Mount St. Mary's men's basketball coach Milan Brown hopes to see his 2006-07 team maintain the momentum generated by the last year's squad who had the team's best season in seven years.  The Mount finished fourth in the Northeast Conference last year, its best finish since 1996-97.  The team also hosted a NEC playoff game for the first time since 1996.

 

The key to last year's success was a significant improvement on the defensive end of the court  The Mount, which finished with a 13-17 overall record and 11-7 in the NEC, held the opposition to 66.5 points per game, its lowest scoring defense since 1981.  The scoring defense was even better in NEC play as the team held the opposition to just 62.9 points per game.  In addition, Mount St. Mary's held 14 straight opponents under 70 points, something that hasn't been done at the Mount since 1948. 

 

"We were able to become a good defensive team last year and establish an identity on how we will play on a night-in, night-out basis," said Brown, who signed a contract extension in February.  "With the help of our returning players, we should be able to carry that over to this season, and hopefully become an even better defensive team."

 

A strong recruiting class mixed in with a solid group of returnees will give the Mount its deepest team since Brown took over in 2003.  Three starters and several key reserves return to lead the way.

 

"If everything works out, we should be two deep at every position," said Brown.  "That gives us flexibility and will allow us to keep fresh bodies on the court.  We will be able to maintain our defensive pressure while also having the opportunity to get out in transition."

 

One of the keys to the season will be the Mount's ability to improve on the offensive end of the court.  With the graduation of three of the team's top four scorers from a year ago, there is a question about who will score the points.  Increased production in the open court could help alleviate that problem.

 

"We are going to make a conscious effort to run this year," said Brown.  "A major factor in our offensive production will be how we play in the open court."

 

Senior Mychal Kearse headlines the group of returning starters for the Mount.  Kearse, the 2006 NEC Defensive Player of the Year, has become the heart and soul of the team.  The top rebounding guard in the conference, Kearse averaged 10.6 points and 7.8 rebounds as a junior.  Kearse, who  is recovering from a knee injury suffered in the offseason, is expected to be back to full strength by the beginning of the season.

 

Kearse was sensational down the stretch, recording a double-double in three of his final four games, averaging 12.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in that span.  He had six double-doubles on the season, giving him 11 in his career, tied for the third-most by a Mount player since the school went to NCAA Division I in 1988.

 

"Mike was the heart of our team last year and I wouldn't expect anything to change this year," said Brown.  "He has developed into a good leader for our program both on and off the court.  If he can return 100-percent healthy from his knee injury, I fully expect him to have a great season.  He's a consistent jump shot away from being one of the top five players in the league.  I have never been around a guard who rebounds the basketball so ferociously.  I always look forward to seeing confrontations at the rim that involve Mike."

 

Sophomore point guard Joey Butler also returns this season.  Butler, who started 29 games as a freshman, averaged 5.3 points, 3.0 assists and 2.7 rebounds last season.  Butler, who has great vision in the open court, led the Mount and all NEC freshmen with 89 assists.  A steady defender as well, he was tied for third on the team with 26 steals.  If he continues to improve his outside shot, Butler could also see some time at the shooting guard spot.

 

"We are looking forward to seeing a big jump this year from Joey in all statistical categories," said Brown.  "However, his main role will be to develop as a leader on the floor.  Last year, he didn't have to fill that role, but this season he needs to step up and be more vocal on the court.  Look for Joey to score some more this year, especially in transition."

 

Junior Chris Vann, who averaged 4.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 11 games last season, will challenge for a starting spot in 2006-07.  Vann, who missed the majority of last season with a hip injury, gave the coaching staff a hint of what he can do by scoring a career-high 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting in his first collegiate start against Fairleigh Dickinson.

 

"Chris has been waiting for this opportunity for two years and now he has the chance to show everyone what kind of basketball player he is," said Brown.  "He has the ability to make outside shots and is also a sneaky rebounder who is not afraid to mix it up.  He has a powerful body that can take bumps in the paint and he probably has the best basketball IQ on the team.  He is an efficient scorer who has the ability to score 15-18 points on eight shots because he rarely takes a bad shot."

