Oct. 22, 2001
"My style of play is to win basketball games, and we are going to do whatever it takes to get that done,"
first year Head Coach Rob Lanier responds when asked to define his style of play. Not the sexy answer media may look to headline, and perhaps not as revealing a response as fans may like, but make no mistake the Siena basketball players are buying into Lanier's style. In fact, the returning members of the 2001-2002 Siena basketball team had preached this technique long before his arrival.
Senior Dwayne Archbold was the first to respond. "As long as we keep winning 20 games a year, that is all the consistency I care about," the All-MAAC forward declared. The answer came in response to the buzz that circulated the Siena campus the day the basketball program learned it would be under new leadership for the third straight year. Everyone had the same question: "How will the team adjust-will the players be able to handle another coaching change?"
Archbold seemed to speak for the whole team with his abrupt response. You see, the Siena basketball team is beginning to develop a reputation that extends far beyond the travels of its recent head coaches. "I think the consensus is that Siena College is one of the best mid-major basketball programs in the country," Lanier said upon his hiring. Indeed.
The success achieved by the Saints on the court and in the stands at Pepsi Arena is unmatched by any school in the conference and few in the region. After posting three straight 20-win seasons-a feat equaled by only 22 other Division I schools in the entire nation-Archbold and his classmates have a legitimate chance to graduate as the winningest class in Siena's tradition-rich history. If they do, chances are it will happen in front of more record crowds in Siena's downtown home, which has seen well over 6,000 fans turn out per game on average in each of the last three years-a figure that ranks in the top-100 nationally.
"As a coaching staff, we need to be conscious of the fact that these kids have won a lot of basketball games and not be so urgent to change the culture that surrounds them," Lanier said. "We will introduce new concepts and initiate activities both on and off the court that reflect what we think needs to happen to sustain this environment of success."
The focus moves to the present, where there are many questions that need to be answered if the Saints are to reach their ambitious aspirations. "We have certain goals, and the talent is in place to reach those goals," Lanier said. "However, the keys to whether or not we do achieve the level of success we are capable of lie in our mental toughness and our leadership qualities."
Backcourt
This is where the questions and the talent lie. After battling through last season without a true point guard, the Saints lost the two ball handling threats they did have to graduation. Sniper Scott Knapp and four-year contributor Isaiah Stewart are gone, as is Carmen Maciariello who provided energy to the position off the bench.
Archbold is the team's most versatile player, but figures to see the most of his time at forward where he was a Second-Team All-MAAC selection a year ago. He has played every position save center since his arrival on campus, and is one of the true talents in the league. The go-to man on offense, Archbold can score off the dribble, post up inside and has developed range beyond the three-point arc. He can take over a game, and will matchup against the league's best on defense.
Classmate Andy Cavo figures to fill the other forward slot after starting 20 games last season. Another player who creates serious problems for opposing defenses, Cavo is the top three-point shooter on the team and is big and strong enough to play off the dribble. A MAAC All-Academic selection, Cavo should add leadership and poise to an otherwise youthful backcourt.
Junior Prosper Karangwa will be called upon to step up his game this season and fill a much more involved role after an outstanding summer in which he traveled the globe with the Canadian National Team. Karangwa has unmatched athletic ability and his 6-7 frame creates countless mismatches at the guard slot. In his first two years, he has flashed signs of brilliance scoring over 20 points on five occasions last season after being named the conference's Rookie of the Week as a freshman.
The trio should account for any scoring loss the Saints may otherwise have suffered, but a void still remains at the point. Returning is sophomore J.J. Harvey, though his natural position is not running the offense. Harvey is one of the top defenders on the team and the most physical member of the backcourt.
Lanier has indicated that the lack of a proven point guard may not be cause for complete panic, pointing to the success of the Siena team last season and that obtained by the Texas Longhorns-where he served as assistant coach-a year ago.
Down the road, hope lies in a collection of heralded newcomers who should all see time this season. Sophomore Mark Price returns to the MAAC after playing his freshman season at Fairfield two years ago. Lanier, a Buffalo native, had followed Price's career since high school and thinks he may be the most ready to step in and see minutes. Freshman Tommy Mitchell is another player who has experience beyond high school. Mitchell worked out with the Saints last season after deciding to sit out a season following graduation. An exceptional athlete who can jump out of the gym, count on Mitchell to play meaningful minutes and contribute when they suit up in November.
