Thursday, November 20, 2003
Okay, before we look at the HC preseason prospectus from the Telegram, can I just suggest that the Jave Meade show is perhaps a bit overhyped? This article is a little over the top.
SUNDAY TELEGRAM (Massachusetts)
November 16, 2003 Sunday, ALL EDITIONS
SPORTS; Pg. D1
Meade to lead NCAA crusade;
HC men fixed on 4th tourney
Jennifer Toland; TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
DATELINE: WORCESTER
- Holy Cross' Jave Meade is the Patriot League's Preseason Player of the Year, a nice honor, for sure, but one the talented point guard prefers not to talk about.
''I'm glad that people respect me,'' Meade said, ''but that stuff doesn't matter because in the end it's the team that wins that matters most.''
And as the consummate team player, Meade has helped lead Holy Cross to 66 victories over the last three years and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, earning perhaps an even higher accolade from coach Ralph Willard, who calls Meade his team's most valuable player.
''He's been the glue to the team the last three years,'' Willard said. ''He's the glue that holds us together, and you can't put a value on that. He's one of the most complete players I've ever coached. He does everything, and he makes others around him better.''
Meade has earned the reputation as the Patriot League's best point guard as well as one of the top point guards in the East and this year, as the team's only senior, Meade's importance to the Crusaders becomes even greater. The Crusaders graduated three 1,000-point scorers in Tim Szatko, Patrick Whearty and Brian Wilson, as well as Mark Jerz, who was a spark as HC's sixth man last year. Meade is the only player on this year's roster who's scored 400 points in his career.
In addition to all that scoring, HC will also miss the experience of last year's Big Three. Szatko, Whearty and Wilson all played significant minutes for four years.
''From an offensive standpoint, we have a lot of unanswered questions,'' Willard said. ''We lost four of our top six players, not to mention two Patriot League Players of the Year (Szatko and Whearty). There's a tremendous void to fill. We have to establish some consistent scoring among the members of our team. It's a matter of developing and defining roles, and it takes time.''
The situation isn't totally new for HC. The Crusaders also dealt with the graduation of three starters two years ago. The difference in 2001-02 was that team's up-and-comers, Szatko, Whearty, Wilson and Meade, all came into the year with a decent amount of playing time under their belts.
''(This year) we just don't have anyone who has any consistent playing experience other than Jave,'' Willard said.
HC's offense will start with Meade, a superb playmaker who needs 88 assists to become the PL's all-time leader in that category. Meade averaged a career-high 10.5 points last year and the Crusaders will count on him for more scoring this year. Preseason practice has been an adjustment time for him, too.
''I'm getting a feel for everybody's game,'' Meade said. ''I haven't played with some of these guys either so it's a little difficult for me, too. You might not be able to throw that certain pass because Tim or Pat aren't there. So I have some adjusting to do and they have to adjust to me, too.''
Meade is the team's captain this year and that's a role he's adapting to as well. He said he's talked about it a lot with Ryan Serravalle, captain in 2001-02, and the only senior on that team. Meade's been a quiet floor leader the last three years and Willard expects he'll need to become more vocal as the season progresses.
''Everyone leads in different ways,'' Meade said. ''Some guys might not be able to take someone screaming in their face in front of others. Some guys need that. Some guys, if you scream at them, the might think, 'Oh my God. I messed up so bad I'm never going to play again.' Other players will be like, 'OK. Next time I'll get it back.' I haven't taken the role of screaming at guys because guys can lose confidence that way, especially when they haven't played much.''
Meade, one of the best liked young men on the HC campus, has already earned the respect of his teammates.
''He's just great,'' junior center Nate Lufkin said. ''He really knows what he's doing and he expects us to work really hard. We all want to owe it to him. We don't want him to go out of here his senior year with any disappointment. We want him to get another championship ring.''
Like all of Willard's Holy Cross teams, this year's squad will pride itself on defense and Meade is also a catalyst at that end of the floor. With 186 career steals, Meade needs 49 to take over the PL lead in that category.
