Coming off last season’s near-miss, the St. Thomas University’s men’s basketball team hits the hardwood with a desire for excellence and a home opener that was quite revealing.
By mixing a roster of veteran and rookie players, the Tommies look to bring a championship title back to STU this year.
Fourth-year point guard from Markham, Ont., Vincent Lyttleton, recognizes he has the responsibility to lead by example on and off the court since he is one of the veterans on the roster.
“We’ve got a lot of rookies this year, so being a better leader is a personal goal of mine,” he said. “I want to be more vocal and lead by example. Winning is our main goal and I think we have what it takes to make it happen.”
Adding to his leadership, Lyttleton said his offseason was spent in the weight room building the strength and stamina necessary to log big minutes on the floor.
“I know I’ll be playing a lot of minutes, so endurance was key during my workouts,” he said, adding that having a good preseason sets him up to hit the floor running.
The Tommies are working hard this year to keep their eyes on the championship. For them, it is more about building a legacy of excellence rather than just scoring points on the board.
As practices amped up, Lyttleton observed how the team has developed a competitive culture, with the daily grind pushing each player to new heights.
“We practice harder than any team in the league,” Lyttleton said. “That’s why we make it to the finals every year and I believe this year is our year.”
What fans can expect
With the home opener, fans and players are ready to go for what should be an entertaining year. Lyttleton explained what it is like to play on the home court and the energy supporters bring to every Tommies’ game.
“I love playing at home. The setup of the gym with the fans above us just adds this amazing atmosphere,” Lyttleton said. “It feels like an NBA vibe.”
As for what’s on tap, Lyttleton refused to say much, but he did hint at a fast, aggressive style of play.
He said that even though the Tommies may be smaller in stature, they’re relying on speed and a defensive game plan to balance that out.
“We’re small, but we’re fast. Expect a lot of quick plays and three-pointers,” said Lyttleton.
The women’s team focus and preparations for the new season was discussed by third-year player Charlee Connors.
“Last year, we were so young, over half our team were rookies,” Connors said. “Coming into this season, we all knew what to expect and what needed to be done. We spent the summer working individually and it was rewarding to come together ready and in shape.”
As for expectations in this coming home opener against UNBSJ, Connors was confident but still cautious about their opponent.
“We beat them by 30 points in our last game, which is significant in basketball, but we know they have a new coach who is known to be strong. We have to be prepared for a physical game.”
Connors agrees with Lyttleton about the atmosphere of the gym provides them, arguing that it contributes to fan engagement.
“We’re lucky with our gym setup; it doesn’t take many fans to make it loud,” she said. “It’s nice to see some familiar faces out in the crowd-especially when our men’s team comes out to support us. We’re all friends outside of our sports, so that adds to the atmosphere.”
