Calloway said. "You walk in and 'Wow!' This place is really nice. There's definitely a lot of excitement (about the season) on the outside. There's definitely a buzz on campus.''

There also will definitely be a buzz in the Hawks' ears early - make that VERY early - on Feb. 17.

The NEC coaches picked Wagner to finish just behind Monmouth in 10th place. That could prove to be correct.

"If experience is a great prognosticator, there's a good reason we're picked 10th,'' veteran coach Mike Deane said.

The Seahawks, who won 39 games in the previous two seasons, lost four starters from last season, including long-range standout Joey Mundweiler, who ended his career second in the NEC with 312 treys.

Michael Orock, a 6-7 senior forward who averaged 2.4 points per game, is the only starter back.

That means five freshmen, including Danny Mundweiler, Joey's brother, and two redshirt freshmen will have to develop quickly.

"They're so young,'' Deane said. "I'm still cutting their meat. With seven freshmen, we're in a rebuilding mode. There's a lot of uncertainty. It takes freshmen a while to understand the pace of college basketball.

"I think when you have a group of younger players, it requires a lot less pushing and a lot more teaching and instructing. You try to be as patient and optimistic as you can. With veterans, you know when to push and when to put your arm around them. With rookies, you hope you can push them at times, but if you push too much you lose them.''

One bright spot is the return of sophomore guard Chris Martin, who averaged 6.7 points per game last season.

"I like the group of guys we have,'' Deane said. "I don't have a lot of egos I have to trim. I have people I have to build up.''

Bryant, which doesn't become a full member of the NEC until the 2012-13 season, was picked to finish 11th. The Bulldogs, who played 14 games against NEC teams last season and went 6-8, will play a full league schedule this season, and their players will be eligible to win weekly and postseason awards.

Bryant, located in Smithfield, R.I., is not eligible for the NEC tournament, which includes the top eight finishers in the regular season. Should the Bulldogs finish eighth or higher, the ninth-place team will be in the tournament.

Bryant lost 15 of its first 17 games in its first season in Division I but split its final 12 to finish 8-21.

"I wasn't all that disappointed,'' said coach Tim O'Shea, who formerly coached at Ohio University. "And I think we'll be a lot more competitive this season than people think. I think we can make a significant jump this year. I think we have a chance to really surprise some people this year.

"Our recruiting went better than I thought (it would). I was really pleased with the talent we were able to bring in. I think we have one of the stronger freshman classes in the league.''

How does O'Shea "sell'' his program to recruits, who won't be able to play in the NCAA tournament until 2013 at the earliest?

"I think a lot of it has to do with Bryant's reputation as an academic institution,'' he said. "Most of the kids we recruit are pretty bright. They have a chance to get a full ride in a recession to a school that costs $50,000 a year.''

Three starters return, including senior forward Cecil Gresham, who averaged 13.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game as a junior.

Saint Francis (Pa.), picked to finish 12th, will look to the future as it tries to dig out from under four consecutive losing seasons.

"Baby steps,'' second-year coach Don Friday said. "We're pretty much starting from scratch.''

The Red Flash had a setback before practice began when it learned 6-7 senior forward Mislav Jukic will miss the season because of double hip surgery. Jukic last season averaged 10.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

Senior forward Devin Sweetney (16.3, 7.9, 1,056 career points) will anchor what will be a very young team.

Friday brought in seven freshmen.

"They're going to have to play,'' Friday said. "In time, they could be good.''

Interestingly, Robert Morris coach Mike Rice has six newcomers on his team. A few weeks ago when asked if there were any advantages to having that many new players, Rice said bluntly: "None.''

Friday's take on that?

"They've experienced a league championship and done great things,'' he said, referring to the Colonials. "We haven't. For us, new guys, new blood, is a great thing. Our older guys are conditioned to a lot of losing. It's all the way you look at art, I guess.''

Since last making the NEC tournament and going 15-13 (10-8) in 2004-05, St. Francis is 24-91 overall and 14-58 in NEC games.

"We're going to have to be better scoring and rebounding,'' Friday said. "We have a lot to work on.''