Bobcat basketball tips off new season: Men’s team looks to build off last season’s losses

After five years of struggling, the GC&SU men’s basketball team could be back among the elite in the Peach Belt Conference.

With six seniors returning and the addition of new players, the Bobcats could end up in the NCAA Division II National Tournament for the first time since 2000.

The Bobcats finished last year with an overall record of 13-15 and 5-11 in the conference.

While most fans could see the sub-.500 record as a disappointment, the record was actually an improvement. The Bobcats doubled their win total from the previous year and lost six games by five points or less.

Head Coach Terry Sellers believes his team will learn from the close losses of a year ago.

“The key is the ability to execute in late game situations,” Coach Sellers said. “I foresee a lot of close games, and I expect our guys to get the job done.”

Back in 2000, Coach Sellers coached the Bobcats to a 25-6 record, which resulted in a regular season PBC title. The Bobcats went on to win the NCAA South Atlantic Regional and went to the Elite Eight of the national tournament.

However, the Bobcats have not appeared in the national tournament or won a PBC championship since 2000.

That could change this upcoming season.

“I feel really good about our returning players, and we have added some new guys to contribute,” Coach Sellers said.

One of the returning players is fifth-year senior Cooper Sellers, son of Coach Sellers.

“I’m extremely hungry, and our seniors are extremely hungry to get back to the top,” Cooper Sellers said.

Ronny Dennis is the team’s leading returning scorer and team captain for the second straight season.

Men’s: build off last year

“I expect (my teammates) to play hard every possession,” Dennis said.

The Bobcats hope to get contributions from six freshmen, including Luke Overs.

“I’m very pleased with his progress, and he has the potential to be an outstanding player,” Coach Sellers said.

Shejdie Childs, a junior who transferred from the University of New Hampshire, could be one of the team’s leaders.

“Shejdie is an excellent playmaker and a good floor leader,” Coach Sellers said. “He adds some good things to our team.”

While this will be his first season with the team, Childs wants to be one of the players the underclassmen look up to.

“Even though I am a junior, I want to work hard and bring a leadership mentality to the team,” Childs said.

Even though Kennesaw State, the 2004 National Champions, have left the PBC, the Bobcats still have some tough teams to play, such as Columbus State and USC-Upstate, the defending conference champions.

Despite being part of a tough conference, the Bobcats believe they can make a move in the PBC.

“We still in the middle of a transition, but we’re on the right track,” Coach Sellers said. “We feel have the best chance since
2000.”

The players and coaches believe that the Bobcats could be at the top of the Peach Belt.

“Some people think we have a good team, but I think we have a great team,” Childs said.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 18 2005. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry