Injuries derailed what could have been a big year
NEWARK -- For a mid-major college basketball program such as the University of Delaware's, 20 is a number both loved and loathed.
Win that many, the season is a rousing success. Lose that many and it's viewed as a failure.
Heading into the 2004-05 season, UD men's coach David Henderson didn't flinch when presented with the possibility his Blue Hens had an outside shot at 20 wins. With the experience a young team gained from a 16-12 record in 2003-04, he thought so, too, "if we stay healthy," he said.
Delaware didn't even begin preseason practice healthy and was plagued by injuries all season, with three players missing the entire year.
When the Blue Hens begin Colonial Athletic Association Tournament play at 8 tonight against Towson at the Richmond Coliseum, they'll do so with a 10-19 record and destined for the second 20-loss season in school history.
Henderson and his team have been frustrated and disappointed by the downturn, while knowing much has been out of their control. The allegiance of some UD fans was also tested. Home attendance slipped to its lowest (4,327 tickets sold per game) since 1997-98, when an NCAA Tournament-bound team averaged 3,686 for its home games.
"Mike [Slattery] and Calvin [Smith] were my first two recruits, and I always told myself that when those two guys are seniors, that'll be how you judge your team with where you are," said Henderson, 75-71 in five years as UD coach.
"When they became freshmen, we were going into a new league [the CAA from America East]. When they became seniors this year, along with [fifth-year senior]
Robin Wentt, we should be where we want to be. I wanted this to be the year where the sky would be the limit, so to speak."
Feeling Delaware was up to the task, Henderson upgraded the schedule this year, adding challenging opponents such as Ohio State, St. Mary's (Calif.), San Francisco, Toledo and Auburn.
Season-robbing injuries to junior Chris Prothro (ankle) and sophomores Herb Courtney (knee) and Henry Olawoye (lower legs) helped undermine that quest. While the three had combined to average just 10.1 points and 5.8 rebounds last year as reserves, Henderson expected significant contributions from all.
But that wasn't the extent of the injuries. In all, Delaware players missed 107 games because of illness or injuries. The five-game loss of Slattery with a fractured thumb Dec. 20-Jan. 2 was particularly difficult. Delaware went 0-5.
"I believed we had put ourselves in a position, personnel-wise, to be one of the elite teams in this league," Henderson said. "I still believe, with all my heart, we're right there.
"You can't change anything that has taken place, but has this year helped this program? Absolutely, because we've learned a great deal about ourselves and we still find the strength to keep fighting. That's what I'm most proud of. I don't think anybody was looking forward to playing us, and all the coaches know what we're missing. How many of those teams we lost to could afford to lose three guys who would play considerable minutes?"
Henderson said his former coach at Duke, Mike Krzyzewski, with whom he speaks regularly, has often provided uplifting words during a difficult season.
"It helps coming from someone who has experienced a great deal in the sport, because, before he became 'Coach K,' he experienced some different things," Henderson said, alluding to Krzyzewski's early struggles as Duke coach. "He said, 'Sometimes, David, in times like this, it's when you become your best.' "
It was Krzyzewski who recommended Henderson, then an assistant on his staff, to Delaware administrators looking to replace Mike Brey after Brey's July 14, 2000, move to Notre Dame.
Delaware athletic director Edgar Johnson, who signed Henderson to a five-year contract extension before last season, said his faith hasn't wavered.
"I think he's done a great job," Johnson said. "I understand we have very passionate fans who want success in everything we do. I think we're all frustrated because we aren't having a better season, but there are reasons for that.
"There have been some injuries, including some season-ending injuries to players who would have played a prominent role in our basketball program. I think Dave likes his team and its athleticism and its emotional makeup, and I know he was looking forward to this season. But each year is different, and you have to take them one at a time."
The CAA Tournament provides a second chance. Delaware enters it having lost four straight but having a measure of confidence from close losses at UNC-Wilmington and Drexel the last two.
