Men's Basketball

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Men's Basketball 2009-10 Season Preview

11.13.09
Head coach Sherry Dobbs Jr. begins his seventh season (94-72 career record) at Potsdam facing a tough rebuilding task with the loss of six seniors to graduation including All Conference selections Damon Brown and Alvin Dike.  Dobbs is hoping to transition this year's team to a fast up-tempo style to counter a lack of interior size and take advantage of his clubs' speed and athleticism.

Senior Anthony Williams Jr. (Brentwood, NY/Upper Room Christian) and junior Eddie Cross (Hudson,NY/Shaker HS) lead seven returning players to the Potsdam roster. Williams started 27 games and averaged 6.5 ppg and 3.3 rpg from 2006-2008 and has the most game experience on the roster. Williams has the ability to play inside and outside and Dobbs is looking to him for senior leadership. Cross saw spot duty the last two seasons behind a wealth of experienced backcourt talent, but Dobbs expects Cross to have a breakout season.

Sophomore center Tom Kelso (Ogdensburg/Ogdensburg Free Academy) showed much promise during his first year in the program averaging 7.6 ppg and 6.2 rpg.  Dobbs notes that Kelso is the only experienced post player in the program, so he will have to provide inside scoring and rebounding while trying to stay out of foul trouble.

Potsdam's remaining returnees include sophomore guards Olando Minott (Bronx/Samuel Gompers), Eric "Skip" Schwartz (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford-Mendon), Marco Diaz (Bronx/Samuel Gompers), and Derek Denteh (Queens/Martin VanBuren). Minott had flashes of brilliance in his first season at Potsdam, starting 9 contests and averaging 3.9 ppg. Schwartz is a three-point specialist (19-51 for 37% in 2009) who will move into a regular role this season.  Diaz excels as a defensive stopper while Denteh provides quality depth at both guard positions.

Sophomore forward Mitch Howe (Fayetteville/Jamesville-DeWitt) joins the Bears after a medical redshirt last season.  Howe was a regular on the J-D's state Federation champions in 2007-08 and is being counted on to provide solid minutes in the post.  Sophomore guard Wesley Francisco (WashingtonHeights/Humanities) also joins the squad.

Dobbs' incoming class includes junior transfer Ben Walker (New Smyrna Beach, FL), who was an all-Region III selection in 2007-08 at North Country CC where he averaged 17 ppg, and first year recruits Joshua Lambert (Brooklyn/East NY Transit Tech), and Curtis Pierce (Brooklyn/George Westinghouse), both Class A All State Selections from the tough PSAL.  Walker is an athletic combo guard who excels defensively and in the transition game.  Lambert is an exciting point guard, who has an explosive burst to the hoop, and Pierce is a versatile athlete who can play all five positions.

Sharpshooter Jordan McAllister (Cornwall ONT/St. Joseph's Catholic), who averaged 25 ppg as one of the top prep players in Eastern Canada, and Cody Clary (Massena, NY/Massena), who led the Raiders to the overall Section X title, round out the incoming class.  Both are expected to see playing time in the Bears up-tempo style.

The Bears begin their season this Sunday when they travel to Utica College to meet the Pioneers in a 4:00 p.m. contest.

Alvin Dike Earns Chancellor's Award

04.15.09

(POTSDAM,NY) Senior Alvin Dike of Bronx was recently honored with the very prestigious Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence for demonstrating outstanding achievement as a student in the State University of New York System.

Dike, a biology major and a starting guard on the men's basketball team, was honored by SUNY Officer-in-Charge Dr. John J. O'Connor on April 7 in Albany and received a framed certificate and a medallion that may be worn at Commencement. (MORE)

Damon Brown Named All-SUNYAC

3.02.09 

(POTSDAM, NY)- Damon Brown (Brooklyn/Port Richmond), a senior guard at SUNY Potsdam, has been
named to the 2009 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Men's Basketball All-Conference Second Team.

Brown led the Bears in scoring with 454 points for a 17.5 per game average which was fourth in the SUNYAC. He also led the team in steals with 34. His 65 three-point field goals and 44.5 % of shots made led the team which was also tops in the conference. His free throw percentage of 79% was third in the conference.

On Monday January 19th Brown was named the SUNYAC Player of the Week after he averaged 25.7 points per game during the previous week's three-game series.