With three games left in the regular season, the Pioneers 13th ranked men’s basketball team, according to d3hoops.com, remains focused on their main goal, winning a championship. With a record of 21-1, the Pioneers have clinched the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s top seed, along with a first-round bye for the Feb. 20 games. The Pioneers, 10-0 in the NJAC, are the only undefeated team in conference play. However with all these accomplishments, including a 19 game win streak, the team isn’t satisfied just yet.
When asked what kind of improvements the team would need to make in order to keep their win streak going, senior guard Joseph Ellis replied “improvements of the small things.” He followed by saying the team needed to put teams away early to avoid the threat of comebacks, as well as remain sharp and play hard on defense.
“All of these things play a major part in the game, especially now that we have a humungous target on our back,” Ellis added.
Ellis, who leads the team with 15.8 points per game, was recently named Division III player of the month by NJHoops.com.
With Ellis, the Pioneers receive strong play from their starting five, but what sets this team apart from others is their depth.
“We’ve had guys come off the bench throughout the year who have been the key difference in certain games,” said senior guard Tim Lucas. “It’s going to be huge for us to have guys continue to produce of the bench once we hit postseason play and try to make a run at the big game.”
Ellis also credited the team’s depth as one, if not the main reason for their success.
“We have guys that come off the bench that would start other places,” Ellis said. “But here it’s not like that. As we practice and challenge each other day by day we gel as a unit.”
If depth is the Pioneers best quality than leadership falls a close second; aside from excellent coaching, Lucas has shown tremendous leadership skills on the court.
“As a leader who has been in this situation before, I’ve been telling everyone to remain humble but confident,” Lucas said. “We must continue to stay focused and take things one game at a time.”
Lucas, who was a member of the 2005-2006 NJAC championship squad, continues to tell teammates “that there is no better feeling than winning a championship and advancing deep into the NCAA tournament.”
Head Coach Jose Rebimbas, in his 15th season at WPU, made it clear that getting to the big game is the only reason for regular season wins.
“Winning in the regular season is important, but we want to cut down that net at the end of the season.”
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