Drexel's confidence grows with experience

Any questions about the Drexel men's basketball team's being motivated were erased last month, when the Dragons were picked to finish seventh out of the 12 teams in the Colonial Athletic Conference.

"We just feel that people are underestimating us this year," said Gerald Colds, a junior guard. "We just have to go out and use that as fuel to push us and prove them wrong."

Unlike last season, when inexperience combined with poor shooting left Drexel with a lot of close losses, this season's squad has the experience to prevail in those games. At least that's the view from inside the Dragons' locker room.

"I think we got a chance to be good," said coach Bruiser Flint, whose squad will open the season at 7 tonight at St. Joseph's. "Our big thing is, no matter what, we just have to score better. We will defend you and rebound the ball."

One would think such positivity would be hard to maintain because Drexel must replace second-team all-CAA guard Scott Rodgers from a 15-14 squad that finished fifth in the CAA. Averaging 13.6 points, Rodgers was the lone double-digit scorer on a team that shot 37 percent from the field.

"Everybody says we lost Scottie," said Flint, whose squad returns four starters and two key reserves. "But before last year, they picked us to finish last. It wasn't like people picked Scottie to be an all-conference player last year before the season started."

Colds looks to fill the void left by Rodgers. The 6-foot-1 three-year starter is the team's top returning scorer at nine points per game. Drexel will also depend on 5-10 junior point guard Jamie Harris (8.1 ppg., 3 apg.) and 6-8 senior forward Evan Neisler (7.8 ppg., 6.9 rpg.).

Forward Kenny Tribbett, a 6-9 senior, is the other returning starter. Senior forward Leon Spencer (6-8) and sophomore forward Samme Givens (6-5) both saw considerable action.

Look for redshirt freshman Chris Fouch (6-2) and true freshmen Shannon Givens (6-0) and Derrick Thomas (6-4) to bolster the Dragons' backcourt depth. And at 6-9 and 270 pounds, freshman forward Daryl McCoy adds a huge post presence.

Tribbett said Drexel's biggest question is how it will compete from game to game.

"We need consistency," he said. "Last year, we had a lot of games where we played extremely well, good defense and good offense. And there were other games where we were spotty."

The Dragons must also improve on last season's shooting, while continuing to frustrate teams with their trademark in-your-face defense.

They'll get a chance to polish up against stiff competition before CAA play. Two of Drexel's toughest nonleague games will be at No. 4 Kentucky and No. 5 Villanova.

"We know that we are going to take our lumps from time to time with some of the [nonconference] teams we are playing," Flint said. "If we are playing well against those teams, then we hope that can carry over to conference play."