Rather than count on the unknown, however, at the onset it appears the five players who are most prepared, regardless of position, will be on the court when the ball is tipped, and the point position may be ruled by committee. "We don't want to have to count on freshman from the start, and with the experience we have in the backcourt, we don't think we will have to," Lanier said.
Frontcourt
The Saints return more depth and skill in the frontcourt than they have in some time. Seniors James Clinton and Dale Taylor appear healthy and determined after missing most of last year with stress fractures in their foots. Junior Michael Buhrman also looks to be in better health after undergoing knee surgery in the middle of last season.
Clinton is loaded with talent and could key Siena's drive for the MAAC crown. The 6-9 forward dropped a career-high 21 points in the season finale` against Canisius in just his third game back from the stress fracture injury. When on top of his game, Clinton can dominate. Taylor is another player whose potential has been untapped to date. After seeing limited time as an underclassmen, he was poised to take over the starting center job before suffering the stress fracture. His size and determination will make him a force around the basket.
The team's top big man a year ago and best offensive presence around the basket is sophomore Justin Miller. Miller stepped up in the absence of Clinton and Taylor and finished third on the team in scoring as a freshman. As nimble as any big man in the league when next to the hoop, Miller is a threat each time he touches the ball.
Buhrman is a player who does the little things to help the Saints win basketball games. Quick to step in and take a charge or battle for an offensive rebound, Buhrman will again be counted on to play key minutes this winter. Sophomore Austin Andrews also figures to add depth to the position after seeing increased playing time a year ago as the season developed.
A pair of talented newcomers also add muscle to Siena's inside game. Brent Sniezyk is a 6-10 frosh from nearby Broadalbin who should contribute right away. Sniezyk is a defined 240-pound post player who has impressed the coaching staff in workouts. Classmate Gary Holle is another area recruit who comes highly touted.
With an average team height of 6-7, the Saints are bigger than they have been in some time and appear poised to dominate the paint. "We are expecting a lot from our front court in terms of leadership and scoring," noted Lanier. "However, the key to our success will lie in our ability to defend and rebound the basketball."
Rotation
Lanier has indicated that his measure of the team's performance will chiefly depend on how well the defense plays. "We will run and mix things up on offense, but we need to have the ball first to do those things," Lanier said. "Our emphasis will be on the defensive game and that is where we will concentrate most of our efforts."
As far as goals go, Lanier concedes only that he is hopeful for quality contributions from the upperclassmen. "I am very excited in the players who are returning to the program and hopeful that the seniors will provide leadership. With that being said, there are certain things we expect based on the talent level we feel we have coming back."
Schedule
"The schedule is ambitious and provides us with a great opportunity," Lanier said.
Three non-conference clashes with Atlantic 10 opponents, and a season opening date at Providence as part of the inaugural Las Vegas Trny, accent the list of 30 regular-season games.
The slate includes the 18-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference schedule, as well as schools from the Atlantic 10, the Big East, the Big 12, the Western Athletic Conference, the Mid-American Conference, the Horizon League, the Ohio Valley Conference, the Northeast Conference and the Southland Conference.
The Saints will play on the road at Fordham on Saturday, November 24 before their season opener at Pepsi Arena against Albany on Tuesday, November 27. The team should be well prepared for their MAAC opener at Marist on December 6 as non-conference clashes at Cleveland State (Dec. 1) and home against Toledo (Dec. 4) begin the month of December.
The non-conference schedule concludes with a quartet of games at the end of the calendar year. Home contests against Hartford and St. Bonaventure precede the season's longest road trip of the season beginning at Rice on Saturday, December 29. The Saints ring in the New Year at Xavier (one of four 2001 NCAA Tournament teams on the schedule), before travelling back to the Empire State to play at conference rival Iona on January 3.
The Saints will play five doubleheaders at Pepsi Arena with the women's team, including an MSG televised contest at home against Iona as part of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day tripleheader on January 21. Siena's home game against Fairfield on Saturday, February 16 will also be telecast on MSG network.
In all, the Saints will have been battle tested by the time the conference tournament, which returns to the friendly confines of Pepsi Arena, rolls around in early March.
"Unlike a lot of schools, who may have a good overall record at the end of the regular season and not have been tested, we will know how good we are when we have finished with our schedule," concluded Lanier.
