Shane EvansUnderneath the bright lights of the Dixon center, run tall, muscular, tattooed men in blue-and-white Nike sneakers. Running down their face is the sweat from another hard-day’s practice. In their ears, ring the shouting voices of their coaches. The men’s basketball team has been working hard all year to become PAC champs and have just returned from an 11-day road trip. Nonetheless, they are still going to have to work hard and improve if they want to make their championship dreams a reality.
“I think after the opening five games, there’s no question that we found out what some of our weaknesses were” head coach John Dzik said. “Ball handling; we turned the ball over too much…our execution in the half-court…timing, screening, and using the options that we have in our plays. And then, I would like to say our overall defense. Just really doing a better job defensively.”
The men’s basketball team has just recently come off an 11-day road trip where they won two games and lost three. During their 11 days on the road, the team took part in the CP Dean Tip-Off Classic in Hampden-Sydney, Va. and the Myrtle Beach Classic, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Their road trip began on Nov. 18, with the CP Dean Tip-Off Classic, where the team faced Methodist College and Clarke College. Unfortunately, the team lost both games. However, they managed to rebound with a win over Newport News Apprentice 72-66.
“We did all right. We just got off to a rough start” forward Brandon Millwood said.
A few days later, the team rolled into Myrtle Beach, S.C. to take part in the Myrtle Beach Classic. The team managed to slip by Roanoke College 58-57, but later fell to North Central College 77-60 in the Championship game of the tournament.
Their road trip came to a close at Arcadia University on Dec. 1 when they faced the Arcadia University Knights. Messiah Reames, Jim McMahon, and Ty Teasley all came up big, scoring a combined total of 48 points in Cabrini’s win over Arcadia 72-59.
Since their return to Cabrini College, the team has improved steadily. “I’m pleased with our development,” Dzik said. “We have a mixture of veterans and young players. We’re trying to blend them together and so far, I feel we’re getting better all the time.”
However, the team is going to have to continue to work hard if they want to achieve their goal of PAC champs. “We’re not the kind of team that can ever relax and rest on our laurels. We have to keep improving if we’re going to be a good basketball team,” Dzik said.
Even though the team lost three games on the road, the trip has helped to bring the team closer to one another regardless. “By the team being together for 11 days on the road, each of the players got to know one another a lot better as teammates. So, because we know each other more as people now, we are a better team. That has probably been the biggest positive,” Dzik said.
When asked about how the team’s performance during the tournament could affect the upcoming season Coach Dzik said, “We played good competition on the road. Any time you can go on the road and be competitive, it shows that you have the ability to be a good team. That’s why we took the trip; so that we could see how our team would react to being on the road. You’re in someone else’s building. It’s an adverse situation. It’s ideal. I think that’s going to make us better as we go through the season and down the end.”
The men’s basketball season continued on Saturday, Dec. 4, when they face Wesley College at the Dixon Center at 3 p.m. The Cavs emerged victorious once again defeating Wesley College 69-57. Their season continues on with the Cavs hitting the road again to face Marywood College on Monday, Dec. 6, at Marywood College.
Posted to the web by Shane Evans
