Atlantic 10 report | NCAA Tournament report

SportsLine.com report
March 16, 2000

A glance at 2001

Without point guard Tim Winn, this team will lose an untold amount of effectiveness on defense, not to mention playmaking. Ernest Bremer will step in as a starter, and all of the additional defensive attention that will bring. Sophomore-to-be Patricio Prato has to produce consistently.

Junior forward Peter Van Paassen must emerge as the primary option. The inside-out game will have a particularly heavy inside emphasis next season.

The coach

Jim Baron is an icon in Olean. Though his success this season will clearly enhance his attractiveness elsewhere, the coach appears happy to be a big fish in this small pond. That said, recruiting is always a problem. Winn was considered a heavenly gift, considering that most young talents balk at the notion of spending four years in isolated Olean.

Who'll be back

Van Paassen, Bremer and Prato, at least at first, will be asked to step up as something of a poor man's Big Three.

Who's gone

Guard Tim Winn's departure is pivotal. And guard David Capers, the shooter who never gets the same attention, will also be missed.

Center Caswell Cyrus will leave people wondering what might have been -- if the big guy had ever managed to develop his game on a consistent basis.

Key newcomers

Baron likes what he has in Marques Green, a 6-0 point guard from Philadelphia. He will see immediate playing time, and Baron wouldn't mind starting him should he show the ability.