Peacocks head south for opener
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
The 2005-06 St. Peter's College basketball team will be centered around two-time and defending NCAA Division I scoring leader senior guard Keydren Clark, and rightfully so.
But the success of the Peacocks will have to come from virtually a new supporting cast as three of last year's starters are gone.
Peacocks head coach Bob Leckie, however, is cautiously optimistic as St. Peter's gets ready to head south for the prestigious 2K Sports College Hoops Classic benefiting Coaches Vs. Cancer.
"We have some talent on the bench and we have a lot of experience in the guys returning, so we'll see," said Leckie.
The Peacocks face host powerhouse Florida, with all-conference performer Corey Brewer, in tomorrow's opener of the Gainsville Regional at the O'Connell Center in Gainsville, Fla.
Most of the season's spotlight will be on Clark, who played in all 28 games and started in 27 in last year's 15-13 campaign and led the nation in scoring with 721 points for a 25.8 average. He led St. Peter's in time on the court (1,083 minutes) and was the team's best foul shooter at .83 percent and tops in assists at 115. Clark also managed to pull down 115 rebounds and hit 109 three-pointers.
Leckie said Clark, who missed the team's second scrimmage last week with tendinitis of the tibia, rested and was back on the court yesterday.
"You never know how missing a week will affect a player, especially right before the season, but we'll see. He looked good (yesterday)," Leckie said.
Senior forward Ivan Bozovic (610-250) is the other returning starter. He started all 28 games, amassed 152 rebounds (5.4 rpg) and averaged 5.5 ppg.
"There is no value you can put on experience and Boz has that experience," said Leckie.
Players returning with court time include sophomore forward Todd Sowell (6-8, 240), who saw time in all 28 games and started twice and junior center-forward Kinzey Reeves (7-0, 225), who played in 26 games and started in eight.
"Reeves is coming along. He was thrown into the mix, so we're hoping he can give us what we need up front," said Leckie.
Senior guard Derrick Hooker (5-10, 172, 26 games) sophomore guard Kaimondre Owes (6-3, 230, 24 games) and sophomore guard Tim Spitler (6-3, 180, 15 games) all will be expected to fill in the pieces.
Completing the roster are sophomore guard Raul Orta (6-4, 200) and freshmen guards Brandon Brock (6-3, 230) and Kevin Spann (6-0, 175) and forwards Imalia Traore (6-6, 225), Quentin Martin (6-5, 230) and Michael Gore (6-6, 200).
Spann will see more court time as Clark's backup, said Leckie. Martin is a "promising" freshman; Gore, who is coming off ankle surgery, is "slowly coming around" and Orta, a transfer from Puerto Rico, is emerging as "one of the better guards in the league," Leckie said.
The Regional rounds, 16 of them, will be played tomorrow through Nov. 11 with the winners competing for the championship at Madison Square Garden Nov. 17-18.
The Peacocks open their home season on Dec. 6 (7 p.m.) against Monmouth at Yanitelli Center.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
The 2005-06 St. Peter's College basketball team will be centered around two-time and defending NCAA Division I scoring leader senior guard Keydren Clark, and rightfully so.
But the success of the Peacocks will have to come from virtually a new supporting cast as three of last year's starters are gone.
Peacocks head coach Bob Leckie, however, is cautiously optimistic as St. Peter's gets ready to head south for the prestigious 2K Sports College Hoops Classic benefiting Coaches Vs. Cancer.
"We have some talent on the bench and we have a lot of experience in the guys returning, so we'll see," said Leckie.
The Peacocks face host powerhouse Florida, with all-conference performer Corey Brewer, in tomorrow's opener of the Gainsville Regional at the O'Connell Center in Gainsville, Fla.
Most of the season's spotlight will be on Clark, who played in all 28 games and started in 27 in last year's 15-13 campaign and led the nation in scoring with 721 points for a 25.8 average. He led St. Peter's in time on the court (1,083 minutes) and was the team's best foul shooter at .83 percent and tops in assists at 115. Clark also managed to pull down 115 rebounds and hit 109 three-pointers.
Leckie said Clark, who missed the team's second scrimmage last week with tendinitis of the tibia, rested and was back on the court yesterday.
"You never know how missing a week will affect a player, especially right before the season, but we'll see. He looked good (yesterday)," Leckie said.
Senior forward Ivan Bozovic (610-250) is the other returning starter. He started all 28 games, amassed 152 rebounds (5.4 rpg) and averaged 5.5 ppg.
"There is no value you can put on experience and Boz has that experience," said Leckie.
Players returning with court time include sophomore forward Todd Sowell (6-8, 240), who saw time in all 28 games and started twice and junior center-forward Kinzey Reeves (7-0, 225), who played in 26 games and started in eight.
"Reeves is coming along. He was thrown into the mix, so we're hoping he can give us what we need up front," said Leckie.
Senior guard Derrick Hooker (5-10, 172, 26 games) sophomore guard Kaimondre Owes (6-3, 230, 24 games) and sophomore guard Tim Spitler (6-3, 180, 15 games) all will be expected to fill in the pieces.
Completing the roster are sophomore guard Raul Orta (6-4, 200) and freshmen guards Brandon Brock (6-3, 230) and Kevin Spann (6-0, 175) and forwards Imalia Traore (6-6, 225), Quentin Martin (6-5, 230) and Michael Gore (6-6, 200).
Spann will see more court time as Clark's backup, said Leckie. Martin is a "promising" freshman; Gore, who is coming off ankle surgery, is "slowly coming around" and Orta, a transfer from Puerto Rico, is emerging as "one of the better guards in the league," Leckie said.
The Regional rounds, 16 of them, will be played tomorrow through Nov. 11 with the winners competing for the championship at Madison Square Garden Nov. 17-18.
The Peacocks open their home season on Dec. 6 (7 p.m.) against Monmouth at Yanitelli Center.
