Young team holds high hopes
By Matt Muncy, November 12, 2009
The men’s basketball team is looking to reclaim their spot at the top of the HCAC after a disappointing loss to Transylvania University in the conference championship game last season. They kick off their season on the road against Trine University on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
The team finished 17-10 (13-3 HCAC) and were co-champions of the regular season with Transylvania. The Grizzlies have finished above .500 and at least third in the conference in the last five seasons.
Franklin has made the last two HCAC championship games, as well, winning it two years ago. Though the team will be much younger than in recent history, Prather said the goal remains the conference championship title.
“My theory is if you do not set your expectation there, then it is impossible to get there,” said head coach Kerry Prather.
In 2008 Franklin defeated Defiance College 82-76 and then were eliminated in the first round of the Division III tournament by Centre College. Last season the team lost to Transylvania 76-72 and did not make the national tournament.
Prather, who will be returning for his 27th season, the lost of four senior starters has forced him to reshuffle the deck, but he is encouraged by the experience the sophomores have after their freshman season.
“They have to take their experience from freshman year, which most people get as juniors, and play like juniors.”
The oldest player on the team is junior Scott Trueblood, but he will have the support of sophomore standouts Will Conoley and Clay Starrett who saw a lot of playing time as freshman.
“I think we learned a lot as freshman and the experience will help us,” Starrett said.
The team includes seven sophomores, and nine freshmen. The freshmen are going to have to learn fast because they will be thrown into games immediately and many will see significant minutes throughout the season.
“Our first games last year were rough because everyone was bigger and stronger than us and we can relate to the freshman since we just went through it and we know the first few games will be rough for them,” Conoley said.
Translyvania was picked to repeat as HCAC champions while the Grizzlies were picked xx
Conoley is the top returner from last year’s team. He averaged 27 minutes per game, along with 13.9 points. He led the team in rebounds with 5.6 per game.
Starrett will also be a key part of the team and will get more minutes this season. Last year Starrett averaged just 18.8 minutes per game, while contributing 4.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.
“The downside will be having freshman and sophomores on the floor a lot at the same time,” Prather said. “The thing that may help us is I don’t think we will see many teams dominated by upperclassman in our conference.”
He also thought it would be good for the freshman to see a fair amount of playing time.
“Young talent can become experienced talent over the course of a season.”
The team’s home opener is Wednesday against Earlham at 7:30 p.m.
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