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LOCATION: Hanover, NH
CONFERENCE: Ivy League
LAST SEASON: 14-12 (.538)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 10-4 (3rd)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 0/5
NICKNAME: Big Green
COLORS: Dartmouth Green & White
HOMECOURT: Leede Arena (2,100)
COACH: Dave Faucher (New Hampshire '72)
record at school 99-109 (9 years)
career record 99-109 (9 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Mike Maker (California Baptist '88)
Jay Tilton (Hobart '92)
Michael Lombard (Dartmouth '92)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 13-16-18-7-14
RPI (last 5 years) 202-149-117-271-203
1998-99 FINISH: No conference tournament.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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When the horn sounded at the end of Dartmouth's 70-67 victory over Brown to complete the Big Green's 1998-99 season, many fans wanted the next season to start right away. And who could blame them? After all, Dartmouth had soundly beaten every team in the Ivy League except Penn and Princeton, completing a magical season. The Big Green even played host to North Carolina at Leede Arena that December, losing after a respectable effort. It certainly was a season to remember in Hanover, but it could all just be a blip after this season is over. The Big Green returns all its starters and 12 of its 13 players from a year ago. Visions of competing with Penn and Princeton may be dancing through the heads of Dartmouth fans. That's understandable. Dartmouth returns first-team All-Ivy League performer forward Shaun Gee (17.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 55 assists), a 6-7 senior forward who led the team in scoring in 1997-98 and was second last season. Gee's play was one of the reasons for the Big Green's success. He should contend for league MVP honors this season. Gee is a solid scorer who saw his scoring average drop after his sophomore season because of his unselfish play and strong supporting cast. Two juniors were also integral for Dartmouth's magic '98-99 season 6-8 center Ian McGinnis (8.2 ppg, 12.2 rpg) and 6-4 guard Greg Buth (16.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg, .466 3 PT). McGinnis led the nation in rebounding, becoming the first Big Green player to average double figures since 1960. He was only the third Dartmouth player to lead an NCAA statistic.
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B+ BENCH/DEPTH D+
FRONTCOURT A INTANGIBLES B
Dartmouth will be the best of the rest in the Ivy League, that's for sure. Can the Big Green catch Princeton to get into the top two? After all, Dartmouth is at its highest level in a decade while the Tigers are rebuilding. The answer is probably not, but that doesn't stop Dartmouth from dreaming it, and that at least will provide a spark to the Ivy League weekends. Shaun Gee is for real, ranking among the best players in Dartmouth history. Throw in a solid point guard in Flinder Boyd and an excellent rebounder in Ian McGinnis and you have one of the most balanced teams in the Ivy League. What probably makes coach Dave Faucher's mouth water is the fact that, except for Gee, this team's nucleus will be back in 2000-2001. It could be one of the most successful eras in school history. That in itself may be enough for celebration in Hanover. |
Buth is a phenomenal three-point shooter, winning the Ed Steitz Award as the nation's best. Twice last season Buth, who edged out Duke's Trajan Langdon for the Steitz Award, had seven three-pointers in a game. The last two starters played big roles as freshmen. Five-foot-11 point guard Flinder Boyd (7.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 151 assists) was a godsend to the Big Green, stepping into the role of running the team with ease, giving Dartmouth a natural point guard after years without one. Even playing with a splint on his left hand because of a broken bone, Boyd was 20th in the nation in assists and had the sixth best total in Big Green history. His 151 assists also set a freshman record at Hanover. Six-foot-four sophomore Charles Harris (8.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg) played at small forward and had a solid season. He finished the season with a good final weekend, registering a career-high 23 points against Yale. Although the starters are among the best in the Ivy, Dartmouth may struggle off the bench. Up front, the Big Green has 6-9 sophomore Mark Kissling (1.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg), 6-6 senior Chris Ellis (0.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg), 6-6 junior Chris Swanson (0.6 ppg, 0.5 rpg), 6-5 sophomore Vedad Osmanovic (3.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg), 6-5 freshman Greg Friel (New Hampton School/Durham, N.H.) and 6-7 freshman Meador Hall (Coronado HS/Lubbock, Texas). Kissling is an outside threat, while Ellis can provide veteran help off the bench. The coaching staff is looking for more from Swanson, who struggled through much of last season while trying to return after an injury during his freshman season. Osmanovic improved considerably over his freshman year and should be a factor this season. Friel and Hall are mostly shooters who will be used in spot situations. Backing up McGinnis at center will be 6-9 senior Ryan Smerek (1.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and 6-11 sophomore Jay Jenckes (0.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg). Smerek helps give McGinnis a rest while Jenckes develops into a serviceable middleman. Neither gives the Big Green as much in the paint as McGinnis does. Two upperclassmen will compete for backcourt minutes: 6-2 senior Jason Kemp (0.4 ppg,0.3 rpg) and 6-2 junior Justin Whisenant. Whisenant has missed his first two years because of leg injuries, but will give Boyd at least a bit of a break.
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