Men's Basketball Season Preview

Posted: Nov 10, 2014

The Blackburn College Men’s Basketball Team definitely has a different look in 2014-15. A more athletic lineup and added depth for the upcoming campaign will replace the slower style the Beavers have employed in the past. “We needed to get faster and more athletic from top to bottom of our roster, and we did that,” Head Coach Jason Baribeau said. “We will rely on a team orientated and unselfish style of play; that is the cornerstone of good teams. We will look to be aggressive on both ends of the court and use our defense to produce opportunities on offense.” In order to produce that, Baribeau brought in 18 new players in this year’s recruiting class.

The Beavers will rely on the experience of three returning starters and leaders in sophomores Chris Davis (Thebes, IL/Paducah Tilghman) and Tommy Ulinski (Girard, IL/North Mac) and junior Jamie Moore (Springfield, IL/Southeast).

Davis returns after an impressive freshman campaign. Davis started in all 25 contests during the 13-14 season, and finished in the top five in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in scoring at 15.1 ppg. He was also one of the conference leaders in free throws made and attempted. For the season he shot 45.6% from the floor and finished second on the team in rebounds per game (4.4). “Chris has worked really hard this off-season in the weight room and he looks more explosive then he was a year ago.” Ulinski was one of the SLIAC leaders in FT percentage (89.4%) and three point field goal percentage (37%), while finishing third on the team in scoring at 10 ppg. “Tommy will be relied on to run the show and we are excited to see what he will do this year.” Moore also started in all 25 contests during the 13-14 season and finished second in the SLIAC in three point field goal percentage (47.6%) while leading the Beavers in rebounding (6.3) and finishing second on the team in scoring (10.9 ppg). “Jamie is a complete player and a stat stuffer. He shoots a high percentage from the floor and is a key player defensively,” Baribeau said.

Baribeau and his staff were looking to bring in a large, talented class for this season, and they feel they definitely accomplished that goal. Transfers Chris Davis (Springfield, IL/Southeast) and Henry Hicks (Sauk Village, IL/Bloom) are expected to contribute and vie for playing time immediately. Freshmen Eric Gustafson (New Berlin, IL/New Berlin), Jake Lochhead (Chester, IL/Chester), Reed Rusten (Roodhouse, IL/North Greene), Bo Fry (Fairfield, IL/Fairfield) and Jeff Taylor (Pembrook Tower, IL/St. Anne) are several guards that could find themselves in the mix early on. “These guys are athletic, very skilled, and possess a good basketball IQ,” Baribeau said.

Post players looking to battle for spots include freshman: Jordan McMillen (Greenfield, IL/Greenfield), Malcolm Scott (Chicago, IL/Rickover Naval), and Zach Polston (Eddyville, KY/Lyon County). “We have been able to add a lot of length with guys standing 6-8, 6-6, 6-5, and 6-5 on the roster. I expect us to have more control of the boards this year,” said Baribeau.

The Beavers schedule has been strong in the past, and this year’s schedule is no exception. Blackburn travels to Colorado College for an opening weekend tournament and also travels up to UW-Oshkosh for tournament play. SLIAC play will begin on December 3 when the Beavers play host to rival MacMurray College.