Men's basketball equipped with a new attitude

Vegas take notice: it may be time to update the odds on Oberlin men's basketball. Bolstered by a new coaching staff and an influx of attitude, Oberlin has finally decided to shed its intramural approach and create a varsity basketball program.

First-year Zeljko Petrovic emphasized this sentiment, saying, "The upperclassmen are tired of losing. We freshmen; me, James Knight, and Maurice Elrod want to help them change this program around, and make it better for next year." Perhaps some may not be up to this challenge, but with a new coach in James "Satch" Sullinger, an athletic and enthusiastic freshman class, and a bevy of experienced upperclassmen, if there is a team that has the ability to pursue this goal, it is this one.

It is no secret that Oberlin men's basketball has not been dominant in recent history. They finished 3-21 last season. So why the optimism surrounding this new coaching staff and this team in particular? Sullinger emphasized the new perspective that this team takes toward the game: "I think you are going to see a different attitude, a different level of intensity, and new team concept."

First-year Maurice Elrod corroborated this last thought, saying that "As this is my first year, I didn't really know what to expect as far as college basketball. But Sullinger is very positive, he doesn't put negative thoughts or anything negative that would hamper our practice or anything like that. We are starting to become a real team. Positivity and family is what I like best about this team."

The Yeomen plan to run a "triangle" offense, consisting of two perimeter players and three post players. While perhaps the only legitimate traditional "back-to-the-basket" post players may be senior Josh Ellison and first-year Jason Carrington, this offense promises to also utilize the versatility and athleticism of sophomore John Norris and Raphael Ginsberg, and first-years Petrovic and Knight.

In the backcourt, junior Jabali Sawicki will be running the point, assisted by senior Kiese Laymon and Elrod. By not allowing the defense to concentrate on a single player, or a single spot on the floor, this offense gives the Yeomen a flexibility that few teams enjoy.

Offense wins games, but defense wins championships. While Oberlin has not thought about a championship season in a long time, they want to use this season as a springboard. "I believe that if you teach sound, fundamental, man-to-man, (defense) then it makes no difference what the other team does," Sullinger said, "Our goal is to one day win the NCAC, and the only way to win that is by playing good man-to-man. We are starting to lay the foundation now."

Although recent Obies may not remember our basketball program as one to take pride in, it is not true that we have always dwelt in the conference cellar. When Sullinger played for Oberlin he was captain of two very successful Oberlin teams in 1977 and 1978, and was the starting center for the 1976 team that finished the season as champions of the Ohio Athletic Conference. That team remains the winningest Oberlin men's basketball team in history at 16-11.

Sullinger brings with him fond memories of his mentor, coach Pat Penn. "Pat Penn was the greatest coach I have ever been associated with. If after 30 years of coaching, I have one player feel about me the way I feel about Pat, then I will have had a very successful career." With hard work and a little bit of luck, maybe Satch will get his wish.