Special | 11/13/08

Media Credit: Kristofer Marsh Sophomore guard Brian Morris

The Tigers will enter the 2008-2009 season with many new faces, a few early game suspensions and few expectations from the CAA.There are a lot of question marks surrounding this team, but the first one is when, if ever, will this team learn to play together?

"It's one of the things that concerns me," head coach Pat Kennedy said. "But as this league has advanced we've been able to build some depth and that should help us. So even though we've had some suspensions there's a good chance that we're going to be okay. And I tell you this team has really come together faster that we thought."

The Tigers will be deep at every position this season starting with a backcourt in which the Tigers will welcome Richmond transfer Brian Morris to the mix. The 6-foot-6-inch sophomore, who is expected to play point guard for the Tigers, led the Spiders in minutes played, assists, steals and 3-pointers as a freshman.

"It's a long process but I feel like I got down our system pretty well." Morris said. "In high school I was more of a scorer and I still think I can shoot it pretty good but I'll just try and manage the game and set people up in position to score."

Joining him as a newcomer in the backcourt is freshman point guard Troy Franklin. The Baltimore-native has been impressive in early season workouts for the Tigers. In high school he was an All-Metro selection averaging 18 points, six assists and four steals a game for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School.

"Troy has had a terrific preseason," Kennedy said. "In our first scrimmage he scored 26 points. I haven't seen a freshman do that in a long time. He's quick, he makes plays, and he's our best on-the-ball defender, but the thing about Troy that has marveled most of us is that we had no idea he could shoot like this."

Along with the two newcomers, the Tigers return four guards who all received some playing time last season. The returners are led by junior Josh Thornton who led the team in points per game last year due largely to his ability to make outside shots. The Georgetown-transfer led the team in 3-point attempts and makes last season.

"The other day we scrimmaged and he took 10 shots and they were all threes and he made five of them," Kennedy said. "So he shoots a higher percentage from three than most guys can shoot in the two and those five shots are worth 15 points. As long as he's taking good shots he's got very high odds of putting it in."

Continued...

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