November 7, 2008
2008-09 Roster & Schedule (PDF)
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University Men’s Basketball returns two starters among 11 letterwinners for 2008-09, including 72 percent of its scoring, 70 percent of its rebounding, and 65% percent of its minutes from last year’s team that finished 9-22. Sixth-year head coach Mike Gillian and his staff of assistant coaches Bill Reinson, Doug Thibault, and Tim Fudd have added three talented newcomers to a program that featured seven different players leading the team in scoring last season, including five that return, and four of them posted 20-point games. Longwood will open on Friday, November 14, hosting Virginia-Wise in Willett Hall beginning at 7 p.m.; the first of three-straight home games in Farmville, followed by Norfolk State (Nov. 16, 7 p.m.) and Gardner-Webb (Nov. 18, 7 p.m.).
Returning Starters (2)
The two returning starters include seniors
Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) (6-1, guard) and
Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) (6-6, forward). Bogan started 23 games last year as a first-year team member and junior college transfer, averaging 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists; shooting 38% from the field, 40% on three-point field goals, and 83% at the free throw line. An Independent All-Newcomer Team selection, he added 43 steals while leading the team in three-point field goals (64). Bogan averaged 15.0 points (20-41 3FG), 5.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists over the final seven games. Williams started every game last season, averaging career-bests of 16.9 points and 6.5 rebounds as an All-Independent 1st-Team selection. Unfortunately, Williams is academically ineligible until at least December 12 when semester exams end.
“Once Ryan got comfortable with the pace of the Division I game last year, he was excellent,” said Gillian. “He is a very intelligent player, who understands the game and is capable of having a significant impact on every game he plays in. We are certainly going to be expecting more of the same out of him this year, and I believe he is ready for that.”
Returning Starter Before Injury (1)
The Lancers also return fifth-year, redshirt-junior
Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) (6-5, guard-forward). For the second-straight season, Smith has received a medical hardship waiver after starting the first 10 games a year ago and averaging 10.4 points and 4.2 rebounds; shooting 41% from the field and 65% at the free throw line before suffering a season-ending knee injury in that 10th game. His previous injury came in the third game of 2006-07, while in 2005-06, he averaged 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. A big year and nice story could be in the making if Smith, who graduated in May 2008 with bachelor of science degree in sociology, can stay 100 percent throughout the upcoming year.
“Dana is healthy and ready to go after two physically, mentally, and emotionally trying seasons in which he had to seek medical hardship waivers,” said Gillian. “This is great news for him, and great news for our team. Knowing what he has had to go through to get back to this point, and knowing the level of commitment it takes to do that, leads me to believe that we are going to see a healthy Dana Smith on the court this year which will lead to a lot of success for this team.”
Top Returning Lettermen (3)
Longwood returns a trio of top lettermen from last year, including juniors
Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) (6-1, guard) and
Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond) (6-7, forward), along with sophomore
Durann Neil/Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy) (6-1, guard). Swecker played in 19 games and averaged career-bests of 8.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists; shooting 42% from the field, 47% on three-point field goals, and 77% at the free throw line. He led the team in three-point field goal percentage after missing the first eight games of 2007-08 while enduring a bout with mononucleosis. Swecker missed four more games late in the season with a foot injury. He averaged 14.0 points (10-17 3FG) over the final three games. Robinson played in 28 games while averaging career-bests of 4.0 points and 2.6 rebounds; shooting 40% from the field and 61% at the free throw line. He averaged 13.3 points (16-26 FG) and 4.3 rebounds over the final three games. Neil played in 27 games and averaged 4.3 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists; shooting 35% from the field, 34% on three-point field goals, and 61% at the free throw line. The strongest player on the team, as evidenced by his bench press of 325 pounds, he has worked hard since the end of last season while shedding 15 pounds and maintaining his strength.
“The rest of our returning players from last year's team include this group that have shown their ability to convert their practice effort into game performance, and subsequently perform at a high level,” said Gillian. “They now need to turn that energy into performing at a high level consistently in order for our team to enjoy the type of success we are capable of. The three of them are ready to have breakthrough-type seasons.”
Other Lettermen (5)
The Lancers return five other lettermen from last season in juniors
Beno Jaekel/Jussara, Brazil (6-9, center) and
E.J. Dawson/Ft. Belvoir (Mount Vernon) (6-2, guard), and sophomores
Jeffrey Ryan/Beacon, N.Y. (Newburgh Free Academy) (6-7, forward),
Brandon Evans/Roanoke (Roanoke Catholic) (6-9, forward), and
Earl Gee II/Chesterfield (Manchester) (5-10, guard). Unfortunately, Jaekel will miss this year due to a knee injury. Dawson played in 20 games and averaged career-bests of 1.7 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists; shooting 46% from the field and 43% on three-point field goals. He missed the first 10 games last year with a knee injury. Ryan played in 17 games and averaged 2.1 points and 1.1 rebounds; shooting 36% from the field and 44% on three-point field goals. Evans played in 18 games and averaged 0.9 points and 1.3 rebounds; shooting 50% from the field. He added a team-best 17 blocks (0.9). Gee played in 15 games and averaged 1.1 points; shooting 82% at the free throw line.
“This group of players has shown, at times, what they might be able to do in the college game,” said Gillian. “What they need to do now is accelerate their improvement to the point where they can perform under game conditions like those before them have done. They will be put in positions to do just that during the upcoming season and how they respond to those opportunities will go a long way toward how they, and our team, fare in 2008-09.”
Newcomers (3)
Longwood has added three talented incoming freshmen to the program in
Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) (6-6, center), international player
Jan van der Kooij/Tiendeveen, The Netherlands (6-7, forward), and
Martiz Washington/Hopewell (Christchurch) (6-0, guard). Carter averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 blocks while earning team MVP honors as a senior. van der Kooij was a member of the U16/U18 Dutch National Team from 2005-08. Washington played at Christchurch School and averaged 18.4 points, 5.4 assists, 4.6 steals, and 4.5 rebounds as a senior.
“We are truly excited about this group of freshmen joining the program,” said Gillian. “Each of them brings a unique, and different, ability to our team that should enhance our chance to experience success throughout the season.”
2008-09 Schedule
Longwood will host 15 home games, the most since 2002-03, participate in the Findlay Toyota/Las Vegas Invitational that includes games against Kentucky and West Virginia, while also playing highlighted contests at ACC members and in-state schools Virginia and Virginia Tech, along with a road date at SEC member Florida. The Lancers will host Atlantic 10 Conference member George Washington as well as CAA member and in-state opponent James Madison.
“Just like we have done in each of the last four seasons, we are going to play some games that really jump off the schedule and make everyone around the country take notice of the Longwood Basketball Program,” said Gillian. “All things considered, we are very pleased with this year’s schedule. It took a significant amount of time and effort to get it to work best for us and we feel like we have done that. This is the best schedule that has been put together in the last five years and will give us an opportunity to do some special things.”