There’s no place like home UNCW’s baseball program has a new home. Groundbreaking for the Herbert Fisher Field House took place in May, and the ribbon cutting was held Oct. 19. Construction of the $1.2 million, 4,238square-foot facility located across from Brooks Field was made possible by gifts from Herbert ’53 and Sylvia Fisher ’50, Dr. William P. Nixon Jr. and Bruce Cavenaugh ’73. The first floor of the new facility is anchored by a 600-square-foot locker area. The second level has a 350-square-foot team meeting room, offices for coaches, a study room with computer access and equipment area.
Men’s basketball expects big turnaround Following a topsy-turvy year when the margin for error was slim at best, UNCW men’s basketball coach Benny Moss is optimistic the Seahawks will reclaim their perch atop the Colonial Athletic Association standings. “We’re expecting a big turnaround,” said Moss. “We go into every year with similar goals. We want to win the regular season, win the tournament and go to post-season play. Those are our goals from day one. It’s more realistic this year because we have a senior captain who is healthy, plus we’ve added some quality depth.” Without question, the return of 2006 CAA Tournament MVP T.J. Carter is huge for the Seahawks. After one year as “Coach Carter” on the bench, he’s ready to take big-time shots and lead the squad. “T.J. was able to see the game from a different perspective. Sometimes you learn by observing, watching and listening,” Moss said.
However, the coach doesn’t believe Carter is a “cure all” for all of last year’s ailments. Seven returning players, including fellow seniors Vladimir Kuljanin, Todd Hendley and Daniel Fountain, must shoulder their share of the load to get the Seahawks back in the thick of things. All three players made adjustments last year after Carter went down and that should benefit the club this season. Balance and depth should be the team’s strengths, Moss noted. “We have nine guys who are in their first or second year with the program. There’s some inexperience there, but we’re still better balanced overall,” Moss said. With the graduation of Temi Soyebo, junior college playmaker Marlo Davis and Chad Tomko will split time as the team’s point guard. Carter, Fountain, Montez Downey, Josh Sheets and Darion Jeralds give Moss several options at the wing position.
Size and bulk characterize the frontcourt, where Kuljanin and Hendley, who both played overseas last summer, will be joined by freshmen Jayson Aycock, Dominique Lacy and Rob Sikes. The five players give the Seahawks one of their biggest frontcourts in years. With the long-awaited return of Carter and a full complement of players, Moss feels like he’s hit the lottery. It’s time, he believes, for the Seahawks to cash in. “We now have the depth we need to survive the unexpected things,” he said. “It’s going to take a more balanced approach this year. We have to be more consistent at both ends of the floor. “We have to hold teams to around 40 percent shooting from the floor and use multiple options, inside and outside, to be more consistent. I think we’re moving in the right direction.”
WINTER 2008
UNCW Magazine 11