Men’s basketball team looks ahead to an exciting season

By Mari Pothier | gargoyle@flagler.edu
Photos By Phillip C. Sunkel IV

With five seniors returning, head coach Bo Clark said the men’s basketball team has a lot of experience going into the new season.

After being picked seventh in preseason, Clark said the team has a lot of work to do.

“The Peach Belt Conference is such a tough conference,” Clark said. “I think it’s one of the best division II basketball conferences maybe in the nation.”

Clark said one of the team’s strengths this season is their experience in the Peach Belt and the fact that they are a good perimeter shooting team. They are working on rebounding and defending.

“I thought there were some games last year that we could have won if we would have defended better in the last three or four minutes, ” Clark said. “So that’s one of the things that we’re stressing.”

Senior John Pietkiewicz said the team is strengthened by their great chemistry and the fact that every player is important.

“We have our whole starting lineup coming back and everybody is really working hard at practice,” Pietkiewicz said.

The team which is predominately made up of upper classmen has two new players, Ryan Barnes, a transfer and Jamal McNeil, a freshman. Both players get along well with their teammates, according to Clark.

Senior D.J. Ferguson said that he, Pietkiewicz and Kenny Moore have been playing together at Flagler since they were freshmen strengthening the team.

“There is no drama on this team, which is good,” Pietkiewicz said.

Clark said the Saints’ goals this season are to win the Peach Belt and to make the conference tournament.

Both Pietkiewicz and Ferguson feel the team has what it takes to win the Peach Belt.

Flagler Saints John Pietkiewicz and D.J. Ferguson

“I mean it will be really tough, but why not us?” Pietkiewicz said.