Rally the troops
St. Michael's men's basketball looks for another winning season

Nick Daley | staff writer

The St. Michael's college basketball team begins early practices in the Ross Sports Center. Nick Daley, photo

The St. Michael’s men’s basketball team is coming off one of the program’s most successful seasons in years. The Purple Knights finished the 2006-2007 regular season in sixth place in the Northeast-10 conference and won their first playoff game since 2001.

After losing standout players Brendan Mullins and Chris Cayole to graduation, the team will have to maintain enough momentum to have another winning season.

Senior captains Brian Monahan and James Sorrentine believe this year’s squad has what it takes to be just as successful. Monahan and Sorrentine will be leading the team this season and are working hard to bring the younger players along.

Filling the void

With the losses of Mullins and Cayole, the Purple Knights will rely heavily on Monahan and Sorrentine. Mullins was the team captain and is currently on the men’s basketball coaching staff at Mercyhurst College. His sidekick, Cayole, is playing professionally in the American Basketball Association for the Vermont Frost Heaves. The two of them played a huge role in St. Michael’s success, says head coach Tom O’Shea.

“Brendan was our ‘go-to’ guy in the final minutes of the game,” O’Shea says. “But now, clearly Monahan and Sorrentine will have to lead.”

Monahan and Sorrentine have been playing together at St. Michael’s for four years. Monahan provides the Purple Knights with a strong low-post presence and led the conference in rebounding last season. Sorrentine is a pure shooter and currently holds program records for most three-pointers made in a season and most three-pointers made in a single game.

“We’ve both been playing a pretty good amount over the years,” Sorrentine says, referring to himself and Monahan. “This is an opportunity for us and I think we’re ready to handle it.”

Brian Monahan (left) and James Sorrentine (right) will have to fill the gap for Chris Cayole and Brendan Mullins who graduated last year. Nick Daley, photo

Role players

Aside from Monahan and Sorrentine, St. Michael’s will also be getting help from a group of juniors that Monahan refers to as “The Big Three.” Juniors Mike Iola, Chris White and Jon Zylstra, who stand at 6’5, 6’6, and 6’8 respectively, all saw key minutes last season. O’Shea says he will be counting on them to have an impact as well.

“I’m confident that those three can take their game to the next level,” O’Shea says. “We’re going to need them to be more consistent, night-in and night-out.”

Monahan says that everyone on the team is prepared to play this season. Even the starting line-up may fluctuate from game to game, depending on individual match-ups, he says.

“I think on any given night, anyone has the opportunity to step-up,” Monahan says. “Depending on who we’re playing, I think any of the 12 guys are ready to play.”

Season outlook

St. Michael’s was selected to place 14th out of the 15 teams in the conference this season in a preseason coaches' poll. O’Shea says the team is never too concerned with its pre-season ranking.

“Last year we were ranked 12th and finished in sixth,” O’Shea says. “This ranking just gives us the motivation to prove everyone wrong.”

The Purple Knights will benefit this season with some help of incoming first-years playing the point guard position, O’Shea says. Nate Birr and Chris Hurley will likely take some of the ball-handling pressure off Sorrentine, providing him with more opportunities to take open shots, O'Shea adds.

Head coach Tom O'Shea (right) expects good things from his team this year. Nick Daley, photo

St. Michael’s played an exhibition game against the University of Vermont on Nov. 3, but lost to the Catamounts, 98-67. Monahan led the Purple Knights with a game-high 30 points. Although the score was one-sided, there were many positives to take from the scrimmage, O’Shea says.

“The players got some floor time and playing experience,” O’Shea says. “The gym was packed with about 3,000 fans, so it was a great atmosphere to work the nerves out.”

The Purple Knights tip off their regular season on Nov. 16, at 7 p.m., with a home contest against Mercy College. Sorrentine says the team will be ready and hungry to open the season with a big win.

“Nobody is really expecting too much out of us, but we expect a lot out of ourselves,” Sorrentine says. “I think we are real capable of showing the league what we can do.”