Sports News: Fall 2001

Tuesday, November 13, 2001

MORAVIAN MEN'S BASKETBALL PICKED SIXTH IN THE 
COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE

ANNVILLE, PA --- The 2001-02 Moravian College men's basketball team, which opens its season this weekend, November 16th and 17th at the Scotty Wood Tournament hosted by Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, has been picked to finish sixth in the eight-team Commonwealth Conference by the conference coaches in the 2001-02 Coaches Preseason Poll.

The Greyhounds, who were 9-15 last season and 4-10 in the Commonwealth Conference earned 29 points, two behind Susquehanna University in fifth place and six ahead of Juniata College in seventh place.  Widener University, which won the Commonwealth Conference last season and advanced into the NCAA Division III Tournament, earned the top spot in the Commonwealth Conference poll.

Moravian expects to make a run at the Commonwealth Conference playoffs and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.   Head coach Jim Walker enters his 22nd season at Moravian just 12 wins shy of 300 at the Bethlehem school.  Walker does have some questions to answer with the graduation of a trio of players that combined for 1,800 points and 650 rebounds over the last four years.

The top returnees for the Greyhounds this year are juniors: forward Ken Greb (Mt. Holly, NJ/Rancocas Valley HS) and guard Kevin Hall (Mount Pocono, PA/Pocono Mountain HS). Hall, a hot shooter from behind the three-point line, was the third leading scorer last year with 284 points and averaging 11.8 points a game.  He had 40 three-pointers added 19 steals and 31 assists.  Greb was the top rebounder for the Hounds, including 55 offensive and had 268 points and 15 blocks.

Seniors forward Mike Frew (Glen Ridge, NJ/Glen Ridge HS) and guard Doug Spadt (Emmaus, PA/ Emmaus HS) look to help the Greyhounds return to the playoffs for the first time since 1996-97.  Spadt will challenge for a starting position after scoring 67 points last year.  Frew is competing for a starting position and contributed 77 rebounds and 101 points last season as a reserve. 

Several sophomores will help the Greyhounds this season.  Point guard Lucas Malischak (Wanamie, PA//Nanticoke HS) led Moravian in assists with 51.  He added 124 points, 54 rebounds, and 33 steals while starting 23 games.

Sophomore guards Kevin Wyers (Hamilton Square, NJ/Notre Dame HS) and Steve Weiler (Edgewater Park, NJ/Burlington City HS) made contributions last season.  Wyers scored 29 points while Weiler had 76 points.  

Junior guard Willie Reynolds (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty HS) had 32 points as a reserve and looks to challenge for a starting spot.  Sophomores Justin Bennett (Colts Neck, NJ/St. John Vianney HS) and Kevin Burke (Turnersville, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) will make the jump from the junior varsity program to the varsity squad this season.

Coach Walker has a strong recruiting class coming in with several 6'5" or taller players in the mix led by Forward Brandon Zaleski (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown HS) and center Sean Zebora (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Rumson Fair-Haven Regional HS).  Moravian also plans to have freshmen forward Mike Howell (Floral Park, NJ/Holy Cross HS) and guard Brian Mooney (Philadelphia, PA/ Father Judge HS) also contribute this season.