Men's b-ball could be dark horse in NEC

The youth movement is underway at Monmouth University’s Boylan Gymnasium.

With no seniors and three starters gone – including John Bunch, who was selected in the NBA’s Developmental League draft – the 2007-08 men’s basketball team is looking to their underclassmen to step up and make things happen on the court.

While the team may be inexperienced, it’s definitely not lacking for talent.

“I’m confident about our play,” said sophomore starting guard, Jhamar Youngblood, last year’s Rookie of the Year in the Northeast Conference. “We have a lot of young talent that really works well with our veteran players.”

Already, the young squad is showing its tremendous potential.

The Blue Hawks took Big East power Seton Hall into overtime Sunday, before falling 89-81. Two days earlier, Monmouth suffered a 63-60 season opening loss to Colgate. Youngblood has led the offense, averaging 23.5 points per game.

But the Hawks' busy schedule won’t allow them to dwell on the heartbreaking losses. This weekend, they travel to St. Thomas to play in the University of Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. They open against Notre Dame. On Dec. 2, the Hawks begin conference play at home against Sacred Heart.

Players expect a big improvement on last year's 12-18 record.

“If we keep working hard with this level of intensity and do as coach [Dave Calloway] says, we should get some pretty impressive results,” 6-9 sophomore center Dutch Gaitley said.

“We are a bunch of hard workers," said junior guard Whitney Coleman, a team co-captain. “We push each other every day in practice, which makes us better as a whole.”

Monmouth Basketball at a Glance…

Last year: 12-18 overall, 7-11 NEC; did not qualify for conference tournament.

Coach: Dave Calloway; 142-140 in 10 seasons, 3 NEC titles.

Key returnees: G Whitney Coleman, 6-3, Jr. (9.1 ppg last year); G Jhamar Youngblood, 6-1, Soph. (12.3 ppg last year, NEC Rookie of the Year).

Key newcomers: G James Hett, 6-0, Fr.; C Nick DelTufo, 6-8, Fr.; F George Barbour, 6-7, Fr.

Noteworthy: In 2006, the team qualified for the NCAA tournament and defeated Hampton University in the play-in game. It was the first time since 1983 that an NEC school won a game.

-Megan Brennan