Men's basketball breaks all boundaries
JAMESON ZANI
Issue date: 4/1/04 Section: Sports
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To say the Keene State Men's basketball team had an amazing 2003-04 season would be an understatement. Setting a new school record for wins (25-6), the Owls proved that they were a viable team, poised and ready for the NCAA Division III tournament.
KSC had never made an appearance to the tournament before this season, which exemplified how much this group of players achieved over the course of one season.
The Little East Conference is full of great teams.
For the most part the Owls had to be aware that some of the other teams in the conference had either won the LEC tournament before or at least had made an appearance.
But Keene State had never won the tournament before, and coming into the playoffs this season the Owls understood a change had to be made in the school's history.
KSC was given the chance to play their rivals Plymouth State in the LEC championship game, and showed PSU precisely how different this Owls team was compared to years past. Keene State went on to win the Little East Conference tournament, defeating Plymouth 79-67.
With a first round bye in their first ever NCAA DIII tournament appearance, KSC stunned non-believers with a second-round victory over Babson College.
The win sent the Owls to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament where they faced an extremely athletic Rochester College team.
The momentum KSC thrived upon all season did not falter against Rochester as the Owls played a hard fought and close game, defeating the University of Rochester 82-79.
KSC advanced to the Elite Eight with the task of competing against last season's D-III champions, Williams College.
Unfortunately, the road to victory could not be completed for KSC as they fell to Williams 79-64.
Even though KSC could not grab the title, they're season proved to be remarkable, and quite possibly unforgettable. Many players on KSC's roster made a huge impact on the improbable season.
Three different seniors were named to the All-Conference team. Forward Chris Timson (16.8 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game) was selected to the first team, while guard Alphonse Michalski (14.7 ppg, 5.48 assists per game) and forward Matt Wheeler (14.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg) were selected to the second team squad.
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