Junior guard Greg Kinsey is HC's only other returning starter. HC will look to Kinsey and sophomore guard Kevin Hamilton, who played well in the postseason, to pick up some of the offensive slack. Upfront, junior John Hurley, who played in 26 games last year, has shown some promise.
Lufkin (foot) and fellow junior center Neil Fingleton (shoulder) are both nursing injuries to start the year. They are out indefinitely Willard said Friday. The career of junior forward Greg Richter, who has an arthritic condition in his ankle, is likely over, Willard said.
Freshmen guards Keith Simmons and Torey Thomas and forwards Josh Kramer and Joe Young are all progressing.
Willard said this is the most athletic team he's had at Holy Cross.
''When Neil is in the game, we'll obviously be more of a halfcourt team,'' Willard said, ''but when he's out of the game we're going to look to press and extend the defense, create offense off of the defense and try to take some pressure off of our scoring in the halfcourt.''
The Crusaders open the season Saturday, hosting Boston University at 4:30. Intriguing nonconference dates include Dec. 2 at Boston College, Dec. 7 at Louisville, and Dec. 28-29 at Madison Square Garden in the ECAC Holiday Festival.
Another interesting game is the Dec. 4 home game against Williams, the defending Division 3 national champion. A Dec. 21 home game against Davidson fell through, Willard said, leaving HC with an open date.
Holy Cross men at a glance
Coach (record at school): Ralph Willard (fifth year, 76-46)
Last year's record: 26-5 overall, 13-1 league
League: Patriot League
Top returnees: Sr. G Jave Meade (10.5 ppg, 193 assists, 65 steals), Jr. F Nate Lufkin (5.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 29 blocks), Jr. G Greg Kinsey (4.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 49 steals), So. G Kevin Hamilton (4.4 ppg, 40 assists), Jr. F John Hurley (1.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg).
Promising newcomers: G Keith Simmons, G Torey Thomas, F Josh Kramer, F Joe Young. @ 11:34 AM
SUNDAY TELEGRAM (Massachusetts)
November 16, 2003 Sunday, ALL EDITIONS
SPORTS; Pg. D1
Meade to lead NCAA crusade;
HC men fixed on 4th tourney
Jennifer Toland; TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
DATELINE: WORCESTER
- Holy Cross' Jave Meade is the Patriot League's Preseason Player of the Year, a nice honor, for sure, but one the talented point guard prefers not to talk about.
''I'm glad that people respect me,'' Meade said, ''but that stuff doesn't matter because in the end it's the team that wins that matters most.''
And as the consummate team player, Meade has helped lead Holy Cross to 66 victories over the last three years and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, earning perhaps an even higher accolade from coach Ralph Willard, who calls Meade his team's most valuable player.
''He's been the glue to the team the last three years,'' Willard said. ''He's the glue that holds us together, and you can't put a value on that. He's one of the most complete players I've ever coached. He does everything, and he makes others around him better.''
Meade has earned the reputation as the Patriot League's best point guard as well as one of the top point guards in the East and this year, as the team's only senior, Meade's importance to the Crusaders becomes even greater. The Crusaders graduated three 1,000-point scorers in Tim Szatko, Patrick Whearty and Brian Wilson, as well as Mark Jerz, who was a spark as HC's sixth man last year. Meade is the only player on this year's roster who's scored 400 points in his career.
In addition to all that scoring, HC will also miss the experience of last year's Big Three. Szatko, Whearty and Wilson all played significant minutes for four years.
''From an offensive standpoint, we have a lot of unanswered questions,'' Willard said. ''We lost four of our top six players, not to mention two Patriot League Players of the Year (Szatko and Whearty). There's a tremendous void to fill. We have to establish some consistent scoring among the members of our team. It's a matter of developing and defining roles, and it takes time.''
