The 2nd year Highlanders coach chats with us about the upcoming
season.
Shawn
Siegel (CHN): How does this year's schedule compare
to recent seasons in terms of difficulty?
David Spencer (DS):
I think it is basically comparable. We go to UCLA , San Diego
State and Iowa State so there are some real bumps waiting for us
if we are not tough enough and do not learn to trust and depend
on each other.
CHN: How will you deal with the losses of your graduating
seniors?
DS: On the one hand I truly enjoyed our now departed
seniors, but from the standpoint of winning I do not know how
hard they will be to replace. I believe that Benoit Bekono is
really ready to step up along with Larry Cunningham and Aaron
Scott.
CHN: What
will the strengths and weaknesses of
this year’s team to be?
DS:
I think our overall team attitude will be improved. I also know
we will be much more fundamentally sound at the defensive end of
the court.
CHN: Talk about one or two of your guys that stands out
as being an unheralded leader and contributor?
DS:
Dedrick Bates is a kid who came here as a walk on and is still a
walk on. Despite missing all but one game in the second half of
league play due to injury, the league coaches chose him as
Defensive player of the year as well as honorable mention all
conference. He will now be one of co-captains along with Justin
Bell who suffered a season ending knee injury very early in the
year. These two have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders.
They are both tough and understand what it takes to win at this
level.
CHN: What should
we expect out of the incoming players. Who will make the biggest impact?
DS:
I suspect that
Severin Gates from Odessa JC by way of San Diego will be an
impact player as well as Henrick Thomsen from Copenhagen. But
truthfully, with ten new student-athletes out of thirteen on
scholarship it will all be determined by these guys from the day
they arrive.
CHN: Realistically, what are your goals for
this season?
DS:
I have two goals. First to graduate our seniors and second to
have a winning season which would be our first in Division One.
CHN: Thanks Sean
. Good luck.
More 2006 College Preview:
Head Coach
Interviews
