Justine DiFilippo
The Cabrini men’s basketball season has been a season full of high and low points. The Caviler’s season began on Nov. 11th, 2001, with a win against St. Norbert. Since then the team has achieved an overall record of 11-7, with a respectable record of 7-2 in PAC play. The team is currently in second place in the Pioneer Athletic Conference, tied with Misericordia College, behind first-place-team Alvernia College.
The men’s team has suffered many close losses so far this season. Two 1-point losses occurred during their road trip to Arizona. “We have had a tough year so far,” Coach John Dzik commented. A close loss Neumann College was upsetting for the team, however, the Cavilers fought back in PAC play winning their next three games against Eastern, Arcadia and Gwynedd-Mercy colleges. “The team has played up to their capabilities so far this season. We know we’re not the best team, however, we have to keep playing at the highest level in order to win. We can do it, we have done it before,” Dzik said. The most recent win came on this past Wednesday night, January 23rd, against Neumann College.
Leading the team this year are juniors Kris Pittman, Brian Wood, and Tim Maddox. Combined they lead the team in points, averaging 36.6 points a game. Other strengths of the team include experience, a strong defense, and rebounding abilities, in which Wood leads the team with an average of ten rebounds a game. “We have many strengths that include rebounding even though we are a smaller sized team,” Dzik said.
“We have to work on our man-to-man coverage, and we are inconsistent when shooting the ball. However, having experienced players on our team helps us win games.”
Coach Dzik feels that fan support would also help the team be more successful, especially at home games which are played in the Dixon Center here on campus. He is disappointed with the school and student’s support for their team. He finds it disappointing that at some of the past home games the visiting team’s fans have outnumbered home support. “Increased support for all of the teams at Cabrini is needed. In basketball having the students and school come out and support their own team can be a very big influence on how the team plays and on the motivation the team has. When a team knows they have the support of the crowd it is like having a sixth person out there playing on the court,” Dzik said.
The goals of the team this year are simple, to make PAC playoffs and win a title. Coach John Dzik feels that this is a realistic goal for his team. “To make playoffs and win a title is the goals as of right now. If we win the title it would be an upset, for we are not favored to win, however I feel that if we concentrate at address are weaknesses we can pull it off.”
Cabrini’s next game is January 26th against Wesley College and is an away game. The next home game is on the 28th of January. Come out and join Dzik’s zoo in support of Cabrini Caviler’s men’s basketball.
