Mary Washington looks to turn the corner in 1996-97, after suffering through a subpar season last year. In addition to a new coach, Mary Washington returns several key performers, and lost just one senior to graduation.
Three seniors look to lead the Eagles back to prominence. Forward Justin McCarthy (6-2/Centreville, VA), last year's leading scorer, returns after posting an 11.8 PPG average and 5.6 rebounds per game in 1995-96, and 15.0 PPG as a sophomore in 1994-95. McCarthy also led last year's team with 48 steals. Also returning to the fold for the Eagles is senior guard Dave Mahoney, who averaged 8.2 PPG and a 50% 3-point field goal percentage last year.
The third member of MWC's triumvirate of seniors is front-courter Dan Zenker, who tallied 7.7 PPG and 4.0 rebounds per game last year. Also returning for the Eagles is guard David Love (3.6 PPG, second in assists with 62), center George Bunch (11.1 PPG, team-leading 6.9 rebounds per game), and, after a one-year layoff, forward Marvin Felix (12.2 PPG, 5.3 rebounds per game in 1994-95).
The Eagles will implement an aggressive, trapping defense that will enable them to create offense from their defense, a fact that will surely make any team wary of
visiting MWC this season. The leadership provided by the veteran returnees, combined with the strong cast of young players and the excitement of a new coach's reign, should bode well for the Eagle program of 1996-97.