The situation isn't totally new for HC. The Crusaders also dealt with the graduation of three starters two years ago. The difference in 2001-02 was that team's up-and-comers, Szatko, Whearty, Wilson and Meade, all came into the year with a decent amount of playing time under their belts.
''(This year) we just don't have anyone who has any consistent playing experience other than Jave,'' Willard said.
HC's offense will start with Meade, a superb playmaker who needs 88 assists to become the PL's all-time leader in that category. Meade averaged a career-high 10.5 points last year and the Crusaders will count on him for more scoring this year. Preseason practice has been an adjustment time for him, too.
''I'm getting a feel for everybody's game,'' Meade said. ''I haven't played with some of these guys either so it's a little difficult for me, too. You might not be able to throw that certain pass because Tim or Pat aren't there. So I have some adjusting to do and they have to adjust to me, too.''
Meade is the team's captain this year and that's a role he's adapting to as well. He said he's talked about it a lot with Ryan Serravalle, captain in 2001-02, and the only senior on that team. Meade's been a quiet floor leader the last three years and Willard expects he'll need to become more vocal as the season progresses.
''Everyone leads in different ways,'' Meade said. ''Some guys might not be able to take someone screaming in their face in front of others. Some guys need that. Some guys, if you scream at them, the might think, 'Oh my God. I messed up so bad I'm never going to play again.' Other players will be like, 'OK. Next time I'll get it back.' I haven't taken the role of screaming at guys because guys can lose confidence that way, especially when they haven't played much.''
Meade, one of the best liked young men on the HC campus, has already earned the respect of his teammates.
''He's just great,'' junior center Nate Lufkin said. ''He really knows what he's doing and he expects us to work really hard. We all want to owe it to him. We don't want him to go out of here his senior year with any disappointment. We want him to get another championship ring.''
Like all of Willard's Holy Cross teams, this year's squad will pride itself on defense and Meade is also a catalyst at that end of the floor. With 186 career steals, Meade needs 49 to take over the PL lead in that category.
Junior guard Greg Kinsey is HC's only other returning starter. HC will look to Kinsey and sophomore guard Kevin Hamilton, who played well in the postseason, to pick up some of the offensive slack. Upfront, junior John Hurley, who played in 26 games last year, has shown some promise.
Lufkin (foot) and fellow junior center Neil Fingleton (shoulder) are both nursing injuries to start the year. They are out indefinitely Willard said Friday. The career of junior forward Greg Richter, who has an arthritic condition in his ankle, is likely over, Willard said.
Freshmen guards Keith Simmons and Torey Thomas and forwards Josh Kramer and Joe Young are all progressing.
Willard said this is the most athletic team he's had at Holy Cross.
''When Neil is in the game, we'll obviously be more of a halfcourt team,'' Willard said, ''but when he's out of the game we're going to look to press and extend the defense, create offense off of the defense and try to take some pressure off of our scoring in the halfcourt.''
The Crusaders open the season Saturday, hosting Boston University at 4:30. Intriguing nonconference dates include Dec. 2 at Boston College, Dec. 7 at Louisville, and Dec. 28-29 at Madison Square Garden in the ECAC Holiday Festival.
Another interesting game is the Dec. 4 home game against Williams, the defending Division 3 national champion. A Dec. 21 home game against Davidson fell through, Willard said, leaving HC with an open date.
Holy Cross men at a glance
Coach (record at school): Ralph Willard (fifth year, 76-46)
Last year's record: 26-5 overall, 13-1 league
League: Patriot League
Top returnees: Sr. G Jave Meade (10.5 ppg, 193 assists, 65 steals), Jr. F Nate Lufkin (5.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 29 blocks), Jr. G Greg Kinsey (4.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 49 steals), So. G Kevin Hamilton (4.4 ppg, 40 assists), Jr. F John Hurley (1.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg).
Promising newcomers: G Keith Simmons, G Torey Thomas, F Josh Kramer, F Joe Young. @ 11:34 AM
