It could be a year like no other. That’s what Bates College men’s basketball coach Jon Furbush is hoping for.
After back-to-back winning seasons and playoff losses in the NESCAC Championship tourney, the Bobcats are hoping for a sizable step forward this season.
“I think for all of us it’s a special year,” said Furbush, in his third season as the head coach at Bates. “We got to the Final Four last year. The senior leadership can really help bring Bates to the next level. We’ve been middle of the pack now for the better part of the decade. I think this is the year we can get to that elite status and stay there.”
Though the Bobcats graduated five seniors from a team that went 14-12, the club still has an experienced group. With the club still adapting to a new coach last year, the season was full of adjustments. Bates now expects to be better because a lot of players contributed last year.
“The benefit is we have a lot of guys that played a lot of different minutes,” Furbush said. “I can trust all the guys that played last year. I now know they can play this year.”
The Bobcats have plenty of size, with all-conference forwards Brian Ellis (15 ppg) and Nick Schiemann (10.4 ppg). Those two are 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-7 respectively. Add in 6-foot-6 center Jimmy O’Keefe (7.6 ppg) and the Bobcats will be tough to match up against in the paint. Bates also returns guard Marshall Hatch (7.9 ppg), forward Alex Gallant (7.6 ppg), All-Maine Rookie guard Mark Brust (6.6 ppg) and former EL guard Kyle Philbrook.
“This is the first year where it’s clear what we expect,” said Furbush. “Last year was a feeling out process, making the adjustments from the first year. This year, we’re on the same page. We lost some seniors, but are returning a lot of guys who played a lot of minutes last year.”
Teams like Thomas, Colby and UMF are looking strong this year as well.
Thomas was picked to be the top team in the North Atlantic Conference. The Terriers return eight players, including NAC Player of the Year Andrew Duncanson (17.6 ppg). Thomas won 18 games last year and have just two seniors, Duncanson and former Mt. Blue guard Isaiah Brathwaite. Jordan Hoyt, another former Cougar, is among eight freshmen on the squad.
UMF was picked second in the NAC. The Beavers went 15-12 last year and won the NAC title before losing in the second round of the Division III tourney. Eric Taylor (16.8) is the top returning scorer while Andrew Dean (8.1 ppg) and D.J. Gerrish (4.5 ppg) are also back. The Beavers also have a strong local contingent including senior Mike Gingras (Winthrop), juniors Zach Keene (Livermore Falls), Tim Gingras (Winthrop) and freshman Yusuf Iman (Edward Little).
Husson was selected third in the NAC preseason pics. The Eagles lost some talent but return senior Josh Jones from a team that went 16-12.
St. Joe’s went 19-7 last year and return top scorers Zach O’Brien (14.5), Tyler Kelley (14.3) and Chris Petzy (13.7). Former Edward Little guard/forward James Philbrook is among eight freshman on the club.
Colby finished the year 19-6 but lost top scorer Adam Choice, who averaged 18.3 points per game. Mike Russell (14.1 ppg) returns for the White Mules who have five seniors and and six juniors.
Bowdoin finished 13-12 last year and return a wealth of talent from that team including All-State pick Will Hanley (13.8 ppg) and fellow junior shooter Ryan O’Connell (11.0 ppg).
UNE was picked 11th in the TCCC in a coaches preseason poll. The Nor’easters went 11-14 last year and have eight new players. Sophomore guard Sam Simpson, a standout at Mt. Abram, is among the returning talent for UNE.
Maine Maritime Academy finished at 6-19 last year and lost some key seniors. Former Mt. Blue standout Ben Russell was an all-conference rookie selection last year The club has just four upperclassmen back, all juniors. There are nine freshmen on the roster including former Cougar Ryan Backus.
USM went just 2-23 last year but return six seniors and six juniors. Top scorers Isaac Cortez (25.9) and Otis Smith (13.6) both return.
kmills@sunjournal.com
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