2009-10 Men’s Basketball Season Preview
Nov 6, 2009
2009-10 Schedule
2009-10
Roster
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Consistency has been has been the hallmark of Franklin & Marshall men’s basketball. Fans have come to expect winning seasons, conference championship and NCAA appearances. Despite a few “rebuilding years” that is exactly what the Diplomat faithful have witnessed over the years.
In the 21st century alone, the Diplomats have finished with 20-win season six times. They finished atop the Centennial Conference (CC) regular standings seven times. F&M received six NCAA bids and made it to two Final Fours, all since the 2000-01 season.
Last year was no exception. The 2008-09 team answered the challenge set forth by Coach Glenn Robinson finishing at 26-7. They shocked everyone outside the walls of the Mayser Center advancing to the Final Four. This year the self-imposed expectation is to advance further.
Eight of the top ten players from the 2008-2009 roster return, including four of five starters. The Diplomats have already received preseason recognition commensurate with the talent returning to the court. The Sporting News ranked F&M fourth in its preseason Top 10 and D3Hoops.com has the Diplomats sixth in its preseason poll.
With the unknown talent last year, the basketball world was looking away from Lancaster. With the team’s success, that will not be the case this year.
“Last year expectations were low and easy to meet,” says Robinson. “This year expectations are high and we now have a bulls eye on our backs.”
Returning four starters will certainly help meet those expectations.
“All four returners will be improved,” Robinson says of his returners. “Last year they gained valuable experience, especially in the playoffs. The intensity and emotion is high and you have to go through it to gain that experience. It can not be mimicked anywhere else.”
The key is building off last year’s successes. “The improvement each player gained through the NCAA run has to be maintained and build upon for us to be successful,” comments Robinson.
One of the most improved players is junior forward James McNally. McNally averaged 16.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game for the Diplomats in 2008-2009. He scored 529 points and pulled down 254 rebounds. He scored 20 or more points eight times on the season and recorded eight double-doubles.
McNally was given preseason All-America honorable mention by The Sporting News this year, his first. He was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Middle Atlantic Region Second Team and D3Hoops.com All-Region Team in 2009. McNally earned CC First Team honors and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team.
Returning at the other forward position is junior Mike Baker. Baker, a CC honorable mention, started all 33 games averaging 10.2 points and 7.5 rebounds in 2009-09. He was named to the CC Weekly Honor Roll two times in 2008-09.
The duo of Anthony Brooks and Georgio Milligan return to the Diplomats’ backcourt. Brooks, a senior, averaged 10.5 points per game. He dished out 77 assists and had 47 steals last year. Brooks was named to the CC Weekly Honor Roll three times last season.
Milligan was pleasant surprise for Robinson last year. The sophomore was the x-factor that put the team over the top. Milligan earned D3Hoops.com Middle Atlantic Region Rookie of Year, and was named to the 2009 CC First-Team, the first ever freshmen to receive the honor. He scored 13.5 points and dished out 5.24 assists a game.
The only position that needs to be filled is the one left by Clay Scovill’s graduation.
“We will miss Clay, we don’t really have anyone like him,” Robinson says of Scovill. “Our freshmen will have to fill those shoes.”
Returning off the bench and playing quality minutes last year are junior and senior guards Steve Tolliver and Sal Salvati. Tolliver started in four games and averaged 22.1 minutes last season. He turned in 6.6 points and 2.4 rebounds a game for the Diplomats. Salvati averaged 6.3 minutes and pulled down 17 boards a year ago.
The Diplomats bring in six new faces to the Mayser Center this year. The class of 2013 includes a pair of 6' 8" forwards, and two high school teammates of Milligan.
"This is an outstanding group of student-athletes," said Robinson. "We are extremely anxious to incorporate them into the team."
Battling for the spot vacated by Scovill and Danny Selig are Kevin Henry and Hayk Gyokchyan. Both stand at 6’8” and will have a chance to play in the post. Henry comes to F&M from Owen J. Roberts (Pa.) where he averaged 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2 blocks his senior year. Gyokchyan a native of Beirut, Lebanon played high school at Conwell-Egan Catholic (Pa.) and Lawrenceville (N.J.). He turned in 17 points, 11.4 rebounds and three blocked shots a contest last year.
Brandon Beckford and Alex Valencia will compete at wing. Beckford averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds a game for Don Bosco Prep (N.J.). He was All-NNJIL first team and named one of New Jersey’s Top 70 Seniors by NJHoops.com. Valencia started every game for The Masters School (N.Y.), scoring 11.9 points and adding 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists a game. He was named All-League as a junior and senior.
Max Brewer and Justin Driver come in at guards. Brewer, a teammate of Beckford, turned in 10 points and 7.5 rebounds his senior year. Driver averaged 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists at Solebury Prep (Pa.).
With a roster full of talent and expectations looming, Robinson looks to add to his already impressive resume. He has led F&M to 20 NCAA tournament berths, 12 Sweet 16, seven Elite Eight and five Final Four appearances. Robinson brings a 756-291 into his 39th season. He is the most victorious coach in Division III history and earned D3Hoops.com Coach of the Year Award last season.
The Diplomats open the season with the annual Rotary Tipoff Tournament on November 20th. The Diplomats will face City Tech (N.Y.) at 8:00 p.m.
All basketball home games will be broadcasted live on B2 Networks, F&M's broadband partner on the web. Local sports newscasters Mike Straub from WGAL Channel 8 will announce seven of the men's home games. Season packages are available now on the B2 Network website.
