SRU basketball ready to roll
SLIPPERY ROCK — Looks can be deceiving.
Slippery Rock University’s men’s basketball team has 11 freshmen and sophomores listed among its 17-player roster. SRU opens the season at 5:30 p.m. Friday, hosting Alderson-Broaddus at Morrow Field House.
“Because of COVID and injuries, some of these guys have been with our program for a while now,” fourth-year coach Ian Grady said. “We have a good mix of newcomers and guys who have been here for a few years.”
Red-shirt sophomore guard Bobby Clifford is entering his fourth year in the program. Red-shirt freshman guard Jomo Goings is in his third year, junior forward Lashon Lindsey his fourth. Guard-forward Nik Cazacu and point guard Amante Britt are fifth-year players in the program.
SRU is coming off a 17-12 season — the third straight winning campaign under Grady — and returns three starters in Britt (13.6 ppg., 131 assists), Clifford (6.7 ppg.) and senior guard/forward Jonathan McFall (13.0 ppg., 4.9 rpg.).
“Having a veteran point guard is very helpful,” Grady said. “Amante is a tremendous leader who knows our system. His work ethic is second to none. He hasn't missed a practice since he’s been here.”
SRU is picked to finish fifth in the PSAC West preseason coaches poll, behind Indiana, Mercyhurst, California and Pitt-Johnstown.
“Trust the process,” Grady said. “We’re getting to where we want to be. The strength of our team is our versatility. We have good depth in a lot of areas. There will be competition for playing time all season.”
SRU’s women’s team is being run this season by acting head coach Chenara Wilson. The Rock is coming off a 12-16 season — losing 11 of its final 13 games — and is still recovering from the untimely death of head coach Bobby McGraw during the off-season.
Wilson served as an assistant coach under McGraw.
“There are no bad days (at practice), but there are emotional days,” Wilson said of the team prepping for the 2022-23 season without McGraw. “We look out for each other. Every now and then, someone has a tough day with it.
“Since Coach McGraw’s death, this team has become tighter. There’s a bonding effect. We’re dedicating this season to Bobby. We definitely have something to play for.”
SRU is picked to finish eighth in the PSAC West, behind California, Gannon, Edinboro, Indiana, Seton Hill, Pitt-Johnstown and Mercyhurst.
“It’s a very good league, but our goal is to find a way to make the playoffs,” Wilson said. “We play everybody in the West twice, so we want to win at least one of those games.”
Returning starters are senior forward Kennedy Middleton (9.9 ppg., 5.8 ropg.) and senior guard Deleah Gibson (8.5 ppg.). Red-shirt freshman Isabellah Middleton averaged 9.0 points in nine starts last season before being lost to an injury.
SRU has two sets of sisters on the team — the Middletons and twin guards Emily and Kaylin Venmick. Emily looks to be the starting point guard.
“A lot of players could wind up playing that position with the type of offense we run,” Wilson said.
Two former Butler County high school players are on the roster. Slippery Rock High School graduate Hallie Raabe is out for the season with a torn ACL. She saw limited action in 11 games as a freshman last year.
Butler graduate Jordan Kauffman, a red-shirt sophomore forward, scored nine points in limited action last season.
“Jordan is a shooter and she will likely see more minutes this year,” Wilson said. “Hallie tore her ACL in preseason and had surgery a couple of weeks ago. She’s still coming around the gym and wants to help out any way she can.
“That’s the type of players we have. It all starts in practice. If we go all out in practices, when the game starts, we’ll be prepared to give our best.”
