The 2016-2017 season for the Saint Leo University Men’s Basketball team began on Nov. 12 in Florence, Alabama. Before the first game of the season even tipped off though, there is a different attitude to the Lion’s season. After starting last year projected to finish second to last in the Sunshine State Conference, Saint Leo surprised everyone when they earned a bid in the NCAA tournament. This year, expectations are higher, as the team starts as the number two team in the conference.
Head Coach Vince Alexander, now in his second season with Saint Leo, attributes the higher expectations with a key core of players.
“I think we have two of the best guards in the country and we’ll start with them, Marcus Dewberry and Tyreece Brice… We’ve added some depth inside, added some size… that will increase our chances of being a better team,” Coach Alexander said.
Dewberry, in particular, should be a big reason for any success the team has. A preseason All-American, he is coming off of a 19.7 point per game season, which allowed him to earn a D2CCA all-south region first team selection and an NABC all-south district first team selection. Dewberry, a senior, is also expected to finish the season as the SSC player of the year.
One of the weaknesses of last season’s team was their rebounding. Giving up 5.8 more rebounds per game, the Lions were ranked 278th in the nation, among the worst of the whole country. New players should help with that, according to Coach Alexander.
“I thought last year, we struggled rebounding, so I think this year, with the size we’ve added we’ll be a better rebounding team,” said Coach Alexander.
Although there are some new players, this is a team with many juniors and seniors. Coach Alexander believes this will help the team out.
“I’m hoping that our experience and the upperclassmen will pay off for us. As our season progresses, hopefully, and God willing, we will progress as a team, we will get better. That being the case, I think we can meet the expectations we have for ourselves,” said Coach Alexander.
However, just because the team has gained some attention, it doesn’t mean that the team is thinking it will be a cakewalk.
“It’s such a really good league that you can’t predict where you’re really gonna go. Our goal is to win the league and that’s what we’re gonna strive for. We’re gonna do everything in our power to win the league, working hard, being together as a team and committing to getting better every day. God willing, we’ll accomplish the goal we set out, and that is to win the league,” Coach Alexander said.
The team is also not ranked nationally, something that Coach Alexander does not concern himself with.
“I think it’s something we can do. Are we putting our hopes in that? No. Division 2 rankings are, honestly, sort of skewed in that there’s a sort of bias, so I’m not particularly worried about that. I’m more concerned about the regional ranking which is where we were last year. We finished number 8 in that region, which put us in the NCAA tournament. That ranking is more realistic and unbiased,” Coach Alexander said.
Last season, the Saint Leo Lions stayed under the radar to make an appearance in the NCAA tournament. This year they will not have that luxury, but with the talent the team has, a second straight postseason appearance is not out of the question.