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Season Outlook The Garnet struggled last year to a record of 3-21, losing a number of close games due to youth and inexperience. But last year's freshman and sophomores will be a year older and a solid group of five incoming freshmen will add to the rebuilding effort which Coach Lee Wimberly has undertaken since his return from a one year leave of absence in 1998-99 to serve as the Head Scout for the San Antonio Spurs. With the loss to graduation of Joe Culley and Gregg Holtmeier, the Garnet will be very young once again this year (eleven members of the team will be freshmen and sophomores) and are probably a year away from reestablishing themselves as a legitimate playoff contender in the very tough Centennial Conference. Swarthmore returns five of its top eight scorers in 2000-01 and will be a team that has excellent depth in the backcourt, is a bit thin and small in the frontcourt, and has balanced scoring. Sophomore wing David Pearce (Wayne, PA) played in every game as a freshman, started the last nine games of the season, and led the Garnet in scoring at 10.0 ppg. Junior forward and co-captain Kyle Lewis (New York, NY) started 21 games and averaged 9.1 ppg. and 5.0 rpg. Both Pearce and Lewis have really benefited from the in-season weight program. Junior center David Gammill (Billings, MT), though posting respectable numbers (8.6 ppg. and 5.0 rpg), struggled at times this past season after an excellent freshman year. He has the potential to establish himself as one of the top centers in the conference in 2000-01. Versatile sophomores Joey Armstead (Ellicott City, MD) and Eran Ganot (Tenafly, NJ) both made significant contributions off the bench last year and will be looked to this season for even more. Several other veteran players, including senior co-captain Eli Silk, will be joined by a promising freshman class in the battle for time on the court. More consistency, both offensively and defensively, coupled with more aggressive and physical play on the boards are the keys for the young Garnet Tide to take their next step toward becoming a Centennial Conference playoff contender. The returning players and the newcomers are all excited about that challenge. |
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