• Wed, 02/08 | Men's Basketball at Sacred Heart L, 79-77 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 02/04 | Men's Basketball at St. Francis (NY) L, 80-67 (Final) BX | RC
  • Thu, 02/02 | Men's Basketball at Long Island L, 75-70 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 01/28 | Men's Basketball vs. Monmouth L, 78-68 (Final) BX | RC
  • Thu, 01/26 | Men's Basketball vs. Fairleigh Dickinson L, 66-63 (Final) BX | RC
  • Mon, 01/23 | Men's Basketball vs. Brown L, 67-60 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 01/21 | Men's Basketball vs. Quinnipiac L, 78-71 (Final - OT) PR | BX | RC | LS | V | A | T
  • Thu, 01/19 | Men's Basketball at Central Connecticut L, 69-51 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 01/14 | Men's Basketball at Mount St. Mary's L, 64-60 (Final) BX | RC
  • Thu, 01/12 | Men's Basketball at Wagner L, 78-61 (Final) BX
 

November 12, 2009

PROVIDENCE JOURNAL:Things looking up with infusion of height down low

November 12, 2009

PROVIDENCE JOURNAL

Bryant basketball preview: Things looking up with infusion of height down low

By Paul Kenyon, Journal Sports
pkenyon@projo.com

SMITHFIELD - The jump from Division II to Division I is not supposed to be an easy one, but the Bryant University basketball team certainly seems to be handling it well. In just one year, the feeling around the team has gone from uncertainty and trepidation to confidence and excitement.

A year ago, as the Bulldogs were preparing to make the jump, no one was sure what to expect other than that the challenge was huge. Today, as the Bulldogs prepare for their second winter of life among the big boys, the tough part for coach Tim O'Shea and his players is not to expect too much too quickly.

One huge recruiting class has changed the picture.

"We don't look like a Division II team any more," O'Shea says. "We're going to make it interesting. It's exciting to see the talent level. I think a lot of people are going to be surprised when they see us play this year."

"A year ago, we were in survival mode," O'Shea says. "Now we can play above the rim."

"When you can bring two 6-8 kids off the bench, it's always a good thing, especially when it is 6-8 kids who can play," notes senior point guard Chris Birrell of Scituate. "It opens up a lot more for us. They have to respect us down low."

As it was, Bryant won eight games last season, which, with its killer schedule, was as big an accomplishment as some teams winning 20. The schedule is still tough, although not as bad as last season's. The Bulldogs must wait until 2012 to become full members of the Northeast Conference, but the team does not plan to wait until 2012 to make some noise in its conference.

"In terms of being competitive, it's a huge leap forward because of our size and our athleticism," O'Shea said. "We're going to have a chance to compete against just about everybody on our schedule.

"Who knows what the win-loss will look like?" he added. "But from a competitive standpoint, we're going to be more competitive. Now, when we play some of these bigger schools with the size we have, now it's going to be a different game."

READ REST OF THE PREVIEW ON PROJO.COM AND A CAPSULE TO BRYANT'S 2009-10 SEASON

http://www.projo.com/sports/content/bryant_basketball_preview_11-12-09_46GE3LB_v2.37cf399.html

 

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