NEWARK -- For a mid-major college basketball program such as the University of Delaware's, 20 is a number both loved and loathed.
Win that many, the season is a rousing success. Lose that many and it's viewed as a failure.
Heading into the 2004-05 season, UD men's coach David Henderson didn't flinch when presented with the possibility his Blue Hens had an outside shot at 20 wins. With the experience a young team gained from a 16-12 record in 2003-04, he thought so, too, "if we stay healthy," he said.
Delaware didn't even begin preseason practice healthy and was plagued by injuries all season, with three players missing the entire year.
When the Blue Hens begin Colonial Athletic Association Tournament play at 8 tonight against Towson at the Richmond Coliseum, they'll do so with a 10-19 record and destined for the second 20-loss season in school history.
Henderson and his team have been frustrated and disappointed by the downturn, while knowing much has been out of their control. The allegiance of some UD fans was also tested. Home attendance slipped to its lowest (4,327 tickets sold per game) since 1997-98, when an NCAA Tournament-bound team averaged 3,686 for its home games.
"Mike [Slattery] and Calvin [Smith] were my first two recruits, and I always told myself that when those two guys are seniors, that'll be how you judge your team with where you are," said Henderson, 75-71 in five years as UD coach.
"When they became freshmen, we were going into a new league [the CAA from America East]. When they became seniors this year, along with [fifth-year senior]
Robin Wentt, we should be where we want to be. I wanted this to be the year where the sky would be the limit, so to speak."
Feeling Delaware was up to the task, Henderson upgraded the schedule this year, adding challenging opponents such as Ohio State, St. Mary's (Calif.), San Francisco, Toledo and Auburn.
Season-robbing injuries to junior Chris Prothro (ankle) and sophomores Herb Courtney (knee) and Henry Olawoye (lower legs) helped undermine that quest. While the three had combined to average just 10.1 points and 5.8 rebounds last year as reserves, Henderson expected significant contributions from all.
But that wasn't the extent of the injuries. In all, Delaware players missed 107 games because of illness or injuries. The five-game loss of Slattery with a fractured thumb Dec. 20-Jan. 2 was particularly difficult. Delaware went 0-5.
"I believed we had put ourselves in a position, personnel-wise, to be one of the elite teams in this league," Henderson said. "I still believe, with all my heart, we're right there.
"You can't change anything that has taken place, but has this year helped this program? Absolutely, because we've learned a great deal about ourselves and we still find the strength to keep fighting. That's what I'm most proud of. I don't think anybody was looking forward to playing us, and all the coaches know what we're missing. How many of those teams we lost to could afford to lose three guys who would play considerable minutes?"
Henderson said his former coach at Duke, Mike Krzyzewski, with whom he speaks regularly, has often provided uplifting words during a difficult season.
"It helps coming from someone who has experienced a great deal in the sport, because, before he became 'Coach K,' he experienced some different things," Henderson said, alluding to Krzyzewski's early struggles as Duke coach. "He said, 'Sometimes, David, in times like this, it's when you become your best.' "
It was Krzyzewski who recommended Henderson, then an assistant on his staff, to Delaware administrators looking to replace Mike Brey after Brey's July 14, 2000, move to Notre Dame.
Delaware athletic director Edgar Johnson, who signed Henderson to a five-year contract extension before last season, said his faith hasn't wavered.
"I think he's done a great job," Johnson said. "I understand we have very passionate fans who want success in everything we do. I think we're all frustrated because we aren't having a better season, but there are reasons for that.
"There have been some injuries, including some season-ending injuries to players who would have played a prominent role in our basketball program. I think Dave likes his team and its athleticism and its emotional makeup, and I know he was looking forward to this season. But each year is different, and you have to take them one at a time."
The CAA Tournament provides a second chance. Delaware enters it having lost four straight but having a measure of confidence from close losses at UNC-Wilmington and Drexel the last two.
