2009-2010 Merrimack College Season Outlook

Information Provided by Merrimack Sports Information

Looking to avenge a double-overtime NCAA tournament loss to Bentley a year ago, the Merrimack men’s basketball Warriors will have an early test against the formidable Falcons in the season-opener on March 15 at Volpe Gym.

Following a fourth place finish in the Northeast-10 Conference, the Warriors have high hopes with 10 letter-winners returning to the lineup, including All-American and Bob Cousy Award finalist, Darren Duncan (Briarwood, NY). In addition, the Warriors four top scorers from a year ago will be in the arsenal of 30-year veteran Coach Bert Hammel (427-399 at Merrimack).

Backcourt

With two of the league’s top ten scorers from 2008-09, Merrimack touts an accomplished duo of Duncan and Darin Mency (Hagerstown, MD) in the back court. In 2008-09, the senior captain, Duncan, led the Northeast-10 in points (19.2) and assists (7.67) while the junior, Mency, was seventh in scoring (17.2 points per game) and fifth in three-point field goals made (2.70/game). The two will inevitably create matchup problems for the opposition as part of a four-guard, high-scoring offense (2008-09: 80.8 ppg [1st in NE-10]).

Senior Craig Woehnker (Colts Neck, NJ) returns to the Warriors having seen increased playing time (24 minutes per game over last 12 games) and production (8 points per game over last 12 games) in 2008-09. Appearing in all 30 games, Woehnker punctuated the year with 46 minutes in a start against Bentley in the NCAA Tournament. Senior guard Jeff Hansbury (Plaistow, NH) returns as the backup point guard and will provide important minutes off the bench to spell Duncan.

Sophomores Wayne Mack (Paterson, NJ) and Roland Davis (Deer Park, NY) make up a solid returning corps of young talent to complement Duncan and Mency in the up-tempo offense. The two combined for 37 starts in their first year, while Mack averaged 10.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game to earn a spot on the Northeast-10 All-Conference Rookie Team. Classmate Wilfredo Pagan (Lawrence, MA) will push the Merrimack backcourt with his quickness and ferocious defense.

Incoming freshman Gabe Estrada (Washington, DC) is a hard-working wing player that can fulfill multiple roles on the floor. He’s proved to be an accurate shooter with a solid mid-range game.

Frontcourt

Making three starts and seeing time in 28 games a year ago, senior Jared Brownlee (Portland, ME) will look to fill the paint with his 6-7, 230-pound frame. The Warriors will look for Brownlee to use his length to deter guard penetration, as he averaged over a block a game, good for seventh in the league.

Merrimack will also look for quality minutes off the bench from sophomores Aaron Strothers (Wareham, MA) and Juan Carlos Rosich (San Jose, Costa Rica). While Strothers gained experience in the starting lineup at the forward position, the Warriors hope Rosich’s 6-11 size can be a presence in the post. His ability to finish and improved footwork should pose match-up problems for the opposition.

Freshmen Tyler Young (Brooklyn, NY) and Adam Marshall (Kent, England) will add size and athleticism to the Merrimack front court lineup. Young is an athletic post player with the ability to move up and down the court and keep up with the Warriors high-paced offense. Marshall is a sound post player fundamentally and has the ability to shoot beyond the three-point line.