GOSHEN, Ind. – Expectations can be a funny thing when you look at a season on the verge of starting. Sometimes those expectations crush a team and sometimes they create a path to success.

Or in instances like the 2009-10 Goshen College men’s basketball team, they just create an opportunity to prove something. Not knowing what the expect from the Maple Leafs, Mid-Central College Conference coaches picked Goshen to finish eighth in the ultra-competitive league.

Despite returning four starters and seven lettermen, that is exactly the way head coach Gary Chupp wants it. Whether others recognize it or not, Chupp knows his team has the potential and talent to rise to the top of the MCC standings in 2009-10.

“Our goal for this program is to be in a position where we are consistently battling for the conference championship,” Chupp said. “Our conference is so competitive nationally –with three teams in the Elite Eight last year – that if you are competing at the top, you are competing nationally and I honestly feel that we are in a position to make a run right now.”

Whether or not the team that finished 14-17 ¬– including 5-11 in the MCC -- a year ago can make the drastic turnaround will rely heavily on how quickly a large group of newcomers can blend with the returning core of players.

“I am really excited about the mix of players we have because we do bring back a lot of experience, but also have brought in a very talented recruiting class,” Chupp explained. “They have come together quickly with the young guys bringing a lot of energy to balance with the experience and maturity of our upperclassmen.”

The Maple Leafs have nearly 80% of their scoring returning, but have often struggled to find consistent second and third scoring options for three-time All MCC First Team Selection Errick McCollum II. The six-foot, two-inch senior guard averaged 22.8 points a game last season, is just six points shy of 2,000 for his career, and only 283 short of the all-time Goshen College record.

“Errick is just a phenomenal player,” Chupp explained. “If he stays healthy, he is going to break a lot of records at Goshen. I think with more talent around him this year, people are going to see what a complete player he can be. He is as good as there is in this league.”

McCollum’s high school teammate, (Canton GlenOak HS) Nate West Jr., is a dynamic two-way threat and put up 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds a night last season. West, however, has had to be pulled away from his natural abilities as an offensive rebounder and slasher in order to pull more scoring weight in year’s past

So, what is the answer? Chupp thinks he has found it with an extraordinary amount of athleticism in the deepest and most talented recruiting class in years for the Leafs.

“Nate is a guy that can score, but is so much more effective creating offense on the glass and creating havoc on the defensive end,” Chupp explained. “This group is very talented and deep with a lot of offensive weapons so that part of the game does not concern me so much this year.”

A pair of community college transfers join the Goshen starting lineup immediately and offer a variety of challenges for defenders. At 6’6”, junior Daniel Butler II has athleticism like hasn’t been seen in the MCC for a long time, according to Chupp. The Leafs will look for him to become a scoring threat to take some pressure of McCollum. He has the physical tools to hurt opponents in a variety of ways as proven after being named All Region at Milwaukee Tech.

Another transfer, Simon Szablicki is the epitome of a basketball player. The 6-foot, 3-inch Australian knows the game inside and out and does all the little things to make a team successful. He has the ability to hit the long ball as well as drive the lane and has good defensive instincts.

With speed up and down the lineup, Chupp plans to take advantage of his team’s athleticism by playing an up-tempo style. “We are going to get up and down the floor and attack defenses,” he said. “We will pressure the ball and create offense off our defense. It should be a lot of fun to watch.”

Goshen has a pair of freshman who will lead the charge from the point guard position. While they’ve had the summer and early fall to get to know their teammates, freshman Casey Pratt and Kyle Davis have long known each other as cross-town rivals in Portage, Mich. The pair offer a tremendous compliment of speed, court presence, and composure that will make the Maple Leaf offense go.

Following the loss of Kyle Laker (8.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG) to graduation and junior Taylor TenHarmsel’s broken foot – will be out until after Christmas – the biggest question for the Maple Leafs is depth inside. Butler will take a bulk of the minutes until TenHarmsel’s return, but Goshen will also rely on freshman Austin Hefley. An Indiana Top 100 selection, the Fremont High School graduate is strong, quick, and knows how to use his body.

Overall, however, depth is certainly a strength of the 2009-2010 Maple Leafs. Goshen boasts another pair of strong juniors in Jeremy Pope and Carl Steen. A legitimate 3-point threat, Pope averaged 8.3 points a game as a sophomore and Steen is a lock-down defender who consistently slowed the opposing team’s best player last year.

Add sophomore Nate Manning (5.2 PPG as freshman), 6-7 freshman Hayden Putt, and 6-6 senior Shawn Martz to the mix and Chupp has the ability to run players in and out and play match ups all night long.

Following two preseason scrimmages, the Leafs start the long haul toward a potential historic run as they head to Indiana University – South Bend tonight. On the first weekend of the official season, Goshen will host the annual Maple City Hoopfest where Holy Cross College, Grand View College (Iowa) and Cornerstone University (Mich.) will all be in attendance.

Don’t know what to expect from the 2009-2010 Maple Leafs? Expect big things? Expect excitement. Expect.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 and is filed under Main Feature, Men's Basketball, News.