2009-10 Preview: Men's Basketball

BABSON PARK, Mass. -- With seven of its top nine players returning from a year ago, the Babson College men's basketball team is hoping for a breakout season in 2009-10. Led by veteran head coach Stephen Brennan, the Beavers will not only feature a solid core of returning players, but also a very exciting group of first-years.

With no seniors on the roster, Babson's relatively young squad will be led this winter by junior co-captains Eric White (Hyattsville, Md.) and Matt Zoia (Nahsua, N.H.). Both played key roles off the bench last year and will be counted on for their experience and leadership at the guard position this season. Zoia played in 25 games a year ago, averaging 3.0 points per game while shooting .488 from the field and .813 from the free throw line, while White played in all 27 contests, averaging 2.9 points and 1.5 rebounds while knocking down 11 three-pointers.

Also returning at the guard spot will be junior Shelton Ladson (New York, N.Y.), who finished second on the team in scoring a year ago with 10.0 points per game while also adding 3.3 boards per contest and 38 steals. Sophomore Matt Florio (Skillman, N.J.) also returns after a solid freshman season in which he started 11 games, averaging 3.2 points and 1.1 assists per game to go with 24 steals, and first-years Marcus McDermott (Milton, Mass.) and Alex Rudolph (Bal Harbour, Fla.) should also see significant time in the backcourt this winter.

Although the Beavers have traditionally featured a smaller lineup in years past, the team's frontcourt should be deep and versatile in 2009-10. Returning to lead the unit will be sophomore standouts Kris Noonan (Boothbay Harbor, Maine) and Marcus Edwards (East Hampton, N.Y.), as well as junior Dana Mauro (Wethersfield, Conn.) and sophomore Tom Lavin (North Easton, Mass.). Edwards started all 27 games a year ago and averaged 9.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest to go with 35 steals, while Noonan played in all but one game and led the team with a .576 field goal percentage while amassing 6.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest. Mauro played in 23 games and contributed 3.3 points and 2.5 boards per outing, and Lavin played in 15 games and grabbed 16 boards. First-years Russell Braithwaite (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Peter Foley (Wells, Maine) should also add talent and athleticism to the Babson frontcourt as they compete for minutes this winter.

"We are very excited about the players in our program," said Brennan, now in his 15th season at the helm of the program. "They have exhibited a terrific work ethic in the preseason. As a group they possess great character and they are by far the most versatile and athletic group I have coached in my 15 years at Babson. If we can stay healthy and continue to grow we should be one of the top teams in our conference this year."