Men's: Lacking star power, TU introduces depth as strength

After surprising most of the league by reaching the semifinals in last year’s CAA playoffs, Towson will look for more success as they enter the 2009-2010 season.

A key change made by head coach Pat Kennedy, who is entering his sixth season with the program, during the playoff run was switching from a zone defense to a man-to-man defense, a style the players feel more comfortable playing.

“I think the man-to-man is going to be great for us this year, because the zone left too many guys open,” senior Calvin Lee, one of the team’s captains, said.  “With me and Rob [Nwankwo] down low to block shots, it’s going to be a great year.  If I get beat, I know Rob’s going to be there to help me in the rotation.”

Another thing helping the Tigers this season will be their extensive depth. They can go two deep at every position, a luxury Kennedy has not had in the past.

“Last year, I started 18 different lineups,” Kennedy said.  “It was very, very difficult.  [This year] we’re not mixing and matching; guys are playing their natural positions.”

With so many different options, and Kennedy’s desire to keep a healthy rotation between his players, it may be difficult to settle on a starting lineup. Kennedy may have privately decided on one, but has not made it public and has maintained that the competition remains fluid.

At the post positions, however, it is expected that the duo of Lee and Nwankwo, who combined for 73 blocks last season, will get the starting nods.

Lee has the ability to bang in the post, but can still take shots from outside, shooting .500 on eight attempts from outside the arc last season.  Nwankwo, on the other hand, is your prototypical post player, rarely putting up shots outside of the paint, helping him to the highest field goal percentage of anyone on the team from last season at .527.

Backing them up will be a pair of freshman in Isaiah Philmore and Erique Gumbs, who both played together in AAU before coming to Towson.  Philmore, who stands in at 6-foot 7-inches, finished his high school career as the highest scoring player in Harford County history. Philmore was a 3-star recruit and had offers from Temple, Marquette and Kansas State, yet chose to stay close to home. Gumbs, who hails from Newark, Delaware, was Delaware’s player of the year for the 2007-2008 season.

At the swing forward spot, both David Brewster and Jarrel Smith will be battling for playing time.  Smith, who led the team in field goal percentage last season, started 32 games for the Tigers a year ago while Brewster started only five. Brewster, however, has been impressive with his assertiveness on the offensive end and provides a greater interior presence than Smith, who in contrast is more athletic. 

Senior captain Josh Thornton will be returning to likely start at the shooting guard spot.  He will undoubtedly be the Tigers main outside threat after draining 80 shots from 3-point land last season, 45 ahead of the next person on the team.

His backup, RaShawn Polk, is a 6-foot 2-inch transfer entering his first season with the team. He is said to be one of the strongest guards Kennedy has ever had, thanks to a physical composure similar to a fullback.

The point guard spot also still seems up for grabs, with sophomore Troy Franklin challenging junior captain Brian Morris in practices.  Both players have lots of experience, starting 30 and 22 games last year, respectively, and both should see the floor plenty throughout the season.

Further helping the program along will be newly hired assistant coaches Danny Nee and Allen Edwards.

Nee, who has 26 years of head coaching experience in Division-I basketball, brings a wealth of knowledge about the game and a different perspective, coaching at bigger programs like Nebraska, where he was the school’s all-time winningest coach.

Edwards also has lots experience in the NCAA, playing four years with the Kentucky Wildcats and making two trips to the NCAA Tournament as an assistant coach at conference foe Virginia Commonwealth.

Towson appears ready to stand up to any opponent.

“I think it’s about doing whatever it takes to win and playing together as a team,” Thornton said.  “By working together as a team and making sure everybody keeps a positive attitude, taking it one game at a time.”



--Kevin Hess contributed to this article

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