The NESCAC honored two members of the men's basketball team last Wednesday when it released the 2002 All-NESCAC awards. Junior guard Mike McGlynn was named Second Team All-NESCAC, and freshman center Craig Coupe was named Rookie of the Year.
It marked the third consecutive season that the NESCAC Rookie of the Year award has gone to a Tufts player. Sophomore point guard Phil Barlow shared the honor last season, while junior guard Brian Shapiro received the award in 2000.
"It was kind of the icing on the cake," Coupe said. "I feel like I had a strong season and it's nice to get recognized."
McGlynn earned the recognition after playing in his first season as a Jumbo. He was a standout at Brandeis during his freshman and sophomore years, before transferring to Tufts. He wasted little time in asserting himself as the Jumbos' top offensive threat this season, averaging 18 points per game, including 23.6 points in NESCAC contests, good for fifth place in conference scoring.
McGlynn proved to be particularly dangerous from behind the three-point line, as he led the NESCAC in three-point field goal percentage by connecting on 48.1 percent (102-212) of his shots from downtown. In doing so, he shattered Tufts' single season record for three pointers (90), set by Bill Slackman in 1990-91. McGlynn finished the regular season with 99 threes, and added three more in a postseason game against Williams to finish the year with a NESCAC-leading 102 three pointers. He connected on 20 more three pointers than the next closest player, Colby senior Damien Strahorn, who finished with 82.
McGlynn's offensive contributions proved to be crucial for the Jumbos, who lost a large part of their offense when Barlow went down midway through the season with a broken foot. McGlynn performed well under the added pressure, and in doing so scored his 1,000th career point in an 88-87 loss to Trinity on Jan. 25. After scoring 756 points in his two seasons at Brandeis, he finished this season with 1,207 career points.
McGlynn is joined on the second team by Williams junior Drew DeMuth, Trinity senior Bryan Dion, Amherst junior Pat Fitzsimons, and Bates senior Alex Wilson. The first team is comprised of Connecticut College senior Mizan Ayers, Wesleyan senior Leo Jones, Colby senior Damien Strahorn, Amherst junior Steve Zieja, and, Trinity senior Colin Tabb, also the conference's player of the year.
Coupe received his award after providing coach Bob Sheldon and the Jumbos with a much-needed inside presence. After losing center and leading scorer Dan Flaherty to graduation last year, it was uncertain whether the team would be able to fill the hole left inside. Coupe answered this question definitively, developing into one the top big men in the NESCAC.
He was third on the team in scoring with 11.9 points per game, and logged the second most minutes behind McGlynn, with 608. He was among the NESCAC leaders in blocks, rebounds, and field goal percentage. His 2.2 blocks per game was good for second in the conference, while he was fifth in rebounds per game with 8.5, and fourth in field goal percentage (53.1 percent).
While his individual talent is apparent, Coupe attributes much of his success to the coaching staff and his teammates.
"A lot of my success came through the coaching staff," he said. "They brought me along at the right pace, and didn't throw me out there right away. They waited until they felt I was ready to start. My teammates were really helpful in welcoming me and bringing me along as well."
The Jumbos finished the season at 12-13 overall and 3-6 in the NESCAC. They sneaked into the playoffs, nabbing the seventh seed, but fell to Williams in the first round.
Despite losing co-captains Bobby MacMannis and Bruce Reese, along with senior Kevin Reade, the team will return its top eight scorers next season.
Both of this season's award winners will be back in uniform next year, and both say improvement is on the horizon.
"As a team goal, we want to be one of the top teams in the NESCAC," Coupe said. "Individually I'd like to become more than just a one dimensional player, to be someone who can go inside and outside with ease."
@s:Both all conference selections returning next year
