Although the season won’t start until early November, the Colgate Men’s Basketball team has already been perfecting their rhythm and chemistry on and off the court for quite some time now. Practicing on a temporarily renovated court in Starr Rink, the team, comprised of two seniors, four juniors, six sophomores and four first-years, is poised to realize the potential within each and every player.
All the elements needed in a championship team are on full display under the leadership of seniors Brady Cummins and Kyle Carlesimo. As both guards enter into another year of Colgate basketball, they are especially optimistic about the potential of their underclassmen.
“We have a lot of new pieces this year, but from what I’ve seen so far, there’s a lot of fight and maturity in them. That’s the exact attitude you need in any team, so I’m excited to see that drive coming to life,” Cummins said.
Carlesimo also spoke highly of his younger teammates.
“Not only their skill in basketball, but the mindset they carry themselves with; when you’re a senior, those are the teammates you hope you get to lead and encourage,” he said.
This year, 10 of the 16 players on the roster will be underclassmen, which understandably carries a weight of uncertainty. At the same time, however, this new wave of youth and talent can operate on a level that can exceed expectations, which any fan should be excited for.
What fans may not be so excited about, though, is witnessing the first season in five years that will not include Jeff Woodward on the roster. Last season, Woodward became the 42nd player in program history to put up 1,000 points throughout his collegiate career. Despite the loss of the graduate, there is no doubt in the locker room that Woodward’s role on the team can be sustained, shared and even surpassed.
Within this temporary vacuum of numbers and playing time is an opportunity for other members of the team to take on a more active role. The team includes many skillful and capable athletes, one of whom is junior Jalen Cox. Last season, Cox was second in scoring behind the now-graduated senior Nicolas Louis-Jacques, and he was second in field goals made behind the aforementioned Woodward.
“We want to win a championship. That’s the goal every year, but I’m truly encouraged when I also get to work with players, with a team, like this. We got new coaches and new faces this year, but the aim has not changed. We’re all in,” Cox said.
Ask any other player on the team, and they will tell you the same: The goal is to win. However, winning doesn’t come without a price, and it is never guaranteed. Thankfully, no one knows how to do it better than head coach Matt Langel, who is now entering his fourteenth year as the leader of the squad. Langel has more wins under his belt than any coach in program’s history. That comes with a lot of pride but also the humility to recognize the team will also experience lows.
“Not winning the Patriot League last year after four consecutive championships is obviously disappointing, but that’s a part of the game. I look at this team, and I know we have the stuff. It’s a matter of taking things one day at a time, and then looking at the bigger picture. That’s what we do,” Coach Langel said.
The format of a season of basketball at Colgate is nuanced. Games occurring earlier on in the year are typically scheduled against formidable opponents who play outside of the Patriot League. But as each game passes, Colgate is able to gain a rhythm that turns into a snowball of domination, and, by the time conference games begin (this year on December 31 against Lafayette), the Raiders hope that the intense, early-season competition will have them prepared for Patriot League play.
“We’re going to play some teams that have more talent than us, but we’re not going to play any teams that operate like us,” Coach Langel added. “Every session of practice is designed to maximize our potential, to see how we, as humans and athletes, are growing, learning, and moving forward. There’s a dynamic at Colgate that’s difficult to replicate, and that helps us.”
Newly-added assistant coach Patrick Stasiak added on to the importance of team spirit.
“The more together team has the best chance to win,” he said.
The Colgate Men’s Basketball team has much promise this year as players and coaches alike plan to return the glory and success the team has experienced in years past.
