Atlantic 10 Conference report

SportsLine Report
June 5, 2000

A glance ahead at 2001

For Rams coach Jerry DeGregorio, there is nowhere to look but at the next season.

In a sense, the weary leader of the worst team in the Atlantic 10 has always had his mind on the upcoming campaign.

His chief challenge is the issue of filling in the enormous void around swingman Tavorris Bell and point guard Zach Marbury with a legion of willing but demoralized youngsters who had their collective lunch handed to them on a nightly basis this past winter.

But, as DeGregorio noted during the debacle, "there's always recruiting."

The coach

In his first season as a head coach, DeGregorio admitted that his chief task was often to soothe crushed egos and to let his players know that there is a better life ahead. Considering that he finished the season with five walk-on players on the roster, including two who played regular minutes, this was a tall order.

Who'll be back

Bell may actually get to play in his natural shooting guard position as a junior. Marbury will be a year older with 6-9 Tiger Womack, 6-10 Andrew Wafula, 6-10 Joe Casper and 6-4 Tip Vinson all hoping to avoid another humbling season.

Who's gone

Luther Clay, who missed as many games to injury as he played, is gone, along with Justin Henry, a 6-5 walk-on who was often better than the scholarship players ahead of him on the roster.

Key newcomers

DeGregorio's love of recruiting has produced Andre Scott, a 6-9, 238-pound banger and 6-6 swingman Delante Holland.