By Connor Laubenstein /// Staff Writer
Head coach Dinari Foreman and the Pioneers men’s basketball team officially began their campaign on Oct. 15. With their first week of practice underway, the squad looks to improve on a successful 2013-14 season with a strong start this year.
Setting a final record of 17-9, last year the Pios climbed up to third in the conference, one game behind Whitman College. The conference champion Whitworth Pirates would deal the final blow to the Lewis and Clark squad in the NWC semi-finals with a decisive 87-62 win. The Pirates finished their season sitting twentieth in the national rankings, and fifth in the West.
Following the season, LC graduated three talented players and poised leaders in Ben Neves (’14), Quentin Sims (’14) and Connor Freeberg (’14). Sims was granted Northwest Conference Second-Team award and Freeberg was given honorable mention.
To replace the retired veterans, however, the Pio coaching staff, lead by Foreman, hunted tirelessly for new bodies to bolster the ranks. In a recruiting video made for LC men’s basketball, Foreman expressed his expectation of the upcoming season with regards to his new players:
“Our incoming class is going to be pretty fun. It’s not only super diverse, but they all come from championship-style programs and they’re all very well coached. Most importantly, all of them cannot wait to be on this campus, to be part of this campus community, and we are so excited to have them.”
The Pios add another tough 25 game schedule into the mix for their year. With the first game of the season being at home on Nov. 15 against Centenary College, Pio supporters should expect to pack Pamplin Sports Center to support the orange and black.
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