UPEI was the hottest team in the AUS over the second semester last year; going on a five game winning streak late in the year and being nearly unbeatable at home. With solid recruiting and improvement from within, Coach Matthew Davies hopes the team will make the same sort of run this season.
“The AUS is wide-open with every team making some really intriguing additions to their rosters. We believe we have the pieces that can play at a really exciting level, it will just be a matter of how healthy we stay and how team-oriented we remain.”
Davies headed into the offseason believing the team was only losing Andrew Black to graduation, but Gamaliel Rose (family issues) and Jonathan Cooper (academics) both left the team in August after the majority of Davies recruiting was finished. With the recruits he has brought in, and two returning redshirts, Davies feels they can be replaced.
Up front OCAA transfer Matt Fennell has made an impact in the frontcourt in the exhibition schedule. The aggressive forward is an outstanding shooter who has quickly adjusted to playing CIS basketball averaging double figures in scoring so far. “In college, it is more of an up and down game, while here it’s a lot of halfcourt play and the players are much bigger after playing with so many guards in the OCAA.”
He believes winning this year will depend on the team’s commitment to defense.
“I think it all starts on the defensive end, we¹re improving on our help defense, really working on that end and learning each others game.”
Speedy guard Terrence Brown will take over a lot of the ballhandling duties and will create open looks for his backcourt partner Nick Toews one of the best outside shooters in the league. Davies is high on the potential of Brown. “Once Terrence gets comfortable with the AUS, we expect him to be an impact player.” Coach Davies says. Toews set a UPEI record last season hitting 9 three pointers scoring a season high 39 points against Acadia. Tim Butler will spell both players, as the hard nosed guard brings intensity off the bench.
Third year centre Manock Lual came into camp motivated to step up this season and has impressed early averaging 19 points and 9 rebounds over six games. “This offseason for me was one like no other, I put a lot of work into my game to make sure I would be ready for the long challenges the season will bring our way. I have established some personal and team goals that I would like to accomplish this year, with not only the help of coaching staff but also with the help of all my teammates.² Due to the Panthers outside offence, the team needs Lual to consistently score inside
to balance their attack.
Coach Davies also expects Tony McDougald to round back into form as he returns from a serious knee injury that forced him to miss all of last season. Additional front court depth will come from 6’7” Vlad Farcas, Fredericton High rookie Calvin LeBlanc and Nick Kaminsky, who redshirted last season.
Last year’s run came from being able to shut teams down in the second half, expect the same this year. ”Much of our success will be dependent on how dedicated we are with our defensive system and how well our main guys play together.” Coach Davies
said. Although the squad went winless in the exhibition, UPEI has played several teams ranked in the National top 10 polls. Lual says playing such teams early on will only help them focus on their goals. “Preseason was an eye opener to what is to be expected by each individual in order for us to reach one goal in the beginning of March. After we begin to buy into our roles I expect us to be one of the better teams in this
league.”
Department of Athletics