The old axiom "The more things change, the more they stay the same" should have been the team motto for the 2004-2005 University of Mary Washington men's basketball team. After all, not only had the school name changed from Mary Washington College on July 1, but with a completely new starting five from the 2003-04 campaign, the young Eagles certainly were starting a new chapter in program history. Gone were graduated seniors Evan Fowler, a two-time all-region selection, and all-time leading three-point marksman Erik Rodriguez. Also gone, quite unexpectedly, was 03-04 leading scorer Jon Hurd, who slightly tore his Achilles tendon in September, and forward Ian Sumers, who left the team after four games.
Despite all of the changes, several things remained constant. Coming off the two most successful seasons in school history, the young Eagles raced to a 17-9 overall record, the third-best mark in school history, and finished in a second place tie in the CAC standings with Catholic University. UMW continued to be very strong at Goolrick Gymnasium, finishing 8-2 at home, with a victory over eventual Final Four-bound York College, extending its home record over the past three seasons to 32-5 overall.
First team All-CAC selection and multiple school-record holder Mike Lee continued to emerge into one of the top players in the nation, leading the CAC in scoring at 20.7 PPG, and ranking nationally in three-point baskets. Lee set UMW single game records for most points (40), most points in a home game (37, against York), and most three-pointers made (eleven), in addition to breaking the season record for most three-pointers made (100). Backcourt mate A.J. Fitzgerald, also a sophomore, stepped into the starting lineup and had a very productive season, averaging 11.4 PPG and registering 109 assists.
A pair of freshmen manned roles in the starting lineup as well, with forward Jon Pierce and guard/forward Justin Baker combining to net twenty points and eleven rebounds per contest. Sophomore Josh Wilson emerged as the fifth starter, and played his best ball of the season at the end of the year, making strides that should make for a bright future for the nationally-ranked shot blocker.
Juniors Mike Mattson and Kevin Moore, as well as sophomore Paul Ruhmann and freshman Kevin Galinat all saw quality action off the bench, and all will hope to challenge again in 2005-06.
The Eagles opened the season in Gettysburg, PA, for a tipoff tournament that saw them fall to nationally-ranked Baldwin-Wallace College in the opener, 64-57, and then rebound for a 70-58 win over FDU-Florham in the consolation game. Lee was named to the all-tournament team, scoring 21.5 points per game.
A 73-70 win over a very dangerous Gallaudet University squad followed, and, after a defeat at Catholic, the Eagles won three straight games heading into winter break, downing St. Mary's College, 79-58, and Villa Julie College, 87-69, and topping North Carolina Wesleyan College on the road, 91-84.
A three-game trip to St. Thomas produced a pair of wins against one defeat, which went to eventual NCAA Tournament-bound Salem State College. In the final game of the trip, Mike Lee erupted for 40 points on 11-15 shooting behind the three point arc in a 72-61 Eagles' triumph. Lee continued his solid play at the Legg Mason Winter Classic, as the Eagles claimed the tournament championship, downing Greensboro College and Villa Julie. Jon Pierce was named the tournament MVP, and Lee and Fitzgerald took all-tournament kudos.
After falling at Salisbury University in the return to Capital Athletic Conference action, UMW reeled off seven wins in nine games in conference play, including home wins over Goucher College and York, and road wins at St. Mary's College and Marymount University. A solid 81-65 win over Salisbury on alumni day and a thrilling 61-60 win over Marymount closed the home portion of the regular season slate, setting up a meeting between the top two teams in the league standings at York in the regular season finale. The Spartans downed UMW, 78-68, giving the Eagles the third seed in the CAC Tournament, in which head coach Rod Wood's squad was unable to beat Marymount a third time, falling by the narrowest of margins, at 58-57.