Tippin Gym is ready to rock and roll. Buy your season tickets early! Another exciting season of Golden Eagle basketball is ready to begin.

Led by 14^th year head coach Ron Righter, Clarion University’s Men’s Basketball team is preparing to defend its 2001 PSAC Championship title. The defense begins next week as the Golden Eagles open the new campaign hosting the KFC/Subway Classic November 16^th and 17^th at Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium. Clarion will play Practical Bible on Friday at 8pm, while #5 ranked Longwood battles Franklin Pierce at 4pm. The title game is set for 7pm on Saturday with the consolation game at 5pm.

The Clarion Women’s Tournament will run at the same time with Clarion playing Five Towns College on Friday at 6pm, and Mercyhurst playing Alderson-Broaddus at 2pm. The losers will play on Saturday at 1pm, with the women’s title game set for 3pm.

The Golden Eagles start the season ranked 15^th by Basketball Times and 18^th by Division II Bulletin after posting a signature year in 2001. Last season the Eagles were 19-10 overall, 7-5 in the rugged PSAC-West, won the PSAC Championship with three straight wins over IUP (79-73), Bloomsburg (70-65) and West Chester in a thrilling 80-77 overtime title victory.

Qualifying for the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time since 1981, Clarion lost a close 77-72 decision to Salem International in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

Coach Righter has taken the Golden Eagles to high success in his 13 seasons at Clarion with an overall record of 217-129.The winningest coach in Clarion history, his teams have averaged 20 wins a year over the last five with a record of 100-39 (72%). The Eagles have also posted a strong 41-19 PSAC-West record during those five seasons.

Clarion won the PSAC-West title in 2000 with a 10-2 league mark and a 20-7 overall record. In 1999 the Eagles were 19-8 overall and 7-5 in the PSAC-West, while notching a 20-7 slate in 1998 with an 8-4 West record. In 1997 Clarion won the PSAC-West with a 9-3 mark and were 22-7 overall as the PSAC runner-up.

"We’re really excited about the new season getting started," analyzed coach Righter. "We think our fans are really going to like this year’s team. All the pre-season notoriety we’re receiving is great for the program, but we have to remember that is a recognition of last year’s accomplishments. We have to keep our feet on the ground and realize that this is a new year with all new challenges. We certainly look forward to accepting those challenges."

The Golden Eagle arsenal is chalked full of returning veteran players. Four starters and seven lettermen return from last year’s title team. The returning starters account for 57 points per game, 21.5 rebounds, 300 assists and 208 steals.

Clarion’s 2002 team? "Our formula for playing championship basketball will remain the same," echoed Righter. "We’ll field a very quick, disciplined and unselfish team that’s doesn’t feature a dominant player. We’ll have a high energy team that also features our trademark style of changing defenses and a consistent blue-collar effort. We should have excellent balance inside and outside, plus we expect our newcomers to help immediately with improved overall depth."

Returning to the starting lineup are guards Rollie Smith (Jr. Cleveland Hts., Oh./St. Joseph’s) and Steve Serwatka (Sr. New Rochelle, N.Y./Salesian) and forwards David Shearer (Sr. Greensburg/Hempfield) and Allen Stevens (Sr. Philadelphia/Roman Catholic).

Smith runs the offense at point guard. A poised ball handler and clutch shooter, Smith averaged 11.4ppg and 3.9 rebounds in 2001 while dishing 126 assists and grabbing 41 steals. He was named the PSAC Tournament MVP last year with his 17 points against West Chester in the title game. His clutch three-pointer with 6-seconds remaining sent that game into overtime where the Eagles won 80-77. The 2000 PSAC-West "Rookie of the Year" has 574 career points, 227 assists, 179 rebounds and 76 steals.

Serwatka, a deadly three-point shooter who transferred to Clarion from Sullivan C.C. last year, was the #2 scorer in the PSAC last year averaging 20.2ppg. He nailed 86 of 209 three pointers, 89 of 108 free throws (82.4%), dished out 70 assists and was second on the team with 49 steals. A second team PSAC-West choice, he scored 33 points against Slippery Rock and scored in double figures in 28 of Clarion’s 29 games. He also nailed 8 three pointers against Lock Haven.

Shearer, a versatile forward, is a Division II Bulletin pre-season All-American. He has been named to the PSAC-West first team in 2001 and 2000, plus was the 1999 Western Division "Rookie of the Year". Last year Shearer averaged 12.5ppg, ranked third in the PSAC in rebounding at 8.9 per game and led the PSAC in steals with 83. He ranked 14^th in Division II in steals and 26^th in rebounding. Shearer also dished out 71 assists and posted 10 double-doubles... In three seasons he has collected 1,056 points and 642 rebounds. He already ranks 21^st in scoring and 10^th in rebounding at Clarion and is only the ninth player in school history to have over 1,000 points and 600 rebounds. He has 167 career steals and 119 assists.

