It is two games into the season, and a number of players on the men and women’s basketball squads have already begun to make a name for themselves. The men’s team, which won only three games all of last season, already has put together a 2-0 record, beating Georgian Court by 23 points and Felician by 11. The women’s team sits at 1-1 after the Wolf Bus Lines Classic this past weekend, losing its season opener to Johnson C. Smith by six points but destroying Bowie State 79-55 the following night. Men’s head coach Chris Fite is pleased at his team’s success early on, but knows his team needs to stay focused and not get ahead of itself. “Abe Massaley, he had 11 assists tonight,” said coach Fite after the season opener. “That’s a different Abe than we saw last year, and we need him to be a facilitator and a true point guard, and he certainly did that tonight.”

For the women’s team, 16-year Coach Kristy Trn is pleased that her team is coming together after a solid 17-10 2013 season. The Lady Raiders were picked No. 3 in the PSAC East Preseason Coaches Poll, and return all but two of their players from last year. Trn has high expectations for the group as they hunt for another playoff appearance in 2014.

With the high percentage of starters returning and good-sized incoming freshman classes for both teams, many players will be stepping up this year to help their teams. Your sports editors take a closer look at the players that they think will make the biggest impact for both teams this season.

Dave:

Men:
With 17 players for the men’s squad competing for playing time this year, it is extremely tough to pick just one who will stand out all season. Senior Dylan Edgar returns this year after an injury last season, and has already made a huge impact in the first two games, defensively and offensively. Sophomore guard Abe Massaley had 11 assists in his first game this year, and looks to pick back up where he left off last year. Freshman recruit Dustin Sleva looks like he will surprise some people in his first year on both offense and defense.

However from what I have seen in the first two games I have to pick junior Jay Hardy as the standout player for 2014. Through the first two games the 6-foot-3-inch Philadelphia native has shown a remarkable knack for getting open and finding the basket. He has shown off his defensive skills with some decisive and timely blocks and rebounds as well. Through the first two games Hardy has put up 39 points, the most of any Raider, and several impressive dunks in both games definitely seemed to energize his teammates and fans as well. I foresee the veteran junior to have a huge year for Shippensburg as long as he continues to play with the heart and energy that I have seen both last season and so far in 2014.

Women:
A solid season least year from the women’s basketball squad puts them in a good position to find success in 2014. Although the team does not have a single senior on the roster this winter, the roster of 13 boasts nine returning players and four incoming freshmen. Junior forward Stephanie Knauer, two-time All-PSAC East performer, heads up a strong lineup after posting 16.3 points per game last year. Sophomore guard Lauren Gold averaged 13.1 points per game last year, and sophomore Morgan Griffith paced the 2013 defense with 8.9 rebounds per game and a solid 10.2 points per contest. For my impact player of the year I think Griffith will stand out this season. The 5 foot 10 inch Hollidaysburg, Pa. product ranked fourth in PSAC play last year in rebounds, and finished the season strong with 10 double-doubes, four of them coming in the final five games. She is accurate from behind the arc making 59.1 percent of her attempted three pointers in her freshman year. Look for Griffith to make a huge impact on the 2014 Lady Raiders, both on offense and defense.

Cale:

Men:
Two games into the season, senior forward Dylan Edgar is impacting the game in a way the SU Men’s team lacked last season, when Edgar was injured for the entire season. So far, Edgar has averaged 14 points per game, which is good for second best on the team. However, his biggest impact has been rebounding, where Edgar is leading the team with an average of 9.5 rebounds per game. Coach Fite said, “I’m happy to see Dylan play well. It’s been almost a year and a half since he’s been on the court where it mattered, and it’s just great to see him back in the mix and healthy. He’s a handful, he’s definitely a handful for opponents.”

All in all, Edgar has helped contribute to a 2-0 start for the Red Raiders. As one of the biggest members of the team, as well as a senior leader, Edgar’s impact will dictate the place that the Red Raiders finish in the standings. While there aren’t overly high expectations for the team, after finishing 3-23 last season, I believe they can surprise some people, and finish higher than projected in the conference.

Women:
The X-Factor for the Women’s Basketball team this season will be junior forward Stephanie Knauer, who is a former PSAC Rookie of the Year award winner. She is one of the oldest members of the team, despite only being a junior. This year’s team is a young squad, but Knauer is fully capable of leading this team. She scored 20 or more points in a game, 8 times last season, while shooting at least 60 percent in 17 games. Knauer has been able to perform at the college NCAA level.
So far, the Red Raiders are off to a 1-1 start, and Knauer is averaging 13.5 points per game, and 9 rebounds per game, both of which are good for second best on the team. If her past performance is any indication, Knauer should be able to continue her performance consistently throughout the season. Coach Trn has said that consistency will be key to the team’s success this season, and Knauer should be able to lead the team in that.

Share