View 2011-12 Cabrini Men's Basketball Schedule
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “expectations” as a feeling or belief about how successful or good something will be. Expectations are exactly what the Cabrini College men's basketball team face entering the 2011-12 season.
Over the last three years, Cabrini has won 71 games and advanced to the Colonial States Athletic Conference championship game three times, winning the conference title in 2010 and 2011.
The expectations started early in preseason practice as the Cavaliers were listed among the best teams in the nation by several outlets. Cabrini was ranked No. 10 in The Sporting News' Preseason basketball issue, No. 14 by d3hoops.com, and No. 17 by SmallCollegeHoops.com. The Blue and White also garnered nine of 10 first place votes as it topped the 2011-12 CSAC preseason poll.
“One of the things we stress to our student-athletes is that continued success for our program is fantastic,” said Cabrini's fourth year head coach Marcus Kahn. “We want to establish a tradition of success but every season the records go back to 0-0 and every team has to determine its own identity. We can't rest on what we did last year.”
All Cabrini did last year was go 24-6, win its second consecutive CSAC Championship and advance to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Tournament. The Cavaliers closed the season ranked No. 19 by d3hoops.com. With nine players returning, including 2011 CSAC Player of the Year, senior
Cory Lemons, one can see how people expect big things from the Cavaliers.
Lemons and fellow senior
John Boyd should provide leadership to an experienced but young club. Lemons was Cabrini's go-to guy last year, averaging 17.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. He must continue to balance his ability to take over a game with his role as senior point guard, getting everyone involved in the offense.
Boyd was third on the team in points (12.4) and steals (1.5) and fourth in rebounds with 3.9. Boyd will look to increase those numbers as he, and Lemons, near the 1,000 career collegiate point plateau.
Juniors
Goran Dulac and
A.J. Williams will have increased rolls as they become upperclassmen. The team's third leading rebounder last season, Kahn will look to Dulac to be more of a force in the paint and improve on last year's 7.4 points per game in just over 20 minutes on the floor per night. Williams, a part-time starter during the 2010-11 season, will probably spend more time on the ball, allowing Lemons to focus more on scoring.
Sophomore
Fran Rafferty, who averaged 8.6 points and 4.0 rebounds, will have the opportunity to have a greater impact on the game both offensively and defensively. Fellow sophomore
Jon Miller will spell Dulac in the middle. The two bigs should help the Cavaliers establish a nice inside-outside compliment.
Never resting on their laurels, the Cabrini coaches hit the recruiting trail hard in the offseason, adding six new faces to the team, including five freshmen.
“In order for us to be successful this season, we are going to need contributions from all 15 players,” said Kahn. “Obviously all 15 can't play in every game, but everyone's contributions in practice and in the film room are paramount to what we do this season.”
The Blue and White will open the 2011-12 season on Tuesday, November 15 when they welcome the Haverford College Fords to Nerney Field House. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
