2006-07 season preview

November 10, 2006

NORTON, MA- Consistency has been a major theme for the Wheaton College men's basketball program during 10th-year head coach Brian Walmsley's tenure.

The Lyons have advanced to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament semifinals and gone at least .500 in the league seven times during the conference's eight-year history. The squad has notched at least 17 wins in four straight seasons and earned an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament semifinal berth each time, advancing to the last three title tilts and corralling the past two crowns.

Along with second-year assistant coach Jon Gibbs and first-year assistant Bill Black, Walmsley looks for the Lyons to remain true to form by finishing above .500 in the NEWMAC and earning another trip to the tournament semifinals. "Our goal is to be playing our best at the end of the year and have some momentum going into the tournament," said Walmsley. "That's our goal every year - host a first round game, get into the final four and win the NEWMACs."

From there, Walmsley said he aspires for the program to take the next step and make its first NCAA Tournament appearance, though he said winning the league is the only guaranteed way. "That's the last goal we have to achieve," said Walmsley. "We've done everything except make the NCAA Tournament."

The Lyons went 19-10 overall and 6-6 in the NEWMAC a year ago, pacing the conference in scoring offense (75.8) and steals average (9.4) while placing second in field goal percentage (.458), three-pointers (200) and assists average (14.9). Wheaton also protected the ball well, committing the second-fewest turnovers per game (14.0).

Walmsley said this year's team will be built around two cornerstones in senior captain Brian Zukowski (Dracut, MA/Dracut) and junior Brent DiGiovanna (Hanover, MA/Hanover). "One thing we have going this year is Brian will give us some outside scoring," said Walmsley, "and Brent should be able to give us the inside presence that we're going to need."

Zukowski enters the 2006-07 campaign two points shy of becoming the 11th Lyon with 1,000 and looks to follow up a stellar junior year. During a season in which he corralled all-conference honors for the second time, Zukowski became the fourth Lyon with 500 points (508) and was one of two NEWMAC players to place among the league's top 10 in each scoring (17.5), assists (2.9), steals (1.7) and free throw percentage (78.3). As Wheaton's top rebounder (5.3), he was 11th in the conference in boards. Zukowski is sixth in program history with 137 career three-pointers after hitting 67 a season ago.

"He's capable of scoring 25 points a game, but we won't win as often as we'd like if he's averaging that," said Walmsley. "We have to be a more balanced team. He can bring his 18-to-20 points a game and we'll be fine, but we need to have a couple other guys elevate their games to where they're scoring in double figures on a consistent basis."

Zukowski is slated to be the Lyons' shooting guard, though he has the skills to gain minutes at the point if need be. The 6-5 DiGiovanna returns as Wheaton's starting center after ranking fourth in the league last season in field goal percentage (.536). "What Brent has to do is continue on his run from last year, when he scored in double digits in 12 of our last 14 games," said Walmsley. "He's improved his body, he's lost about 15 pounds, and he's more nimble." By averaging 11 points last season, DiGiovanna nearly doubled his offensive production from his freshman campaign (5.7).

David Harding (Hanover, MA/Boston College), Eric Johnston (South Windsor, CT/East Catholic) and Jake Otto (Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury) complete the junior class. Harding appeared in all 29 games off the bench last year, and he will reprise his role as DiGiovanna's backup. Johnston is in the mix to start on the wing after serving as a key reserve last season, when he came off the bench to score in double figures seven times. Otto is slated to start at power forward after drawing all seven of his starts last season during the final eight games, when he averaged 7.3 points while shooting 51.1 percent.

Five players from the Class of 2009 provide veteran depth, and two are in the hunt for starting jobs. Patrick McDonough (Holliston, MA/Loomis Chaffee School), Nick Michel (Hyde Park, MA/Boston Latin School), Kristopher Pedra (Avon, CT/Avon), Mark Sullivan (West Roxbury, MA/Catholic Memorial) and Patrick Youreneff (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) comprise the quintet.

Despite limited action as a freshman while backing up all-conference point guard Sean Kelly '06, Youreneff enters the season slated to run the offense thanks to possessing the most point guard experience among returning players. Pedra averaged 9.2 points and shot 52.4 percent while starting the first 15 games last winter, and he is locked up with Johnston in a battle for the starting wing spot.

Michel is another reserve option to spell DiGiovanna and Otto. He became a reliable sub during last year's ECAC Tournament, recording seven points and seven rebounds in 11 minutes. Sullivan looks to earn minutes as a sniper. Each of his 13 field goal attempts last season was from long range, and he canned six tries. McDonough, a potential wing, is expected to miss the entire season due to an injury.

Andrew Ferreira (New London, NH/Kearsarge Regional), Jon Lecznar (Poland, ME/Poland Regional), Jaxon Leo (Leesburg, VA/New Hampton School) and Ben Stehle (Newton, MA/Newton South) make up Wheaton's freshman class. Ferreira will back up Youreneff at the point, while Leo should be a contributor off the bench on the wing. Stehle is a solid outside shooter who is expected to provide a rebounding presence thanks to his 6-5 frame, while Lecznar is the tallest Lyon at 6-6 and will add depth at forward and center.

The Lyons begin a 24-game regular season docket November 17-18 during the Cobblestone Invitational at Plymouth State University. Wheaton closes its season-opening stretch of nine straight non-conference games on December 29-30 at the Salem State Christmas Invitational. Twelve of the Blue and White's final 15 contests take place in NEWMAC play, starting with a January 6 contest at Babson College. Its first home conference game is January 11 against Clark University.

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Upcoming Schedule

15-Nov Sat Plymouth St. Tip-Off A 7:30pm
16-Nov Sun Plymouth St. Tip-Off A TBA
18-Nov Tue Salve Regina A 7:00pm