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Volume CXVIII, No. XXIII |
December 8, 2005 |
SJU recovers after down seasons
Three straight losing seasons left the St. John's basketball team reeling. Developing talent and a group of transfers, however, have the Johnnies back on track in the MIAC
Staff writer
It's probably unfamiliar to most on these campuses, but if you were to go back a few years, St. John's basketball would be recognized as a program of excellence.
In fact, the Johnnies basketball team has only endured five losing seasons since 1975-76 season. The only problem is that three of those five seasons came in the last three years.
Each of those years has been a struggle for the basketball team, trying to regain their position as one of the top contenders in the MIAC.
"I bleed when we don't have a good season," Jim Smith, who is now in his 42nd year as head coach. "It's difficult on our players to work hard through a season without being able to see the wins build up."
The primary reason for the downtime in the program was based on a few years with a lack of focus placed on recruiting. After a while it was hard to keep up with the rest of the conference while the ranks were being depleted.
That is the point where some of the coaching staff got rearranged and since then, the program has had three good classes of recruits come to St. John's.
With the help of quick impacts by transfer student athletes, and a strong cast of experienced returnees, the Johnnie basketball team now has a reason to be more confident about the 2005-06 season.
Last season featured a heavy load of playing time by underclassmen.
"It's very unusual to win in our conference with freshmen and sophomores," Smith said. "This year we have an added year of maturity and we have built decent depth with the players we have.
"Our returning group of guys are now coming back more physically and mentally tough, and the leadership by our two seniors, post Paul Henrichs and post Andrew Spaanem, will be key to our performance."
The development of the team and the new help brought in by transfers such as junior guard Ryan Lieser has some people thinking that this could be the year St. John's basketball returns to their winning ways.
"There has been a lot more energy with the team," junior guard Matt Ohme said. "Practices have been noticeably more competitive. With all the talent on the team this year, everyone has to play that much harder to earn their playing time."
And it shows in the strong play so far this season. St. John's has won two straight games, including a 77-69 win over Carleton Monday night, to improve its team record to 2-1 in the MIAC and 3-1 overall.
"My hat is off to all the players, especially those who aren't getting the playing time during the games," Smith said. "It takes an incredible amount of self-sacrifice by the guys on our team to support those taking their playing time, after giving it their all in every practice. Everyone is a team player, and they all want the best."
The Johnnies will play Concordia-St. Paul at 6 p.m. Friday at Halenbeck Hall on the campus of St. Cloud State.
