Blend of Returners and Newcomers has
Blackburn Men’s Basketball Seeking Improvement
Blackburn College Men’s Basketball
coach, Kirk Chandler is upbeat about the 2009-10 edition
of the Beavers. “We really had a good recruiting year
with many new guys that will be counted on to contribute
right away, and combined with some of the solid guys
already in the program gives us a pretty good mix,” said
Chandler. The top returnee for the Beavers is Rod Sykes,
a senior forward from Danville, Illinois. Sykes was a
second-team all St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference performer last year. Sykes led Blackburn in
scoring and rebounding with averages of 17.9 p.p.g. and
11.3 r.p.g. respectively. “Rod is probably the best
rebounder in the conference and along with senior Cobri
Gilbert are our spark plugs,” said Chandler. Gilbert a
5’9” guard from Chicago played in all 24 games last
season averaging 2.8 p.p.g.
Other key returners include Obie Farmer, a 6’8” center
from New Baden, Illinois. Farmer played in 23 games a
year ago and averaged 4.3 p.p.g. and 3.2 r.p.g. Also
returning is junior guard Blake Doehring from Vandalia,
Illinois. Doehring played in 23 games and averaged 12.1
p.p.g. and was second on the team in minutes played. Two
other returners include James Gowin and Austin Godfrey.
Gowin, a 6’2” forward form Pittburg, Missouri, played in
all 24 games and averaged 4.6 p.p.g., while Godfrey, a
5’10 sophomore guard from Metropolis, Illinois played in
five games last season.
“If we played today, I’d like to get at least thirteen
guys in the mix and that really gives us some options
especially on defense and keeping guys out of foul
trouble or from being worn out,” said Chandler. The
pre-conference part of the schedule will test the
Beavers as they will travel to tradition division III
power Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and also
travel to play at division II University of Missouri St.
Louis. “These games add a level of difficulty, but I
think they will be good for us,” said Chandler. After a
5-19 season a year ago, the blend of new and returning
players has the Beavers setting some high goals. “One of
our goals is to make the conference tournament and to
try and win every night out,” said Chandler. Blackburn
was picked eighth in the pre-season poll and that has
added some incentive as well. “We did experience some
success on the recruiting front, and that adds incentive
to prove people wrong,” said Chandler.
Blackburn will open the season on November 16 at home
against Lincoln Christian University at 7:30 p.m.
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