 

A solid group of freshmen will push for time at both the guard and small forward spots.  The list includes point guard Jeremy Goode, two-guard Jean Cajou and swingmen Will Holland and Kelly Beidler.

 

Goode, a 5-9 point guard from Providence Day High School in Charlotte, N.C., gives Brown a change of pace at the point guard position.   Goode averaged 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists last year while earning Associated Press First Team All-State honors for the second straight season.  Goode also earned the Mecklenburg County and Charlotte Observer Player of the Year honors.  He finished third in the vote for Mr. Basketball in North Carolina.

 

"Jeremy is a super quick point guard," said Brown.  "It will be exciting to find out how quick he really is on the court.  He is very good in the open court and he loves to attack the basket.  He will enhance our fast break as well as give us pressure on the ball on the defensive end."

 

Cajou, a 6-3 guard, averaged 14 points, five rebounds and two steals as a senior last year at Paul VI High School.  He was selected to the Virginia Independent Schools First Team for the second straight year while also collecting Second Team All-WCAC honors.  Cajou, a solid defender who can get to the basket on the offensive end, scored a career-high 29 points against nationally-ranked DeMatha.

 

"Jean comes from one of the best high school basketball conferences in the country, so the adjustment to the level of competition shouldn't be as great for him as other freshmen," said Brown.  "He is good at slashing to the basket while also possessing a good mid-range jump shot.  In high school, he always guarded the opponents top player, so he should fit in well with our style of defense."

 

Holland, a 6-4 swingman, averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds as a senior at Lamar High School last year.  A tremendous outside shooter, Holland made 12 three-pointers while collecting a career-high 44 points against Lee High School as a senior.  Holland will be the first-ever Mount basketball player to hail from the state of Texas.

 

"Will is a very intelligent and tough perimeter player," said Brown.  "He is a good rebounder from the guard spot as well.  He is athletic enough to make plays at the rim, but what we'll look forward to from him is his ability to shoot the basketball from the outside.  He is a tireless worker and is always looking to improve his game."

 

A 6-5 swingman, Beidler averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals as a senior at Tallwood High School.  Beidler was selected as the Tidewater Player of the Year while collecting Beach District Player and Defensive Player of the year honors.  A solid all-around player, Beidler brings a balance of perimeter and post skills to the wing position.

 

"Kelly is an athletic, versatile player with the ability to play a variety of spots," said Brown.  "He also fits in defensively and brings the ability to guard both perimeter and post players.  He gives us a bigger wing player who can rebound the basketball.  In addition, his size allow him to post up smaller perimeter players.  The sky is the limit for Kelly depending on how hard he works over the next couple of years."

 

Senior walk-on Nick Whitney continues to be a valuable member of the program.  The 6-4 forward scored his first collegiate points in the home win over Sacred Heart last year and appeared in seven games on the season.

 

"Nick had a great year for us last season and I don't expect that to change this year," said Brown.  "He has developed into a good player and has garnered respect from all of our players.  Hopefully, he'll have a great senior season."

 

Sophomore Sam Atupem started 21 of 23 games in the Mount frontcourt last year.  The 6-7 forward averaged 6.7 points and 3.1 rebounds while finishing ninth in the NEC in field goal percentage (.507).  Atupem, an NEC All-Rookie Team selection and a two-time NEC Rookie of the Week honoree, scored a season-high 14 points at Old Dominion as a freshman.

 

"Sam did a good job for us last year, but it took time for him to recover from his knee injury from a stamina standpoint," said Brown.  "However, he has a huge upside as he continues to expand his game.  He could be a huge surprise in the league if he continues to improve.  We are looking forward to see him play with his back to the basket as well as facing the basket from the perimeter."

