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Falcons Look To Rebuild in 2009-10 Campaign

The Fitchburg State men's basketball team enters its 2009-10 campaign looking to rebuild after losing four key starters from a year ago. Last season, the Falcons earned a MASCAC playoff berth, posting an 8-16 record (2-10 MASCAC) overall, but Fitchburg State fell to the Owls of Westfield State, 91-86 in the quarterfinal round.


TIM GRAHAM

This season, the Falcons will rely on its senior leadership and incoming talent as they look to rebound in the highly competitive MASCAC. "This is definitely a rebuilding year for us" said fourth year head coach Derek Shell. "Our goal for the season is to involve our newcomers and have them ready to play down the stretch."

Fitchburg State will rely on its senior leadership as captain Tim Graham (Arlington, Mass./Arlington Catholic) and senior Colin London (Worcester, Mass.Doherty) look to pave the way for the offense. Last season, Graham was among vote getters for the MASCAC All-Conference team, ranking second on the Falcons squad with 11.8 points per game (ppg). Graham shot a team-best .514 from the floor, while adding 119 rebounds (5.0/g), 28 assists and 13 steals.

London was also solid in his first year as a Falcon, ranking third on the team in scoring with 9.5 ppg on 81-of-203 shooting. London made a name for himself on the Fitchburg State offense, possessing the ability to drive to the basket and pull-up from outside. The second-year guard aided the Falcons with 4.9 caroms per game, while ranking second on the team with 43 assists.

Senior Jonathan Evans (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) rounds out the Falcon veteran returners from a year ago as the shifty shooting guard saw action all 24 averaging 3.4 ppg with 38 rebounds, 15 steals and eight assists.


COLIN LONDON

Rounding out the Falcons top five are newcomers Brandon Edelstein (Upper Merion, Penn./Harriton) and Rolffi Canela (Perth Amboy, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick). Both Edelstein and Canela possess collegiate experience as the transfer duo is expected to make an immediate impact for Fitchburg State uniform. Edelstein, a one-year transfer from Wilkes University, will aid the Falcons down low with his 6'-4" frame, while Canela, a Unity Country College transfer, will control the point.

Fitchburg State will rely more on its incoming class as junior Robert Hopkins (East Hartford, Conn./RHAM), sophomore Kyle Berk (Putnam Valley, N.Y./John Jay) and freshman Blake Sheldon (Westminster, Mass./Oakmont) will see significant action in their first year in a Falcon uniform. Returning sophomore Brad Girouard (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth South) also adds to the Fitchburg State mix, providing the Falcons with collegiate experience after seeing action in 13 games last season.

The Falcons open their 2009-10 campaign at home this season as it travels Clark University on November 16. Later in the week, Fitchburg State will compete at the Eastern Connecticut Tip-Off Tournament, before opening up league play after the Thanksgiving break. "This year, our schedule bodes is very competitive," said Shell. "We play a lot of tough games  upfront and have an even tougher schedule with our conference match-ups."