Husson men seek return to championship level

BANGOR – All you need to know about the expectations surrounding the Husson College men’s basketball team this season is what head coach Warren Caruso says in the first paragraph of his team prospectus:

“It has been two years since the Eagles have played in a championship game. Look for them to return to that level this season.”

So it’s no surprise that this week’s practice sessions were a bit more intense after the Eagles came home from last weekend’s season-opening Keene State Classic tournament with two losses.

“One thing we learned after this weekend is we still have a lot of work to do,” said Caruso. “It was disappointing because we had some defensive breakdowns even though we know better fundamentally.”

The Eagles will get a chance to see if the causes of those breakdowns have been rectified as they play two more games in the San Francisco Classic Thursday and Friday.

“We’ve been looking forward to this trip for awhile. It’s a chance to go somewhere most of us have never been and to play two great teams,” said junior point guard Jason Harvey of Bucksport. “We’re a little disappointed, but I think we’re bouncing back pretty well. We’re just trying to regroup and improve some things.”

Harvey is finding flight as a Husson Eagle much smoother this winter after arriving mid-season as a transfer from the University of Maine last year.

“It’s a lot easier coming into the season this year, being with the team in preseason and starting out the same time as everyone else instead of trying to come in and fit in halfway through,” he said.

Despite having to learn on the run while becoming acclimated to his new team, Harvey still averaged 10.0 points and 3.0 assists last season.

Harvey is now a veteran on a team full of them. Other key players include 6-foot-5 center Buddy Leavitt of Guilford, 6-4 forward Tyler Muzzy of Greenville, 6-4 forward Phil White of Maryland, and Bill Beauregard of Ware, Mass., a 6-2 starting guard who sat out last season with a foot injury.

Leavitt is being looked at as the linchpin for the Eagles squad. Long a primary perimeter player, the 235-pound big man is being asked to shoulder much more of an inside scoring load this season.

“He has to be an inside presence for us to be most successful,” Caruso said. “Buddy knows that and he has made a commitment to becoming a more well-rounded player.”

Leavitt led the eagles in scoring and rebounding last year with 16.5 points and7.0 rebounds per game and was an All-North Atlantic Conference first team selection. Caruso and his teammates are hoping for more of the same this season.

“Buddy’s really come along. He’s been working hard in the offseason on getting to the post first and if it’s not there, step out and hit a 3,” Harvey said. “With him in the post, it presents another threat for us and opens things up for the guards.”

Those guards include Harvey, Beauregard (12.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg), freshman Fabian Figueroa, and Sheraud Lee (6.6 ppg, 2.0 apg), who is moving from the point to shooting guard.

Fellow All-NAC first teamer Muzzy (16.2 ppg) and White (10.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg) team with Leavitt to make a formidable frontcourt. Sophomore Nick Henry of Penobscot should improve on last season’s numbers (2.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg) while Devan Philbrick of Corinth and junior transfer Rajaee Jennings will also see a lot of minutes.

Caruso expects to go at least 10 deep as the Eagles us a transition-fast break/look-inside-first-and-work-outside-second offense as well as a halfcourt pressure man-to-man defense.

“Our expectations are very high for ourselves. We have the ability to be a championship team,” Harvey said. “It’s a challenge for coach to put to us, but it’s a very reachable goal.”