SELINSGROVE, Pa. – It’ll be back to the basics for 11th-year head coach Frank Marcinek and his Susquehanna University men’s basketball team as they prepare for the new millenium.
The Crusaders return eight letterwinners, and five players with starting experience from last season’s uncharacteristic 9-14 campaign, which was just the second losing season and the third time the team missed the Middle Atlantic Conference playoffs under Marcinek.
His team was in need of an infusion of some new talent, particularly in the low post, and it may have gotten it from among his 11 new recruits. Among those players are three players at 6-6 or taller. They could make an instant impact, although Marcinek is quick to warn that freshmen need time.
With plenty of talented depth at the two through four spots, who will step up at center and point guard are Marcinek’s biggest question marks as his team opens the 1999-2000 season Friday hosting Richard Stockton at 7 p.m. in the opening game of the Susquehanna University Varsity Club Classic. The Crusaders will also host Gwynedd-Mercy on Sunday at 7 p.m. in the final game of the classic, playing York (Pa.) in their regular-season home opener Monday at 7:30.
“We’re going through a change with the graduation of four starters, but we still have a nucleus to work with. There’s still five or six guys back who have varsity starting experience,” said Marcinek, who is the most successful coach in program history, bringing a 146-107 (.577) record into 1999-2000. “Our defense has been bad in the past and it will be better this season because we have better individual defenders. We expect to be a better defensive and rebounding team, which have been two of our achilles heels in the past.”
THE BACKCOURT
The backcourt will once again remain the deepest part of the team with four players back who all started at one time last season.
Of that group, 6-2 senior swingman Garrett Thompson (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin East H.S.), started the most – making the lineup in 12 games last season, including each of the final nine. He averaged 4.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 50.0 percent from the field. A member of the MAC All-Academic Team a year ago, Thompson transferred from the Division I University of Delaware and has junior eligibility, but has opted not to use his additional year.
“Garrett’s a guy I needed to figure out what his strengths were. Even though he joined us the previous year and practiced with us in the second semester, last year was his first season back in game situations and he needed some time to play,” said Marcinek. “He’s a hard worker and a great athlete and one of the better defenders in the league.”
The other guards returning with starting experience include senior Rob Makarewicz (Sugarloaf/Hazleton Area H.S.) and junior Mike Witcoskie (Annville/Palmyra H.S.), both swingmen, and junior point guard John Green (Reading/Governor Mifflin H.S.).
A 1997-98 second-team MAC Commonwealth League All-Star, the 6-2 Makarewicz started six games last season and averaged 6.4 points per game. He was second on the team in free throw shooting at 80.4 percent (37 of 46), also hitting 12 of 40 three-point attempts (30.0%). He was the team’s best long-range threat as a sophomore, canning 49 of 120 treys to finish seventh in the MAC in three-point percentage (40.8%), and second on the team in scoring (13.7 ppg). Expect Makarewicz to join Thompson in the starting backcourt this season, surprisingly enough at point guard.
“I’d like to say that Rob is back to the Rob Makarewicz of his sophomore season when he was all-conference. He’s playing with much more confidence than he did last season,” said Marcinek. “Nothing would be better for Robbie than to go out and have a great start this season for his confidence.”
Also a MAC All-Academic Team pick, the 6-2 Witcoskie started nine games and averaged 4.7 points per game – finishing third among the regulars in both free throw (78.6%) and three-point (40.6%) percentage.
The 6-0 Green started two games at the point last season and averaged 7.6 points per game – leading the team in both assists with 57 (2.7 per game), and steals with 32 (1.5 per game). Green appeared to be the heir apparent to the starting job at point, but was slowed this preseason by his decision to play football this fall.
Senior Talmus Williams (Chester/Christian Academy) is also back on the team after sitting out last season and should provide some seasoned depth at point guard. He appeared in 10 varsity games as a sophomore, including most of the second half of the team’s tough 80-78 playoff loss at eventual MAC champion Wilkes.
Junior swingman Devin Crummie (Pittsburgh/Central Catholic H.S.) moved to the varsity at mid-season last year and should provide some quality depth as a full-timer this season. Sophomore Matt Fatz (Emmaus/Emmaus H.S.) has also moved up from the junior varsity this season, while Tim Hurd (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills H.S.) is the lone freshman guard to make the varsity.
THE FRONTCOURT
The other player with starting experience is 6-5 junior power forward Brad Rausch (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South H.S.), who started six games last season and averaged 3.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. A regular two seasons ago, Rausch made the league’s All-Rookie Team as a freshman as he averaged 5.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, shooting 50.7 percent (38 of 75) from the field. He is one of the team’s defensive stoppers.
“We’d like to see him (Rausch) turn back the clock and also return to his freshman form,” said Marcinek. “He’s a good post player, a good defender, and a good rebounder.”
Athletic 6-4 sophomore forward Corey Green (6.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg) (Roselle, N.J./Roselle Catholic H.S.) is also back and expected to see an increased role this season – quite possibly as the team’s starting small forward. Capable of playing either forward position because of his athleticism, Green averaged 6.6 points in just 14 minutes per game last season – shooting 47.7 percent (53 of 111) from the field and averaging 4.1 rebounds per game.
“Corey’s is as athletic of a player as we have, and may be as athletic as anyone in the league. He’s awfully good at scoring with his back to the basket, scoring in the post, and defensive rebounding. He really creates tough match-ups for people,” said Marcinek.
If Marcinek opts to go smaller in his lineup, expect Thompson to join either Rausch or Green up front.
Six-foot-five junior Chris Rodgers (Philadelphia/Penn Charter H.S.) could also see time if Marcinek needs more big men in the frontcourt. Rodgers played in 15 games a year ago.
Like Williams in the backcourt, 1999 MAC indoor high jump champion and 6-3 senior Adam Ressler (Robesonia/Conrad Weiser H.S.) is also back after missing last season. Ressler had the put back which tied that Wilkes playoff game with just :06.2 left in 1998, and he should provide some seasoned depth up front.
IN THE PIVOT
Six-foot-eight, 220-pound freshman Zigmas Kaknevicius (Bethpage, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran H.S.) should give the team something it’s been sadly lacking in recent years – quality size at center. Kaknevicius has earned the starting job at five.
“Zigmas is a big man with good athletic ability, but he lacks playing experience,” said Marcinek. “He was a non-starter in a very good high school program at Long Island Lutheran. But he’s a legitimate five-man and that gives us a force in the middle to rebound, give some low post scoring, and block some shots. Time will tell how good he’ll be.”
Six-foot-six sophomore Stephan Schrankel (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel H.S.) saw limited time in nine varsity games last season and is the back-up at center.
Six-foot-eight freshman Kevin McLoughlin (Pottstown/St. Pius X H.S.) also gives Marcinek another newcomer with some size who could eventually help out down low.
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