Box Score
With just one senior and two juniors on the roster, the Sewanee men's basketball team is looking towards a season of growth and promise. The three upperclassmen bring a wealth of experience and skills to the court and will be looked upon to lead the eleven freshmen and sophomores, all of whom will be expected to take on impact roles in the 2010-2011 season.
The Tigers are coming off a 2009-10 campaign that featured a young squad and produced a 4-21 overall record and a 1-15 record in the SCAC. Head Coach Bubba Smith started a line-up for most the season that came into the year with a combined total of just 14 collegiate starts. Despite their inexperience, the Tigers led the SCAC in offensive rebounding and eight of the team's losses were by ten points or less. The returnees from last year's team were forced to learn SCAC basketball the hardest way and their on-the-job training has left them hungry for the year ahead. Combined with a bevy of talented newcomers, the Sewanee Tigers look poised to take the team to the next level in 2010-11.
Team captain Tony Marelle (Atlanta, Ga., Mt. Pisgah), the Tigers' lone senior and an Honorable Mention All-SCAC performer last year, returns to lead the squad in 2010-11. Marelle returned to the team last fall after taking a year off and quickly became the team's go-to leader. Marelle battled through early-season injuries to finish second in the SCAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6) and fifth in the league in assists (4.0). He was honored as team MVP by his teammates after last season and highlighted his year with a 21 point, nine assist showing in the Tigers' 87-81 overtime victory over Earlham College last season. Coach Smith and the Tigers will look to Marelle's leadership, experience, and work ethic to help lead the squad on the court in 2010-11.
Sam Martin (Ringgold, Ga., Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe) and Trent Williams (Lawrenceburg, Tenn., Lawrence County High School) return as the squads' only two juniors and the two are talented athletes whose off-season motivation should translate into exceptional performances throughout the season. Martin, who's a game-changer on defense, finished the 09-10 season ranked tenth in the SCAC in blocked shots and third on the team in rebounding and set a new career-high in statistical categories. Williams, who battled injuries on and off throughout the entire 2009-10 season, scored a career-high 19 points against Rhodes College last year and pulled down a personal-best seven rebounds on three separate occasions during the season. A dedicated worker in the gym and in the weight room, Williams is determined to leave his mark on the 2010-11 Tigers and to regain his standing as a leader for the team.
The Tigers return a five-man sophomore class in 2010-11 that gained invaluable experience as freshmen last season. Lewis Affronti (Virginia Beach, Va., Norfolk Academy) is arguably the most versatile player on the Tiger roster. A tenacious defender who was picked as the defensive MVP by his teammates, Lewis is also a great shooter and attacks the rim with abandon. He started 21 games as a freshman and finished among the team leaders in every statistical category. Brett Bouldin (Crossville, Ala., Crossville) returns to the team with the potential to be one of the best shooters in the conference. He shot 36% from three-point range as a freshman, the second-best total on the team. Brett has a lightening-quick first step and played very well down the stretch last season.
Tyler Brown (Goodlettsville, Tenn., Beech) finished tenth in the SCAC in rebounds as a freshman. He is the emotional leader of the team, and no one plays harder or attacks the rim with more energy. Tyler has worked hard in the off-season and should anchor the team on the glass. Matt Cowan (Goodlettsville, Tenn., Beech) joined the team during the second semester after transferring from the University of Kentucky. He is one of the best shooters in the league and led the Tigers in three-point percentage, shooting a robust 47% as a freshman. Matt found his comfort zone as the season progressed and finished on a high note, going seven of nine from three-point range over a six-minute stretch in the second half at Oglethorpe in the season-finale last year. He finished that last game of the season with 22 points and six rebounds and is set to ride that momentum into the 2010-11 season brimming with confidence. Derrick Duncan (Chattanooga, Tenn., Brainerd) is quick and athletic guard who presents a match-up problem for most of the conference. A two-sport athlete who also plays football at Sewanee, he will bring toughness and intensity to the team.
Sewanee welcomes the addition of six true freshmen to the team for the 2010-11 campaign. Bryan Beviacqua (Gulf Shores, Ala., Gulf Shores) is a skilled and quick point guard with a nice outside touch. He averaged 13 points and seven assists as a senior, helping to lead Gulf Shores to the school's first-ever 20 win season and area title. Valentino Bryant (Hendersonville, Tenn., Beech) is a versatile combo guard who can do a bit of everything. He averaged 12 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds as he helped lead Beech to an impressive 57 wins over the past two seasons, including back-to-back appearances in the Tennessee State Championships. Hudson Duncan (Houston, Texas, St. John's ) is a crafty lefty with a smooth stroke from the outside who averaged 16 points and seven rebounds a game as a senior. He loves to do the little things to help his team win, and was known for his shooting, work ethic, and hustle on back-to-back 20-win teams.
Todd Kirkpatrick (Huntsville, Ala., Randolph School) is a versatile and athletic forward with good size and a knack for scoring. He spent last season at Trinity-Pawling Prep School, averaging five points and four rebounds in one of the best prep leagues in the country. As a senior at the Randolph School, he was named the team's MVP after leading the squad in both scoring and rebounding. Will Merrell (Charlotte, N.C., Cannon School) is a balanced player with a smooth jumper. He played several high-level Division 1 players on one of the best teams in the Charlotte area over the last few seasons, and is ready to step into the foreground with the Tigers this year. Anvil Nelson (Brentwood, Tenn., Brentwood) is a bruising post player with the ability to score with his back to the basket or facing up. Also a dynamic rebounder, Anvil was the only player to finish among the metro Nashville leaders in both scoring and rebounding. He was the MVP and leading scorer in the Tennessee Prep Hoops Nashville Fall League, a league that featured the best talent in the Nashville area. These newcomers will bring a lot of talent and a wealth of winning experience to the team.
The 2010-11 campaign begins for the Tigers at home tonight at 7:00 p.m. against Covenant College (who the Tigers beat 57-50 to open the season in 2009-10). The team will then travel to St. Louis this weekend to take on two tough opponents from the SLIAC, Webster University and Principia College (defeated 73-63 by Sewanee last season) in the Webster Classic. November concludes for the Tigers with a home game against regional foe Johnson Bible College.
Tonight's game, along with the women's contest at 5:00 p.m., will be broadcast live on WZYX, 1440 AM and 94.5 FM. The Press Box crew, featuring Gene Snead, C'86, and Coach Bill Stetson will be calling the game and you can listen from anywhere at www.wzyxonline.com.
