UPT MEN'S BASKETBALL:  GOING PLACES

 

1st Row, l-r:  Lance Harris, Tyler Buchanan, J.R. Conley, Jesse Morrison, Jake Mechling, Jayson Jackson, Keith Baker
 2nd Row l-r:  Cloyd Jefferies, Justin Bumblis, Eddie Pearl Jr., Brad Rizzutto, Sharone Pendarvis, Jared Giran, John (JR) Mills, Coach Bibey

 

TITUSVILLE, Oct. 31 - “Good teams have good players, great teams have great teammates.”

            This is the focus Head Coach Brian Bibey is trying to establish in his players.  From the look of things, it’s working too.  Timely passes, good rebounding, and great team communication pushed the Panthers past Lorain County Community College this past Saturday in a closed scrimmage at UPT.

            This foundation of teamwork, as well as their focus, will be vital when the Panthers travel to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill on December 5.  Bibey’s roundballers will take on the junior varsity Tar Heel squad in the first part of a double-header at the Dean Smith Center.  The second part will feature the 2004-05 National Championship Tar Heels, immediately following the UPT game.

            “This is a great opportunity for us.  We will get to meet the coaches, watch part of a practice, and see how much work and commitment it takes to get to the level [the Tar Heels] are at,” said Bibey.

            “It is also great exposure for our team, our players, and our school to be given this terrific opportunity.”

            “It is encouraging to see the program evolve into a more professional program.  With the higher expectations that we have established, we have seen significant improvement in key performance areas.  The men’s basketball team has improved in their average team G.P.A, increased the number of scholar athletes, and has improved in their student year-to-year retention.  These are promising developments for the future,” said Athletic Director, Dr. Barb Reagle.

            Her comments are coincidentally the strong points that Coach Bibey emphasized about this year’s team.  He reiterated that the UPT Athletic Program insists that the student athletes stay dedicated to their academics as well as to their sport.  He also described the team this year as hard-working, and having a good understanding of the discipline needed to be successful on the court and in the classroom.

            Another strong point he noted is the team’s experience.  Captains Brad Rizzutto and Jayson Jackson lead a group of eight returning sophomores.  Cloyd Jefferies, J.R. Conley, John Mills, Jake Mechling, Jesse Morrison, and Jared Giran fill out the rest of the returning class.  Transfer Lance Harris and sophomore walk-on Tyler Buchanan fit right in with the rest of this group.  Freshmen Ed Pearl and Justin Bumblis were welcomed to the 2005-06 Panther basketball fraternity.

            “The team voted [Brad and Jayson] as their captains, but in my opinion, I have eight captains.  All of my returnees have shown great commitment and have set a good example as role models for the newcomers,” commented Bibey.

            With a large returning class and a focus on teamwork, the future looks promising for the men’s basketball program at UPT, which will get underway on November 1 at home against Jamestown Community College-Olean at 7:00 p.m. in the J. Curtis McKinney II Student Union Gymnasium.

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