Rookie head coach Tim Kendrick isn’t afraid to say it like it is.
“We want to have the UPEI Panthers as a national power,” the men’s basketball coach said this week. “We’ve had a couple of lean years and there’s some work ahead, but our goal is to turn this team into a perennial (Atlantic University Sport) championship contender.”
The 49-year-old Kendrick replaces Matt Davies, who resigned in June. Kendrick comes into the AUS level boasting an impressive high school record, having won more than 700 games with the Horton Griffins.
In 2008, the Nova Scotia team made national headlines for an impressive 73-game winning streak.
Kendrick is aiming to bring some of that same success to the UPEI program.
He takes over a club that finished two points out of the playoffs last season with a record of 7-13.
But past results aren’t keeping Kendrick from having lofty expectations.
“I’m a big believer in high expectations. I don’t think there’s any other way. It’s important for young men of this calibre to shoot for the moon. We expect to play in the AUS playoffs and to compete for the championship.”
So far, his players have bought in to the message their coach is preaching.
“Coach Kendrick believes a great deal in us and makes sure we know that every day,” said fifth-year guard and co-captain Jonathan Cooper. “We came in knowing we had all the right pieces to win championships, so we’re working very hard every day to make sure we achieve our goals.”
Kendrick has implemented a player-friendly high-pressure system that sees his players moving the ball quickly and running a lot.
“We’ve got some exceptional athletes,” he said. “It’s a great fit for this group.”
Cooper, a Toronto native, agrees.
“Coach’s style suits our team perfectly,” he said. “He really trusts our abilities and lets us be ourselves on offense. Defensively, he has us putting a lot of pressure on our opponents. We’re still working out some kinks, but we’re confident that we’ll be one of the scariest teams in the league very soon.”
The system requires an honest, hard-working environment that requires dedication and determination.
“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary,” Kendrick said. “I definitely believe we can achieve our goals, but only if we pave the way through hard work, determination and dedication.”
So far, Kendrick has been impressed by his three captains, fifth-year forward and second team AUS all-star Manock Lual (17.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg), Cooper (15.5 ppg), and third-year point guard Terrence Brown (14.4 ppg).
The Bahamas-born Brown has superior athletic ability that could make him an All-Canadian in the future.
“If he wants it bad enough, he can achieve great things,” Kendrick said.
Lual said while the 20-game season is a long one that is sure to see ups and downs, if the Panthers remain hungry, they will be successful.
“My expectations are to go into Christmas 6-0,” said the 6-foot-6 forward. “It won’t be easy, but if we keep working as we have been, we can definitely make it happen.”
The team is also expecting a jolt of energy from former Atlantic Colleges AThletic Association MVP and first-team Canadian College Athletic Association All-Canadian guard Donnie Moss, who joins the team from Holland College.
Kendrick’s positive tone and upbeat attitude have already rubbed off on the Panthers, and the coach said that attitude will be the club’s strength going forward.
“We want to make basketball a pride of P.E.I..”
www.upei.ca/athletics/mens-basketball
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UPEI men’s basketball:
u The UPEI Panthers host the Saint Mary’s Huskies in their AUS men’s basketball season-opener tonight at 8 at the UPEI Sports Centre.
u Fans are asked to wear green as part of “Green Out” at the sports centre tonight.
u The team will be wearing its brand-new green jerseys for the games.
u The rematch goes Sunday at 4 p.m
