The men’s basketball team must still be on that last season high. They have shown up ready to play every game so far, and are still playing with that national championship attitude. With a record of 3-2, the games that the men have lost have been against ranked opponents. The latest loss against Scranton ended in heartbreak losing the game by one point in overtime.
The team lost some very key players that were seniors last year. Without All-American Cory Lemons and star shooter John Boyd, there are holes to fill.
For a team that did so well last year with the players that they had, it must be hard to be missing members of the original unit.
And in some cases, it is evident on the floor. Chemisty is a huge aspect to the Cavs’ success. While they are still working out the kinks that come with having new faces – nine in total – they have to meet some lofty expectations.
Let’s be honest, whether it’s right or wrong, Cabrini’s men’s basketball team is definitely the school’s favorite sports team. I mean let’s face it.
Just about a month ago the men’s and women’s soccer teams both won the CSAC championship. The women’s field hockey and volleyball teams made the CSAC Final. If you asked a majority of students if they even knew about that, they would probably say no.
Last year for the men’s basketball team, there were busses to away games. And for the final championship game, there was a school wide send off for the team.
What did the soccer teams get this year? Hardly any recognition compared to what the basketball team got and gets.
That’s not to say that the recognition is not warranted. The men’s basketball team did what no other team on campus has ever accomplished. They played for a national championship. They came up just three points short of the school’s first national title.
For that, the Cavs have the floor, literally. They will draw crowds and they will have high expectations.
But it also comes with a price. There is pressure to deliver. There are tougher games and opponents. The Cavs have a massive target on their back.
While they may still be the class of the CSAC, they are now expected to also compete on a national scale. That’s more than any other team on campus can say, even after all four fall sports played in their respected conferenec championships.
But perhaps that is too much to ask. Perhaps people need to think of campus sports as a whole and not just the men’s basketball team. It’s easy for success to go to your head, especially when you’re a fan. But keep in mind that what happens on the floor is what really matters and a record-setting season can become quite meaningless very quickly.
The Cavs have tipped-off the 2012-13 season. Perhaps it’s time to shift the focus there and stop talking about the past. What’s done is done and even though the Cavs gave Cabrini national recognition, the focus has already shifted for the players and coaches.
Although there is still a lot of work to be done and many more games to be played. If the team continues to play with the passion that they have now, they should be heading in the same direction as they were in at the end of the season last year.
And that’s just the news the Cabrini fans should be looking for.
