Cornell men build roster around youth

Third-year head coach Chad Murray continues to build the foundation for his Cornell men's basketball program.

The Rams last season endured some growing pains with only two upperclassmen on the team. They'll enter the 2011-12 campaign more experienced, but every bit as young.

Murray's youthful bunch includes 15 first and second-year players. Junior two-time letterwinners Alex Miller, Rory Cotter and Elias Pollack are the veterans of the group. The Rams don't have a senior on the roster.

"Many of our returning players have only one year of college experience, but one year is better than no years," said Murray, looking to improve on last year's 8-17 overall finish and 3-13 mark in the Iowa Conference. "I like the pieces of our team, and we're going to have a really good group of core players. We're farther ahead than last year, but still have a long way to go."

Cornell opens the season Tuesday, Nov. 15 at home against NAIA foe Mount Mercy. Tip-off is 8 p.m. in Small Multi-Sport Center.

The Rams competed with just about everybody in a 2010-11 season marred with near misses. Four of the team's losses were decided by a single point, six others by fewer than eight.

"I hope we've learned from those tough situations and our experience carries over this year," Murray said. "If we are able to win more close games, we'll feel a lot better about ourselves."

Cornell brings back three starters, led by a talented backcourt tandem in sophomore point guard Reggie Greenwood and shooting guard Miller. Cotter is a returning starter on the frontline. Miller and sophomore John Srodulski are team co-captains.

Greenwood is coming off an impressive freshman campaign in which he garnered second team all-conference honors. He led the IIAC in assists (3.92 apg) and 3-point percentage (46.8). Greenwood, who made 23 starts in 25 games, averaged 10.2 points and shot 45.0 percent from the field. He was second on the team with 37 steals.

Miller is the team's top returning scorer at 11.1 points per game. He knocked down a team-high 34 3-point goals on 40.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Miller hit 85.7 percent (36-of-42) from the foul line.

Greenwood and Miller look to spell the absence of first team all-IIAC guard J. Ryan Lott, who graduated with 1,020 career points and put up 17.6 a game in 2010-11.

"Reggie and Alex are capable of being all-conference players for us," Murray said. "I expect them to pick up from last year and take on leadership roles. They are both still growing as players. They should give us one of the better backcourts in the league."

Sophomore guards John Harth and Joey Guth both played significant minutes a year ago. Harth, who started nine games, averaged 3.8 points and shot 35.4 percent (17-of-48) from 3-point range. Guth played in 21 games, connecting on 11-of-34 3-point goals. The Rams return three other letterwinners at the guard positions in Pollack and sophomores Srodulski and Ariel Sciammas.

Cotter brings versatility to the front court, averaging 9.5 points and 5.6 rebounds last season. The 6-foot-6 swingman buried 23 3-pointers for a 43.4 percent clip, and shot 47.3 percent from the floor.

"Rory needs to play well for us to be an effective team," Murray said. "I expect him to challenge for all-conference honors."

Sophomore forward David Fischer adds toughness to Cornell's inside game. He played in 20 games last season. Six-foot-six sophomore Alec Winzenried and promising 6-7 freshman Nick Bobb will battle for minutes at center. Sophomore forward James Scully will also be in the mix

"Bobb and Winzenried will be our two-headed monster at the five spot," Murray said. "Winzenried has gotten a lot stronger over the offseason. Bobb has a good feel for the game and has a very high basketball IQ. We should have a good tandem with those two guys."

The Rams welcome seven newcomers, including junior transfer Matt Bergstad, and freshmen Joshua Olberding, Luke Vysniauskas, Anthony Alamo, Preston Ganaway, Casey Dennis and Bobb.

Murray is excited about the team's potential.

"With no seniors, we'll be able to work with this same group for the next two years," Murray. "We all have to be patient with this team. By January, we will be a better team."

The Rams face a tough early nonconference stretch, starting with a 3-0 Mount Mercy team which received votes in the NAIA Division II Top 25 Poll. Cornell travels to play 2010-11 national qualifier Benedictine Nov. 18, followed by a Nov. 19 date at perennial power Elmhurst. The Rams return home Nov. 22 to face UW-Platteville, which finished 17-10 a year ago.

Cornell enters its 15th and final season as a member of the IIAC. The Rams open league play Nov. 30 at Simpson.

The Rams were picked to finish ninth in the IIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, released Friday.

"Our goal is to jump a few teams and get into the (IIAC) Tournament," Murray said. "We don't want to make our last year in the league a forgettable one."