Men's Basketball 2003-04 Outlook - Guilford College

  • 2003-04 Season Outlook

    Guilford's men's basketball team has high expectations with 10 players back from last season's 12-14 unit that earned its highest Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament seed (5th) in school history.  New head coach Tom Palombo regularly put his Defiance (OH) teams among the top-scoring clubs in Division III and intends to do the same at Guilford.

    Palombo has a number of proven scoring options, including 6-4 senior swingman Jevon Clarke, who earned Second-Team All-ODAC laurels after leading the squad in scoring (12.8 ppg.) and rebounding (6.0 rpg.).  He has shown increased shooting range and offensive skill with each passing season.  Junior point guard Clarence Martin, an honorable mention all-league player and Guilford's 2002-03 MVP, made tremendous strides as a sophomore and will be one of the ODAC's top playmakers this year.

    Martin ranked third on last year's team in scoring (9.0 ppg.) and led the squad in assists (93) and steals (45).  He was also one of the league's best defenders.

    "Clarence has great leadership qualities," Palombo said.  "He is an exciting player who likes to push the ball up the floor and create opportunities for his teammates."

    The team has seven seniors, easily its biggest senior class in some time.  Clarke, Josh Connor and Ron Bradford all started last season, while Robert Spence and Devon Clyburn have been key reserves.  Connor led the ODAC in rebounding as a sophomore and is one of the team's fiercest competitors.  Bradford connected on a team-high 37 three-pointers last season.  Spence and Clyburn return to add depth to the wing position. Spence connected on 36 three-pointers and Clyburn averaged 3.8 points while playing in all 26 games last year.

    Senior forward Eric Williams, who came to Guilford in 2002 after two seasons at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Georgia, was the Quakers' sixth man last year and should flourish in Palombo's run-and-gun style.  Williams pitched in 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds a game in 2002-03.

    Guilford lacks size as 6-8 Matt Lewis graduated last May and 6-9 Brandon Clifford did not return to the team.  Sophomore Genaro Lawhorn is Guilford's tallest player at 6-6.  Clarke has bulked up during the off-season and could play some power forward.  The return of 6-4 senior forward Thomas Swindell to the lineup will also help the Quakers' interior play.  Swindell missed the 2002-03 season while studying in Spain.  He averaged 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in 51 contests as a freshman and sophomore.

    "Our goal is to improve every day and with every game and play our best basketball in March," Palombo said.  "With the way Division III basketball is today, the goal is to win the conference tournament and go to the NCAAs.  We're looking to forward to improving throughout the year and getting everyone excited and ready for tournament time."

    The Quakers open the season November 21 against 2001 NCAA Division III national champion Catholic in a tournament hosted by perennial powerhouse Franklin & Marshall.  Aside from the rugged ODAC slate that includes national semifinalist Hampden-Sydney and defending league champion Randolph-Macon, the Quakers play Greensboro in the Greensboro Coliseum, Marymount and Hiram.  Guilford will also play in the Myrtle Beach Thanksgiving Classic against Goucher and North Central.