Stevens is a very versatile forward/center. Last year he averaged 12.9ppg and 5.3 rebounds while adding 35 steals and 33 assists. His top games last year were a 20 point and 11 rebound performance against Salem in the NCAA Playoffs, and a key second half in the PSAC semi’s against Bloomsburg. Stevens was 8 for 8 from the foul line in the second half against the Huskies to preserve the win. A career 52% field goal shooter, Stevens has collected 821 career points and 373 rebounds to go with 83 steals and 60 assists.

Also returning to the Eagles with experience are forwards Steven Nesmith (Jr. Pgh- Sewickley Academy) and John Reddick (Sr. Brooklyn, N.Y./McClancy), plus guard James Bigler (Sr. Irwin/Penn Trafford).

Nesmith was a key contributor in Clarion’s PSAC title drive last year. He started the final 10 games and averaged 3.1ppg and 4 rebounds per game. He also blocked 25 shots and played great defense. He had 8 points and 9 rebounds against Bloomsburg in the PSAC semi’s. In two seasons he has notched 1136 points, 166 rebounds, 33 blocked shots, 23 assists and 23 steals.

Reddick, a versatile forward, played in 13 games before injuries shortened his season. He shot 56% from the floor, averaged 6.9ppg, 3.6 rebounds, 12 assists and 9 steals.

Bigler, a deadly three-point shooter, converted 16 of 26 three point shots last year (62%). His three, three-pointers at IUP in the PSAC Playoffs were a key contribution in the win. He averaged 2.5ppg. Bigler has scored 128 career points and nailed 37 of 73 career three’s.

Returning after sitting out last year will be guard Chris Kelley (Sr. Roselle, N.J./Abraham Clark) and forward Justin Kreefer (So. E. Liverpool, Ohio). Kelley had a strong 2000 season when he averaged 11.4ppg, 6.7 rebounds, 85 assists and 54 steals. He had 17 rebounds against Shippensburg and is a strong leaper. Extremely quick and able to play three positions, Kelley is also a strong defensive player who will likely be eligible in January.

Kreefer contributed 15 points and 8 rebounds in 2000 and is a Clarion and PSAC Scholar Athlete. He is expected to contribute off the bench this season.

New additions to the Clarion roster should give the Golden Eagles a very strong bench this season. Ready to suit up are forwards Dale Thomas (Sr. Cleveland Hts., Ohio) and Terrell Scott (So. Phila.- Audennreeid) and guards Dereck Rankin (Jr. Brooklyn, N.Y./John Jay), Terrance Stokes (So. Phila.- Simon Gratz),, Vincent Moley (Fr. York/West York) and Mickey Tejeda (Fr. New York, N.Y.).

Thomas, a 6-6, 245-pound center, has one year of eligibility and comes to Clarion from Div.I Middle Tennessee State. In grad school at Clarion, Thomas started 74 of 86 career games at Middle Tennessee. He scored 523 career points and grabbed 352 rebounds. He averaged 4..4ppg and 4.1 rebounds last year, 6.4ppg and 4.4 rebounds in 2000 and 7.3ppg and 3.8 rebounds in 1999. He had 12 points and 9 rebounds at Rice in 2001, 13 rebounds vs Tennessee Tech in 2000 and scored 15 points versus North Carolina State in 1999. He is expected to play a big role in the middle for Clarion this season.

Scott, who has been out of basketball for three years, is a 6-9 center that has a lot of potential according to Righter. Scott is an aggressive rebounder and solid in the paint.

Rankin is expected to see plenty of time at point guard this season. Rankin is described as a "lightning quick" guard by Righter. Rankin transferred from Sullivan C.C. where he led his team to a 31-2 record and second place in the NJCAA National Tournament. He averaged 14ppg, 7 assists and 4 steals..

Stokes, also a talented guard, should see time for the blue and gold. He came to Clarion from Bridgeport and has sophomore eligibility. He averaged 10ppg and 6 assists last year. From Simon Gratz High in Philadelphia, Stokes added 14ppg, 9 rebounds and 5 assists as an All Public League choice.

Moley, a freshman point guard, could see time this year. Last season he averaged 13.5ppg, 5.8 assists, 3.2 steals and 8.9 rebounds at West York high. He was the York Dispatch "Player of the Year" and was selected for the Pennsylvania vs Maryland All-Star game.

Tejeda, a walk-on point guard who sat out last season, will be looking for minutes in the backcourt. A solid all-around player, he is from Redemption Christian High School.

"Our goals remain the same as they were last year," analyzed Righter. "We want to be focused on battling for the PSAC-West title, a PSAC championship and make the NCAA Playoffs in back to back seasons.

I have been encouraged with our practices thus far," he continued. "They are very spirited and competitive. Once again we’ll have to stay injury free and stay focused down the stretch if we hope to reach the finish line."

CLARION NOTES: Righter has an unbelievable home record of 134-55, a 71% winning rate over his 13 seasons ... The last 5 years Clarion is 63-14 at home, a winning rate of 82% ... The Eagles have won PSAC-West titles in 2000, 1997, 85, 84, 83, 81, 80, 79, 77, 73 and 71 ... Clarion will have 14 home games this season ... The PSAC-West starts on January 7^th when the Eagles host Shippensburg at 8pm.

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