Men’s basketball looks to improve with team full of new faces

Men’s basketball head coach Joe Cassidy knew there was a lot of room for improvement coming into the 2009-10 season. After seeing his team go 12-13 last year, due to being out-matched and out-sized by opponents, he looked for a way to make his team better.

“One of our goals in recruiting last year was to get bigger, longer and physically athletic,” Cassidy said. “My expectations are that we are going to be a better team because we are more athletic, bigger and stronger.”

Cassidy is in his 14th season as Rowan’s head coach. He’s posted a 242-102 record (.703 winning percentage) and has led Rowan to four NCAA tournament bids and 10 appearances in the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs. He was also an assistant coach of their 1996 national championship team.

Rowan hasn’t won the New Jersey Athletic Conference since 1999 and with Richard Stockton ranked fifth in the nation, the road to being back on top will have to go through Pomona, N.J.

“We are always looking forward to playing Stockton but now that they’re highly ranked, we’re looking even more forward to them,” Cassidy said.

Cassidy has a new and young squad underneath him, as senior Tyson Hartnett is the only returning starter. Hartnett will be looking to some youth to contribute this year. Freshman Kendall White has really impressed his coach and will be starting at the wing position.

“[White] has really upped our level of athleticism and he’s a terrific defensive player, which is why he grabbed the starting spot,” Cassidy said.

Rowan was an easy choice for White due to the campus’ atmosphere and the friendliness of coach Cassidy.

“I really liked the campus and when I came to visit coach, he was a real nice guy and made me feel like I was at home,” White said. “At first, it wasn’t easy fitting in because I was shy and didn’t talk to a lot of people, but they made me feel like I was at home so I opened up.”

Freshman A.J. Greenwald will also be seeing some significant playing time. Junior forward Tim Matchett is a transfer from Dominican, a Division II school, and will also be contributing to the Profs.

Cassidy has also noticed some improvement in sophomore forward Steve Secula, who is coming off of two knee surgeries.

“He appears to be much healthier now and we are pleased with his progress,” Cassidy said. “To me, he looks like a guy that, in order for us to be successful, needs to be a double-figure scorer.”

Senior Derek Piccini has also impressed his coach. After playing three years of football, he went out for basketball. He tried out for basketball after his football season ended last year and tore his ACL only 45 minutes into the first practice.

“He came back this year and we are just thrilled with the way he is playing,” Cassidy said. “He is clearly anchoring our defense and is going to be our starting center.”

Hartnett, who scored 13.9 points and grabbed 5.9 rebounds per game last season, knows that it is going to be a transition heading into the upcoming season, but seems unfazed by all the new players coming in.

“Last year we had a lot of returning guys and everybody knew each other but this year it is different,” Hartnett said. “We have a lot of freshmen in and a lot of good transfers this season. It’s a whole new year and a new season, and everybody will learn each other’s games.”