“Although we have a young team, we do have returning players that gained invaluable experience over the last two years,” said Head Coach Greg Herenda, who is returning for his third year at the helm of the UMass Lowell program. “We have players back that have been involved with a great deal of success and now it’s their turn to take the reigns. I’m excited to see how the chemistry unfolds as the season progresses.”
The troops will get their first test tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. when they kick off the UMass Lowell Tip-Off Classic Tournament at home in Costello Gymnasium. The River Hawks will take on the Eagles of Post University before finishing the weekend with a tilt against the Felician Golden Falcons at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.
“This year’s team has exceptional quickness, athleticism and length, but the thing I like most about them is that they truly enjoy playing the game,” Herenda said. “On top of that, they are an extremely hardworking group of guys who have a very high level of energy. I have said from day one that our success will evolve from our work ethic and I just love how hard these guys work every time they hit the floor.”
They will begin their quest to defend their NE-10 Tournament Title by opening their conference schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 17 when they host Saint Michael’s College at 7:30 p.m.
Aside from the regular conference foes, including local rival Merrimack, ranked No. 22 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Poll and No. 7 Bentley, as well as Adelphi (others receiving votes), the team UMass Lowell stomped in the tournament championship game, the River Hawks will also face some different non-conference opponents. In December, UMass Lowell will play host to Concordia (N.Y.) and Bridgeport, as well.
The Returnees
Although just six members of last year’s team return – and none older than juniors – Herenda is not worried about any shortage of leadership or experience with these elder statesmen.
“I am looking forward to all of our returnees taking the next step in every capacity,” Herenda said. “From Scotty leading us at the point guard position to Robbie being asked to score the ball more and Matt being called upon to play the point forward position; Romeo will now have an opportunity to show his entire offensive package from the wing and Boch will be asked to give us a defender and rebounder that can shoot the three and pass it out of the post.”
The most senior of student-athletes include juniors Robbie Walton (Boston, Mass.) and John Corbacio (Stoney Creek, Ont.). The duo are the only players left from the 2008-09 season and joined the ranks as freshmen, welcoming in a new coach and helping to turn the program around.
Walton, who was recently named captain along with sophomores Scotty Tavares-Taylor (Roxbury, Mass.) and Matt Welch (Lowell, Mass.) earned a starting spot in the rotation for the second half of last season, starting in 12 of the final 13 games.
“I really like the combination of Scotty, Robbie and Matt as our captains,” Herenda said. “All three of them have helped us achieve success here and I know they want more of the same. As long as they continue to work hard and play hard, the rest of the team will fall in line and more leaders will evolve.”
Corbacio returned from an injury last season and is expected to compete hard for increased time this year, as he has strengthened himself considerably and is a strong rebounding asset for the River Hawks. Classmate Pete Steere (Lancaster, Mass.) also adds experience in the frontcourt, as he joined the squad at the beginning of last season.
Tavares-Taylor will look to fill the shoes of his predecessor, leading on the floor as the point guard. The sophomore was one of only three River Hawks to see action in all 32 contests last year, and the lone returner to accomplish the feat. He finished the year with 6.5 ppg and earned starts in the final six games of the year, as well as an NE-10 All-Tournament nod for his performance down the stretch.
Fellow captain Welch is the highest-scoring returner this year, as he averaged 8.8 ppg in 12 appearances last year. The former University of New Hampshire football player joined the team halfway through the season and made an immediate impact from the first time he put on a UMass Lowell jersey. The forward is also the leading rebounder among returnees, as he averaged 3.9 a game.
Classmate Romeo Diaz (Methuen, Mass.) also has the potential to be a serious weapon for the River Hawks this season. He finished the year averaging a deceptive 4.5 ppg, as the versatile guard/forward scored in double figures five times in 27 appearances. He made 12 starts on the year and kicked off his collegiate career with a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double.
“This group will now be allowed to do more and quite frankly, needs to do more, for us to continue our winning ways,” Herenda said. “I am quite confident that their games will mature and so will their statistics. At the end of the day, this is their time and I am comfident that they will respond in a big way.”
These veterans will be asked to step up and lead by example, showing their work ethic, dedication to the team and desire for success.
The Newcomers
It doesn’t seem like this large group of newcomers will be hard to motivate, though. As Herenda noted, these young men truly love the game of basketball and their enjoyment shines through in their talent and willingness to learn.
“Our freshman class will be called upon to play and contribute immediately,” Herenda said. “These guys just love to play and compete and I think they will relish this opportunity. They are a very talented group that has a great combination of athleticism, talent and energy. They are fun to coach and have shown a great ability to work hard and enjoy that work, as well.”
The freshmen include wings Antonio Bivins (Miami, Fla.) and Kerry Weldon (New York, N.Y.), as well as guards Akeem Williams (Brockton, Mass.) and Chris Thompson (Florence, N.J.). Classmate Darrell Ward (White Plains, N.Y.) represents the class of 2014 in the front court, while recent addition Nomso Emetarom (Framingham, Mass.) will add some competition to the guard position, as well.
“In a lot of ways, this class reminds me of my first recruiting class when I was an assistant here back in 1983,” Herenda said. “They have gotten along really well and I feel that they belong here and will attain great success while they’re here in Lowell.”
In addition to the freshmen, sophomore newcomer Dan Porter (Hudson, N.H.) will also compete for playing time and increase the depth of the River Hawks’ back court, while the squad also welcomes junior Heman Honore (Medford, Mass.) who previously played at Newbury College.
Looking Ahead
At the end of the day, whether they are newcomers or returnees is unimportant. As long as Herenda can help his players find the spark they need, this team has the ability to surprise many people.
Although they were picked ninth in the NE-10 Preseason Coaches Poll, the numbers mean nothing to this team. In 2008-09, they were picked to finish 12th in the highly-competitive conference with a new head coach and unknown faces. That year, they finished second.
Last year, in 2009-10, they were picked to finish third and fell short, coming in tied for sixth at the end of the regular season. That number didn’t bother them either, though, as they stormed through the conference tournament as a #7 seed, upsetting #2 Bentley and #3 Merrimack on the road, en route to capturing the 2010 Championship.
Once the clock starts on the first game this weekend, though, the true test will begin and Herenda and his staff will see if their batch of newcomers, paired with their dedicated group of veterans can come together to defend their title.
“The key to our team will be if we can have 14 players defend, rebound and take care of the basketball as best as possible,” Herenda said. “If we do those three things, we will continue the success that this program has grown accustomed to.”
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