Men's basketball wants to surprise NCAC

With new coach, athletic team hopes to improve on 2-22 season

The new edition Oberlin men's basketball team includes the most valuable players from the last three teams.

Senior forward Mahidi Newman was the team's m.v.p. as a first-year. Newman did not play last season.

Senior Anthony Calloway, a guard, has been the team's top scorer in all three of his seasons at Oberlin and was the m.v.p. in 1994-95. Calloway is just 40 points away from becoming the 13th Oberlin player to score 1,000 in his career.

Sophomore John Norris was voted by the team to be its top player last season when he was the top rebounder and second-best scorer on a team that finished a disappointing 2-22, including a shut out in NCAC play.

The record last year was a bit deceptive, since virtually all the games in the second half of the season were tight. The team is hoping a fast-paced style installed by new head coach Miguel Curl will bring it some wins.

The team gets its first chances for some early-season, confidence-building victories this weekend at a tournament at Capital University. The Yeomen's first opponent is the host tonight.

The Yeomen were picked eighth among the NCAC's nine teams in a preseason media poll and ninth by the coaches, which means winning much at all would surprise a lot of people.

"To you guys, I guess it would be a surprise," Calloway said. "But for us, we always felt that we could connect and win."

Athletically, Curl said, the Yeomen can compete with anyone in the NCAC. To capitalize on its speed and strength, Curl pushed his players through a tough pre-season conditioning regimen.

I believe that hard work pays off," Curl said, "in basketball, in academics, in whatever you do."

The style Curl, a player at Oberlin from 1983 to 1985, has brought with him is a fast one - and a popular one with the players, as contrasted with last year's slow-down efforts.

"I like the up-tempo style because if you do make a mistake, you get a quick chance to recover," junior guard Frank Boley said. "You don't get down on yourself because it goes too fast."

Curl said he expects to get eight or nine players substantial playing time over the season. Most of those players will get some starts, depending on the match-ups.

Other key players will include senior captain Darryl Seldon, a leader both on and off the court. Seldon is starting off the season playing point guard. Last year, he showed his versatility by leading the team in both rebounds and assists.

Junior center Josh Ellison, a starter last season, has worked hard in the weight room to fill out his 6-foot-7 frame. "We've seen him become more aggressive," Curl said.

Senior Kiese Laymon is back on the team. Last year as a transfer, Laymon quit the team after playing in just one game.

Boley was the team's third-leading scorer and the most prolific 3-point shooter. Boley led the team in hitting long range shots, but he led it even further in attempting them and shot just 27 percent from 3-point land.

Sophomore guards Jabali Sawicki and Richard Santiago are also expected to contribute.

"Can we go anywhere else?" Calloway said. "We have nothing to lose."

Flying high:Senior Mahidi Newman watches a Josh Ellison dunk in a men's basketball practice this week. (photo by Whitney Smith)