Men's basketball without superstar

This season, the men's basketball team hopes to perform exactly how it is described: as a team.

"We want to play like a team," senior co-captain Eric Mack said. "We want to spread out the shot, keep turnovers down, and play defense."

If the season started today, the starting line-up would feature Mack at point guard, junior Andrew Kaklamanos at shooting guard, senior co-captain Deyvehn East at small forward, sophomore Dan Martin at power forward, and sophomore Blaine Lay at center.

Sophomore Scott Armstrong should be the first Jumbo off the bench, playing either a tall shooting guard or small forward. The coaching staff has tentatively penciled in freshman Dave Shepherd at back-up point guard/shooting guard, though he may be out for the entire season pending MRI results on his knee which he injured before the season.

Freshmen Brian Kumf and Jason Grauer should also see time down low with junior Jesse Belodoff possibly getting some time at guard.

The Jumbos have opted to spread out the offense due to two main factors.

The first factor is the combined loss of Mike McGlynn, Brian Shapiro, Jim Wilson, Craig Coupe and junior Reggie Stovell.

McGlynn, Shapiro, and Wilson were the team's first, third, and fourth top scorers from last season and all three are lost due to graduation. Coupe (13.7 ppg, 11.4 rpg) was Tufts leading rebounder and second leading scorer last season, but transferred to Trinity for his junior year in order to pursue a business degree.

Stovell is still on the team, but last year's fifth leading scorer is probably going to be sidelined until second semester due to a stress fracture.

"There is going to be more of a team scoring," Sheldon said. "[The offense] will be more spread out."

If the Jumbos possess any go-to guy, senior co-captain Eric Mack and coach Bob Sheldon both believe it will be East. However, both still feel that in order for the Jumbos to be successful, the ball will have to be spread around and multiple players will have to score.

"[The offense] is going to come from everywhere," Mack said. "You are going to see a lot of players with eight to 12 points."

The second factor is that East and sophomore center Blaine Lay are the only two active players who played more than ten minutes a game last year.

Sheldon would like to see at least five to six passes on each possession, working the shot clock, and looking for the best shot, not always the first shot.

Last Saturday, the Jumbos competed in their annual alumni game, and Mack felt the team looked good. Sheldon said during the contest he noticed his team ran down the shot clock well and appeared more patient on offense.

"We're not going to be as explosive offensively," Mack said. "We're not going to take as many three's."

Last year, the Jumbos boasted All-NESCAC center Coupe in the post. And while Martin and Lay are capable of combining forces to make Coupe seem like an afterthought, the two must become more aggressive offensively.

"They rebound well, set screens, and make open shots," Mack said. "The big guys are going to have to play more minutes."

Overall, the team's success relies on its ability to not turnover the ball. Last year, the Jumbos committed 19 turnovers a game, but this season Mack would like to see that number reduced to ten.

If the Jumbos take care of the ball and take good shots, they could be successful.

"Look for a team that plays hard on defense," Sheldon said. "That takes the best shot, not necessarily the first shot."