2008-2009 Men's basketball season preview

Nov. 10, 2008

BEVERLY, Mass. - The Endicott College men's basketball team looks to build off of a season filled with growing pains and make its return to the top of The Commonwealth Coast Conference this season. Key returning players coupled with a talented incoming freshman class should leave the Gulls as a tough matchup. Head coach Chris Millette enters his fourth season optimistic about this year's team.

The 2007-2008 men's basketball team finished 11-15 overall, including a 7-6 record in the TCCC. For the second year in a row, Curry College ended the Gulls season in the conference tournament. The team's best stretch came during a four game winning streak in January, which included wins over tough squads from Roger Williams and Emmanuel, and a 13 point second half comeback against Wentworth. On an individual basis, Joey Burgos (Lawrence, Mass.) won all-conference honorable mention, and Todd Burton (Lynn, Mass.) and Gary Corbett (Danbury, Conn.) concluded their Endicott careers with solid senior seasons. Tom Connor (York, Maine) and Cameron Twiss (Reading, Mass.) also made significant contributions in their final year.

The Commonwealth Coast Conference appears to be wide open this season. Several schools lost key players to graduation. Good recruiting can mitigate graduation losses, of course, but based upon returning players, Colby-Sawyer, the University of New England and Roger Williams were selected as the preseason favorites in the TCCC preseason polls.

The Gulls should also be in the mix. A positive aspect of last season was that many underclassmen gained valuable experience. The starting lineup often included two freshmen and a sophomore, and these youngsters made great strides during the year. The team will also have exceptional size. The roster includes six players between 6'6 and 6'8, all freshmen and sophomores. And the team is deep. Two strong recruiting classes in a row have yielded a number of talented players at each position. The key to this season will be how quickly the underclassmen mature. The Gulls were picked to finish sixth in the preseason polls, ahead of teams such as Curry, Western New England, and Nichols.

Endicott will be led by the lone senior on the team, Ross Stewart (Palm Harbor, Fla.), who is a constant threat from 3-point territory. For his career, Stewart has shot 43.5% from beyond the arc and led Endicott to the fourth-best 3-point shooting percentage in the nation just two years ago.

Last season, junior Graham Whitelaw (Kennebunk, Maine) became the go-to guy in coach Millette's offense. Graham averaged 9.2 points per game and dished out just under two assists a night for the Gulls and looks to lead Endicott to another successful campaign.

Junior Bobby Montrond (Brockton, Mass.) will look to take back the guard position in 2008-09. The New England College transplant was excellent in the first half of last season and will look to return to form in the coming winter. In eight games played last year, Montrond snatched 21 steals and averaged 3.3 assists per game. Bobby was also good for just over eight points a night last year.

Sophomore center Justin Martin (Cromwell, Conn.) was a welcome addition to the Gulls' lineup last season, as the 6'8" center made his presence felt on every defensive possession. Martin used his long frame to alter the shots of the opposition, as he turned away 50 blocks (1.92 blocks per game), placing him amongst the elite shot blockers in the nation. This season, Martin looks to continue being the defensive backbone and attempt to improve on his freshman campaign.

Martin will be joined on the front lines by fellow sophomore Chris Galbraith (Lowell, Mass.) who measures in at a lengthy 6'7." The sheer size of the two big men down low will lead to matchup problems for any team on both sides of the court. Last season, Galbraith was able to score just over three points a game and averaged nearly three rebounds a game in only ten minutes of action per contest. As Galbraith looks to replace Burgos' and Connor's minutes, the sophomore will only see his numbers improve.

For the first time in Coach Millette's tenure, the Gulls will open the season on their home floor. The Dime Magazine Tip-Off Classic will be held this weekend on November 15 and 16. The field includes Lesley University, the University of Southern Maine, and Wentworth College. Other non-conference opponents include Bates, Clark, Colby, Western Connecticut and Wesleyan. Conference play gets underway on January 10 when the Gulls host Eastern Nazarene.