AUS men's basketball preview
Taussig leads revamped Huskies
Axemen look strong in bid for title repeat
There will be a new look around Saint Mary’s men’s basketball this season and not just on the court.
Former guard Jonah Taussig, who led the Huskies to their 1999 Canadian title at the Halifax Metro Centre, takes over from longserving head coach Ross Quackenbush.
The Huskies have a substantial corps of returning players in Harry Ezenibe, Miguel Pink and Riley Halpin, but its the new faces that may help light up the scoreboard.
Point guard Johnny Higgins of Baltimore played at Marshall University and was the MVP of the first pre-season tournament at UNB.
There are two newcomers from Coppin State, starting with six-foot-10 Ottawa native Osman Olol. Combo guard Jordan Lee of Baltimore, the other ex-Coppin State transfer, can’t play until mid-November due to transfer rules.
Six-foot-eight forward Kevin Thomas and guard Kadeem Thompson, both of Toronto, and former Dalhousie guard Jeremy McAvoy are also on the roster.
All-rookie pick Brian Rouse will rejoin the team after Christmas.
“There are lots of new faces on this team," said Taussig, whose team is 6-3 in exhibition play. “I think our success will be determined by how we come together as a group.
“I have full expectations that we’ll be competitive and give ourselves a chance to win on a nightly basis."
First-team all-star Torey Fassett and Jerome Smith are the key losses off the Huskies, 9-11 last season.
The Huskies tip-off the regular season with a weekend doubleheader against Memorial in Halifax.
Acadia Axemen (14-6): The defending league champions have a formidable returning nucleus, but it hasn’t been a perfect preseason despite a 6-0 record.
Guard Anthony Sears, the MVP of last year’s AUS tournament, hurt his ankle and has missed some time with surgery. Owen Klassen, a second-team all-Canadian and the reigning conference defensive player of the year, is facing charges for off-court incidents last season, but will play pending the outcome of his court proceedings in February.
Point guard Sean Stoqua, a football and basketball player with the Axemen, made the conference all-rookie squad last year and was a force in the playoffs. Guards Anthony Ashe and Jonathan Tull were also all-tournament selections last year.
Forward Bradley States also played meaningful minutes for the Axemen as a rookie last year. Tom Filigiano, Shaquille Smith, Tyler Scott, Lachlan Gale and Rhys Larry were also part of last year's championship club.
Point guard AJ Simmonds, from Auburn Drive, and forward Kyle Arsenault are new on the scene.
“Our experience will be a strength for us,” said Axemen head coach Steve Baur. “If we are consistent on the defensive end and rebound well we think we can play with anyone.”
St. Francis Xavier X-Men (16-4):
Steve Konchalski’s team won 30 games last year and came third at the nationals.
The X-Men return the duo of all-Canadian Terry Thomas, a junior from East Preston, and all-conference performer Jeremy Dunn, a senior from Wolfville.
Thomas led the X-Men in scoring and rebounding during the regular season while Dunn averaged 25 points per game in the post-season. Thomas was suspended for the exhibition schedule for unspecified off-court actions, but is expected back for the regular season.
Running the team from the point guard position will be fifthyear senior Tyrell Vernon, a Mc-Master transfer who was one of the keys to the team’s success last year. Will Donkoh, Jordan Clarke and Omar Kadray also return to the back court.
Shane Coupland will be counted on in the front court along with Kohlin Rasenberg, a sophomore who starts the year on the injury list.
Ellis Ffrench is on the shelf after Achilles surgery while seven- foot-two Riiny Ngot has stepped away from basketball due to a concussion that cost him last season.
Rounding out the squad are guard Kristian Rasenberg (younger brother to Kohlin) and utility man Mat MacDonald, who has a year of experience in the CIS with Royal Military College.
Key recruits are David Benoit from North Nova Education Centre in New Glasgow and Jordan Tyrrell.
Bol Kong, Rodrigo Madera and Marquis Clayton are among the biggest losses.
Cape Breton Capers (11-9): New head coach Matt Skinn has some weapons.
AUS most valuable player Jimmy Dorsey of Baltimore, who scored 22.5 points per game last year, returns for his final season.
Al Alilovic departs, costing the club 15.5 points per game, but the returning group of Arild Geugjes, an AUS all-rookie pick, Kelson Devereaux, Meshack Lufile and Lee MacQuarrie is solid.
It’s the incoming group that has caused some excitement, led by rookie Shaquille Keith, a guard from Toronto (REDA Prep) rated in the top-15 prospects in the country last year.
Others entering the program are Cedric Kasongo (Brock transfer), Sean McCormick (Lethbridge College transfer), Brennen Fule (Mount Royal transfer), Kayon Mayers (Boston Trinity Academy Prep), Chris Stanhope (REDA Prep) and Shacier Locke (John Cabot High School).
Skinn said the Capers, winners of the St. F.X. Invitational on the weekend, will be young around Dorsey with only Fule past his third year of eligibility.
“We are trying to establish a pride and values within the team that will be evident both on and off the court,” said Skinn, and ex-Cape Breton player and the former women’s coach at St. F.X. “A talent like Jimmy Dorsey does not come around every day and we feel we have surrounded him with a supporting cast that will make us a tough game in the AUS. With the abundance of new faces we have in the program, team chemistry and cohesion will be a key for our success this year.”
Dalhousie Tigers (9-11): New faces are the name of the game around John Campbell’s club.
Will Yengue and Casey Fox, who combined to average 27 points last year, Jumol Mullings, John Traboulsi, Derek Norris and Nathan Smith are back while Robert Nortmann, Stephen Lopez, Alex Arthur and Ritchie Kanza, a top rookie last year, are gone.
The top newcomers named by Campbell are Simon Marr, formerly of Saint Mary's, power forward Devon Stedman, Keith Robinson, a forward from Kansas City, and Kashrell Lawrence.
The versatile Lawrence, out of the same program that produced Cape Breton’s Keith, is one of the top young prospects in the conference.
“We are a very different team with 10 new players,” said Campbell. “(We’re) hoping that as time goes we will develop into a solid team.”