2008 Woodie Awards
Youth highlights men's basketball in 2005 season
By Adam Brewer
Rocket Sports Editor
Issue date: 11/11/05 Section: Sports Extra
The 2005-06 season offers a fresh start for the Slippery Rock University men's basketball team.
The team is comprised of only one senior with 11 underclassmen.
After finishing the 2004-05 campaign with a 7-20 overall record and fifth place 5-7 record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western division, the Rock wants to revive the program.
The Rock is led by fourth-year head coach John Marhefka. Marhefka has a record of 23-56 at SRU.
"Since we have such a young team, our goal for this year is to make the PSAC playoffs and to have more wins than years past," Marhefka said.
For the past two seasons, the Rock has been on the edge of the PSAC playoff picture, earning consecutive fifth place finishes. The top four teams in the division are eligible for the playoffs.
"The PSAC West has had a lot of changes this year and we are excited about our chances in the division," Marhefka said. "Since we are a young team, we are going to have a lot of ups and downs this season."
Marhefka will be assisted by Jamal Palmer. This season marks Palmer's first year with the Rock following two seasons as an assistant at Shippensburg.
The Rock has only four players from this year's squad that saw game action last year.
Senior center Dejan Jancic will have to be one of the leaders for the Rock this season. Jancic played in all 27 games for the Rock last year and started three games. Jancic shot 47 percent from the field and 60 percent from the free throw line. Jancic averaged 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season.
Redshirt sophomore guard Brandon Thompson is the other Rock player that has had substantial game experience. Thompson played in 25 games for the Rock and started four of them. Thompson averaged 4.9 points and 1.5 rebounds per game last year. Thompson was also fourth in assists last year with 25. And first on the team in field goal percentage, shooting 55 percent from the floor.
"Both Dejan and Brandon are our most experienced players on this year's team," Marhefka said. "It's too early to tell who are leaders will be, but we are counting on both of them to help out with our young team."
The team is comprised of only one senior with 11 underclassmen.
After finishing the 2004-05 campaign with a 7-20 overall record and fifth place 5-7 record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western division, the Rock wants to revive the program.
The Rock is led by fourth-year head coach John Marhefka. Marhefka has a record of 23-56 at SRU.
"Since we have such a young team, our goal for this year is to make the PSAC playoffs and to have more wins than years past," Marhefka said.
For the past two seasons, the Rock has been on the edge of the PSAC playoff picture, earning consecutive fifth place finishes. The top four teams in the division are eligible for the playoffs.
"The PSAC West has had a lot of changes this year and we are excited about our chances in the division," Marhefka said. "Since we are a young team, we are going to have a lot of ups and downs this season."
Marhefka will be assisted by Jamal Palmer. This season marks Palmer's first year with the Rock following two seasons as an assistant at Shippensburg.
The Rock has only four players from this year's squad that saw game action last year.
Senior center Dejan Jancic will have to be one of the leaders for the Rock this season. Jancic played in all 27 games for the Rock last year and started three games. Jancic shot 47 percent from the field and 60 percent from the free throw line. Jancic averaged 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season.
Redshirt sophomore guard Brandon Thompson is the other Rock player that has had substantial game experience. Thompson played in 25 games for the Rock and started four of them. Thompson averaged 4.9 points and 1.5 rebounds per game last year. Thompson was also fourth in assists last year with 25. And first on the team in field goal percentage, shooting 55 percent from the floor.
"Both Dejan and Brandon are our most experienced players on this year's team," Marhefka said. "It's too early to tell who are leaders will be, but we are counting on both of them to help out with our young team."
