Mountaineers Have New Heights In Sights
BENNINGTON, Vt. - Emile Faber said that knowledge is good, but there is one lesson that Joe Karnik is just plain tired of as he enters his senior season with the Southern Vermont College men's basketball team.
"So far, I've had three losing seasons here," Karnik said. "I'm not going through that again. I'm going to do my part - whatever it takes - to make sure we don't have to. I want to win, more than ever, because this is it."
Luckily for Karnik, the pieces seem to be in place for the Mountaineers to finish in the black this season, after taking some significant steps forward last year but ending up with a 7-18 overall record and 4-10 mark in the New England Collegiate Conference. SVC says goodbye to a few faces but, more importantly, welcomes (and welcomes back) enough bonafide talent to progress further along last season's upward trajectory.
"I think everyone on this ball club has made a commitment to everyone else, in that we owe it to each other to perform at the level we're capable of," SVC head coach Mike McDonough said. "I think these guys realize, to a man, that we haven't done that yet. But that's the goal, to keep the tide turning in that direction."
Karnik certainly did his part last season for SVC, leading the team in scoring (19.3 points per game), rebounding (10.6 per game), blocks (26) and several other offensive categories. But after eligibility issues shook up the Mountaineers' roster at mid-season, the 6-foot-6 forward was left without a complimentary scoring force to relieve the relentless defensive pressure he saw night-in and night-out. He continued to run through proverbial walls for McDonough and his teammates, but the resulting wear-and-tear on his body cost him four games due to injury.
That is where fellow captain Lance Spratling should make a huge difference. The 6-foot-2 junior was dynamite for SVC (17.4 ppg, 10.3 rpg) before being forced to the sideline last season; his return to the Mountaineers' lineup is expected to produce an immediate impact.
"Lance is the kind of player who can dominate a game with the ball in his hands - and there will be times when we'll look to him to do that," McDonough said.
As good of a scorer as he is, Spratling may actually be more valuable to the Mountaineers when they don't have the ball.
"It's going to huge getting Lance back because he can stop almost any offensive player in the league," Karnik said. "He takes pride in shutting them down."
That is really where SVC needs the most help, on defense. The Mountaineers ranked dead last in the NECC in scoring defense last season, giving up nearly 81 points per game. This year's captains are optimistic that such a negative trend will change.
"We're selling ourselves on pride this year, on taking pride in what we do on the defensive end," said senior guard Chris Holland, who completes SVC's trio of captains. "There is a trust factor this year that we haven't had before, that if one of us gets beat there will be someone behind us to back us up. That is really important."
Karnik agreed, calling the 2009-'10 Mountaineers the best defensive team he has played on at the school. Coach McDonough sees the team's improvement without the ball as the product of a mental shift.
"There has been more of a buy-in so far defensively," McDonough said. "They believe in the importance of that part of the game, and I think it has to start there."
The Mountaineers are strong inside with Karnik, center Cam Herrington and forward Ben Naaktgeboren - the latter two of whom were thrust into starting roles as freshmen last season and gained valuable experience as a result. The backcourt will feature Holland and junior Keith Gaston sharing duties at the point, with returning three-point sniper Brett Clatworthy looking to build on his 26 triples last year (second on the team). Freshman guard Jordan Smith brings his game to SVC all the way from San Antonio, Texas, but has been "a sponge" thus far at soaking up the Mountaineers' game plan in the words of McDonough.
Another newcomer who could play a significant role for the Mountaineers is guard Derrick Cenicola, a product of Hamilton, N.Y., who is described by his veteran teammates as having only the limitations that he puts on himself.
"If Derrick gains the confidence that he should have with his ability, he's going to cause serious problems for a lot of people in this conference," Karnik said.
"He's a complete terror on offense," Spratling said.
After an up-and-down preseason that has seen a few too many injuries for McDonough's liking, the Mountaineers open the regular season at home on Sunday at 2 p.m. against Stevenson. It will be the first step in what Spratling hopes is a new chapter, in particular for seniors like Karnik and Holland who have paid their dues at SVC for far too long without getting back enough wins in return.
"These guys have earned the right to get a good send-off," Spratling said.
