2008 Woodie Awards
Men's Basketball Ready for Season
Kieran O'Shea
Issue date: 11/17/04 Section: Sports
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Well it is that time of year again. The start of another exciting men's basketball season here at Manhattan College. Manhattan basketball is not only the most exciting thing to look forward to this winter, but is the most exciting sports action that this campus may see all year. This is what we have been waiting for. This was the point of Manhattan Madness. The time has come for our Men's Basketball team to open up what will hopefully be another amazing season.
The school has built a fine program that is looking forward to winning its third consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship, and qualifying to go back to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament for the third straight year as well. The team qualified for the Tournament in 2002-'03 but suffered a first round lost to eventual champions the Syracuse Orangemen. Then last years team, who shocked a lot of people by beating Florida in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, made a powerful statement and had one of the best seasons in the team's history.
But then unfortunately lost to powerhouse Wake Forrest, who is this year's second ranked team in the nation. The Jaspers remaining players as well as the new recruits will try to capitalize on the experiences from last season and keep up the success. They will be able to do that if, and only if, this team can live up to the high expectations and plans that Head Coach Bobby Gonzalez and his staff have set for this year's team.
Last year the Jaspers finished 16-2 in the MAAC conference and were 25-6 overall. This year it will be a little tougher without the powerful presence of Luis Flores who graduated last year and has gone onto sign a contract with the Golden State Warriors. They also lost Dave Holmes and Jason Benton. The Jaspers have earned back-to-back MAAC regular season championship titles for the past two years, and once again have been named the favorite for the upcoming 2004-05 season, according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The school has built a fine program that is looking forward to winning its third consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship, and qualifying to go back to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament for the third straight year as well. The team qualified for the Tournament in 2002-'03 but suffered a first round lost to eventual champions the Syracuse Orangemen. Then last years team, who shocked a lot of people by beating Florida in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, made a powerful statement and had one of the best seasons in the team's history.
But then unfortunately lost to powerhouse Wake Forrest, who is this year's second ranked team in the nation. The Jaspers remaining players as well as the new recruits will try to capitalize on the experiences from last season and keep up the success. They will be able to do that if, and only if, this team can live up to the high expectations and plans that Head Coach Bobby Gonzalez and his staff have set for this year's team.
Last year the Jaspers finished 16-2 in the MAAC conference and were 25-6 overall. This year it will be a little tougher without the powerful presence of Luis Flores who graduated last year and has gone onto sign a contract with the Golden State Warriors. They also lost Dave Holmes and Jason Benton. The Jaspers have earned back-to-back MAAC regular season championship titles for the past two years, and once again have been named the favorite for the upcoming 2004-05 season, according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.