Following a Patriot League Championship in 2003-2004, the bar was set rather high coming into the 2004-05 season, but despite returning four starters and several solid role players, the Mountain Hawks suffered through an up-and-down season, that saw them finish below .500 for the first time under head coach Billy Taylor.
Now the Brown and White are hungry to get back to the top of the Patriot League, but Taylor and the rest of the Mountain Hawks understand it will not be easy.
THE GUARDS
This will be the deepest group of players on the Mountain Hawks roster, with Taylor having five guards from which to choose from. There is a good deal of experience amongst the group, as well as the abilities to score, defend and lead. Senior tri-captain Joe Knight showed signs last season of just how potent he can be on the offensive end, as the 6-1 back court performer torched Colgate in the Patriot League Tournament for a tourney-record 45 points, including a school and tournament record 10 three-pointers. Knight took some time to adjust to Taylor’s system early on last year, but with one full season under his belt, he should be ready for a breakout season from the point guard position.
Knight’s back court partner, Jose Olivero, returns for his junior season, and despite struggling at times with his shooting in 2004-05, Olivero improved in other areas of his game, including rebounding, passing and defense, while his turnover numbers went down. With nine career games of 20 or more points, and 700 tallies in his first two seasons, Olivero has also shown the ability to fill it up on any given night.
Senior tri-captain Mitch Gilfillan also returns for the Mountain Hawks this season. Gilfillan was a pleasant surprise for the Mountain Hawks coming off of the bench in 25 games in 2004-05. His intensity, leadership and calmness will once again help the Lehigh back court, with his shooting and passing ability continually improving and ready whenever needed.
A pair of freshmen round of the Mountain Hawk back court, in Greg Page and Matt Szalachowski. Page is a 6-5 shooting guard from Canada that can really stroke the three-point shot and has competed against top-notch competition throughout his high school days. Page was named the Player of the Game in the National Semifinals of the National Championships in Alberta and shot an incredible 60 percent from beyond the arc at Vanier College. Szalachowksi is a solid ball-handler, passer and shooter who will see time at both guard positions. His basketball IQ is something that Taylor was impressed with during the recruiting process.
THE FORWARDS
This year’s crop of forwards is very athletic and can not only get up and down the floor, but also shoot the basketball and play a physical brand of defense. Leading the way is junior Kyle Neptune, who was ailed by injuries last year, but is now back to full strength. Neptune’s energy and athleticism are a great fit for getting out in transition, or bodying up on the defensive end. He has also added muscle to his 6-5 frame and along with a stellar leaping ability, does not mind going underneath to bang on the boards.
Sophomore Bryan White returns after a very solid freshman season. The 6-6 White came on strong towards the end of the year, including a 21-minute, 8-point, 5-rebound, one block performance versus Holy Cross in the Patriot League Tournament. White has great length and an incredible vertical leap, which should translate into solid rebounding and defensive skills. As his jump shot improves, White will also be a nice contributor on the offensive end.
Senior James Anderson was hurt for part of the 2004-05 season and also took a while to adjust to the Division I game. But don’t mistake that for a lack of talent or desire. A tireless worker who loves to bang down low, Anderson is very athletic and can get up and down the floor with ease. At 6-7 he possesses good size, and the Montana native has a soft touch out to 17-feet.
Freshman Philip Anderson is a 6-9 forward with the shooting ability of a guard. Anderson comes to Lehigh from La Canada, California, where he was the MVP of the Rio Hondo League and set a school record for blocked shots with 115 as a senior. In addition to his shooting ability, Anderson has long arms and good agility, which makes him a prime candidate to be a defensive stopper.
THE CENTERS
Lehigh expects to receive big contributions from its post players this year. Junior Jason Mgebroff has appeared in 60 games over his first two seasons, having shown the ability to step outside and hit the open jump shot, while shooting an incredible 54 percent from the field over that time. His ability to score will open up the outside for Lehigh’s perimeter players, while his size should be a factor both on the backboards and on the defensive end.
Senior tri-captain Mike Fischman has improved in each of his three seasons at Lehigh, and Taylor hopes that trend continues in 2005-06. Fischman is a good shot blocker who uses his athleticism to rebound and run the floor. Fishcman displayed these abilities last year when he played 36 minutes in the Patriot League Tournament versus Holy Cross and responded with a 10-rebound, 5-point performance. At 6-9, Fischman has good size and also the ability to step outside and shoot the ball up to 15-feet.
Freshman John Gourlay brings great size to the Mountain Hawk frontcourt. At 7-0, 250 pounds, Gourlay is one of the biggest players in all of the Patriot League and has a soft touch from the outside as well as the ability to score in the low post. Gourlay was a two-time all-state selection in high school and was also recruited by perennial powerhouses Illinois and Oklahoma State.
Lehigh opens its season this weekend, when the Mountain Hawks travel to Laramie, Wyoming to take part in the 2005 BCA Invitational. Lehigh’s first round opponent will be Northwestern out of the Big Ten on Sunday evening. Game time is scheduled for 10:00 eastern, and all of the action will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM, as well as lehighsports.com with streaming provided by Yahoo! Sports. Tom Fallon will call the action.
The Mountain Hawks open up the home portion of their schedule on Sunday November 20 versus Princeton at 3:30 at Stabler Arena. Tickets for that game and all Lehigh home games can be purchased at anytime on lehighsports.com, or by visiting the Lehigh Athletics Ticket Office, located in Grace Hall, during normal business hours, or by calling 610-7LU-GAME.
