By Vinnie Birk -- Blackburn Sports Information
Coming off a 2-23 season, third year Blackburn College Men’s Basketball Coach, Jason Baribeau went out and brought in seven recruits to help this year’s team. The new players will get some playing time on this very young Blackburn team. Despite the inexperience, Baribeau plans on making sure the team gets better every week while also developing team chemistry.
The Beavers have a very brutal non-conference schedule as they play at #2 nationally ranked Illinois Wesleyan University, #5 Wheaton College, and a tough Hanover College. Baribeau says “this challenging nonconference schedule will have us seasoned and conditioned to play when it comes to conference play in 2014.”
Baribeau believes his team will be able to be very competitive once action begins in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The returning players all have experience and the newcomers are all ready to step up and play. Heading the returning players is junior captain Jon Lowry of Peoria Heights. Lowry led the team last season in points per game with 8.9 and 28.8 minutes per game. He accumulated 3.8 rebounds per game which is the top for returning players. “Lowry brings a whole lot of toughness and basketball IQ. He’s a competitor and doesn’t back down,” said Baribeau.
Sophomore forward Matt Chandler of Chester, played 23.5 minutes per game last year while playing on the post. He grabbed 3.5 rebounds per game and scored 4.4 points per game. Chandler also shot 76 percent from the free throw line and according to Baribeau “has improved his game and gained strength in the offseason. Matt has one of the best attitudes, and we will look to him as one of our main rebounders.”
Other returning players that will have key roles are sophomores Evan Wells of Morrisonville and Colin Gowin of Hermitage, Missouri. Wells improved over the offseason and will looks to help the team with rebounding and on defense. In limited time, Wells had 2.2 RPG and 1.6 PPG. Gowin played 12.4 minutes per game last season and scored 3.3 PPG. “Colin will bring much needed energy off the bench. He brings a spark to our play and is a good perimeter shooter,” said Baribeau. Jon Griffel, a sophomore forward from Gillespie, also provides help on the inside for the Beavers. Can Girgin, a junior guard from Istanbul, Turkey, rounds out the returners.
There are three newcomers that will have an impact right away; Tommy Ulinski, a freshman guard from Girard, Chris Davis, another freshman guard from Kevil, Kentucky, and Jamie Moore, a sophomore forward from Springfield. Baribeau says “Each one of these guys brings athleticism and the ability to score. You gotta love newcomers that have the ability to come play right away.” Other newcomers are three freshman guards, Luke Greene of DeGraff, Ohio, Walker Berner of Marshall, and Chris Stone of Decatur.
Baribeau is looking forward to some gritty conference games against rivals MacMurray College, Greenville College, and Fontbonne University. “It’s always fun to play somebody who is close to you in distance. It’s a great atmosphere when the fans travel to see their teams play. I’m excited.”
The Beavers open up the season this Friday when they travel Wheaton College for an opening Tip-Off Tournament. They play the host and #5 ranked Thunder, on Friday at 8:00 PM. Conference play will begin in early December with the December 4 matchup at Fontbonne.