Hillsdale holds GLIAC Media Day
Maria Schmitt
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: Sports
Charger basketball coaches John Tharp and Claudette Charney joined with coaches from the 12 GLIAC schools Wednesday for the league's first ever basketball media day teleconference.
The coaches focused on the upcoming season and gave reactions to preseason expectations about teams and players in the league.
A media poll unanimously ranked the University of Findlay as the men's preseason favorite, despite their loss of four key players from last year's team.
"We have some shoes to fill," Findlay head coach Ron Niekamp said. "We're hopeful, optimistic."
Other coaches in the league feel there is a lot of uncertainty in the GLIAC, due to many new players, both transfers and incoming freshmen.
The two new men's coaches, Tharp and Steve Hettinga of Lake Superior State University, said their teams will focus on the basics of defense and rebounding in an attempt to establish a new identity.
"It's a challenge to get our competitive nature to where it should be," Hettinga said.
Women's basketball coaches' discussion revolved around the expected parity in the conference this year.
"If you don't show up on any given night you're going to be beat," said John Barnes, Michigan Technological University head coach.
Losses sustained due to injuries and graduation cause some coaches to doubt their ability to do well this season.
"We're not going to be very good," head coach Tracey Dorow of Ferris State University said.
The Chargers placed second in the women's preseason poll, though they did grab three first-place votes. This came as surprise to Charney, considering the team lost six seniors at the end of last season.
"I don't know where the first place votes came from," Charney said.
Charney said she is optimistic about the young team and sees them as "up-and-coming."
Senior Julie Slot was unanimously voted to the preseason All-GLIAC team.
Overall, the basketball coaches said they appreciated the opportunity the teleconference provided as a forum for discussion of the league and its individual teams.
"I'm amazed by the talent level and coaching in the GLIAC," Tharp said.
The coaches focused on the upcoming season and gave reactions to preseason expectations about teams and players in the league.
A media poll unanimously ranked the University of Findlay as the men's preseason favorite, despite their loss of four key players from last year's team.
"We have some shoes to fill," Findlay head coach Ron Niekamp said. "We're hopeful, optimistic."
Other coaches in the league feel there is a lot of uncertainty in the GLIAC, due to many new players, both transfers and incoming freshmen.
The two new men's coaches, Tharp and Steve Hettinga of Lake Superior State University, said their teams will focus on the basics of defense and rebounding in an attempt to establish a new identity.
"It's a challenge to get our competitive nature to where it should be," Hettinga said.
Women's basketball coaches' discussion revolved around the expected parity in the conference this year.
"If you don't show up on any given night you're going to be beat," said John Barnes, Michigan Technological University head coach.
Losses sustained due to injuries and graduation cause some coaches to doubt their ability to do well this season.
"We're not going to be very good," head coach Tracey Dorow of Ferris State University said.
The Chargers placed second in the women's preseason poll, though they did grab three first-place votes. This came as surprise to Charney, considering the team lost six seniors at the end of last season.
"I don't know where the first place votes came from," Charney said.
Charney said she is optimistic about the young team and sees them as "up-and-coming."
Senior Julie Slot was unanimously voted to the preseason All-GLIAC team.
Overall, the basketball coaches said they appreciated the opportunity the teleconference provided as a forum for discussion of the league and its individual teams.
"I'm amazed by the talent level and coaching in the GLIAC," Tharp said.
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Maria S.
posted 10/25/07 @ 9:00 AM EST
Andy wrote this story with me. It was totally a joint effort. Can we get his name on here?
-Maria
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