MEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Weston, Mass.—The 2010-11 Regis College men’s basketball team enters the season with eight returners on the roster. Out of the eight, six are seniors, and two are captains. This team dynamic makes one word come to mind.  That one word is leadership. The Pride will look to senior captains Phil Alibrandi (York, Maine. /York) and Derrick Neal (Boston, Mass. /Brighton) to provide that extra dose of veteran composure that is needed when the chips are down.   Last season the Pride had trouble winning on the road compiling a road record of 1-10. This season the Pride looks to improve in this area. A key to winning on the road is not making mistakes and finishing in every aspect of the game. Executing on offense and defense even to the minutest detail will help the Pride succeed in 2010-11.

The Pride has a lot of depth this season, but will also be looking to have some impact plays from this year’s incoming freshman.  Freshman Robert Edwards (Idaho Falls, Idaho. /Phillips Exeter) will look to solidify the Pride’s post play. “Rob is a hardworking, strong post player that will have an impact on team,” stated Pride head coach Nate Hager. Another freshman that could have an impact for the Pride this season is Ryan Chambers (Abington, Mass. /Abington). “Ryan is a solid, fundamental player that can shoot and can play solid defense.”

The Regis College men’s basketball team opens the season Monday (Nov. 15) against Lesley University. Last season the Pride was able to open the season on a strong note, defeating the Lynx by the score of 78-63.  The Pride was led by senior’s  Alibrandi and Neal, who tallied a team-high of 13 points apiece in the victory. After this road warm-up, the Pride will travel to Williams, Massachusetts Friday (Nov. 19) to compete in the Williams College Tip-off Tournament.  The first game of the tournament for the Pride is against SUNY-Cobleskill. If the Pride takes care of business on Friday, they will compete against either Williams or Southern Vermont for the championship game on Saturday.  The month of November is capped off with non-conference play against New England Small College Athletic Conference member Tufts University (Nov. 23). The Jumbos are a solid program that led the NESCAC in offensive rebounds last season.  The Pride will play at home versus the Jumbos with the contest set for a 7:00 p.m. start.  

The month of December does not get any easier for the Pride as they continue on with its strong schedule. The first match-up of December for the Pride is against yet another NESCAC school. Trinity College of Hartford, Connecticut travels to Weston, Massachusetts to take on the Pride (Dec. 2) at 7:00 p.m. During the month of December the Pride will play in two tournaments. The Pride will host the Regis College Pride Invite Tournament starting Friday (Dec.10) at 6:00 p.m. The first game of the night will be between the Pride and the Owls of Westfield State. The Pride defeated the Owls last season by the score of 69-58, with a solid performance by Neal who tallied 11 points and four assists on the contest. The winner of this game will play on Saturday (Dec.11) in the championship, while the loser will play in the consolation game. For the next tournament the Pride will travel north to Salem to play in the Salem State Classic.  The Pride will take on five-time NCAA men’s basketball Champion North Park University who travels from the mid-western state of Illinois. This should be a very competitive out of conference game for the Pride.  The second game of the Classic for the Pride will be against the host team Salem State.

Next on the schedule, the Pride crosses the threshold of the month of January.  This transition sets the Pride up for competition against The Commonwealth Coast Conference opponents. The Pride travels to New London, New Hampshire to take on fellow TCCC foe Colby Sawyer College Saturday (Jan. 8).   The Pride defeated the Chargers 89-69 last season. A solid performer  in last season’s contest  was Jimmy Irmiter (Chicago, Ill. /New Hampton) who shot 60 percent from the field and made four  three pointers to tally 16 points on the game.

The Pride continues their mini road trip with an away match-up against Salve Regina University that is set to start at 8:00 p.m.  Last season the Pride defeated the Seahawks by the score of 61-53. This year the match-up should be a competitive one as the Pride will have to defeat the Seahawks at its home court. After a two game road stretch the Pride come home to Weston, Massachusetts to play the Colonels of Curry College. The Colonels defeated the Pride last season 72-66. This year the Pride will look to have a different outcome at the end of the game. This two game home stretch is concluded (Jan.19) when the Pride is set to take on the Pilgrims of New England College at 7:30 p.m. The Pride defeated the Pilgrims last year by the score of 63-50. The Pride finishes up regular season play with a potentially tough battle against Anna Maria College on (Feb. 19) at 3:00 p.m.