2011-12 season: 14-12 record (12-10 PSAC); fifth in PSAC West.
Key Players lost: Brandon Belt, guard, averaged 9.1 points per game, led Gannon with 51 3-pointers; Stephen Battle, guard, 8.6 points.
Projected Starting Lineup (2011-12 statistics):
PG — Adam Blazek, sophomore (32.5 minutes per game, 17.1 points, 3.6 assists, 82 steals)
G — Jabs Newby, junior (at Eastern Kentucky: 11.9 minutes, 1.7 points)
G/F — Robert Wilson, junior (2010-11 at Urbana: 15.5 points,8.9 rebounds, .881 free-throw percentage)
F — Rogerio Livramento, junior (at Community College of Rhode Island: 10.7 points, 11.2 rebounds)
F — Darrell Blanton, senior (32.5 minutes, 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, .538 field goal percentage)
Top Reserves:
G — Oscar Macias, senior (30.6 minutes, 9.7 points), F — T.J. Wilson, senior (14.5 minutes, 4.7 points, 3.8 rebounds)
Key Games (opponents’ 2011-12 record):
Gary Miller Classic — Nov. 23 and 24
Porreco Cup — Dec. 14 and 15
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (22-6 overall, 17-5 PSAC) — Home: Dec. 8; Away: Feb. 6
Mercyhurst (12-14, 10-12) — Home: Jan. 23; Feb. 20
East Stroudsburg — Home: Dec. 2
Outlook:
Gannon will try to build on a solid 2011-12 season by returning nearly all of its key players while mixing in some new blood as well.
Senior forward Darrell Blanton and sophomore guard Adam Blazek anchor a team that started three new faces in its opening weekend. The Knights snuck past Glenville State 70-67 Friday thanks to Darrell Blanton’s jumper in the last seconds and routed Ohio Valley 91-65 Saturday.
Juniors Jabs Newby, a transfer from Division-I Eastern Kentucky, and Rogerio Livramento cracked the starting lineup, as did Robert Wilson, who redshirted a year ago after leading Urbana in scoring and rebounding the previous season.
“(The lineup) evolves during the season,” coach John Reilly said. “Our bench is deep and it’s really all based on production.”
Gannon hasn’t reached the PSAC playoffs since 2008-09, but Reilly said this year’s team has an eye on the postseason.
“Finishing high in the conference, making the playoffs and really reaching our potential are our main goals.”
