The future looks promising for the Fisher College Men's basketball team as they begin preparations for the upcoming season. Coming off a disappointing 10-20 season that saw them finish 5thin the now dismantled American Mideast Conference, the Falcons look to retool and make noise as an Independent in NAIA Division II basketball.
Last season was a tale of two halves for the Falcons. Fisher got off to a 2-14 start before the turn of the New Year. 2012 provided a bit more success as the Falcons closed out the regular season 8-6 over the final 14 games.
Led by Coach Dave Lindberg, who is entering his seventh season in charge, the Falcons return eight players from last year's squad. The eight returning Falcons combined for 41% of the total scoring on last year's team. Senior Ryan McCorkle and junior Kyle Murphy will look to lead the Falcons back to the National Tournament where they last appeared in 2011.
Gone from the basketball program was last year's leading scorer Dennis Norford. The forward from New Haven, CT finished his career with the Falcons last February after leading the nation in rebounds per game at 12.47. His stellar senior season was capped off with a 42 point, 32 rebound effort in a 102-51 victory of the University of Maine- August.
Lindberg will look to many different options to fill the void left by Norford. Chris Green, a sophomore from Middle Island, New York will be available for the full season after having to sit out the 1st semester of the 2011-2012 season due to eligibility issues. Green appeared in 12 games for the Falcons averaging 6.8 points per contest. Also returning is sophomore Alan Womack from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 6'4" small forward average 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds during the 2011-2012 season. Womack appeared in 28 games as a freshman, starting 12.
To begin the season the Falcons will rely heavily on senior Ryan McCorkle to provide the scoring threat left by Norford. McCorkle arrived on Beacon Street last fall after two seasons at Shorline Community College in Washington State. The 6'5 forward averaged 9.4 points a game and 4.6 rebounds. McCorkle led the Falcons with a 38% 3-point shooting percentage.
The Falcons begin their season with three straight match-ups against former Sunrise Conference rivals. The Falcons won 5 conference champions while a member of the Sunrise Conference from 2003 to 2011. The University of Maine – Machias travels to Fectau-Leary Gym on Saturday November 3rd to open up the 2012-2013 season. Vermont Technical College and the University of Maine – Fort Kent also travel to Lynn, Massachusetts before the Falcons being their road schedule.
The Falcons will be at home for eight of their 15 games during the first semester. Of the 15 games, six are against teams the Falcons squared off against last year. The first two months of the season sees the Falcons competing in the Bates College tournament November 16-17 and the Colby College Tournament November 30 – December 1st. On Thursday December 6th the Falcons travel to Orono, Maine to take on NCAA Division 1 opponent the University of Maine. This marks the 1st of three match ups with NCAA Division 1 schools this season. Fisher travels to the University of Texas – Pan American on January 12 and New Jersey Institute of Technology on January 30th.
The Falcons only have one home game during the month of February, a Thursday night contest with Worcester State University on February 14th.
If the Falcons can continue to build on the success they earned in the second half of the season last year, their season will not end on that Thursday night in Lynn. Competing this season as an NAIA Independent, the Falcons will look to qualify for the Independent Tournament February 22-24 in Jamestown, North Dakota.
There are 13 schools that will compete this season as an Independent Institution. Fisher will look to clinch a spot in the post season tournament against the likes of Ashford, Dakota State, Indiana Northwest, Jamestown, Johnson & Wales (CO), La Sierra, Mayville State, Northern New Mexico, Rochester, Valley City, Walla Walla, and Wilberborce.