X-Men basketball season preview

After finishing the 2013-14 AUS regular season with an 11-9 record in fourth place, the X-Men surprised everyone by defeating UNB and the pre-tournament favorite Acadia Axemen, advancing to the AUS championship game in the Halifax Metro Centre before running out of gas down the stretch and falling to the Saint Mary's Huskies.

Despite losing graduating seniors Will Donkoh (team MVP and AUS first team all-star) and Jordan Clarke, both veteran starters, the 2014-15 X-Men return the young nucleus that provided the spark in last season's playoff run. In addition, veteran Coach Steve Konchalski, now in his 40^th season behind the helm, has added depth and athleticism at each position which should provide a competitive environment in practice. With three seniors, two juniors and ten freshmen and sophomores, this is still a young team that is only going to get better.

Senior Jameel Williamson (3.9 assists per game) should provide leadership at the point while senior forwards Shane Coupland (7.2 ppg and 3.9 rpg) and Alex Arthur (4.4 ppg and 2.3 rpg) shore up the front court. Junior guards Jordan Tyrrell, back from a season-ending concussion, and Dave Benoit hopefully will be ready for break-out seasons.

Last year's 'Fab Five' freshman class returns intact led by AUS all-rookie team members 6'7" Kevin Bercy (11.9 ppg and 7.5 rpg) and 6'2" Julius Antoine (5.8 ppg and 3 rpg), 6'7" forward Cam Walker (5.6 ppg and 3.4 rpg), as well as back-up PG Davonte Provo and 6'6" athletic forward Tayo Shittu.

This year's freshmen class features another group of athletic players in 6"10 Cassio Rodrigues from Sao Paulo, Brazil, 6'3" Alastair Cole, a transfer from Genesee CC in New York, 6"3 Jason Hatch from Switzerland, 6'1" Cameron Crieghtney from Toronto along with 5"11" Roydell Clarke of Ottawa.

After starting last season with seven straight losses, the team showed great character in staying together through many ups and downs and coming within a few minutes of an AUS title. With that experience under their belts and with the addition of some talented recruits, the young X-Men plan to pick right up where they left off and bring the Reade Cup, emblematic of AUS supremacy, back to StFX.

AUS regular season play begins this coming weekend when the X-Momen travel to Halifax to face the Saint Mary's Huskies. Game time is 8:00 pm on Saturday night at the Homburg Centre.