Playing hard with Dean

Photo by Josiah Garber

Mike Culen (right) averaged 10.7 points per game as a junior last year.

"Work hard, play hard," seems to be the resounding theme for this season’s men’s basketball team.

After finishing last season with a record of 3-22 overall, Royals’ head coach Tom Baker resigned and EMU alum Kirby Dean stepped in. Leaving his position of eight years as an assistant at Virginia Military Institute, Dean came into the struggling program with a few things in mind. To be seen as "the most intense team in the ODAC," as he put it, is one of his goals for the Royals this season. Dean also hopes to increase the retention rate of the players, something which has been a problem in the past. He "wants to create a family atmosphere" that draws players to the program.

"We’re small but we’re really athletic," said Coach Dean, "but regardless of our record, we need to stick together." Dean feels that having a young team will likely affect their record because of the competitive nature of the ODAC, but feels that their strength is having "kids with big hearts, who go out and play as hard as they can." Senior guards Mike Culen and Jeremy Newman, at 6'1" and 6'0" respectively, have become leaders on and off the court, due to their work ethics, according to Dean. EJ Arrington, a junior forward, who at 6'4" led last year’s team in both offensive and defensive rebounding, and was a top scorer, is primed to do the same this season. "He’s so physically and athletically talented," said Dean, "he’s double dangerous to ODAC competitors."

The regular season begins Nov. 11 at the McDaniel Tip-Off Tournament in Westminster, MD. The Royals face Shenandoah University at EMU on Nov. 25, and return from Thanksgiving break to begin ODAC play. In Lexington on Dec. 13, the Royals will take on Dean’s former players in a non-league game at VMI. Pre-Christmas play ends on Dec. 15 against Randolph-Macon.

"To win as many games as possible, and continue to work to get better throughout the year," are Dean’s goals for this season’s squad. A trip to the NCAA tournament in the post-season wouldn’t be such a bad thing either. "It’s all about the tournament. Anything becomes possible if you get in the tournament," said Dean.

"On the court we need to play as hard as we can play, be unselfish and work hard everyday," said Dean. Only time will tell whether the ‘03-‘04 season was a success, but Dean’s work ethic just might make the difference.