With a 16-10 record in 1981-82, the Mary Washington College basketball team capped their rise from 1-25 depths to a winning team only three seasons later. In 1982-83, the same steady improvement could result in more than another winning season. A 20 win season and berths in the NCAA and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III tournaments are the goals of the 1982-83 MWC Blue Tide squad.
Four seniors graduated from that 16-10 team but only one, guard Tim Money, was a consistent starter. As a result, MWC's front line which outre bounded 18 of 26 opponents, returns as the team's strong point, but even stronger. "We have more depth, more quickness, more jumping ability. We are better inside," Coach Tom Davies said. Center Frank Gilmore (Bethesda, MD), a junior who has led the team in both scoring (16 ppg in 1981-82) and rebounding (13.3) over his first two seasons, remains as the front line's, and the squad's, central force. Sophomores Tony Farris (Springfield, VA, 10.3), and Billy Eyles (Winchester, VA, 5.3), the team's third and fourth leading scorers as freshman forwards, should ably assist the 6-5 Gilmore. Newcomers Gilbert Fields (Colonial Beach, VA), Ronald Kenney (Petersburg, VA) and Buddy Hawley (Annandale, VA), a 6-1 wing player who participated in the Capitol Classic Preliminary game will contribute that added strength.
The graduation of Money, a leader in ten of 18 career categories, created a question mark in the backcourt. Any questions have been answered quickly, however, through an influx of talented guards. David Morris (Olney, MD), at 6-0 the team's only senior, and 16 game starter Robert Baldwin (Richmond, VA) anchor the wing position. Gary Coles, (Montpelier, VA) an all league player at Louisa HS, heads a gang of incoming point guards. David Powers (Pittsburgh, PAl and Larry Moskowitz (Plattsburgh, NY) will battle Coles and returning sophomore Bobby Schwier (Woodbridge, VA) for the ball handling position. A key to the team's success in 1982-83 may be their ability to play well on the road. Last season, a nearly even 6-7 road record played a major role in the team's winning mark. In the coming year, ten of the squad's first 12 games are away contests. Mary Washington defeated five opponents for the first time in 1982. They meet four of those teams this season, three of them as visitors. The Blue Tide defeated three of the four Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) semifinalists in 1982, all in Fredericksburg.
They meet all three away in the coming year. "We should be a better team," the fifth year coach said. "We have six solid inside men for improved play under the boards and competent shooters and ball handlers at guard. We play a lot of good teams on the road but if we can manage .500 on the road, we will have a great year."