The challenge is easily apparent. A conference just midway through its first decade sent two teams to the NCAA Division III Tournament last season, with one winning a first-round road game against the defending national champion.
MWC looks to crack the upper echelon of the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) this season, thanks to the return of several potent offensive players. The Eagles of head coach Tom Davies reached the CAC Tournament semifinals for the fourth time in five years, and then nearly upset eventual NCAA entrant York on the road. MWC lost just three seniors to graduation, but two were starters ...First-Team All-CAC wing Jamie Warren and sharpshooter Matt Seward.
While two starting spots are open, competition for all positions should be among the most spirited in recent years. Veterans who figure to see significant playing time include: wing Justin McCarthy (6-2 Jr./Centreville, VA), point guard Mike Johnson (6-0 Sr./Lorton, VA) and post players Marvin Felix (6-3 So./Dale City, VA) and Erik Bursch (6-5/So./Vienna, VA). McCarthy ranked second among Eagle scorers last year at 15.0 points/game; he also averaged 3.9 boards and 1.8 steals. Johnson was perhaps MWC's steadiest player in 1994-95; he averaged 7.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists/game. Johnson is the most experienced playmaker and a backcourt defensive stopper.
In the post, Davies will lean heavily on the athletic talents of Felix, who paced MWC in both field-goal percentage (.552) and blocks (1.2/game). Those marks ranked him third and fourth in the CAC, respectively. Felix averaged 12.2 points and 5.3 rebounds/game. Bursch - a capable rebounder with a deft outside shooting touch - started 22 games, and averaged 7.1 points while shooting .543 from the field.
Other returnees who could make an impact include guards Michael Prensky (So./Lexington, MA), Chris Canino (So./Syracuse, NY) and Kosa So (Jr./Falls Church, VA) and post player Dan Zenker (Jr./Springfield, VA). They'll be pushed by promising freshmen Mike Privett (Fairfax, VA), a 6-6 post player, David Love (Springfield, VA), a talented point guard and 6-5 post player Joe Faccio (Bethpage, NY).
Again, the Eagles look to score in transition, and also by dialing long distance. MWC ranked 15th nationally with 8.6 three-pointers made per game. The Eagles also capitalized on free throws, shooting .755, the sixth-best figure in Division III, and tops in the CAC. According to Davies, the 1995-96 Eagles should again shoot proficiently, but must improve defensively and on the glass to become a formidable factor in the CAC.