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New Look Holy Family University Men's Basketball Begins 2009-10 With Exhibition Game at La Salle On Saturday (11/6/2009) PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Holy Family University men's basketball team will get its 2009-10 season with an exhibition contest against Division I La Salle University at Tom Gola Arena on Saturday, November 7 at 2 p.m. The game is free to attend. 2009-10 Season Preview The Holy Family University men’s basketball team comes into the 2009-10 season after receiving a major overhaul, returning only three players, one starter, from a year ago. Seventh year head coach Alfred Johnson and his staff had a busy off-season bringing in seven new players, four transfers and three freshmen, to fill up the roster. The Tigers are looking to rebound from a 2008-09 season which had the team end up at 8-20 overall. The team did qualify for its second straight Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship Tournament. The team’s goal for this season is to return to its 2007-08 form (21-10 overall and a NCAA Tournament appearance). Frontcourt Sophomore forward Justin Swidowski is the only starter that is on the roster from last year’s team. Swidowski had a stellar rookie campaign averaging 16.1 points per game (ppg) and 8.0 rebounds per game (rpg). He added 64 blocks, 25 steals and a field-goal percentage of .551. In the CACC, he was second in shooting, third in rebounding and blocks and seventh in scoring. He was tabbed as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and CACC rookie of the year. Coach Johnson brought in three transfers to bolster the frontcourt: Ismaila Troare, Rickie Crews and Sam Mushman. Traore comes to Holy Family after playing three seasons at Division I St. Peter’s College. With the Peacocks, Traore played in 83 contests and averaged just over one point and two rebounds per game. Last year, he started in all 30 games, recorded 95 rebounds, 52 points, 17 points, nine steals and five blocks. Crews returns to the basketball court after not playing this past year. He played for Division I Monmouth University during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 campaigns. In his two years with the Hawks, he appeared in 18 games, one was start. As a sophomore, he came up with 47 points, 33 rebounds, 11 blocks, eight steals and three assists. Mushman is wearing a Holy Family uniform after spending his freshman season at Division II Wingate University. He played in 10 games with the Bulldogs, contributing nine points, nine rebounds, two blocks and an assist. After being forced to redshirt with an ACL injury a season ago, center Alex Kravchuk is expected to make an impact in the middle for the Tigers. At Webutuck, he was a two-time All-Dutchess County player. Backcourt Holy Family enters this season with a very young backcourt that is made up of two sophomores and three freshmen. Sophomore Kahlil Mumford is the leader in the backcourt for the team. He was a teammate of Traore’s at St. Peter’s College last season. Mumford played in 11 contests and had 32 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and four steals. At Cardinal Dougherty, he was the MVP of the Catholic League’s northern division in his senior year. Freshmen Khiry Hankins and Taylor Papion will be called upon to play big roles for the Tigers. Hankins was the Miami Valley Conference player of the year and was named to the All-Southwest District 16 first team as a senior. He was also an Academic All-Ohio and All-State nominee. In his high school career, Hankins averaged 13.5 ppg. Papion was an All-District first team guard this past season for Tuerlings Catholic. He recorded 15 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals per game as a senior. Papion played a big part in helping Tuerlings Catholic reach its first Division 4A playoff game. Sophomore Ben Badeen and freshman Jared Schwarz will each bring additional depth to the guard position. Badeen played in four games for Holy Family as a freshman. Schwarz was a four-year starter and a two-time team captain for Franklin Towne Charter. Schedule The Tigers will face many tests during the 2009-10 season. In its non-conference schedule, Holy Family will take on seven NCAA Tournament teams from last season: Kutztown, Indiana (Pa.), Virginia Union, Assumption, Stonehill, Merrimack and Bentley. |
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