Braves will be small but talented

BANGOR – Warren Caruso enters his seventh year as the Husson College men’s basketball coach with a loaded roster, a couple of concerns, and the optimism bred by 32 seasons of 20-win campaigns.

The Braves will be good, Caruso figures. Just when they’ll become good, he isn’t quite sure.

“We’ve got a group that we think is certainly talented enough to get us to where we want to be,” Caruso said. “But it’s a group that is gonna take some time to blend. That could happen in Game 1, or in Game 23.

“Whenever it does happen, I think we’re going to be a good basketball team at that point.”

The reasons for Caruso’s optimism – and his concern – are well-founded.

First, the concerns: The Braves are missing 6-foot-9 center Brad Olson, and point guard Nikos Sompatzis, both of whom have graduated and are playing professionally in Europe.

And they’ll kick off the season in Friday night’s State of Maine Tipoff Tournament with a roster trimmed by injury (three key players are sidelined with broken bones).

“That’s kind of our depth,” Caruso admitted. Two of the three, 6-10 Nikos Armenakis and 6-0 sniper Nate Cyr, are expected back at the beginning of December. Power forward Tony Greene will likely be back in January.

And, as senior captain Tony Robb points out, there’s another … little … problem.

“We’re nowhere near as big [as last year],” Robb said. “Our starting lineup’s gonna be three guys who are 6-1, a 6-4 and a 6-5. And that’s very generous.”

But don’t feel too sorry for Caruso. His Braves were 19-11 last year, and voters in a national poll still think the Braves are among the nation’s best, and have voted them No. 25 to start the year.

That’s because the Braves are expected to regroup, change a few things, and attack teams with their shorter, speedier lineup.

“We’re gonna look to pick up the tempo a little bit,” senior captain Matt Breen said. “And we’re really gonna have to box out well.”

Rockland’s Breen, who averaged 11 points and five rebounds a game last year, is an Academic All-American who will start at power forward. Six-foot-5 Randy Fletcher will give the Braves a quicker presence at center than they’ve had recently.

The backcourt is a strength, as Quinson Lancaster of Fairfield will be flanked by wing players Anthony Russo of Portland and Ryan Rivera of Bradford.

First man off the bench will be highly touted Robert Pilsbury, who was named Maine’s Mr. Basketball two years ago after helping lead Portland High to a state Class A title.

Mainers will recognize some other Husson additions: Scott Griffin of Presque Isle, Tim Hughes of Brewer and Scott Cunningham of Glenburn.

Caruso said Pilsbury will make an immediate impact.

“He is what you’d consider a pure scorer. We haven’t really had that pure scorer for a couple of years,” Caruso said, pointing out that the explosive 6-footer may be the first Husson player since Raymond Alley who deserves that label.

Pilsbury, who enters Husson as a sophomore after spending last year at Champlain (Vt.) College, said he enters the season with team-oriented goals.

“My role is just to go out, play hard, give some leadership to this team, and help lead them in the right direction to win a MAC championship and go to the national tournament,” Pilsbury said.

Husson takes on Colby College of Waterville in the nightcap of Friday’s tipoff tourney slate. St. Joseph’s of Standish and the University of Southern Maine face off at 6 p.m.

Saturday’s consolation game is scheduled for 6 while the championship contest is at 8.