Brown Team Report

GETTING INSIDE

There’s nowhere to go but up for the Bears in 2009-10.

After coming in last place in the Ivy League with a 3-11 Ivy League record in Jesse Agel’s first season at the helm of the Brown program, the Bears welcome back a solid core of players who will look to make a bigger impact in the standings this time around.

Like last year, Brown will be dominated by its frontcourt this season.

Leading the way is center Matt Mullery, a first team All-Ivy pick a season ago who took to Agel’s motion offense like it was second nature. He averaged 16 points a game, highlighted by a 20-20 double-double against Harvard.

Back alongside him is Peter Sullivan, who will also see younger brother Matt added to the backcourt. Sullivan was the fifth leading scorer in the Ivy League a season ago, and led the conference in minutes played.

The other forward slot will likely be taken by either Chris Taylor or Stefan Kaluz.

Once again, the question marks occur in the backcourt, specifically ball-handling. Adrian Williams will open as the point guard, with Garrett Leffelman alongside him.

However, if Marques Coleman can come back from the injury that sidelined him a year ago, he could move into the lineup and shift Williams to the wing. That would give Agel increased flexibility to use a smaller lineup.

There’s no question that Mullery and Sullivan are good enough to get the Bears a few more Ivy victories than the team earned a year ago. Now, the task for Agel and his staff is to find the right mix of players who can do the same.

NOTES, QUOTES

• G Adrian WIlliams proved to be one of the Ivy League’s top shooters as a sophomore. His 58 three-pointers ranked second in the conference.

• C Matt Mullery was more than a scorer for the Bears last season. He averaged 2.1 blocked shots a game, as well, including 2.6 per conference game, to lead the Ivy League.

• The nickname is overused, but Sean Kane could be called the microwave for his impact off the Bears bench at times last season. Twice in 2008-09, against Bryant and Hartford, the guard made three three-pointers in the first half to spark Brown to victory.

Last Year:   9-19 overall, 3-11 in the Ivy League.

Head Coach:   Jesse Agel (career 9-19); second year at Brown (9-19).

Quote To Note:   “They’re wonderful people, and when I’m recruiting somebody I want them to be able to go to those guys, and I want our guys coming in to be like those guys. They worked hard all the time, they cared, they were passionate, they were good teammates and they’re what Brown basketball aspires to be..”—Coach Jesse Agel, to the Brown Daily Herald, about last year’s senior class.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   The Bears are counting on their four-man recruiting class to fill some of the void left by departing seniors Chris Skrelja and Scott Friske.

Forwards Tucker Halpern and Andrew McCarthy have the best chances to play right away. Halpern averaged a double-double as a high-school senior, while McCarthy scored more than 1,500 points over his high school career in Massachusetts. Forward Tyler Ponticelli also will contend for minutes. But the most familiar name is Matt Sullivan, the younger brother of standout forward Peter Sullivan.

Key Early-season Games:   Brown will be tested in its four games in the Philly Hoop Group Classic, in which the Bears’ opponents include Virginia Tech, St. Joseph’s and Siena. Other non-conference highlights include a match-up with local rivals Providence, Rhode Island, and Bryant College, as well as a Dec. 5 trip to Minnesota.

Program Direction:   After going 3-11 a year ago, there’s nowhere to go but up for the Bears. The four-man recruiting class is key for Jesse Agel, who hopes the newcomers can combine with senior Matt Mullery to at least get Brown back to the middle of the Ivy League pack.

Probable Starting Lineup:   PG Adrian Williams, SG Garrett Leffelman, SF Peter Sullivan, PF Chris Taylor, C Matt Mullery.

Roster Report:  

• G Marques Coleman was sidelined for his freshman year because of an injury, but the coaching staff hopes he will be able to contribute. If that’s the case, he could emerge as the starting point guard, which would move Adrian Williams to the wing, where he would be more able to concentrate on scoring.

• G Garret Leffelman came on strong at the end of the season in 2008-09 after missing 12 games because of an injury. He hopes to build on the 26 minutes a game he averaged down the stretch, and on big moments like his buzzer-beater that knocked off Harvard.

• F Peter Sullivan averaged the most minutes in the Ivy League a year ago, playing nearly 36 per game.