Off on the Right Foot

Weeks before the men’s basketball season tipped off head coach Jim Aller was asked about the direction of the program. Aller’s response was, “Our overall competitive level is much higher in practices than last year. To be where we want to be as a program we must start with being competitive and good things will happen.”

Through the first six games of the 2010-2011 campaign ENC basketball has been just that, competitive. Their compete level has been high thus far, resulting in a three game winning streak, the program‘s first such streak since 2004, and a 3-3 overall record.

The formula to their early season success has been simple. If each individual player brings a game like climate to practice, and accepts their role, the hard work and team play will translate on game days.

Coach Aller still has a young team on his hands. Of the 16 players on the roster, 10 are underclassmen, which makes it hard on the coaching staff to get through to every player. Hence, why teams regularly have captains at the college level.

There are times where a peer can get through, or set an example, better than a coach. Johnny Atwater and DeAngelo Alston are both taking the responsibility in stride and more importantly are well respected within the locker room.

Atwater, known as Aquaman by his teammates, is the type of player every coach clamors for. For one, he’s talented, he’s coachable, which is a tremendous asset nowadays, a hard worker, a diligent student of the game, and his aura commands respect.

“Johnny is who he is,” say Aller, “He leads by example. He provides so much for us on the court.”

Alston is the vocal one of the two. Even when he was sidelined Alston would attentively watch practices and shout out instruction, especially to the guards, and even pull players aside, no matter the position, to let him know right from wrong.

ENC fell 94-80 against Drew University on November 30th, a game where Alston was sidelined due to a minor ankle injury (to the opposite foot from the stress fracture that forced him to miss all of 2009-2010...ENC, you may now exhale) suffered at St. Joe’s (NY) three days prior.

80 points is 80 points and many may look at the score and say “we gave up 94, we just didn’t show up on defense”, which is true, but the lack of a true point guard on the court miffed our chances of a second half comeback.

Don’t underestimate the duties of a point guard. A PG directs traffic, puts his teammates in positions to succeed, reads defenses, and much more. Alston is a gifted offensive mind that was sorely missed against Drew.

Two weeks into the season and the team is off on the right foot. Six games, six competitive games, which puts the program on track. ENC will host their Annual Men’s Basketball Tournament this coming Friday and Saturday, then it's off to southern California.