SAINTS ENTER 2007-2008 SEASON AT THE TOP OF

LIBERTY LEAGUE COACHES' POLL

Nov. 14: The inaugural Liberty League Preseason Coaches’ Poll results were released on Wednesday, and the St. Lawrence University men’s basketball team was voted the top team in the conference heading into the 2007-2008 season, which begins Friday.

 

The Saints, who are the reigning Liberty League champions, had an impressive 2006-2007 season, finishing with a 23-6 overall record and 12-4 record in the Liberty League. Because of the conference tournament win, the Saints earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and hosted the first and second rounds, winning in the first round over Elms College, but losing to Brockport in the second.

 

Saints Head Coach Chris Downs, who is in his 11 th year at the helm of the program, is excited about what the experience of his team will bring to the 2007-2008 season.

 

“Because we’re returning 12 of the 15 players we had at this point a year ago and have a more veteran group, we’ve been able to move more rapidly and improve our offensive and defensive strategies earlier in the season,” Downs says. “Our practices have been much better and more consistent throughout the preseason as they have been at this time in previous years.”

 

Leading the Saints in their 2007-2008 season will be captains Tom Wopperer and Richard Williams, who were both key players in the Saints’ success last year.

Wopperer, who played an average of 28.9 minutes in his sophomore campaign, led the Saints with 353 points, averaging 12.2 points a game, and 126 field goals. The Manlius, NY guard had 53 three-pointers, 145 rebounds, and 23 steals.

 

Williams posted 321 points as a sophomore, averaging 11.1 points a game. The Kingston, NY native averaged over 22 minutes a game and had 30 steals along with 213 rebounds for the Saints.

 

Sophomore Josh Sharlow, who was named Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Year last season, made a big impact on the court for the Saints in his first year. The guard from Norwood, NY had 186 points in his rookie season, averaging 6.4 points per game for the Scarlet and Brown. He led the team in assists with 102, as well as steals with 52, averaging nearly two steals a game.

 

Downs says Sharlow and sophomore Andy Hoercher, who also had a very impressive rookie campaign, have already shown a lot of improvement from last season and will continue to be strong assets to the Saints on the court.

 

“[Sharlow] and [Hoercher] have a great work ethic this season,” Downs says. “That, coupled with the experience they gained from last year, has enabled them to better understand both our offensive and defensive strategies,” Downs says.

 

Another player who has shown much improvement is junior Ben Augliano, who had 158 points last season and 113 total rebounds. “[Augliano] and [Wopperer] got the opportunity to play in the Empire State Games in the Open division this past summer, giving them some great experience that prepared them well for this upcoming season,” the head coach said.

 

The Saints have a number of other key players returning this season, including junior Bela Vonnak, who had 326 points during the 2007-2008 season, averaging 11.2 points a game. The Canajoharie, NY native led the Saints in both offensive and defensive rebounds, with 73 and 142, respectively, totaling 215 for the year. Vonnak made 86 free-throws throughout the year.

 

Seniors Tyler Shaver and Tyler Wright will continue to be prominent players for the Saints, as will senior Sebastian Kurtz, who will rejoin the team and add depth to the low post. Another addition to the team this season is first-year rookie Ben Araya, who has shown promise in the preseason and is a competitor on the court.

 

Downs believes competition within the Liberty League, which will begin January 12th, 2008, has only gotten more challenging in the last year.

 

“The league has been very competitive and has prepared teams really well for the NCAA tournament, and this year will be no different,” says Downs. “It will come down to the last weekend of play to determine who will be hosting and who will be playing in the league tournament.”

 

The Saints will head to Babson College for the 2007 Babson Invitational Tournament, which will include St. Lawrence, Babson, Bates College, and Connecticut College. The Saints’ tip off is set for 7:30pm against Bates.