Men's Basketball

October 12, 2007

WATERBURY, Conn.-As Post University men's basketball Head Coach Mike Donnelly is set to roll out the balls on his fifth season as the Eagle mentor, he has developed the some of wisdom of a longtime coach.

It did not come from being named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Coach of the Year; or guiding the Eagles to a share of the CACC Regular Season Championship for the second time in four years, it came from understanding his players, and being able to see the big picture.

"I would come home after individuals and say to Jill (Donnelly's wife), ‘so-and-so didn't shoot the ball well today,'" he said. "And I would panic, thinking it was the end of the world. But, now after seeing this team play everyday since they were freshmen, I understand, that it's only the preseason, the players have a history, in which I know, and I would understand it was just a bad day, and they would bounce back, which they usually do."

"I am able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, know the ebbs and flows of the season, and that is what is motivating me."  

That light looks a whole lot brighter, thanks to the success of the team at the end of last season, where the Eagles finished winning 12 of its last 15 games of the regular season, including a school-record eight in a row from January 9-27.

Post finished the second semester with a 14-5 record, on its way to finishing the season with a 17-12 overall mark and a share of the regular season crown with a 14-6 record in conference play. In addition, the Eagles enter the season with a 13-game home winning streak, which is second longest in the Northeast Region.

Much of the success the Eagles enjoyed over the last year was to the cohesiveness the players have developed over the years of playing together. This year's senior class has logged close to 300 games for the Eagles in their collegiate careers, and the team has improved its win total from the previous season in each of the past three years.

Five seniors and seven juniors dot the 14-player roster, for the Eagles this season, as Post begins preseason practice on Monday, Oct. 15, the date allowed by the NCAA for Division II programs.

"We proved last year we can win," Donnelly added. "Now we need to take the next step, which is two-fold, win on the road and win out of conference. We want to get to a point where we can make some noise in the region."

"We understand doing well in the CACC and winning the championship is our primary goal, but we need to take that step and prove that we can compete with some of the better teams in the region as well."

The Eagle faithful will get the chance to see the 2007-08 team in action for the first time on Sunday, Oct. 28, for the annual Green-White Scrimmage at the Drubner Center. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

The season opener is slated for Thursday, Nov. 15 at Merrimack College. The home opener is Tuesday, Nov. 20 against C.W. Post.