Basketball teams ready to shock opponents and fans

As the fall sports seasons come to a close, the Eastern community now turns from the outdoor fields to the indoor gymnasium. There is a desire for more excitement, more passion and more courage within the sports teams. Fans seek determined and brave players to win games for the home team. This season, the men’s and women’s basketball teams plan to fulfill those wishes.

Men’s Basketball

Head Coach: Matt Nadelhoffer (6 years)

’06 Record: 16-11 (10-8 PAC) Lost in PAC Semifinals to Alvernia, 48-71

Must-See Matches: Cabrini, Messiah

“The ultimate goal of this season is to get better every day,” Head Coach Matt Nadelhoffer said. “The team today better be better than the team yesterday and it certainly better be better than the team that started in October.”

The men’s basketball team ended last year’s season with a record of 16-11, resulting in their first back-to-back winning seasons in 19 years. The season before also saw the team win 16 games. During the ’06-’07 season, the team beat Cabrini-twice-and Widener University, both big rivals of Eastern’s men’s basketball team.

Nadelhoffer wants the team to play at the top of their game every time they take the court.

“My main goal for the team this season is for them to really value consistency in playing, discipline both on and off the court and accountability with each other,” he said.

Stability, tradition and retention: these are the qualities embedded into the 33 members of the varsity and JV men’s basketball teams, framing everything they do as a team. Hopefully it will be enough to give them a successful season.

Women’s Basketball

Head Coach: Katie Levis (First year)

’06 Record: 3-22 (2-14 PAC) Must-See Matches: Cedar Crest, Rosemont

On the other side, the women’s team is ready to play this winter. They are excited for the new season and can’t wait to surprise people with some new plays. With Katie Levis stepping in as the new head coach, things will certainly get interesting on the court.

“Our main focus this season is to move on from last year and look ahead to who the team is now,” Levis said.

With a total of 16 girls on the squad, her goal will take a lot of work to accomplish. Last year, the team’s record was 3-22. This year, they plan to work hard and do their best to turn that around. They will bring their A-game every time they head onto the court, hoping to impress their fans.

“My expectation is for us to have a more successful season measured in growth as a team and as players, not in wins and losses,” Levis said.

Every game, in Levis’ opinion, will be a big one, and serve as a chance to become better. She also wants the girls to be more competitive, both as individual players and as a team. By using team building skills, Levis plans to start a new chapter for the women’s program, which will hopefully open the possibility of more success in the PAC.

Of course, winning isn’t the only goal, but it is a desired side effect from the improvement the women’s basketball team plans to have this season.

Upcoming Games(all home games)

Nov. 27Women’s Basketball vs. Bryn Mawr 7 p.m.

Nov. 29Men’s Basketball vs. Gwynedd-Mercy 7 p.m.

Dec. 1Women’s Basketball vs. Alvernia 1 p.m.

Men’s Basketball vs. Alvernia 3 p.m.

Dec. 3Women’s Basketball vs. Rosemont 7 p.m.