Blackburn College Men's Basketball Coach Jason Baribeau enters his 2nd year at Blackburn with a total of seven returners and eleven newcomers.· "There has been a lot of youthful enthusiasm surrounding the program since classes started back in August, that mindset will need to continue as we look to make progress each and every day" said Baribeau.
The Beavers have just two seniors who are looking to have a successful season in their last year at Blackburn.· Forward Brandon Adams of Country Club Hills, Ill., finished second last season in field goal percentage (52.7%) while averaging 8.9 points per game and 6.6 rebounds.· Adams is the teams' leading returning scorer and rebounder.· Adams was also selected as Defensive Player of the Year for the Beavers last season.· Forward James Gowin, of Hermitage, Mo., is the Beavers other senior and led the team last season in field goal percentage (56.2).· Gowin also added 2.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game for the Beavers.·
Brandon Hill, a junior from Dallas, Texas, and Jon Lowry a sophomore guard from Peoria Heights, Ill., are looking to have a successful season as they are expected to be key returners for the Beavers in the backcourt. Hill is an athletic guard who is looked upon to be a key threat on both ends of the floor.· Hill averaged 3.8 points per game last season and grabbed 1.6 rebounds.· Lowry will be looked upon to lead the Beavers from behind the arc.· Lowry contributed 2.4 points per game last season.
Other returners for the Beavers include guards Jeremy King, of Murphysboro, Ill. and Lucas Rochkes a sophomore from Pana, Ill., who is also a good shooter from the perimeter.
The Beavers look to improve their inside presence with a handful of newcomers that include Matt Chandler, 6'8" forward from Chester, Ill., Jon Griffel, a 6'7" forward from Gillespie and Evan Wells, another 6'7' forward from Morrisonville.
Blackburn will also get some help in the backcourt by a handful of new recruits led by Diarra Cropper, from Glen Carbon, Ill.· Cropper is a 6'4'' guard who is looking to help the Beavers immediately with his strong defense and ability to get to the basket, as well as the ability to knock shots down from the perimeter.· Other newcomers that are expected to contribute include guards, Jay Campbell, a junior from Peoria Heights, Colin Gowin a freshman from Hermitage, Mo., Austin Kirby a freshman from Lincoln, Ill., and Tyler Moore a freshman from Florissant, Mo.
"We have a competitive schedule and will be tested right from the start. We will need to learn and adapt to each situation and each game" said Coach Baribeau. "My hope is that we will be battle tested by the time SLIAC play comes around."· The Beavers open their season in the Illinois College Tournament on Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17.