Men's basketball team struggles with many freshman players

By Tim Kyrkostas
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

With a 4-11 record and seven freshmen getting a lot of early season action, the start of the GNAC regular season couldn't start too soon for the Norwich men's basketball team.

"The early season growing pains need to be over." Proclaimed assistant coach Mark Kuntz, who is really the one who should be credited for all of the new faces found on the court this season, but not the record.

After last season's 9 and 16 record, the coaching staff decided that the lack of scoring needed to be addressed. So Coach Kuntz hit the road in search of some promising recruits who could fit the team's needs.

"I was on the road virtually every other night last winter and this past spring, going from gym to gym all across the northeast in search of the recruits" added Kuntz.

The goal was to bring in some scoring freshmen who could fit into our already solid defensive minded team. So the need to follow the AAU Basketball showcase circuit became a necessity. This tournament circuit provides college coaches the opportunity to see the country's most promising players. It's filled with promising student athletes who are looking to either go on to play at the college level or have a shot in the NBA.

For mostly inner city basketball players the idea of coming up to rural but beautiful Norwich University in Vermont was going to be a hard change and a hard sell for Coach Kuntz. "I really dreaded getting coach Kuntz's phone call each week. It wasn't that I didn't like him; I just wasn't quite thrilled, yet, with the possibility of me going to a small remote college." said Dominique Jones, a freshman from Bridgeport, CT. Jones has gotten off to a good start this season; he's averaging 11.3 points and 4.4 rebounds a game.

"The coaching staff really did a great job with this recruiting class," said 22-year-old senior captain Randy Trahan, a business management major from Clifton Park, NY. "They seemed to cover all regions of the country; I never thought I would be playing alongside a guy from Colorado." said Trahan.

The coaching staff didn't necessarily shut their recruiting eyes on Vermont's own talent. Two more promising freshmen include Vermont's 2000-2001 Mr. Basketball, himself: Tim Shedd from Hardwick, Vermont, along with Montpelier product Andy Pinard, both of whom are contributing quite nicely to the team.

"Both of these guys have really done a good job this far." said Head Coach Paul Booth, "They are two hard-working, mature young men who really fit into our program."

Players embrace the same drive for a strong work ethic as Coach Booth exemplifies.

"I am just trying to get stronger and work my hardest in improving my game, so that I can help the team win some games," said 18-year-old engineering major Tim Shedd.

"With all of these new faces in cadet uniforms and a new, more athletic, high-tempo style of play, I really hope that all who follow the university sports teams can come out and support this team," said Norwich Athletic Director Tony Mariano.

"Our new style of play is something we hope will draw our student body out to the gym for our home games." pleaded Coach Kuntz.

This team does have the potential to be dangerous once the GNAC regular season starts. With a pre-season ranking in the top five, the rest of the league is quite aware of this dark horse team.

In an exciting game on January 21, the Cadets lost to Western New England College (WNEC) in overtime by the score of 71-68. Their next game is on January 24 at Rivier College.

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