'Roo Men's Basketball 2012-2013 Season Preview
With a deep and experience roster and five straight years in the postseason under its belt, the 'Roo men's basketball will be looking to challenge for the SCAC crown in the upcoming season.
The Austin College men's basketball team has earned a berth in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament every year of head coach Rodney Wecker's career, and this season the 'Roos will be playing host to the postseason championship in February with a very real chance to bring home the title thanks to a deep and experienced group of returning players along with a talented crop of newcomers.
After finishing 15-11 overall and 11-5 in SCAC play last season, the 'Roos lost just two players to graduation, though they are tasked with replacing 1st Team All-Conference forward Josh Saunders as well as Greg Harrell, one of the top defensive players on the team a year ago.
Leading the way on the interior will be Walter Phillips, Antoine Thompson, and Alen Michael, who make up a big and athletic front line. Thompson came off the bench every game last season but still finished second on the team in scoring with 11.0 points per game on 53.5% shooting and added 4.3 boards per game in his first year with the team, while Phillips posted 8.6 points and 3.7 boards per game, and has been an All-SCAC performer in his career.
Michael improved as much as any player on the team last year and started 20 games in the post, finishing the year with averages of 7.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while knocking down 52.8% from the field and finishing second on the team with 23 blocked shots.
Even with the returning talent on the inside, the 'Roos may feature even more depth on the perimeter, where starting guards Jordan Hancock and Ransom Okpala return for their third season in the program. Hancock, who has earned All-SCAC distinction in each of his first two seasons, averaged 9.2 points per game and finished among the conference leaders with 76 assists, and Okpala averaged 9.7 points and knocked down 36.2% of his attempts from long range.
Also returning to add depth to the backcourt are Kevin Graham, Aaron Anwary and Andre Bryant, who each showed flashes of being impact players in their first season at Austin College. Graham is one of the quickest players in the SCAC, while and Anwary gives Wecker a strong shooter and passer coming off the bench.
Wecker counts his team's depth as its greatest strength, as the 'Roos will also feature Harry Hampden-Smith, Jackson Ross and Alvin Michael, who each figure to get some minutes this season, as well as four freshmen who could each work their way into the rotation.
The 'Roos feature a deep and talented team in 2012-2013, and after five straight years in the SCAC Tournament, Austin College looks poised to climb to the top of the mountain this season and claim the conference championship on its home court.