2011-12 SUNY Potsdam men's basketball season preview

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2011-12 SUNY Potsdam Bears

POTSDAM, NY (11/07/2011)(readMedia)-- The SUNY Potsdam men's basketball team entered the 2010-11 season with a young team, looking to gain experience and improve defensively. The Bears reached those goals, cutting down opponents shooting percentage and points-per-game significantly, while providing valuable minutes on the court for the majority of the roster. Potsdam also improved its conference record (8-18, 7-11 SUNYAC) and returned to the SUNYAC playoffs after a year's absence. The Bears sights are set much higher for 2011-12.

"We're at a point now where our returning players are sophomores and juniors along with three seniors who have a lot of game experience," said Potsdam Head Coach Sherry Dobbs. "We need to move up in the conference standings and compete for a conference championship."

While the Bears will miss guards Anthony Williams (10.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg.), Eddie Cross (6.5 ppg.), and Jordan McAllister, all three-point threats, they return 12 letterwinners and have starting experience at all positions. Dobbs is pleased with the players he has coming back, but all of the questions haven't been answered yet.

"Our last few games of last season we started three freshmen and two sophomores, all of whom are returning," Dobbs said. "So there's a good, experienced group, but I think we're still kind of working through who's going to be playing and where."

Just as last season, Potsdam will work to be stronger defensively.

"We made some progress defensively last season," said Dobbs. "But defense and becoming a better rebounding team have still been our number one focus in preseason. Teams that are competing at a high level are usually good defensive teams that have a significant rebounding advantage, so we've really stressed that this fall."

Leadership will be an important strength for Potsdam this season. The team will be captained by junior All-SUNYAC forward Curtis Pierce (Brooklyn, N.Y./George Westinghouse Vocational), sophomore forward Rob Duquette (Peru, N.Y./Peru), and senior guard Wesley Francisco (Washington Heights, N.Y./Humanities). Pierce started every game for the Bears last season, shot .522 from the floor and led the team in scoring (13.9 ppg.) and rebounding (7.9 rpg.). As a freshman, Duquette started 25 games, scoring 8.1 points-per-game with a shooting percentage of .453. Francisco saw time in 12 games.

"This is a good group," Dobbs said of his captains. "They all bring their own style and compliment each other pretty well. Curtis is a more vocal leader that is able to get on guys in practice. Rob is an unbelievably hard worker and a leader by example. It says a lot about him to be elected captain as a sophomore. Wes is tremendously respected by his teammates. He's a very hard worker, a great organizer, and is really good at team building. He keeps everybody on the same page."

Senior guard Skip Schwartz (Rochester, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) and junior guard Josh Lambert (Brooklyn, N.Y./East New York Transit Tech) will be keys to Potsdam's success in 2011-12. Schwartz started 17 of the 24 contests he played last season. He's one of the few proven three-point threats the Bears have returning after several key departures. Lambert gives the team another backcourt veteran, having provided solid defense in 23 games last season.

Dobbs sees the opportunity for great improvement from several players still coming into their own. Sophomore guard Greg Torchon (Spring Valley, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional), sophomore forwards Jake Klossner (Tupper Lake, N.Y./Tupper Lake) and Colin Peterson (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) are among that group.

"Greg Torchon played quite a bit for us last year and now we're looking for him continue to contribute as a playmaker and defender, said Dobbs. "We think he can be a great defender for us. Jake Klossner is a guy who can shoot the heck out of the ball and stretch defenses. Colin Peterson is very talented. He's basically a 6-7 guard. He shoots the ball well and is a smart basketball player."

Sophomore guard Tony Efese (Spring Valley, N.Y./St. Joseph Region) and senior forward Brad Drysdale (Brooklyn, N.Y./Frederick Douglass Academy) are two Bears that showed glimpses of their abilities in limited time last season. Both should play greater roles this year. Efese played in 18 games with eight starts and made his presence felt from behind the arc. Drysdale saw time in just six games, but averaged 7.5 points-per-game and pulled down 23 rebounds.

Two other players trying to fight their way into the mix are sophomore guards Yusef Graves (Harlem, N.Y./Eagle Academy for Young Men) and Chris Whispell (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam).

"It's a battle right now," Dobbs said. "Yusef was injured and Chris didn't play a lot last year, but both of those guys are pushing their teammates and putting themselves in position to earn their way on to the floor."

Two new faces join the Bears for the upcoming campaign. Junior forward Corey Ellis (Newburgh, N.Y.) comes to Potsdam from Ulster County Community College where he was a captain and standout for the Senators. He will provide the Bears with more size and depth at the post. Freshman Zac Adams (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) moves across town to Welsh Gymnasium from Potsdam High School, where he helped lead the Sandstoners to last year's New York State Championship game. Dobbs believes Adams can make an immediate impact at guard or forward.

Potsdam will battle its way through the usual difficult SUNYAC slate this season. In addition, Dobbs has constructed a very challenging non-conference schedule, featuring multiple playoff-tested teams, to strengthen his squad. The Bears will face Salem State and Southern Vermont College at the Williams Invitational on Nov. 18-19. Potsdam travels to DeSales College on Jan. 3-4 for the Casa Mia Holiday Tournament where the team will square off against Alvernia and either the host Bull Dogs or Berkley College. The Bears will also face Clarkson, St. Lawrence, and Utica.

Potsdam opens the 2011-12 season at Utica College on Nov. 15, at 8 p.m.