Kean men’s basketball team looks to start off season strong
By Raymond Gurbisz
After a disappointing 2011-2012 season, the Kean University men’s basketball team looks to start the new season on the right foot.
Finishing last season with a 7-20 record, the Cougars will try to get things rolling early on, to bring the team back to a winning record. Last season was a real struggle for the Cougar team, which sported a 5-6 record at home while going just 2-10 on the road. They were also 0-4 at neutral locations.
Playing on the road looks to be the Cougars’ biggest obstacle early this season, as it will surely have to improve if the team wants to have a comeback season.
Under head coach Rob Kurzinsky for the sixth season, the Cougars will need to tighten up their game if they want to return to a more accomplished record, like the 18-8 score they held in the 2010-2011 season.
Fortunately, the Cougars have juniors Michael Burton and Kyle Latorre returning in the lineup. Burton scored 320 points last season, leading the team, while Latorre scored 244 points with similar success. The Cougars will look for Burton and Latorre especially to help them put more points on the scoreboard.
Good defense will also be a key factor for the team if the Cougars want to come out on top. Last season, the Cougars averaged 55.8 points per game while opponents put up an average of 62.1 against them.
The Cougars’ season opener came on the road against Juniata College on Nov. 16, where the team had an early opportunity to try to fix the consistent problem from last year of losing their match ups away from their home court.
Unfortunately while successful as a team, with various points scored by both Burton and Latorre, the Cougars were defeated 53-49 at the end of the game. Yet from the ashes of such a defeat, victory can be only a short sight away.