SHU Basketball Preview

Women’s basketball

The women’s basketball team is looking forward to another good season this year. Over the past few years, they have made the conference tournament finals and the national tournament several times.

The Saints have two seniors this year and are looking to continue last year’s success with the senior leaders.

Coach Sue Syljebeck said she has several keys to success for this year’s team.

“This year, more important than ever, we have to work together as one,” she said.

The Saints lost two all-conference players from last season and will have to figure out how to fill those gaps through team play. Syljebeck said “how teams will not be able to key in on certain players this year which is good for us.”

She said she wants them to have a defensive mindset which will give them an advantage to transition into their offense. Along with making the conference and national tournament this year, the Saints want to win a conference tournament. They have been very successful the last six years and have done “everything but win a conference title,” said Syljebeck.

The women play their first game Nov. 7 against Spring Arbor.

 

Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball team get its season started Nov. 6 against Trinity Christian. The Saints have four seniors this year and look to use this leadership as a key to success this year.

Coach Joe Pechota said he wants his players to “break down the season and work to be successful in the first ten games as well as the last.”

The team looks to get the season started on a good note, not only Monday against Trinity, but in conference games as well. The Saints lost a lot of talent from last year, but they also returned some of the main contributors from last year.

“We have the talent to win a lot of games. Now we need to just put it all together, and become better on and off the court,” Pechota said.

He said the team wants to continue the winning tradition of the men’s program, while also finding a culture and identity of its own. Pechota said a team goal  is they want to host a conference tournament game this season.