 

Senior Gus Durr looks to compete for a starting spot in the frontcourt after a solid junior season.  Durr, who is the top post scorer for the Mount, averaged 6.6 points per game and shot 50.8 percent from the field on the season.  Durr played well down the stretch last year, scoring a season-high 15 points in the one-point loss to Robert Morris in the NEC Tournament.  Over the final six games of the year, Durr averaged 10.2 points per game.

 

"Gus is our best low-post scorer, but he also has the ability to step out and shoot both from mid-range and behind the three-point line," said Brown.  "With more minutes, we are looking forward to see Gus become a consistent scorer.  The biggest thing we need from Gus is to help in the rebounding department.  If he does that, he'll be a solid contributor in the frontcourt for us."

 

Senior Kirk Bunn is the Mount's most athletic player in the post.  With his ability to play above the rim, Bunn should be able to generate several highlight-reel type of plays.  Bunn, the Mount's second-ever junior college transfer, averaged 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 25 games last year.  He had season-highs of nine points and five boards in a start against Loyola. 

 

"Kirk is our most athletic post player," noted Brown.  "He has the ability to play above the rim and to get out on the fast break.  He can be a good defender, especially when guarding face-up post players.  He has good lateral movement and is a strong kid.  I expect him to give us energy in the post with his ability to rebound and make plays above the rim."

 

Junior Jason Loughry gives the Mount a big presence in the paint.  The 7-0 center appeared in 18 games last season, averaging 0.8 points and 1.1 rebounds.  Loughry grabbed a season-high five rebounds in the Mount's win at St. Francis (Pa.).

 

"Jason has been working on his strength and being more aggressive and confident in all facets of his game," said Brown.  "He's a very skilled low-post player and has the ability to score with his back to the basket as well as facing up.  The biggest thing we need from Jason is for him to play as big as possible, allowing him to be a presence in the paint both offensively and defensively."

 

Sophomore Markus Mitchell provides the Mount with a solid defender in the post.  The 6-7 forward appeared in all 30 games, starting the first 12.  Mitchell came on strong late in the year, hitting 78.9 percent from the floor over the final 11 games of the season.  Mitchell averaged 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds per game while leading the team in field goal percentage (.522) and blocks (21).

 

"Markus is the hardest-working player on the team," said Brown.  "He has a high basketball IQ and is our best post defender.  He is a skilled player, a good passer and can handle the ball.  He excels at doing the little things that don't show up in the stat sheet, but help us win games."

 

Joining the mix in the frontcourt is 6-8 freshman shot blocker Tayvon Jackson.  Jackson, who averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and seven blocks his senior year at Lackey High School, earned First Team All-County and Charles County Player of the Year honors last season.  Jackson led his team to the state championship game and provides the Mount with a shot-blocker in the paint.

 

"Tayvon's biggest hurdle entering his freshman season will be his strength," said Brown.  "What he does possess is something that can't be taught which is timing to block shots.  He fits in with what we do on the defensive end and may provide us with something we haven't had in a while...a shot blocker.  He possesses a good 15-foot jump shot, but has to develop his low-post game."

 

Once again the Mount will face a difficult non-conference schedule to help prepare the team for the rigors of NEC play.  The Mount's non-conference lineup includes home games with James Madison (Nov. 14), American (Nov. 27) and Maine (Nov. 29).  In addition, the Mount will travel to Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouses North Carolina State (Dec. 16) and Maryland (Dec. 28).  The Mount will also travel to La Salle (Nov. 18), Binghamton (Nov. 20), Loyola (Dec. 2), Winthrop (Dec. 18) and Lafayette (Dec. 22).

 

"We once again have a very competitive non-conference schedule," said Brown.  "Our home schedule features some tough opponents which will be great for us as we prepare for conference play and great for our fans as well."

 

With a deep squad that includes three returning starters, the Mount looks to challenge once again for one of the top spots in the Northeast Conference.  With its solid defensive system and the ability to generate offense in the open court, the Mount hopes to achieve its team goals for the 2006-07 season.