Crusaders Take Another Shot at Title
WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross figures to be right in the mix for the Patriot League title in 2006-07. That’s hardly a surprise, considering their success under Ralph Willard, but there’s reason to think they could come out on top in the end for the first time since 2003.
The Crusaders have had difficulty getting home games in non-conference play over the years, so having three straight and four of five to start the season has to come as a good change. After that, however, their next game in Worcester is against George Mason nearly a month later, and it’s across town at the DCU Center. In between is a very tough road slate that will certainly prepare this team for Patriot League play, if they can survive it: Syracuse, Ivy League contender Yale, Dayton, Duke, and Providence.
Holy Cross has strength at the end positions, from quick senior point guard Torey Thomas to nicely developing junior post player Tim Clifford. Thomas’ knee will be a concern after off-season surgery, but he has sophomore Pat Doherty to help with the point guard duties after redshirting last season. Head coach Ralph Willard will probably use both point guards together from time to time. Senior Keith Simmons could be a Patriot League Player of the Year candidate at the off-guard spot after being a first-team All-Patriot League selection last season. Junior Kyle Cruze could play an expanded role, and Zach Paterick will get a chance as well.
Clifford came to campus looking like a project, but he looks to have come a long way at both ends of the floor. He has cut down on his body fat while still being an imposing 270 pounds, and he looks to be running the floor better. Sophomore Alex Vander Baan and freshmen Eric Meister and Andrew Keister will all provide help inside. Vander Baan has been slowed by a staph infection, but Meister and Keister look like they will certainly help. Both run the floor, which helps with the quick guards, and look like they can hold their own inside in the roles they will be asked to play. If thin 6’11” sophomore Greg McCarthy’s promising showing in their second exhibition game is any indication, he may earn a few more minutes this season and give them another big body.
Where the Crusaders have a personnel concern is on the wing. The two main candidates are sophomores Colin Cunningham and Lawrence Dixon, both of whom were reserves last season. They had their moments, but had to adjust to the college game. Now they have to battle injuries, as Cunningham had a good summer but has been bitten by the injury bug (ankle) and Dixon had knee surgery in late September and is not expected back for at least another couple of weeks. For now, Willard will likely go with a lineup featuring Simmons on the wing with two other guards. At times, those two guards may be Thomas and Doherty, which would give them two ballhandlers.
The personnel is there, but one concern is always injuries, a concern that might be the case more so with this team. As mentioned, Cunningham, Dixon, Thomas and Vander Baan have all been hit by the injury bug or have something that is an ongoing concern.
The Patriot League has been on an upswing the last few seasons, and the Crusaders have been part of it. Even so, they haven’t come out on top since 2003. One of the reasons seniors Thomas and Simmons came to Holy Cross was the winning tradition the school has, and while they have won plenty of games in their first three seasons, they still want to reach the NCAA Tournament. There’s no question that it’s within their grasp, but it won’t come easily.
“Until somebody learns to beat Bucknell at Bucknell, they’re going to be the favorites,” said Willard. “The league is going to be better from top to bottom than it’s been in the last three years.”
